How Facebook’s Embed in the Trump Campaign Helped the President Win

WSJ ^ | Deepa Seetharaman

[oblomov]

Af­ter the 2016 pres­i­den­tial elec­tion, Re­pub­li­can Party of­fi­cials cred­ited Face­book Inc. with help­ing Don­ald Trump win the White House. One se­nior of­fi­cial sin­gled out a then-28-year-old Face­book em­ployee em­bed­ded with the Trump cam­paign, call­ing him an “MVP.”

Now that key player is work­ing for the other side—as na­tional de­bate in­ten­si­fies over Face­book’s role in pol­i­tics.

James Barnes left Face­book this spring, and said he is now ded­i­cated to us­ing the digi­tal-ad strate­gies he em­ployed on be­half of the Trump cam­paign to get Pres­i­dent Trump out of of­fice in 2020. Mr. Barnes, who had been a life­long Re­pub­li­can, has reg­is­tered as a De­mo­c­rat and re­cently started work­ing with a pro­gres­sive non­profit called Acro­nym, where for­mer Obama cam­paign man­ager David Plouffe is on the board.

In a se­ries of in­ter­views over the past three weeks, Mr. Barnes dis­cussed how he helped the Trump cam­paign lever­age some of Face­book’s pow­er­ful tools and prod­ucts to ex­tend its reach. He talked about the pres­sure he felt be­hind the scenes, both from the Trump cam­paign and some col­leagues at Face­book. His ac­count sheds new light on Face­book’s role in the Trump cam­paign and what De­moc­rats are try­ing to learn from it go­ing into the next pres­i­den­tial elec­tion.

[oblomov]

“Lifelong republican”...Heh.

Article is worth reading.

[gibsonguy]

The only problem here is the rats got far more help then Trump on FB in 16. I guess they want to see to it that he gets none this time.

[pepsionice]

I would make a guess that fewer than 20-percent of Trump-voters would suggest that Facebook material would ever have mattered to them in 2016. Same for Twitter. I might admit to having watched forty of his campaign speeches via YouTube, and that was a useful tool for a lot of us.

[chiller]

I avoid social media so I know nothing of Facebook, but I seriously wonder how much help the Trump campaign actually received from FB.

It's a nice feather in a cap and resume enhancer to claim, "I helped elect the President."

[FrdmLvr]

Wasnt 0bama out there bragging about how they used algorithms in social media to control the campaign in his election? They worked directly with FB ape Apple or something?

[Savage Rider]

I’ll believe this guys boasting when Brad Parscale tells me it’s true.

[chiller]

...and if this helps dems catch up to DJT, sorry but he’s left you in a scrap heap. And your clown car of candidates keeps piling on.

[txrefugee]

So he sold out after learning from the Trump campaign. With employees like that, you don’t need enemies. Hopefully, the Trump campaign stays several steps ahead with Brad Parscale in charge of the 2020 effort.

[Roccus]

Af­ter the 2016 pres­i­den­tial elec­tion, Re­pub­li­can Party of­fi­cials cred­ited Face­book Inc. with help­ing Don­ald Trump win the White House.

Sez it all right there.

[Dr. Sivana]

Mr. Barnes, who had been a life­long Re­pub­li­can, has reg­is­tered as a De­mo­c­rat

OK, for everyone of him, and Jennifer Rubin and Justin Amash who leaves, the Republicans can recruit 10 hard har working guys in Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan. Minnesota and Pennsylvania.

[Migraine]

I had the same reaction to “lifelong republican”. I think I’ll ask Shania Twain if that impresses her much.

[Theophilous Meatyard III]

I am low tech and want to stay that way. Don’t go on twitter, facebook. Just here and gmail. Perhaps a couple of other places. Don’t have time for anything else.

[Eleutheria5]

Just looking at the crowds in his rallies, I knew Trump was going to win. Facebook, shmacebook.

[cgbg]

The notion that Facebook convinced blue collar working people in PA, WI, MI, OH, IA to vote for Trump is absurd on its face.

If I saw this guy’s claim on a resume I would refuse to hire him because he is an obvious fraudster.

[GCFADG]

Parscale talked about this in the Frontline interview:

https://youtu.be/yjn6wK01cqk

Well worth the time despite the faggy, clueless interviewer.

Bottom line — Parscale said if we’re gonna spend millions of dollars, send us an expert to help us implement. He thought to spend that kind of money and NOT get an expert helper was nuts and stupid (See Hillary campaign.)

This guy must have been the helper.

All well and good but the left still can’t meme and Parscale is light years ahead.

[GCFADG]

Haha — exactly.

[Destroyer Sailor]

I do not use Twitter at all. My time on Facebook is spent on subjects of my choosing I pay no attention to ads.

[Hot Tabasco]

I don't know how Facebook could influence any election any more than than the hokey adds the candidates air on TV....

There is no way a Hillary supporter would be swayed to vote for Trump and visa versa........

[bigbob]

I think I will count on Brad Parscale to out run this prick.

[sheana]

I have been on FB for years mainly to stay in touch with the family back East. I have never clicked on an ad. I have never clicked on their news items. And I don’t do politics at all on Facebook. So there’s that. Lol