Friday, September 12, 2008

McCain Is Computer Illiterate Ad Blows Up In Obama's Face

The young snarkies running Sen. Barack Obama's campaign couldn't resist the opportunity to make fun of the fact that Sen. John McCain has admitted he doesn't use a computer and send e-mails. The AP explains the new Obama attack ad against McCain:

John McCain is mocked as an out-of-touch, out-of-date computer illiterate in a television commercial out Friday from Barack Obama as the Democrat begins his sharpest barrage yet on McCain's long Washington career.

The new fighting spirit comes as McCain has been gaining in the polls and some Democrats have been expressing concern the Obama campaign has not been aggressive enough. Obama's campaign says the escalation will involve advertising and pushes made by the candidate, running mate Joe Biden and other surrogates across the country.

"Today is the first day of the rest of the campaign," Obama campaign manager David Plouffe says in a campaign strategy memo. "We will respond with speed and ferocity to John McCain's attacks and we will take the fight to him, but we will do it on the big issues that matter to the American people."
After reading this 2000 story from the Boston Globe about the limitations McCain has because of the injuries he sustained during his more than five years of captivity in a North Vietnamese prison camp, the Obama campaign might not want to be quite so flippant about this:

McCain gets emotional at the mention of military families needing food stamps or veterans lacking health care. The outrage comes from inside: McCain's severe war injuries prevent him from combing his hair, typing on a keyboard, or tying his shoes. Friends marvel at McCain's encyclopedic knowledge of sports. He's an avid fan - Ted Williams is his hero - but he can't raise his arm above his shoulder to throw a baseball.

After Vietnam, McCain had Ann Lawrence, a physical therapist, help him regain flexibility in his leg, which had been frozen in an extended position by a shattered knee. It was the only way he could hope to resume his career as a Navy flier, but Lawrence said the treatment, taken twice a week for six months, was excruciatingly painful.

''He endured it, he wouldn't settle for less,'' said Lawrence, who rejoiced with McCain when he passed the Navy physical. ''I have never seen such toughness and resolve.''

That's right. John McCain can't sit down and type at a computer because of his war injury, or comb his own hair or tie his own shoes. Democrats are very sympathetic towards people living with disabilities unless they're running against them. The Obama staffer whose bright idea it was to attack McCain for being computer illiterate should be given the boot he or she deserves.

15 comments:

Downtown Indy said...

Man, foot-in-mouth is highly contagious. Looks like Biden's spreading it everywhere.

Anonymous said...

The Obama camp is it's own worst enemy in this election. If McCain / Palin could just focus on what THEY can and WILL do for the country, and leave all of the negativity to Obama, maybe the brainwashed would see Obama for what he really is.

Vox Populi said...

Joe,

Neither McCain nor Palin has said what they would do for the country. They've spent the entire campaign attacking Obama for various reasons and McCain's own manager said that this campaign isn't about issues. Because if it's about issues, and if it's about what the candidates will do policy-wise for the nation, then Obama-Biden wins in a landslide.

Covenant60 said...

Yup. The Obama campaign keeps stepping in it.

By the way, latest polls have McCain within 3% in New Jersey and 2% in Washington.

indyernie said...

Those who never served will have a hard time understanding the core beliefs and resolve of American veterans. Some non-veterans desire understanding by expressing respect for Americas veterans, especially the disabled military veterans. Then there are socialistic snobs like Obama and his followers. They continue to reinforce their own inadequacies by routinely expressing smug contempt for Americans true patriots and heroes.
Few liberals will never experience the honor associated with serving with men like McCain.

Sean Shepard said...

Vox. If elections were about "issues" neither Democrats or Republicans would win elections.

It's all just marketing at this point.

Shofar said...

Vox,

I don't know what you have been listening to, but I have heard some very pointed details regarding McCain's policies.

He is strong on defense, and the fight against Muslim terrorist.

He is pro 2nd Amendment.

He is a strict constructionist when it comes to the Constitution, and has stated that he will appoint judges that are also.

He is pro-life, and wants to see Roe v Wade overturned and have the matter go back to the states, where it belongs.

He is in favor of reduced taxes, and federal budget responsibility. One way of achieving this is by getting rid of earmarks.

He wrote in his biography, "Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself, something that encompasses you, but is not defined by your existence alone." His record of service, military and public, define who he is.

I think both sides of the aisle need to remember that this election is about McCain and Obama. Unfortunately, nothing has changed in politics and this is going to be one muddy 50 days.

bobisimo said...

Obama and campaign were specifically responding to McCain quote that he was "a [computer] illiterate [who] has to rely on my wife for all of the assistance I can get." McCain also said that "I'm learning to get online myself. I'm becoming computer literate to the point where I can get the information that I need."

This may not bother you. And using computers may not be a factor in any way for the office of President. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's been said that Bush doesn't use them and that they don't let him have an e-mail account - for security reasons.

But for a lot of computer-savvy voters the idea of a President who is only just now trying to learn the basics of the language they fluently speak is insane. This is the language that our lowest-level employees need to be proficient at in order to gain that low-level work. And he's just now trying to learn it.

Also, those same voters want to know that when McCain is discussing technology he knows what he is talking about. Net neutrality, for example, is an important issue (one of many), and voters want to know that McCain understands the arguments because his decisions will impact net users.

It's true that you don't need to know how to send an e-mail in order to have an opinion on net neutrality, but that's where the whole "out of touch" statement stems from. When you rely on the internet, you want to know that the person who helps to mold its future truly understands it. Look at the backlash against Senator Stevens for his (ridiculous) comments!

The rest of this post is a hilarious. I think half the reason I love following politics is because it's so fun to see something happen and then watch both sides re-interpret it as if we didn't just see how it actually happened. And this one is almost as good as the job that was done on Obama about his pig in lipstick comment.

artfuggins said...

Excuses...excuses ...excuses...
McCain cant use a computer because he is out of touch...just like he thinks if you earn up to $5,000,000 you are still middle class......No one would ever disparage any war injuries he might have or his service but.....there are people with no arms who are using computers daily...

Covenant60 said...

vox.... if you had been paying attention, what McCain/Palin have said about what they want for the country would have been clear to you:

1. Keep taxes low and reduce them where possible. (as opposed to Obama/Biden's scheme to raise taxes on the "rich" and to resdistribute income to the "poor").
2. Secure America's energy independence with immediate offshore drilling (opposed by Obama/Biden) and alternative fuels.
3. Defeat America's enemies overseas and secure America's victory in Iraq that was begun by the surge which Obama/Biden opposed.
4. Take on corrupt spending practiced in Washington and eliminate earmarks (in contrast to Obama's use of earmarks to the tune of $1,000,000 per working day...which is only 143 days of course).
5. Expand Americans' health insurance coverage by allowing their health insurance premiums to be credited (refundable) against their tax liability, to make health insurance more portable, and to expand and improve HSAs. This would expand coverage without the need for government to become the gatekeeper between a patient and the health care they need. (as opposed to Obama/Biden, who seek government mandates, increased government spending and taxes, and basically nationalising a huge section of America's health care industry, which would reduce the availablity of health care to average Americans and stifle medical/technological innovation).


These are specific agendas and goals that have been put forth time and time and time again by McCain/Palin.

Have you been asleep?

Check out JohnMcCain.com for more proposals for reform in America.

Americans do not want more of the same old tax and spend/weak on national security Democratic policies.

Instead Americans want a center-right domestic reform agenda... that tackles government spending and corruption and keeps taxes low.

They don't want America to lose a war, and want our enemies defeated,

They don't want more and more government control over their lives. They want school choice, for example (another specific proposal you must have slept through).

And they want an experienced, principled American who puts Country First in the White House.

Not someone who callously advances his own personality and power at the expense of the truth and common decency, as Obama has done with his latest "get tough" ad.

M Theory said...

They did the fingernail torture on McCain.

Also, presidents cant use email anyway. Otherwise their electronic correspondence would be constantly requested under FOI.

And if Roe vs. Wade gets overturned, then it will be up to the states to decide the issue, which I don't think is a bad thing.

Also, if the power goes to individual states to decide issues like abortion, it might give the states back power we don't have anymore.

Who knows Roe vs. Wade could lead to individual states approving the use of medical marijuana ultimately to save dying people from having their homes raided by the DEA.

More deaths occur each year from Tylenol use than from marijuana. Never in history has their been a marijuana related death.

The biggest lobbyists against medical marijuana (and the war on drugs) are the pharmaceutical, tobacco, and alcohol industries.

Sarah Palin sounded very libertarian like last night. I think she likes the constitutionally sound platform of states having their own power.

And I think she IS ready...at least more than Obama is.

Downtown Indy said...

Is Obama's team employing hard-core Democrat photographers to expand their reach by producing intentionally unflattering, even vulgar photographs of the Republican team?

http://www.pdnpulse.com/2008/09/how-jill-greenb.html

http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/2008/09/jill-greenberg-open-mouth-insert-foot.html

Warning: The 'professional' photographer's website homepage (a link to it can be found in the above pages) is extraordinarily disgusting, with an ape relieving itself on McCain's head.

It's just beyond the bounds of my comprehension. But she IS being truthful when she call herself 'the manipulator.'

7th CD guy said...

McCain cant use a computer because he is out of touch...

Just like you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Lots of people over 55 don't use
e-mail. Not because they are out of touch, they just don't want to.
Same reason Wilson he does not drive. Never learned, and doesn't want to now!

Jon E. Easter said...

They make computers that can serve folks with disabilities. I believe the grander question is does McCain even understand the Internet and its effect on society.

I'm willing to bet that if John McCain wanted to use a computer, there could be accomodations for him...ie voice recognition software, etc.

The man doesn't understand or use modern technology.

I honor him for his service and sacrifice, but the Obama camp is right on target here.

M Theory said...

Judging from McCain's website, he does understand the internet and its effect on society.