McCain Staffer Turns His Candidate Into A Joke The Whole Internet Can Enjoy

Okay. This is a little bit complicated to explain. Also: boring. So here's the short version. This week, there was this conference called the Personal Democracy Forum, or PDF, and at the PDF there was a panel discussion - on internet stuff! - like Twitter and, uhm...PDFs. And junk.

Anyway, at this panel, Mark Soohoo, who is ostensibly part of John McCain's "internet team" was explaining to the assembled that despite the outward appearance that McCain hasn't learned how to use Google - and is thus still unaware that his campaign's BFF Charlie Black has this annoying hobby of repping for bloodthirsty dictators - the candidate has plenty of what we used to call "computer literacy." But then: DAG! Here comes blogger (and former John Edwards internet director) Tracy Russo, gettin' all up in Soohoo's grill, funnin' on McCain! That led Soohoo to utter these immortal words, "John McCain is aware of the internet." As it turns out, that dovetailed a little too closely with "I am aware of all Internet traditions" - another joke that Wonkette had recently catapulted into the online political conversation. And now, a perfect storm of meme is born.

[WATCH.]

So there you have it. McCain's internet guy got PWNED at a conference, yes, but it would be unfair for this incident to come to be known as the moment where people realized that McCain didn't know how to use a computer. That moment came last week, when John McCain yelled at Barack Obama for having a powerful social network of campaign donors who used the internet to create a new and innovative method of public campaign finance, while John McCain is stuck trying to raise money with a bundle of pointed sticks and some cave paint.

RELATED: The Five Internet Jokes That Will Make Obama Win [Gawker]

Comments

[gage]

While Obama was mocking the rural poor as bitter and clinging to their guns, McCain was in Kentucky proposing ways to improve their condition:

"The modern economy offers new opportunities for communities like Inez. In particular, through access to high-speed Internet services that facilitate interstate commerce, drive innovation, and promote educational achievements, there is the potential to change lives. ...

I think we should establish a "People Connect Program" that rewards companies that offer high-speed Internet access services to underserved, low-income customers by allowing these companies to write off the cost of this service. The government should enlist the help of private/public partnerships to devise creative and successful solutions to the lack of access to information technology. In many places, cities and towns are working with businesses that have experience providing high-speed Internet services to share the cost of building and improving that service. Where companies are unwilling to build information infrastructure, the federal government can support towns through government-backed loans or by issuing bonds with a low interest rate.

An aggressive effort to knit together all of the United States with 21st century information networks will make location less of a factor in the potential for economic success. Instead, the prime determinant will be the skills, energy, imagination, and persistence of Americans -- attributes that have traditionally been in great supply in America, and certainly exist here, where people have always prided themselves on hard work and self-relia­nce."

[NYC07]

In the world of every day technology, John McCain is still trying to figure out how you "Hit Enter"

[Kenai]

Or, still searching for the "any" key.

[coba]

there is no way you can describe the internet to someone and then have them be able to use it effectively without someones help escpecially if they are old and dont now how to use a computer..­..just saying http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/gop-senator-uses-obama-in-new-tv-ad/

[jOke]

wow.... .. .. what a joke..

[nclayla]

I am aware of brain surgery - anyone want to be a patient of mine?

[janinius]

OMG that is AWESOME! I know there are alot of people in red states who would be lining up apparently!

[flydoghead]

O M G

[Syco]

In the words of Kevin and Olivia

EPIC FAIL!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!

[AnnArky]

McCain is "aware" of the internet . . . and I'm aware of the dark side of the moon.

[Syco]

McCain: the internet is witchcraft

[oaddi]

What a bad Representative for John McCain this guy makes John seem out of touch and archaic. "He knows about the Internet" yeah right and he want to make policies about something he knows about. ?? How many of you would prefer having horse and buggy vs a car of your choice?

[AuntSally]

A see a bumper sticker here:

JOHN MCCAIN - Aware of the Internet!

Or the shorter version:

JOHN MCAIN -- Aware!

[Herse182]

Uber pwnage

[Syco]

on so many levels

[politicalgenius]

Proverbs 29:18 - "Where there is no vision, the people perish". It's clear that the Conductor of the Double Talk Express has no vision for this country or of the future. He is a telegram in world of emails. The Model-T in the age of Hybrids. He is the past in a world longing for the future. I can promise you all this, that during debates, the Double Talk Express will do everything in his power to skirt the issues beccause and talk about the past because he is not prepared for the future. If this is the guy people want to lead, I'd strongly urge you to ask yourself - 'where is he gonna lead me/us?'

[nclayla]

You may not really be a political genius, but you did put that pretty well. Thanks.

[gage]

See my comment above, if it makes it through.

[mapleman]

most are just doing their best..but yeah, most could toughen up and stop apologizing for it.

case in point: democrats caving on FISA.

I mean...wha­h???

with a senate majority, and you're still kissing GOP butt?

i just don't get the liberal-at-large mindset in this post 9/11 world either, sorry.

i mean..er..­sorry.

[nclayla]

And this relates to John McCain 'being ware of' the internet in what way?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[MissingAmerica]

I think her question and her point are spot on. I am a senior who had a career in computers from the beginning with the IBM Mag Cards, and I watched them progress to this point. When the PCs began showing up, it impacted my career and I railed at them. I received my first computer several years ago and went online shortly thereafter. There are a lot of negatives about the internet, but there are a lot of positive aspects. One which is relevant is that it has made the world a bit smaller by connecting us with everyone in every area on the globe. I fail to see how we can read about the beauty of a country one day online and then invade and bomb it the next. Perhaps if George Bush had been online, he could have used the "internets" to see that the Iraqi people wanted the same thing we do, which is to live in peace and be allowed to conduct their lives as they see fit.

We need a president who knows what is going on, and McCain would be moving into the same fog which has enveloped Bush. We can't afford another ignorant, arrogant warlord.