Why McCain's Internet Ignorance Matters

Washingtonian:

There's been a lot of conversation in the presidential race so far about the impact of the Internet. From online videos and online fund-raising to social networking sites and blogs, this race is being shaped at every level by what takes place online. Much of this attention, rightly so, has gone to Barack Obama, whose campaign more than any other in history has been funded and powered by online organization. But the subject of the Internet may have just as big an impact on John McCain's campaign.

...

Last fall in the Republican YouTube debate, Senator McCain cited "information technology" as an area where he would likely need assistance from a vice president. It's a stunning admission and one we probably wouldn't tolerate in any other policy issue. Even given the nearly nine months since the debate, McCain still has no technology plan. Whereas Senator McCain devotes prominent real estate on his Web site to issues like "the sanctity of life," the Second Amendment, and "judicial philosophy," he has no entry on technology. Barack Obama, meanwhile, prominently features a plan to provide "technology and innovation for new agenda," an issue he addressed not only in his announcement speech in February 2007 but also in a far-reaching speech at Google headquarters in California late last year.

...

It's not so much that John McCain needs to personally blog or Twitter as president. In fact, I don't want the next president blogging or sending text messages from the Oval Office ... Instead, McCain's ignorance of the operations of the Internet today, I believe, says more about the candidate's intellectual curiosity than it does about his technical prowess.

Read the whole story: Washingtonian

Comments

[Grunty1]

A more appropiate headline would be "Why Mc'Cain's ignorance matters"

It ain't just the internet, folks.In fact, it turns out to be just about every topic worthy of a president discussing.

[poco767b]

Old man fails to google cloud.

[MPeter]

Agreed. It is just not internet ignorance, it is ignorance about women's reproductive rights, ignorance on greenhouse gases, ignorance on power for the future....He is just too ignorant.

[harriscrl3]

I couldnt agree more in fact I was thinking the same thing. He is also ignorant on foreign policy in that he confuses shia sunni thinks Iraq/Pakistan shares a border and Patreous is the chairman of the Joint cheifs of staff.

Carol

[shengirl]

Long before he was the candidate, many of his friends were saying that as far as the war in Iraq went, his thinking was stuck in the Viet Nam war. He was seeing Iraq in those terms, formulating his ideas and responses from that other war, he was stuck in the Viet Nam past. Much in his subsequent "campaign" seems to bear that out. We have to stay there till we "win", like we did not in Viet Nam and despite the fact that the government in Iraq, which we helped put in place, wants us out.

[cbungart]

Intellect matters.
A low brow continues to center his campaign on baseless sensational tabloid issues.
It amazes me that with real issues such as off shore drilling (lobby influenced flip-flop) instead of alternative energy and lowering actual demand) he still wins points.
Jeesh! Open you eyes Amerika! This is is a man with old dated answers for new and present crises.
The world is just getting faster and faster and he is just getting slower and slower.

[CocteausTwin]

Well I just would like to have a POTUS that can stay up with changing times and technology. Someone that has the ability to learn. I do not think McAbacus has demonstrated that ability.

[CaptainZero1969]

McAbacus...heh heh.

[obackarama]

What an apt metaphor.
Do we want to move forward, or not?

[poco767b]

I gotta get me some googles