McCain Computer Ignorance Raises New Questions: Can His Injured Hands Type?
In response to an Obama campaign ad that reminded viewers of John McCain's computer illiteracy, bloggers circulated reports that war injuries may prevent the Republican presidential nominee from using a computer keyboard.
On Friday, the Obama campaign's new ad called "Still" criticized McCain for being "out of touch" and reiterated the fact that McCain "doesn't know how to use a computer, can't send an email..."
McCain supporters like Ed Morrissey of "Hot Air," went after the ad. Morrissey found a Boston Globe article from 2000 that reports that "McCain's severe war injuries prevent him from combing his hair, typing on a keyboard, or tying his shoes."
The text of Obama's ad extended a storyline that has thread through the campaign, where McCain's digital communication failings are seen as a symbol of his being out of touch more generally with the public and unable to lead a country desperately looking to turn the page on the past.
"Things have changed in the last 26 years, but McCain hasn't. He admits he still doesn't know how to use a computer, can't send an email, still doesn't understand the economy, and favors 200 billion in tax cuts for corporations, but almost nothing for the middle class. After one president who was out of touch, we just can't afford more of the same."
Yahoo opened the topic when it questioned the Republican candidates about whether they used Macs or PCs. McCain's reply: "Neither, I'm a illiterate that has to rely on my wife for all of the assistance I can get."
Political bloggers had a field day with that. Atrios wrote:
"I think in 2008 computer use and understanding of the internet should be part of the basic skill set we expect from people in positions of prominent public leadership. It's pretty much impossible to have any kind of understanding of how people in the modern world go about their lives and work without that."
Then in June, Internet strategists convened at the Personal Democracy Forum, culminating with a heated debate on stage about whether candidates must be able to use technology to have a real understanding of it.
McCain countered in an interview with the Chronicle late July saying "It's changing the information age, and I've got to stay up with it." Also "I am forcing myself... let me put it this way, I am using the computer more and more every day." He added that his staff was "constantly showing [e-mail] to me as the news breaks during the day." That didn't ilicit much new confidence from techies in McCain's abilities, but it felt like a step.
Whether McCain's physical limitations are part of what is keeping him from using computers remains to be seen, but if so, there are a lot of assistive devices out there for using computers for people who have injuries or disabilities: certain types of mice, voice activation software, special keyboards, keyboard usage training, etc. Still, training to use those kinds of devices can take time - something presidential candidates do not have at their disposal. With less than two months left in the campaign, there's definitely not enough time for a self-proclaimed computer illiterate to get up to snuff.
As Sarah Lai Stirland of Wired News noted, Rahm Emanuel explained in Friday's media conference call about the ad, "There's a whole economic revolution going on that has fundamentally changed the economy and fundamentally changed people's lives, and he's removed from that."
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He was cleared for flight duty after Vietnam, so obviously he can physically type or use a mouse. His problem is mental, not physical. His cognitive difficulties are seen more and more every day. My Father passed away at 82 with a confusion about emails and internet, after having a computer for years. He just lost the ability, over time. McCain, with a lack of computer skills, never learned them, never will. His people can set him up with a page and he can read that, but he cannot independently use the "internets".
McCain was able to undergo physical therapy after being released from Hanoi so he could fly jets again. This guy can fly a jet but he can't type? Wow, ...
This is the biggest piece of balderdash I've ever heard. 30+ years ago blind people were able to hold down jobs as IT programmers. Stephen Hawkins uses voice recognition software. This is a non-story!
This argument once again puts McCain as the victim. His campaign seems to be really good at playing the victim. In other words, if we don't have a real answer, it's time to be the victim again. Is that was goes for leadership these days in the Republican party?
Computers have been a godsend to many disabled people, not the other way around. The truth is McCain doesn't have an interest in the internet, much like he doesn't have an interest in the economy. I'm betting he's never watched YouTube unassisted and doesn't know what an RSS feed is. During one of the primary exchanges with the a blogger and one of his surrogates, it was made clear that John McCain knows that the internet exists.. oh joy! oh joy!
It's time to move this country FORWARD.
Do not be fooled any attack on Mccain will be spun on to his POW status. The real issue is does that explain his lying campaign.
Blind people with middle-class incomes use computers routinely now. Acquiring new skills is precisely what McCain is asking from the American workforce at risk of losing their jobs. Computers are also one of the best ways to address government “inefficiencies”. What happened to leading by example?
They have software for everything but a dead soul, so if he wanted to type he could. My 80 year old mother keystokes with two fingers. They even have voice activated software, and besides I saw mccain salute in a picture last week that was on the front page of several papers and was posted on Huffpo.
So all of those people who enable JM, WAKE UP. No one with an ounce of intelligence believes that he can not use a couple of fingers and can not afford a program that cost a couple hundred dollars. Only the undereducated and really old people will even go for that, it's just another POW pity move.
pffffffft!
There is a lot of aide out there for people who have physical limitations that allows them to use the computer. His wife could purchase the BEST for him and tutors to help him use it. I also recall that he reportedly liked to snatch the Blackberries from people on his Express and use them.
Likewise, there are several mouse options that give excellent control to people who have limited shoulder movement and hand movement. I know a man with severe trembling in his hand who is able to manipulate the mouse superbly with his trackball.
The reason he can't do these things is because he is out of touch. My mother is 66 and she has taught "computer literacy" to people as old as McCain.
As to who the ad is aimed at, well, older people identify with McCain. They know that when/if they lose their jobs or retire that it is difficult to get a job without retraining to learn computer skills. You have to keep up with current trends or your experience becomes irrelevant. Like McCain.
Exactly -- I am in regular communication via e-mail with a woman who has been blind since she was 12 (she is now in her 50s) and a gentleman who has severe muscular dystrophy. Speech-to-type software has been available for a good 15 years now to assist those with severe arthritis and those missing limbs.
Famed physicist Steven Hawking has ALS and is now almost completely paralyzed -- and he uses a computer!
This may come as a surprise to some, but the use of a computer is open even to people with no hands at all.
Voice activated computing allows computer use without the need for a keyboard. The war injuries are a non issue when it comes to computing.
Let's keep our eyes on the ball.
If McCain is disabled, he must identify himself as such. He must also acknowledge that disabled people of means, like McCain, have access to technology that enables them to use computers.
uh his campaign's response to the ad on friday was that sen. mccain travels with a laptop, he's also previously talked about using cell phones and blackberries, if he can do that he can sure as hell type an email. the argument that he can't use a computer because of his war injuries is complete nonsense and originated from the right wing blogosphere, surely he can manage just as well as the millions of other single finger typists out there. the issue here is the same that it is with a lot of other areas, his general lack of intellectual curiosity; he has shown little desire to explore new arenas and understand new technologies, that type of small minded approach is problematic for a presidential candidate in the 21st century, when technology is so integral to everything that happens in our world, in particular the economic world.
Presumably he had time during the last 8 years seeing as how the Congress worked the least amount of days of any Congress in history.
He is not a congressman, but he has no excuse for not knowing how to use a computer.
Julie - That's a completely unfair and uncalled for remark. If YOU spent some time with Google you'd know that online political fund raising and grass roots organizations have changed a lot since 2000. I'd be willing to bet money that the author of this post knows a hell of a lot more about current day online politics than any of her commenters, including you.
A quick Google search told me that "she directed the launch of what Wired News called the 'first true weblog to be put up by a politician,' for Gary Hart in 2004 and that she's an expert in this particular area.
"McCain pioneered use of the web in presidential campaigns, as Joe Trippi says." Actually, Trippi credited McCain's CAMPAIGN in 2000 with pioneering the use of the web in presidential campaigns. McCain didn't do it himself any more than Al Gore invented the internet.
Leave it to McCain to again play the POW card. Unfreakinb
Is there ANYTHING McCain won't connect with his time as a POW?
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