From the New York Times:
Senator Barack Obama portrayed Senator John McCain as out of step with America’s concerns as he opened an aggressive front on Friday in television advertisements and campaign appearances that were intended to pacify Democrats who are jittery over the direction of the presidential campaign.
...A day after the two men suspended their divisive campaign to commemorate the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Mr. Obama amplified his criticism of Mr. McCain through new television advertisements that portrayed his 72-year-old rival as an entrenched Washington politician who is out of touch.
The advertisements — among the most pointed attacks to be put out by Mr. Obama — depicted Mr. McCain as he looked when he was first elected to Congress in 1982 and mocked his declaration that he does not use a computer or send his own e-mail messages, attempting to undermine the new argument from Mr. McCain that he is the candidate of change.
Watch Obama's ad, mocking McCain's alleged computer illiteracy.
The ad ends, "I'm Barack Obama, and I approve this message."
Really? Obama approves of the content of that message?
He thinks it's wise to slam John McCain for not using a computer when it's his war injuries that make it difficult for him to use a keyboard? Is that really a good idea?
Jonah Goldberg writes:
[T]he Obama campaign is mocking John McCain for not using a computer, without caring why he doesn't use a computer. From the AP story about the computer illiterate ad:"Our economy wouldn't survive without the Internet, and cyber-security continues to represent one our most serious national security threats," [Obama spokesman Dan] Pfeiffer said. "It's extraordinary that someone who wants to be our president and our commander in chief doesn't know how to send an e-mail."
Well, I guess it depends on what you mean by "extraordinary." The reason he doesn't send email is that he can't use a keyboard because of the relentless beatings he received from the Viet Cong in service to our country. From the Boston Globe (March 4, 2000):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.
...[H]ere's another story confirming he has difficulty using a keyboard. Ironically, it's from one of the most pro-Obama journalists out there, Jacob Weisberg, in an article in Slate in 2000:"Six months ago, no one would have pegged McCain as the most cybersavvy of this year's crop of candidates. At 63, he is the oldest of the bunch and because of his war injuries, he is limited in his ability to wield a keyboard."
I think Barack Obama should pull that ad immediately. He owes John McCain an apology.
I don't consider that attack ad to be tough, smashmouth politics. I consider it to be in extremely poor taste. Mocking McCain's disabilities that are the result of the torture he endured as a P.O.W. is no way to conduct a campaign.
How many times has Obama praised McCain for his service? How often does he express his respect for McCain's sacrifice?
What a load!
If Obama doesn't pull that ad, then clearly he does not mean it. He doesn't respect McCain. He doesn't appreciate McCain's service. That's just posturing. Obama will be exposed as a liar. He's not to be believed.
It's certainly possible that Obama and his staff weren't aware of McCain's difficulties with a keyboard. In the event that Obama's ignorance is at the root of the ad, it should be pulled and his sloppiness acknowledged.
Approving an ad that plays off of McCain's physical disabilities, his war injuries, is sick. Allowing it to continue to run is unforgivable.
7 comments:
He's not just bashing McCain for his injuries, he's inferring that only Democrats should be allowed to make choices about how to adapt to a disability.
McCain clearly has other ways of meeting his information and communication needs. Some people with injuries or disabilities choose adaptive equipment and the Occupational Therapy required to learn to use them. McCain decided he had better ways to spend his money and his time.
Should he be bashed for this?
What's next? Dissing people who choose to use a white cane instead of a guide dog?
Very well said.
I think the Globe article may have misrepresented, (not deliberately or anything), McCain's disability in that he is likely not really ~prevented~ from using a keyboard - it probably HURTS to use a keyboard for any extended length of time. I doubt McCain will ever use that as an excuse because he is obviously not a whiner. But John McCain not only used computers before BHO even knew what they were, he used them for something much more important that chit chatting politics on the Internet - he had to program his A4 weapons system computer with targeting and navigational data . You tell me, when it comes to securing our country, which cyber ability is truly more important? The ability enabling you to TALK about security or one that actually helps to PROVIDE IT?
And then there's Ronald Reagan: Then their spokesman began: "Governor, we want to talk to you, but I think you should realize that it's impossible for you to understand us - It's sad, but it's impossible for the members of your generation to understand your own children. "You weren't raised in a time of instant communications or satellites and computers solving problems in seconds that previously took hours or days or even weeks to solve. You didn't live in an age of space travel and journeys to the moon, of jet travel or high speed electronics." While he paused to take a breath, I said: "You're absolutely right. We didn't have those things when we were your age. We invented them"
Great comments, Mike!
What difference does it make if McCain doesn't use the internet. From what I've seen, Obama is running against George Bush.
So true.
On Meet the Press yesterday, Chuck Schumer said:
"What's going to decide this campaign, predominantly, are the big issues and who represents change. Both candidates agree change is the election issue. I'd bet my money on Obama-Biden as the change candidates, not McCain-Palin-Bush."
Funny.
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