Comments on: Obama Ad Slams McCain For Not Using E-Mail; McCain Unable To Use Keyboard After War Wounds

By: lhlland

lhlland — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 22:57:44 +0000

No one with a disability should be led into thinking that that should necessarily exclude him or her from using the internet. It is a wonderful tool for people like my daughter with cerebral palsy or her friend with muscular dystrophy for gaining access to a world of information and communication — a world without physical prejudices.

If typing is too painful as it can be even without a disability, there are many innovations such as virtual keyboards, sound activated programs and even customized computers that enable those with physical and other disabilities to use the internet.

I hope Senator McCain’s supporters will not mislead people into thinking that a disability should exclude them from this world.

By: PatricktheRogue

PatricktheRogue — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:26:56 +0000

Obama’s campaign just frakked up. It’s too bad, because this is the opposite of classy. I still won’t vote for John “stuck in the cold war” McCain because I think he is not the man to move America forward. I do however respect his service and war record.
However, as a notorious one-finger-hand-jammer, I can attest that you can indeed type an email, or a blog reply, with the one finger hunt-and-peck technique. Unfortunately I don’t have the excuse of being tortured by the VietCong, I just cheated in typing class decades ago and I am now paying the price.

By: Rue

Rue — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:22:35 +0000

Argh, come on, John. There are adaptive technologies to help cripples use computers, so don’t play the POW card on this one.

By: IT Guy

IT Guy — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 03:39:36 +0000

Being a “techy guy” is considered knowing the indepth workings and abilities of technology.
knowledge of both hardware & software is a requirement in the work force for most mid-level position and beyond. Not to mention all the other forms of technology out there. Yes, it is a serious impediment. If you do not understand the simple working of a process- how on earth can one govern the needs for regulations, procedures, laws pertaining to the ever advancing Internet. Ever heard of Global terrorism by use of the internet? It is around, but McCain is in that 20% that does not see the need to educate himself on those “techy things”. Come on get a grip- you could not even get a mid-level job at any company if you did not know how to use email, software programs, internet, powerpoints-etc. 7 yrs. olds know how to use email & technology.

By: YL

YL — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:35:39 +0000

It’s funny to see that people who have compared McCain to Stephen Hawkin or claim that even blind people can learn to use how to use email. But, the thing is, email is just a tool for communications, if he is able to communicate thru other channels, why would he spend his time to struggle typing an email with his physical difficulty while he will have other more important stuff to deal with. One will need to prioritize what one needs to do. I think knowing internet has transformed th world is important, but not being techy guy is not a serious impediment to presidency.

By: Trace

Trace — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:25:54 +0000

Thats right- Republicans play the sympathy card. I love the USA, people will cast their vote in November because they feel bad because of campaign ads.
Where were you when the republicans made a mockery out of Kerry’s war history, where were your calls of foul on his contribution to military efforts?

The internet and email is a vital part of our ecomony, global terrorism, domestic and international business and much more…It is not too much to expect a President knows how to use it. Get over the self rightous BS.(poor me I am old and he is calling me old.)
The 20% of americans not knowing how to use the computer are not running to be president.

On that note: maybe it is time for you old people to either get on board or get out of the way of progressive movement for our county to be able to compete globally. Hey, the next thing is ET=energy technology are you going be crying about that too?
Quit your whinning and either “teach the old dog new tricks or let him- roll over.”

By: LW

LW — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:03:03 +0000

First, on McCain’s war injuries: if he can write he can type. This is just another cheap attempt by the right to shout HE WAS A POW!! and hope that will elect this man to lead us into more failure.

But, second, you don’t need fingers, or even arms or legs to send an e-mail. Buddy of mine died of Lou Gehrig’s disease a couple of years back. At the end, he was sending e-mails with his eyes - - I’m not kidding. There are all kinds of technologies for voice activation and much else.

This is cheap and boring theater, McCainiacs. You’ve got to come up with something better than this.

By: Bob Hayes

Bob Hayes — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:31:05 +0000

Just for the record, Biden’s mistake was simply an error in perception - he didn’t see the guy was in a wheelchair, and he recovered gracefully and tactfully.

I agree with the rest of your comment.

By: Bobarian

Bobarian — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:49:12 +0000

Ace Tomato: “John McCain could fly jets.”

That is an understatement. This article is about President Bush, but the salient facts are apropos to Senator McCain:

http://www.ejectejecteject.com/archives/000136.html

To paraphrase the author, it is not possible to be technology illiterate and fly a supersonic jet fighter.

And Barack Obama wouldn’t know how to close the canopy of an A-4E Skyhawk.

By: Ace Tomato

Ace Tomato — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 06:46:10 +0000

Words fail me. Almost.

First, we have Joe Biden encouraging a handicapped, wheelchair bound Chuck Graham to stand up for a crowd.

Then we have Obama’s Law Review Article, the only one he wrote, on the topic of abortion, where he says the state has an interest in ” preventing increasing numbers of children from being born in to lives of pain and despair.” Got that? If you are pregnant with a child with a possible birth defect, the state has an interest in you aborting it. So much for Trig Palin.

And now we have the latest ad from the Obama/Biden camp making fun of John McCain for not being able to use a computer or send email. Obama/Biden poke fun at McCain, suggesting he is old and doesn’t get the new technology.

One small problem.

John McCain’s hands were so severly crushed by his torture as a POW, he can’t use a keyboard. It is physically impossible for him. John McCain cannot brush his own hair or tie his own shoes. He is a brilliant man, but he cannot lift one of his arms higher than his elbow. Prior to being tortured and having his bones broken over and over, John McCain could fly jets. So let’s not pretend McCain is some doddering buffoon who doesn’t understand technology.

John McCain is handicapped.

Obama and Biden are asses.

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 01:51:08 +0000

Obama is getting desperate and pathetic.

Since when did computer use become the litmus test of Presidential leadership?

Most Presidential candidates don’t place phone calls or drive cars. Hillary says she hasn’t driven since the Arkansas days.

When we look back, we will see this as the melt-down phase of the Obama campaign.

By: Setay

Setay — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 01:06:49 +0000

Funny how Stephen Hawking who is almost completely paralyzed can use a computer and blind people as well, but McCain can’t because he was a POW. So, please explain how he is learning NOW how to use a computer if he physically can’t?