# McCain invents Blackberry! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 16, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858 "2008-09-16T16:51:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/81 "2008-09-18T19:05:34Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > He didnt mean “somebody who cant (physically) use a computer” he said computer _illiterate_, he does not \*know \* how to use one. Just to confirm what **Frodo** has said with a cite: > [@](#): > > McCain, who has referred to himself as a computer “illiterate,” has never cited his war injuries as the reason why he doesn’t use e-mail or never learned other computer skills. > > For example, when asked by [Politico.com](http://Politico.com) earlier this year what type of computer he uses, McCain responded: “I am an illiterate that has to rely on my wife for all the assistance that I can get.” In other interviews, he has said he never saw the need to use e-mail because of his staff support. > > Earlier, in a March 2006 interview with Fortune magazine, McCain said his work style didn’t require computer usage. But he did not cite his injuries. [http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/14/obama\_ad\_takes\_heat\_for\_mccain\_cyber\_shot/](http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/14/obama_ad_takes_heat_for_mccain_cyber_shot/) So let’s put that particular bunch of crap to bed right now, MKay? (This is where **Dr. Deth** comes in and says “wow guys, you were right. Thanks for fighting my ignorance.”) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/82 "2008-09-18T19:27:48Z")
There’s a first time for everything, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/83 "2008-09-18T19:36:40Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > On the upside, if McCain get’s the White House, we won’t have to worry about there being any ‘deleted emails’ or “emails sent using the wrong account” scandals to embarrass him! 😉 McCain incident 1: “I keep shredding these embarrassing emails but they _won’t go away!_” McCain incident 2: Writes a secret email about how his administration is going to purge the Justice Department of Democrats and accidentally sends it “Reply To All.” Everybody in the Department of Justice receives a copy. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/84 "2008-09-18T19:52:49Z")
[Speaking of emails. . .](http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/09/group-posts-e-m.html) > [@](#): > > Vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s private Yahoo e-mail account was hacked, and some of its contents posted on the internet Wednesday. > > The internet griefers known as Anonymous took credit for the intrusion, and screenshots of e-mail messages and photos belonging to the Alaska governor have been published by WikiLeaks. Threat Level has confirmed the authenticity of at least one of the e-mails. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/85 "2008-09-18T19:56:13Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > McCain incident 1: “I keep shredding these embarrassing emails but they _won’t go away!_” > > McCain incident 2: Writes a secret email about how his administration is going to purge the Justice Department of Democrats and accidentally sends it “Reply To All.” Everybody in the Department of Justice receives a copy. McCain incident 3: “I just need to drag these super-top-secret emails to the Trash folder, right?” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/86 "2008-09-18T19:56:36Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Just to confirm what **Frodo** has said with a cite: > > [URL=“[http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/14/obama\_ad\_takes\_heat\_for\_mccain\_cyber\_shot/](http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/14/obama_ad_takes_heat_for_mccain_cyber_shot/)”] > So let’s put that particular bunch of crap to bed right now, MKay? > > (This is where **Dr. Deth** comes in and says “wow guys, you were right. Thanks for fighting my ignorance.”) Or, this > **[New Obama Campaign Gaffe: War Injuries Prevent McCain's Using A Keyboard](https://groups.google.com/g/alt.war.vietnam/c/i3aCNfhfFKU)** " 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. " [http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/why-doesnt-mcca.html](http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/why-doesnt-mcca.html) "\*McCain did once describe himself as computer “illiterate” and dependent upon his wife for computer assistance, but there’s more to the tale than that. Assuredly McCain isn’t comfortable talking about this – and the McCain campaign discouraged me from writing about this – but the reason the aged Arizonan doesn’t use a computer or send e-mail is because of his war wounds. I realize some of the nastier liberals in the blogosphere will see this as McCain once again “playing the POW card,” but it’s simply a fact: typing on a regular keyboard for any sustained period of time bothers McCain physically. He can type, he occasionally does type, but in general, the injuries he sustained as a POW – ones that make it impossible for him to raise his arms high enough to comb his hair – mean that small tasks make his shoulders ache, so he tries to avoid any repetitive exercise. Again, it’s not that he can’t type, he just by habit, avoids when he can, repetitive exercise involving his arms. He does if he has to, as with handshaking or autographs."\* [http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/09/13/bh-obama-mocks-john-mccains-war-injuries/](http://hoosieraccess.com/blog/2008/09/13/bh-obama-mocks-john-mccains-war-injuries/) _Earlier today, Barack Obama’s campaign released an ad attacking John McCain for not knowing how to send an e-mail. Their crack research team apparently never heard of Google or Lexis-Nexis, but Jonah Goldberg does. He discovers why McCain doesn’t use a keyboard — his torturers made sure he couldn’t. The Boston Globe reported it eight years ago:….McCain’s severe war injuries prevent him from combing his hair, typing on a keyboard, or tying his shoes…_ I can get you more cites. It is true that McCain himself, “who has referred to himself as a computer “illiterate,” has never cited his war injuries as the reason why he doesn’t use e-mail or never learned other computer skills.”. McCain also downplays his injuries, thus the fact that McCain himself doesn’t personally use that as a defense does not mean it isn’t true. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/87 "2008-09-18T20:04:27Z")
In this [train-wreck](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=483236), which was an offshoot from this [train-wreck:](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=483229) , **Harborwolf** offered the following [cite](http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/14/obama_ad_takes_heat_for_mccain_cyber_shot/), ostensibly to point that: “McCain suffered broken bones that still prevent him from fully lifting his arms and has lost mobility as a result of fractured fingers.” However it also states: “McCain, who has referred to himself as a computer “illiterate,” has never cited his war injuries as the reason why he doesn’t use e-mail or never learned other computer skills.” Edited to add: Which I see **Euphonious Polemic** already cited. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/88 "2008-09-18T20:13:18Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Edited to add: Which I see **Euphonious Polemic** already cited. > Carry on. By way of mitigation, I was beaten up by a bully in 1975, this sometimes causes me great pain when I try to click on the correct page number in a thread. … but humility prevents me from talking about that. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/89 "2008-09-18T20:19:36Z")
His injuries also cause him to support torture, to forget which continent Spain is located in, to divorce his wife, and to invent the Blackberry. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/90 "2008-09-18T21:11:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > It is true that McCain himself, “who has referred to himself as a computer “illiterate,” has never cited his war injuries as the reason why he doesn’t use e-mail or never learned other computer skills.”. McCain also downplays his injuries, thus the fact that McCain himself doesn’t personally use that as a defense does not mean it isn’t true. So… he’s too humble, and downplays his injuries, preferring instead that he be thought of as “computer illiterate”. Gotcha. He’s an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/91 "2008-09-18T23:42:07Z")
i insist, the matter is not that MCain has difficulty using a computer for physical reasons, the fact is the man does not know the first thing about computers, a man who does not understand computers has as much place leading a superpower in 2008 as a man who does not know how to write would have in 1608. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/92 "2008-09-18T23:47:12Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > i insist, the matter is not that MCain has difficulty using a computer for physical reasons, the fact is the man does not know the first thing about computers, a man who does not understand computers has as much place leading a superpower in 2008 as a man who does not know how to write would have in 1608. No No, Frodo, you have it all wrong. DrDeth would have you believe that McCain really is physically incapable of using a computer, but instead of simply saying that, LIES his pants off, and says he is actually computer illiterate. So McCain is not lazy and stupid. He’s a congenital liar. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/93 "2008-09-18T23:52:29Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > No No, Frodo, you have it all wrong. > > DrDeth would have you believe that McCain really is physically incapable of using a computer, but instead of simply saying that, LIES his pants off, and says he is actually computer illiterate. > > So McCain is not lazy and stupid. He’s a congenital liar. DrDeth, do you believe MCain knows how to operate a computer but pretends not to? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/94 "2008-09-19T00:49:17Z")
Going somewhat irrelevant here but I worked for the company that provided Blackberry e-mail service to the senate and I can confirm that McCain had a Blackberry. This does not mean that he created it or even really used it (the only Senator whose staff I ever dealt with directly was Joe Lieberman so I know he used his) but McCain at least had one. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/95 "2008-09-19T01:13:54Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > DrDeth, do you believe MCain knows how to operate a computer but pretends not to? I beleive he can indeed check, read and send an email (but rarely does), but I if “computer literacy” can be compared to reading literacy, he’s at the “reading comics and only with his lips moving” stage, little doubt. But of course he has several excuses: his age, his disability and the fact that he has hordes of people who can do that for him. So, as far as “computer operator” I think he barely gets a D, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t understand the whole “interweb” and “tubes”😛 thing. He does have a sense of humor, can be self-depreciating, and doesn’t like to play off his injuries. OTOH, does the CEO at General Motors need to know how to change sparkplugs? Does the Commander in Chief need to know how to field strip a M16? I am planning on voting for Obama, even though he has no military experience. Does his lack of direct military experience disqualify him from being the Commander-in-Cheif in your eyes? Although doubtless Obama knows more about computers than McCain does, I don’t think he’s a programmer or IT expert either. I’ll bet that if one compared the gaps in Military expereince \*and \*computer experience between the two, the balance would weigh in McCains favor. But then, I trust that Obama will pick the best men in the field to give him military advice, so I don’t think he needs to know how to field strip a M16. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/96 "2008-09-19T04:37:32Z")
Wait… I thought McCain invented the cotton gin? And can you imagine what’s gonna happen to our government spending when President McCain receives a very distressing Nigerian email from one Dr. Clement Okon. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/97 "2008-09-19T12:38:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I beleive he can indeed check, read and send an email (but rarely does), but I if “computer literacy” can be compared to reading literacy, he’s at the “reading comics and only with his lips moving” stage, little doubt. But of course he has several excuses: his age, his disability and the fact that he has hordes of people who can do that for him. So, as far as “computer operator” I think he barely gets a D, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t understand the whole “interweb” and “tubes”😛 thing. He does have a sense of humor, can be self-depreciating, and doesn’t like to play off his injuries. > > OTOH, does the CEO at General Motors need to know how to change sparkplugs? > > Does the Commander in Chief need to know how to field strip a M16? > > I am planning on voting for Obama, even though he has no military experience. Does his lack of direct military experience disqualify him from being the Commander-in-Cheif in your eyes? > > Although doubtless Obama knows more about computers than McCain does, I don’t think he’s a programmer or IT expert either. I’ll bet that if one compared the gaps in Military expereince \*and \*computer experience between the two, the balance would weigh in McCains favor. > > But then, I trust that Obama will pick the best men in the field to give him military advice, so I don’t think he needs to know how to field strip a M16. There is a difference though, if you know how to use a computer, yo can learn the basics about anything by yourself in a few hours, you can see how the world reacts to some event, you are inmensely more open to new ideas and toughts, if you did not know how to read in the past, you were isolated from new toughts and had to depend on intemediaries, just like it is now with computers. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/98 "2008-09-19T15:53:58Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > There is a difference though, if you know how to use a computer, yo can learn the basics about anything by yourself in a few hours, you can see how the world reacts to some event, you are inmensely more open to new ideas and toughts, if you did not know how to read in the past, you were isolated from new toughts and had to depend on intemediaries, just like it is now with computers. It also means a computer-literate President can get bogged down 14 hours a day in emails, maddeningly difficult online puzzle games, and forum flamewars. Obama incident 1: “Look, Senator Clinton, I’m not saying I was _really_ burning your dog, it’s just a saying.” Obama incident 2: “Are you sure I can’t have the Secret Service break that guy’s legs? Did you see what that ignorant fuck _called_ me?” Obama incident 3: “Instead of signing statements, I will instead indicate my level of approval of a bill by drawing an emoticon beside my signature.” ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/99 "2008-09-19T16:18:57Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > It also means a computer-literate President can get bogged down 14 hours a day in emails, maddeningly difficult online puzzle games, and forum flamewars. > > Obama incident 1: “Look, Senator Clinton, I’m not saying I was _really_ burning your dog, it’s just a saying.” > > Obama incident 2: “Are you sure I can’t have the Secret Service break that guy’s legs? Did you see what that ignorant fuck _called_ me?” > > Obama incident 3: “Instead of signing statements, I will instead indicate my level of approval of a bill by drawing an emoticon beside my signature.” 😃 Obama incident 4: “2010/05/05 The budget for 2010 is still awaiting the president’s signature, when consulted, president Obama was heard to say 'i’ll get to it once i finish this "#”$ Egyptian Civilization’. Egipt diplomatic protests continue’" ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858/100 "2008-09-20T01:03:44Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > You guys are cracked. > > McCain was saying that he’s so old, he invented [Blackberries](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackberry), breeding them out from proto-raspberries back at the dawn of time. That’s quite a little rhubarb then, isn’t it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-invents-blackberry/463858.md?page=4)