# Obama ridicules McCain's disability **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 13, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493 "2008-09-13T22:30:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/21 "2008-09-13T23:13:21Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > That’s a new one on me: the controls for flying a plane are just like the controls for typing on a computer. Who knew? > > The actual answer: nobody knew that because it’s not true. > > Yet another new one: the controls for typing on a computer are just like signing your name with a pen. Who knew? > > Care to guess the actual answer for that one? You guys are really reaching on this one. Did you just get your Inspector Gadget Extendo-Arm shipment in today? To break it down into simple terms for simple people: McCain can fly a fighter jet, but he can’t use a computer. This is an indication of his disinclination to _learn to use_ a computer, not an indication that the motor skills are the same. Your boy is stuck in the distant past, and isn’t a leader for the 21st Century. Period. ---
**Author:** ![Camus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@Camus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camus)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/22 "2008-09-13T23:17:13Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > In his new ad, Obama points out the fact that McCain doesn’t use a computer to make him look woefully behind the times. The fact is that due to his torture in Vietnam, McCain can’t do many things that involve fine motor skills of the hands such as combing his own hair. The truth is that is family uses the computer for him and he has started surfing the web to stay abreast with the times with their help. > > So, Obamaites. Defend your candidate running this ad. According to a story on [comcast.net](http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20080912/Obama/) of all places, the ad says: [QUOTE=Obama ad] “He admits he still doesn’t know how to use a computer, can’t send an e-mail, still doesn’t understand the economy, and favors two hundred billion in new tax cuts for corporations, but almost nothing for the middle class.” [/QUOTE] [Here](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/11/mccain-admits-he-doesnt-k_n_106478.html) is a video (if you can look past the Huffington Post url) of McCain saying that he’s illiterate when it comes to computers and relies completely on his wife. The fact that he says “illiterate” and not “unable” when it comes to computers is key. The video is apparently of a reporter from Yahoo news asking several of the then-Republican candidates during the primary season about various things. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/23 "2008-09-13T23:18:09Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So far the score stands at: > 2 - McCain should use other body parts (1 feet, 1 voice [technically not a body part]) > 2 - Yeah but McCain is a bastard > 1 - “Cite” > > I especially enjoy the comment that not being able to do something shouldn’t affect whether or not you should KNOW how to do something. Did you have to type to learn how to use a computer, type emails, and post to straight dope. So you’ll just be keeping track of requests for a cite, not actually providing a response to them? That’s kind of bad form, and not really the way things are done here. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/24 "2008-09-13T23:19:11Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > That’s a new one on me: the controls for flying a plane are just like the controls for typing on a computer. Who knew? So, you feel it’s possible that a man with the motor skills to pilot an airplane lacks the motor skills to type on a keyboard? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/25 "2008-09-13T23:20:29Z")
I’ve seen students who are so crippled with CP they can only move one hand and barely that surf the Internet. Spare me the “phony outrage” that Obama’s mocking his supposed “disabilities” preventing him from using a computer. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/26 "2008-09-13T23:22:12Z")
Note that the McCain campaign’s own [response](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/09/obama-slams-mcc.html) is that McCain travels with a laptop. I tend to think it’s a dumb ad, but this is ridiculous excuse making. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/27 "2008-09-13T23:22:28Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > That’s a new one on me: the controls for flying a plane are just like the controls for typing on a computer. Who knew? > > The actual answer: nobody knew that because it’s not true. > > Yet another new one: the controls for typing on a computer are just like signing your name with a pen. Who knew? > > Care to guess the actual answer for that one? Go on keep ignoring the fact there’s plenty of technology to enable McCain to use a computer. But by doing so you’re remaining just as willfully ignorant as McCain, and dishonest like him too. Surely since he has more houses then he count he can afford to get a fucking $10 dollar microphone. ---
**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 13, 2008, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/28 "2008-09-13T23:26:03Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > Note that the McCain campaign’s own [response](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/09/obama-slams-mcc.html) is that McCain travels with a laptop. I tend to think it’s a dumb ad, but this is ridiculous excuse making. Ooh ooh … let me answer for Cad and Monty; “Oh yeah! Well just because he travels with it, doesn’t mean he can lift his hands above his shoulders to use it. Why do you hate America?” ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/29 "2008-09-13T23:27:30Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > The fact is that due to his torture in Vietnam, McCain can’t… From [Mcain interview in the NYT:](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/us/politics/13text-mccain.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print) > [@](#): > > Q: But do you go on line for yourself? > > Mr. McCain: They go on for me. I am learning to get online myself, and I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself. I don’t expect to be a great communicator, I don’t expect to set up my own blog, but I am becoming computer literate to the point where I can get the information that I need – including going to my daughter’s blog first, before anything else. The fact is that if your fact were actually a fact, **Saint Cad** , Mr. McCain could not reasonably expect to get online himself “fairly soon.” Was McCain lying in this interview, or do you have your facts screwed up? ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/30 "2008-09-13T23:38:27Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > That’s a new one on me: the controls for flying a plane are just like the controls for typing on a computer. Who knew? > > The actual answer: nobody knew that because it’s not true. > > Yet another new one: the controls for typing on a computer are just like signing your name with a pen. Who knew? > > Care to guess the actual answer for that one? The stupidity of this post is just incredibly astounding and insulting to anyone with any degree of intelligence. Typing on a normal or special keyboard is much easier than handwriting or driving a car or flying an airplane. Some disabled people who cannot handwrite can manage to type on a keyboard. And, as has been said, even people who cannot type can use computers by using voice or other ways. The fact is that McCain does not know how to use a computer because, well, he never bothered to learn. That’s why. But if having served in Vietnam and having suffered injury and trauma are qualifications for being US president then I am sure there are men even more qualified. Find someone who los both legs and arms and brain in a mine explosion and was left in a vegetative state. I have no doubt he would make a better president than McCain. No doubt whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/31 "2008-09-13T23:49:19Z")
> [@sailor](#): > > The stupidity of this post is just incredibly astounding and insulting to anyone with any degree of intelligence. Typing on a normal or special keyboard is much easier than handwriting or driving a car or flying an airplane. Some disabled people who cannot handwrite can manage to type on a keyboard. And, as has been said, even people who cannot type can use computers by using voice or other ways. The fact is that McCain does not know how to use a computer because, well, he never bothered to learn. That’s why. > > But if having served in Vietnam and having suffered injury and trauma are qualifications for being US president then I am sure there are men even more qualified. Find someone who los both legs and arms and brain in a mine explosion and was left in a vegetative state. I have no doubt he would make a better president than McCain. No doubt whatsoever. [You rang](http://gordonunleashed.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/turdsandwich.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/32 "2008-09-13T23:51:01Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > That’s a new one on me: the controls for flying a plane are just like the controls for typing on a computer. Who knew? > > The actual answer: nobody knew that because it’s not true. > > Yet another new one: the controls for typing on a computer are just like signing your name with a pen. Who knew? > > Care to guess the actual answer for that one? The actual answer is that for five years John McCain didn’t even have access to a computer, plane, or pen. I’m not John McCain, but I approve this message. ---
**Author:** ![MrK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrK)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/33 "2008-09-13T23:54:21Z")
Stephen Hawking seems to manage using a computer fairly well. [http://www.hawking.org.uk/text/disable/computer.html](http://www.hawking.org.uk/text/disable/computer.html) Any response **Saint Cad** or **Monty**? ---
**Author:** ![LunaticFringette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/fbc32d/32.png) [@LunaticFringette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LunaticFringette)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/34 "2008-09-14T00:16:29Z")
Hijack not intended, but why would either one of them use a computer given the security risks? Whether the communications would be covered under executive privilege wouldn’t really matter to hackers, domestic or foreign. I’m not talking about only top super secret documents etc… I’d not want even my google history to be public fodder. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/35 "2008-09-14T00:18:31Z")
**Monty** , **Cad** , may I ask for some clarification? Forget the Obama ad and its implications/fairness for a moment. I’m wondering about an initial premise: Are you (or the collective you, whichever you may prefer), stating that: Due to injuries sustained during his life, John McCain is **physically unable to use a computer for any purpose** ; that if not for these purely **physical** limitations, he would have been able to use a computer to the extent a typical high-powered businessperson does: MS Word, possibly Excel, Outlook or other email client, basic Internet usage (e.g., visit news sites, has ability to use Google or Yahoo to find information) or some combination thereof. The implicated question, whether a politician should know about dancing hamsters, All Your Base, or the reliability debate between Wiki and EB, is completely secondary to my request for clarification. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/36 "2008-09-14T00:21:22Z")
My only question is if **Cad** manufactured this latest fake outrage himself, or if somebody like Limbaugh or Coulter brewed it up and he just blindingly drank it down. Anybody hear this shit-nugget before this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/37 "2008-09-14T00:22:02Z")
It’s Jonah “Liberal Fascism” Goldberg’s creation. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/38 "2008-09-14T00:23:08Z")
> [@LunaticFringette](#): > > Hijack not intended, but why would either one of them use a computer given the security risks? Whether the communications would be covered under executive privilege wouldn’t really matter to hackers, domestic or foreign. I’m not talking about only top super secret documents etc… I’d not want even my google history to be public fodder. I’m sure that for sensitive information, there’s some kind of intranet that’s not connected to the outside world. Besides that, computers are still useful for word processing and archiving/passing along info (through, say, DVDs). ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/39 "2008-09-14T00:23:40Z")
So if using a computer is difficult for him to use, McCain needs to damn well learn to use it anyways rather than have family or aides get the needed information? What compassion from the Demos. I don’t care if it hurts to type - freaking use the computer anyways! Don’t ask your wife to pull up Explorer and type in the URL for [NYTIMES.com](http://NYTIMES.com) to look it over. or Type with your fucking toes or use voice recognition. Don’t have an aide type up an email for you to look over. ---
**Author:** ![wmfellows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@wmfellows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wmfellows)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/40 "2008-09-14T00:25:07Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > In his new ad, Obama points out the fact that McCain doesn’t use a computer to make him look woefully behind the times. The fact is that due to his torture in Vietnam, McCain can’t do many things that involve fine motor skills of the hands such as combing his own hair. The truth is that is family uses the computer for him and he has started surfing the web to stay abreast with the times with their help. > > So, Obamaites. Defend your candidate running this ad. You know, mate, I often wonder, what is it about political season that causes people to become so entirely unmoored from rational thought. The US is terribly entertaining though. But the mate ain’t a bloody cripple, he threw ball out for your national pasttime, eh? Edit to add (bloody wonderful this innovation): It would make more sense if you went after the sheer idiocy of the idea of attacking the bugger for not using email, I mean that’s just bloody pitiful. The whole cripple thing demeans your man (and is plain dumb to boot), mate, but make into snobbish Left bollocks, and you’ve got gold. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493.md?page=3)