# 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:** 5
**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 14, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/81 "2008-09-14T01:48:52Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > But why does John McCain need to have the ability to use a computer to be president? As I said, as long as he has the basic knowledge to handle policy decisions regarding the technology, what good does it do the president to be able to answer e-mails? For the same reason that any CEO in the nation should know how to use a computer. For the same reason that anyone in an any executive position should know how to use a computer. For the same reason that anyone with any sort of responsibility over a great many people in this modern world should know how to use a computer. Because this is two-thousand-and-friggin’-8. Computers are important. Refusing to understand them and sloughing them off on subordinates to figure out is foolhardy at best and stupid at worst. Seriously. You don’t care that he can’t figure how to friggin’ email? How is this one of his assets? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/82 "2008-09-14T01:52:00Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > For the same reason that any CEO in the nation should know how to use a computer. For the same reason that anyone in an any executive position should know how to use a computer. For the same reason that anyone with any sort of responsibility over a great many people in the modern world should know how to use a computer. > > Because this is 200 and friggin’ 8. Computers are important. Refusing to understand them and sloughing them off on subordinates to figure out is foolhardy at best and stupid at worst. > > Seriously. You don’t care that he can’t figure how to friggin’ email? How is this one of his assets? You’re not answering the question. What bad thing is more likely to happen if John McCain has his subordinates use the computer instead of him? Other than the shame he’ll bear from losing your admiration, what is the negative effect of this enormous character defect for which we all ought to prepare? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/83 "2008-09-14T01:52:59Z")
> [@Camus](#): > > While emailing or any computer skills whatsoever are not requirements to be president, the Obama ad was using this and other claims to argue that McCain is out of touch with the common voter. Most Americans who have an office job likely have some degree of familiarity with a computer and a few basic programs like word processing. [55%](http://pewinternet.org/PPF/r/257/report_display.asp) of Americans have high-speed internet at home and the percentage of Americans who have a rudimentary ability to use the internet is likely at 75% or more. McCain not knowing how many houses he has does a better job of making him seem out of touch with the common voter. Not knowing how to check e-mail is incredibly trivial by comparison. It’s even below George H.W. Bush not knowing the price of a gallon of milk. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/84 "2008-09-14T01:54:07Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > For the same reason that any CEO in the nation should know how to use a computer. For the same reason that anyone in an any executive position should know how to use a computer. For the same reason that anyone with any sort of responsibility over a great many people in this modern world should know how to use a computer. > > Because this is two-thousand-and-friggin’-8. Computers are important. Refusing to understand them and sloughing them off on subordinates to figure out is foolhardy at best and stupid at worst. > > Seriously. You don’t care that he can’t figure how to friggin’ email? How is this one of his assets? Why does he _need_ to use a computer? What important things will the next president need to use a computer to do? ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/85 "2008-09-14T01:55:17Z")
The ad is somewhat stupid, but the Obots are at least focusing on the right person for a change. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/86 "2008-09-14T01:55:51Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > You’re not answering the question. What bad thing is more likely to happen if John McCain has his subordinates use the computer instead of him? Other than the shame he’ll bear from losing your admiration, what is the negative effect of this enormous character defect for which we all ought to prepare? I will give you one major issue about this – becoming isolated and dependent upon whatever information your subordinates carry in and put on your desk in front of you. It is important to have independent access to a wide variety of viewpoints. Though not, of course, if you don’t want to hear it anyway. ---
**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 14, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/87 "2008-09-14T01:59:01Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Why does he _need_ to use a computer? What important things will the next president need to use a computer to do? How about answering an email? How about getting updates on some national security issue? How about communicating with people? How about reading a simple document? What is he going to do sit stock still behind the desk in the oval office like a dummy and have everything spoon-fed to him by his tech team? You really don’t think the man and/or woman who runs the most powerful country on the planet, in this technological age, needs absolutely no computer skills? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/88 "2008-09-14T01:59:55Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I will give you one major issue about this – becoming isolated and dependent upon whatever information your subordinates carry in and put on your desk in front of you. It is important to have independent access to a wide variety of viewpoints. > > Though not, of course, if you don’t want to hear it anyway. I’m relatively certain if McCain wants to, he can still read a newspaper or watch television all by himself. The only thing I can think of that he’d miss by not being online would be the wonderfully reliable and rational world of blogs. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/89 "2008-09-14T02:01:22Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I will give you one major issue about this – becoming isolated and dependent upon whatever information your subordinates carry in and put on your desk in front of you. It is important to have independent access to a wide variety of viewpoints. > > Though not, of course, if you don’t want to hear it anyway. Seems a stretch. He still reads the newspaper, right? Watches the news, reads books? I’m not saying his being computer illiterate is a virtue. But it seems trivial from a practical perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/90 "2008-09-14T02:02:10Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > How about answering an email? How about getting updates on some national security issue? How about communicating with people? How about reading a simple document? What a ridiculous point. Presidents have been communicating with people long before the advent of email and documents are still available on paper. > [@](#): > > What is he going to do sit stock still behind the desk in the oval office like a dummy and have everything spoon-fed to him by his tech team? Again, speech and paper. > [@](#): > > You really don’t think the man and/or woman who runs the most powerful country on the planet, in this technological age, needs absolutely no computer skills? You have yet to demonstrate why he needs them. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/91 "2008-09-14T02:02:30Z")
> [@wmfellows](#): > > …The US is terribly entertaining though. > > But the mate ain’t a bloody cripple, he threw ball out for your national pasttime, eh? Get this man a 1-year subscription! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/92 "2008-09-14T02:04:38Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > I’m relatively certain if McCain wants to, he can still read a newspaper or watch television all by himself. The only thing I can think of that he’d miss by not being online would be the wonderfully reliable and rational world of blogs. TV? Ooh, CNN, Fox, and the 3 networks – all in 30-second sound bites. Worthless except for monitoring how your own spin machine is working. Newpapers and periodicals are better – again, if you can trust your subordinates to bring in the materials to give you a wide set of viewpoints. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/93 "2008-09-14T02:05:52Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Seems a stretch. He still reads the newspaper, right? Watches the news, reads books? I’m not saying his being computer illiterate is a virtue. But it seems trivial from a practical perspective. Are you willing to cut off your internet access? ---
**Author:** ![Jello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@Jello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jello)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/94 "2008-09-14T02:06:16Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > I’m honestly asking this, but how so? I’m sure he can understand the basic concepts of computers well enough to handle making policy decisions regarding them. Why is it necessary for John McCain to be able to answer an e-mail or perform a google search? Having the staff handle actual computer usage really doesn’t seem inappropriate. [Lame] Well, a Google search might have done a better job vetting his running mate. [/Lame] Other than that, I rather doubt computer literacy would actually improve his ability to govern. Everyone making this point is right. But I feel like the ad is an attempt at a modern, more easily verified version of the “George H.W. Bush had never before seen an electronic scanner in a supermarket” rumor. Remember Obama’s nomination speech, where his main line of attack on McCain opened with “Now, I don’t believe that Senator McCain doesn’t care what’s going on in the lives of Americans. I just think he doesn’t know”? This is supporting that thesis more than anything else. ---
**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 14, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/95 "2008-09-14T02:06:38Z")
I swear, I am baffled by this whole argument. We don’t care that the potential President of the United States doesn’t know how to email. It harkens back to the days of, “I like Bush, because he seems like a guy I could have a beer with.” When, in this country, did it become to cool to want a dumb president? McCain not knowing how to open Outlook – making him a regular Joe-- is an asset , but Obama graduating from Harvard Law School – making him an elitist – is a detriment? I fear [Idiocracy](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/) is coming true. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/96 "2008-09-14T02:06:41Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Are you willing to cut off your internet access? No. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/97 "2008-09-14T02:07:18Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > TV? Ooh, CNN, Fox, and the 3 networks – all in 30-second sound bites. Worthless except for monitoring how your own spin machine is working. > > Newpapers and periodicals are better – again, if you can trust your subordinates to bring in the materials to give you a wide set of viewpoints. So now McCain isn’t capable of choosing what newspapers he gets? Give me a break. And I’m well aware of the worthlessness of various media outlets, but as far as getting other viewpoints goes they are other sources. What is he going to find online that he isn’t going to get from preexisting sources? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/98 "2008-09-14T02:09:26Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > No. Why? Why – because you don’t think it’s trivial. Internet access may seem trivial if you’ve never had it or used it, but once you do it is no longer so. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/99 "2008-09-14T02:10:47Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I swear, I am baffled by this whole argument. > > We don’t care that the potential President of the United States doesn’t know how to email. It harkens back to the days of, “I like Bush, because he seems like a guy I could have a beer with.” No it doesn’t. > [@](#): > > When, in this country, did it become to cool to want a dumb president? He’s dumb because he can’t check his e-mail? > [@](#): > > McCain not knowing how to open Outlook – making him a regular Joe-- is an asset , but Obama graduating from Harvard Law School – making him an elitist – is a detriment? > > I fear [Idocracy](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/) is coming true. Seriously. Tell me _ **why the president needs to be able to use the internet.** _ You have yet to establish that and your emotional arguments are not cutting it. ---
**Author:** ![Camus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@Camus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camus)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493/100 "2008-09-14T02:11:13Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > McCain not knowing how many houses he has does a better job of making him seem out of touch with the common voter. Not knowing how to check e-mail is incredibly trivial by comparison. It’s even below George H.W. Bush not knowing the price of a gallon of milk. True, but not knowing how many houses he has is not related to the job of the president. As you and **Stratocaster** have argued, a president could have aides dictate, read, or pull anything up on the internet or computers that he or she so desired. I don’t think anyone could make a credible argument (without at least having some firsthand White House experience) that computer skills were absolutely necessary for a president to have. But the question _why_ is McCain still computer illiterate is one that may reveal something about his character. Computer literacy may not be needed for a president, but given all the committee hearings, coordination, vote negotiations, and just day-to-day business that a senator must do, why hasn’t he asked an aide just to show him a few basic things? The Obama camp is essentially arguing that the fact that he seems to have remained in the dark about computers from at least 2000 until now indicates that McCain is stubborn, willfully ignorant in this area and refuses to adapt to changing times. And that these qualities may be true about more than just computers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-ridicules-mccains-disability/463493.md?page=6)