# Phony Outrage **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 13, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499 "2008-09-13T23:39:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/21 "2008-09-14T12:55:46Z")
> [@RyJae](#): > > The real outrage is the fact Sen. Obama didn’t fire the fucking idiot who thought it was wise to further alienate 21% of the population that doesn’t email, or use the web. > > You have to be computer literate to be cool? As I said before this ad made me sad, it isn’t his finest hour. He went from change, to same ol’ shit different politician. Feel free to dislike the ad. I’m not a fan of it either (although the computer stuff was only part of the ad). Sure McCain’s out of touch, but the number of houses clip or the hugging Bush would have been more effective. But, THIS THREAD is about the misleading outrage that the ad is making fun of a disability. THIS THREAD is about the right wing once again lying. THIS THREAD is about the duplicitousness of the right. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/22 "2008-09-14T13:07:33Z")
> [@RyJae](#): > > The real outrage is the fact Sen. Obama didn’t fire the fucking idiot… That’s the best part! It annoys the crap out of conservatives when liberals stop wringing their hands and trying to be fair and balanced about everything. Annoying the crap out of the troglodytes who’ve sold this country down the river is necessary if we’re ever to get things going in the **right** direction. ---
**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, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/23 "2008-09-14T13:31:10Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Hey, sailor, you piece of crap! Where, exactly where, did I say the man could not type? > > Seems to me that you and this thread’s other main jackass (that would be the OP of this thread) are the ones with the phony outrage at the moment. Seems to me you’re one of the two getting all stompy because Obama made fun of McCain’s handicap. All that has been found regarding said handicap prior to this was a paragraph in a single article from eight years ago. How can Obama be making fun of something that it’s entirely likely he didn’t even know about? ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/24 "2008-09-14T14:36:48Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > That’s the best part! > It annoys the crap out of conservatives when liberals stop wringing their hands and trying to be fair and balanced about everything. > Annoying the crap out of the troglodytes who’ve sold this country down the river is necessary if we’re ever to get things going in the **right** direction. You really think it will help when many people believed in Obama for the breathe of fresh air, the change he was seeming to bring? That is why I liked him… Yeah one vote doesn’t make a difference especially when it doesn’t mean I will vote for the other side. But by voting for a third party I am showing my disgust at both parties being the same shit different election. ---
**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, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/25 "2008-09-14T14:41:49Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Seems to me you’re one of the two getting all stompy because Obama made fun of McCain’s handicap. All that has been found regarding said handicap prior to this was a paragraph in a single article from eight years ago. How can Obama be making fun of something that it’s entirely likely he didn’t even know about? Except that, as it has been pointed out about a billion times, he wasn’t making fun of McCain’s handicap; he was making fun of his incompetence. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/26 "2008-09-14T15:00:27Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Except that, as it has been pointed out about a billion times, he wasn’t making fun of McCain’s handicap; he was making fun of his incompetence. And I have to ask, how does not using a computer make one incompetent? When 21% of the American population has never sent an email, looked at a web page does that make them incompetent? BAD AD PERIOD! My mom knows just as many facts on the policies of the candidates (not smears facts) than a good portion of the SDMB, and a huge portion of the web “savvy” and yet she doesn’t email or look on the internet. Does that make her incompetent? It may make her old fashioned, but not incompetent. This will bite him in the ass, at first I thought it would be a bad thing when that happened. Now I can give a shit, if his supporters are like this he deserves to be shown as a change fraud. His actions and words up to this point have been about change, now he is exposed as just another politician I hope he thinks it was worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/27 "2008-09-14T15:04:09Z")
> [@RyJae](#): > > You really think it will help when many people believed in Obama for the breathe of fresh air, the change he was seeming to bring? Democrats have unilaterally disarmed for eight years trying to court voters of your delicate sensibilities. Doing so doesn’t result in electoral wins, it results in Republican wins, and Liberals being seen as spineless wimps. Disarming in the face of opponents [like this:](http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/13/1393986.aspx) > [@](#): > > While the media is slowly starting to call the McCain campaign on their dishonest tactics, McCain’s staff boasts that they don’t care. As a McCain spokesman told the Politico, “We’re running a campaign to win. And we’re not too concerned about what the media filter tries to say about it.” is stupid. If a little acrimony is enough to cause you to not vote, or switch your vote to Fluffy McFlutternuts, your vote is not worth pursuing. ---
**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, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/28 "2008-09-14T15:05:51Z")
> [@RyJae](#): > > And I have to ask, how does not using a computer make one incompetent? It doesn’t. Not knowing how to does. Especially for some one wishing to run the country. I just don’t get how everyone is hunky-dory with a candidate who can’t do something as simple as send an email. How the fuck is that laudable? If you don’t care if he can or not, well … shucks, go have a beer with him and laugh at all the egg-heads who know what the fuck they’re doing, but don’t pretend it’s an asset. ---
**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, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/29 "2008-09-14T15:12:24Z")
Mods closed the Debate thread that this was offshot (is that a word?) from, but I couldn’t let this go. **Harborwolf** floated [this cite](http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/14/obama_ad_takes_heat_for_mccain_cyber_shot/) for explaining why McCain is physically incapable of using a computer. I just wanted to point out this quote from that very 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.” ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/30 "2008-09-14T15:13:14Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Democrats have unilaterally disarmed for eight years trying to court voters of your delicate sensibilities. Doing so doesn’t result in electoral wins, it results in Republican wins, and Liberals being seen as spineless wimps. > Disarming in the face of opponents [like this:](http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/13/1393986.aspx) is stupid. If a little acrimony is enough to cause you to not vote, or switch your vote to Fluffy McFlutternuts, your vote is not worth pursuing. McCain lost any chance he had with me with his sex education attack ads. Obama lost any chance with his latest ads. Maybe I am a minority but I thought Obama was all about change, from campaigning to the the office itself. And this just showed he isn’t about change, he is all about being a politician. And that depresses me, he would have won without it. And he will still probably win, but he won’t do it with my support now. [QUOTE=Jack Batty] It doesn’t. Not knowing how to does. Especially for some one wishing to run the country. I just don’t get how everyone is hunky-dory with a candidate who can’t do something as simple as send an email. How the fuck is that laudable? If you don’t care if he can or not, well … shucks, go have a beer with him and laugh at all the egg-heads who know what the fuck they’re doing, but don’t pretend it’s an asset. [/quote] That’s pure bullshit. You think any President has to be able to Google? You are out of your fucking mind. He has aides and staff to do anything requiring a computer. Pity how many of our Presidents prior to the computer age couldn’t function without one. ---
**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, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/31 "2008-09-14T15:21:36Z")
> [@RyJae](#): > > That’s pure bullshit. You think any President has to be able to Google? You are out of your fucking mind. He has aides and staff to do anything requiring a computer. Pity how many of our Presidents prior to the computer age couldn’t function without one. Look who’s talking bullshit. Got news for you, Bunky, we are in the computer age now. Those halcyon days of sending dispatches by pony rider are gone. It’s like saying (and sorry for not crediting which poster said this originally) – it would tantamount to John Adams not knowing how to read or write. The leaders need to catch up and be competent. Besides all that … why wouldn’t he want to be able to Google or email or whatever. How could it be an advantage to have to say, “Ms. Peabody, please send in Myron so I can open this document.” Let’s shoe-on-the-other-foot this. What would you say if Obama was quoted as saying, “Well, I never learned how to use a telephone. I have my wife dial it for me and tell me what the people on the other end are saying.” ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/32 "2008-09-14T15:22:15Z")
> [@Camus](#): > > McCain has described himself (in late 2007 or early 2008) as computer illiterate. So what is that article rebutting? That McCain doesn’t use email. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/33 "2008-09-14T15:30:06Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Look who’s talking bullshit. Got news for you, Bunky, we are in the computer age now. Those halcyon days of sending dispatches by pony rider are gone. It’s like saying (and sorry for not crediting which poster said this originally) – it would tantamount to John Adams not knowing how to read or write. > > The leaders need to catch up and be competent. > > Besides all that … why wouldn’t he want to be able to Google or email or whatever. How could it be an advantage to have to say, “Ms. Peabody, please send in Myron so I can open this document.” > Let’s shoe-on-the-other-foot this. What would you say if Obama was quoted as saying, “Well, I never learned how to use a telephone. I have my wife dial it for me and tell me what the people on the other end are saying.” Bunky? Take your idiocy and stay drinking the kool-aid. Doesn’t seem like one side or the other has the sole rights to that drink does it. This was not what Obama built his support on. If you want Obama to be like McCain that’s fine but do not expect anyone that dislikes McCain to vote for Obama then. ---
**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, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/34 "2008-09-14T15:37:55Z")
> [@RyJae](#): > > Bunky? Take your idiocy and stay drinking the kool-aid. Doesn’t seem like one side or the other has the sole rights to that drink does it. This was not what Obama built his support on. > > If you want Obama to be like McCain that’s fine but do not expect anyone that dislikes McCain to vote for Obama then. Wow. Drink the Kool-Aid? – isn’t that some sort of Godwin’s Law variation? I can’t even make sense of your last sentence. I want Obama to be like McCain? Talk about idiocy. What orifice did you yank that out of? I was asking a what-if. Shoe on the other foot. A point of competency using our most basic tools for governing. Here’s a hint … I don’t really wish Obama didn’t know how to use a phone. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/35 "2008-09-14T15:38:27Z")
Does anyone other than an ardent Obama fan think this ad was smart? It seems to only be playing well amongst those who already firmly supported him. So that makes it a dumb move. If you want to piss off people who liked you for the clean method you brought to campaigning you could have used McCain’s first wife in an ad then at least you may have picked up more votes than you would lose. This computer usage ad cannot get him any votes, it will only lose him votes. ---
**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, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/36 "2008-09-14T15:43:37Z")
Strategery … Obama can’t run a perfectly “clean” campaign where he’s not allowed to hit back if McCain is on the attack. I point to Kerry’s strategy of ignoring the Swift-Boat ads. Fuck that. I say Obama should unloose the gloves and fight fire with fire. I’m not an “ardent Obama fan.” I am a registered Democrat, and I’ve thrown my lot in with the nominee of my party. Criticize me for not being an Independent if you must, but at least I’m not straddling the fence. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/37 "2008-09-14T15:48:17Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Strategery … > > Obama can’t run a perfectly “clean” campaign where he’s not allowed to hit back if McCain is on the attack. I point to Kerry’s strategy of ignoring the Swift-Boat ads. > > Fuck that. I say Obama should unloose the gloves and fight fire with fire. > > I’m not an “ardent Obama fan.” I am a registered Democrat, and I’ve thrown my lot in with the nominee of my party. Criticize me for not being an Independent if you must, but at least I’m not straddling the fence. I’m not straddling a fence anymore, I was but not anymore. What is Obama responding too exactly? He damn well should have responded to the smears McCain was using but not by throwing out worthless ads himself. You know fighting the smears with the truth. This was a stupid ad, I must repeat myself. This ad did not respond to anything, this ad will not pick up any voters, this ad can only cost him votes. ---
**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, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/38 "2008-09-14T15:52:24Z")
> [@RyJae](#): > > This was a stupid ad, I must repeat myself. This ad did not respond to anything, this ad will not pick up any voters, this ad can only cost him votes. I, obviously, disagree. I think it points out some relatively cogent facts wrapped up in a nice little “fuck you” blanket. McCain attacks. If Obama does nothing but defend, he will get nowhere. He needs to attack too. I’m not even pretending that this ad is the end-all/be-all of clever political ads. But Obama can’t be the pussy Kerry was or he may as well wrap it up right now and move back to Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/39 "2008-09-14T15:56:54Z")
> [@RyJae](#): > > He damn well should have responded to the smears McCain was using but not by throwing out worthless ads himself. You know fighting the smears with the truth. Pussy tactics like that will lose elections. You have to identify your opponents strengths, then find a way to smear them and turn them into weaknesses. That’s fighting fire with fire. The hell with the high road. I want to win. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499/40 "2008-09-14T15:57:57Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I, obviously, disagree. I think it points out some relatively cogent facts wrapped up in a nice little “fuck you” blanket. > > McCain attacks. If Obama does nothing but defend, he will get nowhere. He needs to attack too. > > I’m not even pretending that this ad is the end-all/be-all of clever political ads. But Obama can’t be the pussy Kerry was or he may as well wrap it up right now and move back to Chicago. If he wanted to attack he should have used an ad that could have gained votes to overcome the ones he would lose. You know a good dig at his first marriage would probably cost McCain a few RR votes. This ad he did make will only cost Obama a few older “out of touch” non computer user votes. No plus side to this at all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phony-outrage/463499.md?page=3)