Why Doesn't McCain Use a Computer?

Someone questioned whether this is news. Of course this is news, and it goes to the character of Barack Obama and his campaign. While they whine incessantly about Rebublican attack ads, they themselves are guilty of the most underhanded and despicable distortions.

The Obama campaign is truly sad. Attacking John McCain because he can't use the computer like a normal person? He's handicapped! Why don't we make fun of paraplegics because they can't walk! This is ridiculous election BS.

Why, with his money, does McCain not just seek to become a cyborg with implanted computers, monitors, & all the associated wireless technology?

C'mon people, THINK!!!! Is technology our servant or our master?

I guess this is meant to be news. Whether John McCain wants to use a computer or not is HIS choice. WHO EVER SAID IT WAS A PRE-REQUISITE FOR THE PRESIDENCY? I re-read the Consitution last week and it never mentioned anything about technology or computers! His wife Cindy reads them to him. Why is THAT a bad thing? My husband in his old job got over 200 emails a day. He absolutely hated emails. Why are we talking about this? Can't ANYONE think of anything ELSE that is MORE important? My parents are both 76 and my mom has no interest in learning the computer. Somehow, the fact that she has survived for 76 years seems to go by the wayside. Same with McCain. I would hazard to guess that McCain could preside over this country with no computer.

I have a co-worker who is about 61 years old, born with a bad arm (the hand can move, but it twitches sometimes and it's shorter than his other arm), he still manages to work 8 or more hours a day on a computer. We have a special keyboard for him. Stephen Hawking uses a computer because of, not despite his disability. If McCain wanted to work on a computer, with all of his money, I'm sure he could. He must not see the necessity, maybe he even views the internet as a luxury... one he definitely could afford, but chooses not to. My mother is 68, she has a lot of health problems but a great mind. She uses the internet every day, and while I consider her old, and I'd like for her to retire... at least she isn't so old to not realize the importance of the internet and computers. If he doesn't see the importance of these things, what else is he missing?

my friend was shot in the back 7 years ago. he cannot move or feel ANYTHING below his neck. unfortunately he isnt a millionare that can ask his servants to do everything for him. he is on the internet everyday! he loves it! he plays video games.
the internet opens WORLDs to the less advantaged. but mccain has EVERY ADVANTAGE and that is the reason he DOESNT NEED the internet.
i am so glad this is all happening because a month ago i was going to vote for mccain.
he has left me no choice.
OBAMA 08

Come on people. Quit already with this "how does the candidate know how the common person lives" crap. While several candidates grew up fairly "normal" (as both candidates did in this case I think, though McCain obviously has the widest range of experience, from years in the most tormenting of circumstances to years as the Senator with a wealthy wife) most did not, and once they entered politics, very few have any clue how normal people live.

But so what. There either promote good policies or not. Higher taxes, socialism and class warfare: bad, bad for the rich and the poor. I don't care if they know why anymore. I just want a smaller goverment, yet with national security, and low taxes for everyone to the extent possible.

POW card????? I seem to remember John Kerry mentioning his 4 MONTHS of service in Vietnam a few... no about a millioin times. McCain's sacrifice makes Kerry's service look like nursery school. You liberals just make up the rules as you go, right?

I don't care if Senator McCain doesn't use a computer or not, for whatever reason. Mr. Obama, I want to know how much you're going to raise my taxes?

Interesting that 5 years ago McCain was considered the most technologically savvy member of the senate, more so than Al Gore.....Because he won't use the computer keyboard doesn't mean he has no understanding. Do your research people! Actually look at what was being said about McCain and Obama BEFORE this election cycle started.Try looking beyond your own prejudices against either party to the facts. And get those facts from more than one place!

Ask the Gov of New York if he can DRIVE A CAR?
(I doubt NYS will give a driver's license to a man legally blind.)

Can anyone tell me WHY he NEEDS to use a computer?

Are we at the point in the history of this world that in order to live we NEED a computer?

Is knowing how to send emails so significant in becoming the President? Do your research and you will find bill clinton stated he only sent 2, count them two emails during his entire Presidency. Give me a break. the obama campaign is really clutching at straws if they are demeaning McCain for not knowing email. I wonder how many older citizens don't know email? I wonder how this makes them feel and what they are doing about it? obama making fun of McCain for not doing something they might not be comfortable doing. hmmmm obama you just keep on stepping on it. being elitist has gotten you into more trouble. The people who lambaste, older people, people who have guns and people who practice religion? Those mr. obama are middle America and those people mr. obama are the people you are supposed to serve. Get off your high horse because as much as people have filled your ego-sized head, you are NOT the messiah. You are not a God. you are just an inexperienced freshman senator.

Did you know that it is a REQUIREMENT for the President to be able to sit down and type on a keyboard and know how to use the Internet? I mean, imagine if the President wasn't able to read all of these blogs! How on earth would he be able to run the country without your valuable advice?!

To be honest, I don't even see how anything existed before the Internet...

Frank. michelle obama during a talk show interview in Ohio (months ago) told the host that they were having trouble living on 500K a year and the kids couldn't take dance lessons and other extracurricular activities. Now tell me who is out of touch? 500K!!! wouldn't you like to try living on that kind of money? I certainly would and could do it handily.

McCain's out of touch. He even described himself as a "Neanderthal."

And to think they laughed when George H.W. Bush "discovered" supermarket checkout scanners.

McCains are out of touch -- eight or nine homes, a $300,000 convention nite outfit and star-studded birthday party hosted by an A-List con-man on a yacht anchored in the Mediterranean off the coast of the former Yugolsavia. Does this sound like someone who actually drinks Budweiser?

Choosing not to use a computer and being computer illiterate are two completely different things. You don't have to actually send an email to KNOW HOW email is sent or appreciate the complexity of the internet. John McCain, up until about a month ago, showed not the slightest CURIOSITY about the most significant means of communication and information of our time. It's the equivalent of Dwight Eisenhower refusing to be aware of how to turn on a television. Without computer literacy, how can a candidate appreciate how the average American actually lives?? Nearly every Middle School and High School graduate in the US are required to take basic word processing and receive at least a rudimentary education in programming (i.e. Base 10 language) Every college in the US has Computers 101 as a requirement for graduation. McCain can't understand or appreciate the current economy until he realizes that millions of people are sitting at home for hours on end working the stock market from their home computer. He can't appreciate how business in the 21st Century is conducted until he gets sniped on Ebay. This is not a function of his age - there are plenty of older Americans who use their computers the way an average 20, 30 or 40 year old does. This speaks to John McCain's unwillingness to participate or relate to the life of the average American.

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 certainly 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.

On Politico there's a story by a paraplegic who uses the computer using voice recognition software. Writes Ben Smith of Politico:

I've gotten a lot of e-mail on both sides of it today, however, some of the most interesting from disabled readers. Here's one from John Curtin, who works for DePaul University:

I have absolutely no doubts about the fact that McCain experiences great pain in his shoulders when he performs simple tasks, like typing, but it's simply absurd to offer that as the reason he doesn't use computers or the internet. Voice recognition software, which completely eliminates the need for a keyboard, has been available for years. It may be that McCain's not interested in learning how to use this technology — or any other type of adaptive device. It might be convenient for him to have staffers take care of his technology needs for him, then report back with their findings. That's fine, if somewhat limiting in an era when computer & internet technologies play such significant roles in both business & government. But the idea that shoulder pain prevents him from using this kind of technology himself is simply preposterous.

And I ought to know, as I'm writing this e-mail by using Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9.0 voice recognition software, after having been paralyzed from the chest down 7 years ago.

Don't get me wrong. I'm sympathetic to McCain's plight. But, as I say, with the adaptive technologies available today, the only reason not to use them is a lack of interest.

Many of you are idiots, sorry but i don't know how else to quantify you.

I hurt my shoulder at work months ago. I use a computer for recreation every single day (Online gaming and such), but while I had that injury, it HURT like heck to use a computer.So I HAD to stop until my injury got better.McCains injury is NOT going to get better.

I can only Imagine the agony John McCain (a disabled vetren, for those not paying attention) doing the same activitey.Must he be in pain to make you happy. The country is NOT run by a computer terminal. He isn't applying for a Job in data entry.

Obama-ites, your savior is a empty suit , say it with me.He is running against a long time PUBLIC SERVANT with a record of Bipartisainship. Get used to that fact.You can't HOPE that away, it won't CHANGE.

Your guy has nothing other than positive Buzz-words that he READS from a teleprompter, and you have the Gaul to make comments about McCain not be "John The computer guy".