Oops, Obama ad mocks McCain's inability to send e-mail. Trouble is, he can't due to tortured fingers

(UPDATE: An updated paragraph citing McCain learning computer skills is appended below.)

As part of its effort to show the 72-year-old Republican Sen. John McCain as old and out of touch, the Democratic Party's hip campaign of Sen. Barack Obama, which frequently says it honors the former POW's military service to his country, Friday released a new ad.

As noted Friday by our blogging colleagues over at the Technology blog here, the ad says, among other things: "1982, John McCain goes to Washington. Things have changed in the last 26 years, but McCain hasn't.

"He admits he doesn't know how to use a computer, can't send an e-mail."

Here's the ad. Listen for yourself.

Like many of his generation, McCain does not like to talk details a lot about his wartime experiences, certainly not about any lingering physical symptoms. To be honest, it could sound like complaining and, as he's ruefully noted, unlike many others, McCain did come home.

The former pilot does joke sometimes about flying his plane into a telephone-pole-sized North Vietnamese missile.

Last week in his speech to the Republican National Convention, McCain opened up more than usual, mentioning his two broken arms and broken leg from ejecting over Hanoi, and his 66 months of imprisonment and torture, calling it simply working him over.

But something he did not go into in that speech were ...

... some of the lingering results of his poor medical treatment and brutal beatings.

Here's a passage from a lengthy Boston Globe profile on McCain that was published the last time he ran for president. It was headlined "McCain character loyal to a fault." It was written by Mary Leonard.

And it was printed more than eight years ago, on March 4, 2000.

It is available online, where Jonah Goldberg of The Corner blog at the National Review found it.

"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. Friends marvel at McCain's encyclopedic knowledge of sports. He's an avid fan -- Ted Williams is his hero -- but he can't raise his arm above his shoulder to throw a baseball."

(UPDATE: A spokesman for the Obama campaign and numerous Ticket readers point out a Huffington Post item from July in which McCain says he is learning how to go online and "I am becoming computer literate to the point where I can get the information that I need." That complete post and a photo of McCain using a cellphone is available here.)

Obama spokesman Dan Pfeiffer denied that the freshman Illinois senator's ad was making an issue of McCain's age. "It's extraordinary," he said, "that someone who wants to be our president and commander in chief doesn't know how to send an e-mail."

The Obama campaign has seen some significant and disturbing poll shifts since its convention in Denver, including a broad movement of white women toward the GOP ticket after that party named Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin its vice presidential nominee. And some local and congressional Democrats have begun to fret and grumble over a perceived softness in the Obama-Biden ticket.

According to the Associated Press, Obama campaign manager David Pfouffle issued a stern campaign strategy memo Friday that said, in part:

"Today is the first day of the rest of the campaign. We will respond with speed and ferocity to John McCain's attacks and we will take the fight to him, but we will do it on the big issues that matter to the American people."

The "big issues."

Like fractured fingers?

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[VeeJay]

I am a Vietnam veteran and a former United States Marine and the most importantant thing I learned was that "HONOR and INTEGRETY" is what defines a person, and I find that Senator John McCain has seemed to have forgotten that. This country does not need a Maverick or someone Breaking China on capitol hill. This country need a Calm, level headed, truthful person making the crucial decisions that will help this country heal from a very costly, unpopular war. The focus should be on Energy, The Economy, Health Care, and Education. Senator McCain spend most of his campain focusing on negative politics, and when he feels threatened, he refer back to his P.O.W. years. Senator McCain was not the only serviceman who was captured, wounded, and tortured. You will not find those veterans talking about it as much as Senator McCain does. As a matter of fact, most Vietnam Veterans find it difficult to talk about it at all, mainly out of respect for the more than 58,000 service men and women who did not come home. I feel that Senator McCain is doing those "HEROS" a great disservice. Those brave service men and women came home to a country that treated us like criminals, refused to give us jobs, and turned their backs on us. Thru it all, most of us survived and went on with our lives without using the Vietnam war as a "CRUTCH". Senator Obama and Senator Bidden in my opion has my vote to start the healing and unite this country, and I served my time in that war to say that.

[gabriel]

You have got to be kidding. So you watch this add and you interpret that Obama is making fun on McCain "not being able to send email"?

The add clearly states that McCain "does not know how to use a computer" the obvious reason why he can't send email.

Somehow, though, you try to imply that Obama is being insensitive to McCain's wartime injuries. The truth is that computers can be used without the use of your hands (there is software designed for those who have physical disabilities that allows them to do so).

Is this journalism? Shameful.

[voiceofdog]

You guys do know that the LA Times endorsed John McCain right? Don't get mad that the Conglomerate-owned Times is just a paid shill for the GOP. If you want real news reporting you'll have to stick to Reuters or AP wires and stay off these op-ed pieces.

[Nobama68]

While I'm sure he can hunt and peck, but sitting at a keyboard can be long and laborious with that style of data entry. So I'm sure he chose not to do it. So what? But it was very classy of Obama to make light of it. What a swell guy.

And I laugh at all the clods on this board who call the Times a paid shill, while shilling yourself for the Obamessiah.

[Susan]

If McCain is THAT Disabled then he shouldn't even be RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!!!

This is such a pathetic excuse - Stephen hawkings uses a computer and McCain isn't even in a wheel chair.

So enough with the whining and crying. McCain has used the POW Card one too many times for me to feel sorry anymore.

[VA Thinker]

Nice to see an article that is doing something other than be a subtle campaign add for the Democratic ticket.

[mwh]

As President, why would either of them NEED to use a typewriter, e-mail, or blog? I'm sure that there is a complete staff to write and collate sending whatever is needed.
Personally, I'm tired of the "spin". Give me cold, hard facts. None of us is perfect. And I imagine that with a Congress that is at a standstill, it is difficult for either party to get ANYTHING done. I think that's why they are in recess so much. :)

[Multi-Lingual Medical Knowledge]

The focus should be on Energy, The Economy, Health Care, and Education. Senator McCain spend most of his campain focusing on negative politics, and when he feels threatened, he refer back to his P.O.W. years. Senator McCain was not the only serviceman who was captured, wounded, and tortured. You will not find those veterans talking about it as much as Senator McCain does. As a matter of fact, most Vietnam Veterans find it difficult to talk about it at all, mainly out of respect for the more than 58,000 service men and women who did not come home.

[Bill]

I'm sorry but I'm glad McCain doesn't waste his time writing emails....if he has time to do that, how the hell could he run a campaign for President. He is a leader - he can delegate busy work to his staff. If this is Obama's case for why he should be President, perhaps he should spend the ad buy money on charity. Would be better spent.

[RTS]

You mean to tell me that Stephen Hawking can write two world-wide best sellers in his condition, but Mr. Tough Guy John McCain can't send an e-mail because he's too crippled? Please. Tucker Bounds is a BIG FAT LIAR!

[Tommy]

Anyone can press the enter button for an email. McCain has been quoted out of context. And is this the best that Obama-Biden can do to imitate 'swiftboat' style political campaigning?

Let's stay on the issues. I don't care if Cindy writes and send's John's emails, and as President, he would have staff writing and sending emails anyways, so what's the point?

Give enough rope to a fool, and he'll eventually hang himself. - That's Obama. He and his campaign minions just keep spewing crapola because that's the extent of their substance...or the lack there of. I wonder how the government ever got the job done long before 'technology' came along if knowing all the ins and outs of the latest and greatest computer is a requirement for character in being the US President? I want someone I feel who won't be a political chameleon like nObama who has a different mask for every group of people he's with. McCain has already proven to have lain down his life for this nation; to have spilled his blood to help people remain free. My heart tells me he will bring that depth of unmovable strength to the oval office. This latest ad dishonoring McCain is a disgrace but it's typical of the democratic party. How befitting that a jackass should be the Demo party mascot.

[Cathie Fountain]

The injury he received from 30 years ago?

[mamiel]

Nice try, but way off the mark. In an interview given by John McCain two months ago he admits he doesn't know how to use email because he feels no need to do so and that his wife does it for him. He talked quite a bit about his lack of technological skills, poking some fun at himself and never ONCE mentioning injury. Google it and read for yourself.

Face it, the guy is of another era, he is completely out of touch.

[bob ellis]

Dear "Vaid"
"I used to be a democrat but left the party when I realized that the Dems really don't have a firm grasp on reality..." nice.

You're kidding, right? you too, Rush/dittoheads/whomever wrote this piece? So, I watched the ad and "listened for myself." The only problem with it was that the idiot who produced it used a shot of someone's hands on a computer keyboard instead of a slow push into McCain's forehead. Stupid shot, I agree.
But the illiterati (Rush & Co. and you) picked up on this logic: tortured POW =can't type=shot of hands=cruel put down of my new war hero. BS!
I'm a 64 year old Viet Vet. I appreciate Mac's service and it is not good to denigrate someone's disabilities. But this ad isn't about his hands, it is about his mindset. You are intelligent enough to send an email comment on this subject. So ponder this: McCain is ...change? Right. Revolution-people in the streets- is change. Most of the rest – from both candidates- is BS.
By the way- what "US Government” votes to bail out AIG? Not mine. Not the one you and i tried to vote for. But that's what America is all about now- backroom deals in the middle of the night, benefiting the fat cats, leaving us poor war taxpayers holding the paper sack. Want something to listen to and judge for yourself? Try Ike's farewell speech about the military/industrial complex. Peace.

[dj]

As a person with disabilities, I find it laughable that anyone would believe you need manual dexterity to send email. David Pogue, editor of NYTimes "Circuits", can't use a keyboard either, which hasn't prevented him from being one of our major computer technology gurus. Now gee, however will I post this comment without my hands...

[Kwaayesnama]

I have a problem with GOP lies.
They look us in the eye and tell us something without blinking, they wave the American flag and we the people fall in line. Remember:

We have to send our sons and daughters to die looking for weapons of mass destruction. Hurry up pull out the flag and wave like hell!

Sedam Hussein was responsible for 9-11. Hurry up pull out the flag and wave like hell!

Iraqi oil will pay for the war. Hurry up pull out the flag and wave like hell!

Mission accomplished. Hurry up pull out the flag and wave like hell!

Our economy is basically strong. Hurry up pull out the flag and wave like hell!

We are fundamentally better off during the bush administration. Hurry up pull out the flag and wave like hell!

John McCain campaign statement that he is not able to use a computer because of his suffering as a prisoner of war. Now here is my problem with that scenario.
On July 13, 2008 in a New York Times interview john McCain said: “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.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/us/politics/13mccain.html_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all&adxnnlx=1222265530-/ZNysS+adS5fFovaDYxncg#

On Rachel Ray John McCain whipped up a batch of ribs. I would like a medical opinion on what different muscles are used to barbecue ribs that you would have to use on a keyboard. It is time to look in their eyes – not blink – and say I am a patriot, I love my flag, “Stop lying to us?”

[carlos bernard]

well listen. being able to do something is different from actually doing it. mcCain did not say he is not able he said he does not know how. thats baracks defence. john mc is the one that killed himself there.

[Hussein Obama]

I'm amazed how many idiots there are in the world we live in. There are stupid individuals on both sides of the political spectrum, clearly however John McCain and Hussein Obama are not stupid individuals. Neither are brilliant, but one is very devious and quite repetitive. Hussein advocates for change in the capital. Why is it that so many Americans are so willing to go along with this "change" or "political movement" when his plans are to lay heavy burden on any particular class (in this case the upper class) in order to even out the range of individual income. This sounds in relation to share similar qualities with Communism (someone had to say it). I'm surprised with obnoxious references to Hussein as the "savior." As an eighteen-year-old Roman Catholic, I take personal offense to references such as this. To put Hussein on the same pedestal as the true Savior Jesus Christ is only disrespectful, immature, and disgraceful. I'm certain that other individuals out there who follow a different religious path than I, are just as outraged to the self-proclaimed "savior" title bestowed upon Hussein. What next Savior Obama? Will you be making fun of the age of Jesus Christ because he is your competition for the Savior of all people? Once again I will reiterate how many stupid people reside in this country. It is not the fault of any individual (President Bush or President Clinton) that our economy is suffering. It is the fault of you ignorant and simple minded citizens. My generation has you to thank for our economic demise.

[Corina Elena.]

Dear McCain,

Good luck! U were good enough to be president! U fought in war and u were a brave person! I am very happy that u were a hero! (My dad thinks that 2!)

Corina,
I am nine years old! I wish that I could vote at this age!!!!

[Alessandro Machi]

Lets get perspective here. Barack Obama's side was upset with John McCain's lack of compute usuage because there was nothiing to hack into!

I recall that when this issue first came up even before this article, it was just a scant day or two and suddenly Sarah Palin's computer had been hacked into.

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