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

[more than enough]

Malcolm, you might try reading your own newspaper before you conjure up your next POW fantasy defense of John McCain on behalf of your Republican friends:

`Hitting an opponent on economic issues is standard political strategy. But going after a candidate for his skill with computers and e-mail ...

``The McCain campaign charged that it's untrue.

"John McCain travels with a laptop," said McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds. "This is a senseless tactic from Obama's campaign because they're struggling with the realization that the American people understand he is not equipped to deliver change because his record has no bipartisanship or significant legislative accomplishment in it."

How embarrassing for you and the L.A. Times.

[Joe]

What an idiotic article!!! If this were true, I would imagine that McCain's spokespeople who have been all over it yesterday when the ad emerged. They did not.

Moreover, my sister suffered a severe stroke which immobilzed her entire writing arm and hand and she still manages to send me e-mails nearly every day!

[RT]

Wait a minute, YOUNG people.
McCain introduced a bill to give better access to broadband as early as 1999.

Read this:-
http://www.techlawjournal.com/cong106/broadband/19990513mcc.htm

McCain fought for your internet. Obama only talks & insults

Don't be ungrateful.

McCain-Palin 08

[Belinda]

Most of you seem to missing the whole point of the ad. The ad is saying that McCain is out of touch with current technology, which he freely admits! Yes, he has aids to do this for him. The larger issue is if he is so out of touch with every day technology, what else is he out of touch with. Conservatives must be the only group who parse every single word looking for something derogatory...Must make for a very pessimistic attitude to be so paronoid.

[Therealtruth]

And republicans call dems "whiners"? jeez, you guys are making a career out of it. Stop with the pow crap already. How many times did he vote AGAINST the troops? And you're supposed to be so smart, why are you willing to put "your average hockey mom" second in charge? Sheesh, I can repeat that annoying speech verbatim. "I told congress, thanks but no thanks...yada yada. LIE!!! Dirty politicians pandering to the racist and crying everytime someone wants to ask that moron a question. Stop yer cryin already, ya big babies. The truth (no really, the Truth), will come out at the debates. Ha ha, can't wait for that deer in headlight look from "your average hockey mom" . See ya in November!
ps. Before you call me unpatriotic, dad fought WWII, brothers are career military. While I appreciate McCains service, the real heroes are the ones that never came home.

[Jay Schiavone]

He has tortured fingers? How will he push the red button? I'm afraid McCain is not qualified to be Commander in Chief.
This blog reads a lot like Jonah Goldberg's dishonest framing.

[jayackroyd]

Lies.

It's amazing.

All they have are lies.

And stenographers. Is there anything you people won't type up at McCain's direction?

[David]

For you class acts who argue that somehow not sending email affects his ability to be up to date, and you just can't understand it, here's how to understand it: Just imagine if Obama were the one who couldn't send emails. There, does that help?

No? How about this: Obama has never been able to fly a plane, shoot a gun, handle any kind of armament; has never engaged in diplomacy of any kind with any foreign head of state or diplomat; has never formulated foreign policy. Can he really be commander in chief in this modern world? Can he really make foreign policy? He clearly has no ability to do so.

Anyway, to the ones who say, "If he can use a cell phone he can send an email, the keyboard isn't that different," yes, you must be right--that's why multiple articles from a few months to eight years old have noted his inability to use a keyboard: They're covering for him, and they know he can dial a cell phone! Slate, Forbes, Boston Globe, and New York Times have all covered McCain and his use of technology. In fact the Forbes and Slate articles note how tech-knowledgeable he is---while noting that he doesn't use the keyboard himself but has his wife help him. (Why not try a tack on how he makes his wife subservient? There's nothing beneath you, anyway.) He KNOWS... but he doesn't DO with his own hands. Wow, he must be so clueless about IT!

I wonder if Obama can set up a wireless router, find the ethernet jack on the back of his PC, add a card... just how much does a presidential candidate have to know in this modern information economy? I am betting that it's just beyond what McCain knows, but that's just my guess.

If you bother reading about what McCain really does know and do (Obama doesn't know how to do a Google search, clearly), you can conclude pretty easily that when McCain has described himself as computer illiterate he was doing a bit of self-deprecating exaggeration. And, it turns out, inadvertantly deking out the morons at the Obama campaign.

[Birdman]

Busted by mediamatters:
"The Ticket picks up on conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg's spin and runs with it. The Ticket doesn't mention that McCain told the New York Times earlier this year, "I use the Blackberry, but I don't e-mail, I've never felt the particular need to e-mail." If he can use the buttons on a Blackberry, it seems pretty safe to assume the Goldberg/Ticket line is just spin.

So: a post in which The Ticket uncritically adopts as fact Jonah Goldberg's defense of John McCain, a post in which The Ticket uncritically adopts Charles Krauthammer's defense of Sarah Palin, and a post in which The Ticket adopts Karl Rove's electoral map as its own.

Now, would it surprise you to learn that all three entries were written by Los Angeles Times reporter Andrew Malcolm? Would it surprise you to learn that Malcolm used to be Laura Bush's press secretary?"

[Marross]

My guess is that McCain can send emails and was just expressing the fact that he does not spend his days "blogging" - unlike the morons making the negative comments on this article. The point is that his injuries do not allow him to spend any length of time doing typing with his fingers. How easy it is for people who have never suffered more than a headache to dismiss a man who was tortured for six years. I am a lifelong Democrat but I am ashamed of my party and disgusted with the Obama campaigns' dirty tricks.

[soccermum]

John McCain can hold a pencil so he obviously can type. He doesn't type for the same reason my West Point father-in-law can't type. Typing is emasculating. In his generation, that was a task delegated to women.

[Charles Bradshaw]

Let's see...what was Obama doing in 1982?

Oh yeah, he was strung out on cocaine while an affirmative action token at Columbia University.

And McCain? He was supporting President Reagan against Tip O'Neill and Ted Kennedy in building up our military which led to winning the Cold War.

He was also stopping the nuts who favored a Nuclear Freeze which would have kept Eastern Europe under the control of the Soviet Union.

And he was supporting President Reagan's tax and spending cuts which led to the economic boom of the 80s and 90s.

I'll take McCain '82 over Obama '82 any day.

[Paul]

The ultimate sick, sorry and sad comment:

"Can McCain write? If he can write than he can send an email. It has NOTHING to do with his injuries. That's a bunch of crap!!!"

I suggest the person who made it who has obviously never sacrifced for their country find a veteran today and thank them. Otherwise leave our country!

[fourmorewars]

http://mediamatters.org/countyfair/200809130004

This and your other two latest GOP-suckup posts taken apart by media matters.

Be sure to read to the end to discover whose press secretary the author of all these openminded posts used to be. The Times: devolving back to its 50's self, a useless right wing tool.

[Kim]

Senator McCain told everyone he was computer illiterate.

http://www.forbes.com/personaltech/2008/02/27/levy-politicians-clueless-tech-personal-cx_sl_0227pols.html

From Forbes magazine:

"One disappointment: In answering a question from TechCrunch's founder, Michael Arrington, the 71-year-old McCain admitted he was "illiterate" when it came to actually using computers. But Arrington later reported that McCain's staffers rushed to mitigate that statement, a sign that it's no longer cool to make such a confession."

and Senator McCain's own admission (you can watch him actually say it):

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/11/mccain-admits-he-doesnt-k_n_106478.html

I respect Senator McCain's service to our Country and have sympathy for his injuries-- but this explanation for his inability to use modern technology is ridiculous.

There are voice recognition technologies that work very efficiently for the disabled. Indeed, a disability does NOT mean that you cannot use a computer. You might want to ask Stephen Hawking.

Senator McCain CAN use modern technology even with his disability. Indeed, he has told us he uses a blackberry-- and I have no disability, yet, I find using a blackberry extremely difficult-- since the keyboard is so very small.

All that I ask from the Fourth Estate is that you meet your obligation to keep us accurately informed. Could you please do your job?

It has been evident (see the above Forbes article) that Senator McCain's campaign has been seeking an explanation for this admission by their candidate since Senator McCain repeatedly made the admission that he was a computer illiterate.

First, the best explanation was attempted-- Senator McCain is working to improve his knowledge. That explanation I will accept.

Now, this explanation is offered. Since it is easily discovered that tools exist to allow those as disabled as Stephen Hawking to use computers, this explanation I cannot accept.

[Mandelay]

Umm... Obama wants to campaign on the issues?
Umm... Obama = Empty Suit (still).
Umm... Nobama!

[JEZ]

Wow! What an indictment he doesn't use the internet! We all know how invaluable it is to be able to get together with other idiots on dailykos and other wired groups! I seem to remember that Clinton himself only sent 2 emails as POTUS. Come on you small minds, get a life!

[Teller]

Listen:

I don’t like John McCain policies, and never have. But defending any mistake the Obama campaign does is starting to resembles a cult. Stop spinning and coming up with absurd justifications.

1. The fact that it is theoretically POSSIBLE for a disabled person to use email has nothing to do with it. It’s possible, but much more DIFFICULT, so he didn’t find it worth the effort (apparently his wife reads him his email).

Obama add is suggesting McCain can’t use email because he is “out of touch” or doesn’t understand technology, while the true reasons seem to be his war injuries.

2. McCain obviously uses he war-hero status for political gains (as he is right to), but does not endlessly push his POW-experience and injuries. The PROOF is that the idiots in the Obama campaign didn’t understand why McCain doesn’t use email, and made this embarrassing gaffe. If McCain kept mentioning it they would have perceived the possibility and used 5 minutes to google to find the Boston Globe and Forbes articles. I guess they were too smart and sophisticated, and ended up embarrassing Obama and his supporters.

3. Presidents do not normally send email, other than publicity stunts. Bill Clinton only used email twice in the white house. When you have the infrastructure these people do you not NEED to use email or google, especially if its painfull.

4. John McCain was tested in the navy and had an IQ of 133, in the top 1-2% of the population. It’s not going to be easy to paint him as a moron like Bush.

[forget the radical]

The only comment I can make to those making light of McCains disabilities he did it for the freedom of the people of the US. Do you think he went into the war for fun? None of you deserve the freedom you have because of McCains and other veterans sacrifice. You're the type who needs Obama who instead of working for the country, he wanted to enlist, yeah rright, has a wife who is now proud to be an American, he attended anti US sermons, supports people who bomb this coumtry etc. You all deserve what you will get, unfortunately we will too, if BO is elected. Get ready for never being able to save a penny, unemployment when corps lay people off to retain profits, non existent Universal Healthcare, a weakened military since the despots of the world will laugh at your Messiah and get Rosetta Stone so that you can learn Farsi. Obama is a joke, talk about no experience, and he is insulting seniors and others. Oh and all you malcontents who again think your freedom came from ?
This country is in bad shape and BO will bring it down.

[Michael Sellers]

What a load of crap! Stop trying to use his POWness to refute any criticism whatsoever. You don't have to raise your arm above your shoulders to type an emal and you can surf the net by doing nothing but point and click.....this is just ridiculous.

[CPO,USN(Ret)]

OMG... He (and Tucker) have now gone from 'noun/verb/POW' to 'noun/verb/fractured fingers'. Obama's right... they think we're stupid!

[icolleen]

All this bs about McCain not using the computer really won't make a difference if he gets in anyway...His wife Cindy, Palin and the republican machine will be running the country. He won't have to do anything but give a disgusting speech to tell us what they tell him to say. Just like their telling Palin what to say now.
He is too old to be running, but his and the republicans oil and energy meetings with Palin in April tell the whole story. They knew she would be picked because of Alaska's oil. Drill, drill, drill so the rich can get richer...including her and her husband an Alaskan separtist. Just look at the members of this party.
Obama may loose this because of evil well planned tactics to keep the control of this country in the hands of only the richest.
The average middle class and lower class income earner should vote for Obama becauses of tax relief and health care alone...but I bet a lot of people will vote for the other side because McCain and Palin can look us right in the eye and LIE LIE LIE. Notice how they changed their campaign motto for country first, change and shake it up. Well it will be shaken up, things will be MUCH WORSE for the middle class...THERE WON'T BE ONE ANYMORE!

[GinaSJ]

The commenters are obviously just as clueless as the Obama campaign. McCain can and does use email. He is as tech savvy as any Senator on the Hill, and his campaign pioneered a lot of the internet strategies that are now taken for granted. It is painful for him to type, so he dictates email and his wife types it for him.

Very classy, Barry and Co. If you knew how to use Google, you might have figured this out before posting such an idiotic and offensive ad.

http://www.forbes.com/asap/2000/0529/053_print.html

[Alan]

The Obama ad apparently is wrong as well -- according to a Forbes article a while back, McCain does use email, he just doesn't type them himself because of his injuries:

"In certain ways, McCain was a natural Web candidate. Chairman of the Senate Telecommunications Subcommittee and regarded as the U.S. Senate's savviest technologist, McCain is an inveterate devotee of email. His nightly ritual is to read his email together with his wife, Cindy. The injuries he incurred as a Vietnam POW make it painful for McCain to type. Instead, he dictates responses that his wife types on a laptop. 'She's a whiz on the keyboard, and I'm so laborious,' McCain admits."

[b]

gee, Stephen Hawking can use a computer, but McCain can't?

http://www.hawking.org.uk/disable/dindex.html

[Tom]

Can Obama fly an airplane? McCain did.

Dick Morris recently told about having to type up a speech for his former boss Pres. Bill Clinton ".. because neither he(Bill) or Hillary know how to type."

Presidents don't rely on email anyway--it can be subpoenaed by a court.

[john]

I'm an Obama supporter. Whoever came up with that ad, they need to FIRE NOW. This kind of stuff will lose the election for Obama. Its sick an twisted to make fun of a disabled person for not being able to use a computer, especially if he was disabled while being tortured by the Vietnamese.

Please people, urge the Obama campaign to quietly apologize for this ad. I suspect McCain is already preparing a ferocious response that we'll be hearing all througout the next couple weeks.

I'm really disturbed by this news.

[ML]

The problem is much bigger than the fact that the man cannot send an email. Of course as President of the United States he would have someone to do that for him. The real problem is that by his actions he does not acknowledge, participate in or understand the internet, global communications, the primary mode of information exchange in our increasingly complex and diverse world. I see it as an illustration of the difference between Obama and McCain. Obama is ready for the future, excited about it even, and can make sure our country remains a world leader - because, folks, the world is moving forward whether we go or not. McCain is a creature of the last century, as many of us are, and will not be able to lead in the world as it exists. We will be handicapping our children and grandchildren with leadership that is bound to fall out of step in the global community. John McCain may be a fine man, but he is not the best choice for our wonderful county at this time in history.

[calling all toasters]

The things I learn on this blog. I did not, for instance, know that people who have had fingers broken can never type again, or use a mouse, or use voice-to-text technology. All those people who actually do it are obviously doing some sort of stage magic. It couldn't be that John McCain is simply incurious because after all, he was a P.O.W.! You may not know that he was, because (as he so often says) he doesn't like to mention it. But he was. A P.O.W., that is. In Vietnam. Where he was a prisoner. And had his fingers broken. While he was a prisoner. And that is why he can never, ever learn to click a mouse.

[drs]

From the Boston Globe (March 4, 2000):
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.

2000 Forbes article about McCain's (then) pioneering web-based campaign:

In certain ways, McCain was a natural Web candidate. Chairman of the Senate Telecommunications Subcommittee and regarded as the U.S. Senate's savviest technologist, McCain is an inveterate devotee of email. His nightly ritual is to read his email together with his wife, Cindy. The injuries he incurred as a Vietnam POW make it painful for McCain to type. Instead, he dictates responses that his wife types on a laptop. "She's a whiz on the keyboard, and I'm so laborious," McCain admits.
--- end quoted articles --

In addition, please note that flying a military high-performance jet is not for technophobes. I'd say it's probably a bit more technically intense than using email or blogging.

[TK]

Biden asks a paraplegic to stand up, Obama mocks an injured war hero about not typing e-mails. I can use a couple fingers to do so but arthritis and injured fingers sure make it tough. Bet Mc can give BHO a lesson on instrument controls in a fighter. TK

[Steve]

Some of these comments are just plain grotesque.

Here's the reality:

* John McCain's hands were crippled while he was held by the Vietnamese. HE CAN'T TYPE BECAUSE HE WAS TORTURED. He personally cannot manipulate a mouse or keyboard.

* Does he use a computer? Yes. He and his wife nightly review emails and she types his responses for him.

* McCain has been heavily involved in technology issues for years. He chaired the committee that oversaw the development of the internet, patent issues, etc.

Those daring to attack John McCain for not --- personally with his crippled fingers -- typing emails need to be ashamed. That is the sleaziest thing.

This attack by the Obama campaign is disgusting.

[Zoey]

No one likes Obama ..... what a poser!

[phillygirl]

Holy moly. I can't believe the LAT employs a "journalist" who used to be Laura Bush's press secretary.

[John]

To you stupid skeptics: McCain flew complex fighter jets, it would be no problem for him to send email if his hands and arms worked properly. He also has a staff to handle it for him. If you think he lacks the skill, it is you who is intellectually unskilled.

[Nicole]

It is quite funny that everyone time Obama fights back he has to be a liar, a hypocrite and whatever these pathetic Republicans want to call him. I suggest if you can not play the game them get out. Palin called herself a pitbull with lipstick. The last time I checked a pitbull is a savageand vicious dog so, what is the difference a pitbull with lipstick or a pig with lipstick both animals wallow in slop. She is still referring to herself as a savage and vicious person. DO WE NEED THAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE? Then most importantly McCain says that he is a maverick. Why would we want the stupidity of Bush to remain in the White House? All he can come up with is using Palin as a token to get the woman voters. We are not stupid McCain the value of women is much higher than what you think. If you are thinking at all. We know that you are trying to use Obama's thoughts and wisdom to get ahead. So let this so called maverick go back to his unorthodox ideas and attitudes. Vote Barack Obama and Joe Biden '08 The change we certainly need.

[d2 at 43rdstateblues]

This was written by Laura Bush's former Press Secretary?

Talk about a useful idiot.

[ThresherK]

Malcolm, the big issue is lying. Per McCain "I use the Blackberry, but I don't e-mail, I've never felt the particular need to e-mail."

(http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/us/politics/13text-mccain.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin)

I guess The Ticket will believe any blogger it wants to, but if his thumbs can run a Blackberry, he can use a keyboard.

Which lie is true? Which one do you believe, Ticket?

[EA]

How silly

This is an A4 cockpit:
http://www.patricksaviation.com/photos/Baron/7409/

looks like one or two important button thingies there.
Look on YouTube to watch a carrier landing at night. That will scare you straight. Oh that's right, let's not forget the aerodynamics and trig that goes with that.

Now can Obama set up the POP3 and SMTP addresses and their incoming and outgoing port addresses to negotiate a firewall? I thought so. Neither can 80% of the people in my company.

But yet someone at an executive level has to take this crap from a little dweeb that after spending $335 million dollars on his campaign gets his glamour stolen "by a girl" in nine days?

When it comes to life's experience Obama is completely outclassed.

[Eddo]

Let's get real here. Certainly there are voice activated programs out there that let you compose documents but they are iffy at best. Usually you have to go through what you have dictated and correct the errors by keystroking.

Given the volume of email I expect John McCain receives, and if he wants to answer even a small portion of them, he would end up "hunting and pecking" with 1 or 2 fingers for days, if not weeks. Certainly doesn't make for prompt responses.

This BeeOoh ad is going to have a half-life of about 1 week and then it will disappear.

If the BeeOoh campaign can't do better than this I know who is going to be elected.

[Military Man For Obama]

This is the first Ive ever read from this Malcom character. Whoever he is, he sure makes it no secret that he has a great big 'ol man crush on his future(very near future) retirement home buddy John McCain. Oh, and hey Andy, when youre ready to sit down and pen another little romance novel about your sweet lil' Jon-Jon, remember this: As an enlisted man getting ready to head to Afghanistan in just a few months, your boy scares the hell outta me and a good number of other enlisted men and women in my position - sadly to say, even more so than Bush....

[Mike G]

Disabled does not mean unable. As a person with a disability I don't appreciate people trying to make excuses for McCain on that basis.
What's next? "Don't pick on POW McCain because he has PTSD"
McCain has ridden a long way on his "heroic" incarceration. Judging on intellect, he doesn't measure up.

Obama-Biden '08

[chris delorean]

MY QUADRIPLEGIC FREIND SENDS ME E-MAILS!!!

HE IS EXPLIOTING IS POW STAUS!

SHAMEFUL

[What if that 3 am call is an e-mail]

Dems are not stretching it at all and BO's reply e-mail or
phone call would be just as inadequate as Marie-Antoinette's " why wont the people eat cake since they
have no bread ?" The content of the message is what
realy differenciates them, not the vehicle.Obama is an
empty dazling suit....McCain beats him on substance ,
judgement and patriotism by a country mile and no amount of computer savyness can compensate.

[Jeff Johnson]

Obamma shihould check his facts before running an ad. This makes him look really uncaring

[chris delorean]

YOU KNOW THEY HAVE DEVICES THAT CAN ACCOMODATE ALMOST ANY DISABILITY,
EXCEPT THE DRIVE THE LEARN

NICE TRY NECONS

[Seneca Doane]

Excuse me -- are you trying to drum up sympathy for the man who called Chelsea Clinton ugly, jokes about rape, laughs at Hillary being called a vulgar name, and called his wife an even more vulgar name (rhymes with "hunt") in front of reporters -- something that, had Obama done it, would be included in every paragraph written about him?

I thought so.

I don't know who hired you to flack the McCain campaign in the LA Times or why, but I'm willing to make a deal with you: we can talk about issues. We can talk about McCain's "daring" plan to tax health care benefits, his nonsensical energy policy, his eagerness to bomb Iran and fight with Russia, his lack of basic understanding about the economy. None of this, by the way, will be compensated for by the fact that he was a POW. It won't make him competent; it won't protect the country.

[ainnj]

Thank you Mr. Malcolm for having the integrity to write this article.

[Bobarian]

Here's a news flash for you community college theater major dropouts: You can't be technologically illiterate and fly a fighter jet.

Zerobama wouldn't even be able to close the canopy of an A-4E Skyhawk.

[Rob]

ANYTHING to keep that black dope with hope out of the White House....

GOOOOOO Palin