Latest Obama gaffe in a TV commercial

[realtraveller]

The links are at Drudge and at the National Review online at The Corner.

You know Obama's latest ad mocking McCain because he doesn't use a computer. Turns out, he can't.

The Boston Globe in 2000 said that due to his war injuries "he can't comb his own hair, USE A KEYBOARD or tie his shoes."

How soon will the apology come. Looks like Obama's new strategy of 'talking tough' has already backfired.

[amykhar]

The Corner on National Review Online

[amykhar]

I looked to see if any real media outlets had the story, but thus far, all links are to blogs. Now, while I'm certain Obama didn't know about McCain not being physically capable of using a computer, now that he does know, he should probably apologize.

BUT, I also think it would be very bad form to make a huge issue of this. Everybody sticks their foot in their mouth sometimes.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

Last I knew, there was all sorts of adaptive equipment, voice recognition software, etc.... hell, the blind man at my chuch has an email account and surfs the 'net, sans keyboard. Not being able to type (or see, for that matter) isn't much of a barrier to using the Internet any more, so I don't blame the campaign for thinking that McCain can use it if he wants to. Or you can take it as a compliment - John McCain looks so good, no one knows he has physical limitations. (And I'm not sure if the McCain campaign wants to do a lot to emphasize physical limitations on top of the age issue.)

Meanwhile, it's true that Clinton didn't use the Internet and Bush doesn't use email. But having dealt with agencies sued for electronic records, I understand why a politician would not, as a matter of policy, use the computer much directly himself. I don't understand why we are expected to swallow camels and strain at gnats when watching the campaign ads though...

[theworm[$]]

Designated Dialer???

Also makes me wonder about how he got his flight status after the war.

[drmomentum[$]]

I think the campaigns should just give up on all discussion of the issues and just trade apologies for 6 weeks.

[realtraveller]

So McCain can't type because the North Vietnamese tortured him. But Obama apparently doesn't know how to use Google to research. I wonder what his excuse is.

This will be in newspapers and on the national media soon enough. Jonah Goldberg who did find this information on Google is a nationally syndicated columnist. I'm already seeing it in the comments on the ABC News site. Wait for the hurricane to pass. It'll hit Monday and the Obama campaign will have to apologize.

[emeleel]

It's times like this I'm thankful I don't have good TV reception anymore.

[lynnzop[$]]

O
M
G

You have got to be kidding me.

For some reason I was paying attention to the issues to determine where my vote goes, not the stupidity.

Because HOPEFULLY. After the commercials and campaigning is over, the issues will still be there. HOPEFULLY the stupidity will be gone.

[thinkerlady[$]]

I understood McCain CHOOSES not to use the internet, not because he cannot find a way to physically do so, but because it is a matter of personal choice. He cannot lift his arms. Maybe he doesn't have good coordination in his hands to type. So what????? Most politicians have a staff--they can use the internet, and search google. Why does it even have to be discussed?
There are important issues that need to be addressed. I think we should stop giving credence to the petty BS and start talking about the real stuff, or this election will really be nothing more than a media crapshot.

[realtraveller]

What's the point of ridiculing someone who doesn't send e-mail anyway? It's to make Obama look cool to young voters but it has the counter effect of turning off all those older people who don't use or want to use a computer. And which states are filled with older people? Pennsylvania and Florida. Doh!

[magenta321]

I don't know... define older...

My mother is 60... is that older?? She uses the computer. She browses the internet daily, sends emails, and organizes her church group via computer. As a technologist, all of her work is done digitally too.
My uncle is 70... is that older?? He has an online business. He has a website, he uses email, and he surfs the web.
My boyfriend's mother is 80... is that older?? She uses the computer. She browses the internet, sends email, and organizes her mahjong and bridge groups.

I think someone, regardless of age, who doesn't use the computer has not kept up with the times. That's fine for some people, but I don't think that's fine for the president of the United States.

While that's not the issue I'm voting on, it's one that resounded with me. I don't believe there are many jobs that don't use computers in this modern world. It made him seem even more out of touch, to me.

[drmomentum[$]]

Some infor on Obama's tax plan


Whoever wins, you'll probably pay less (Chicago Sun-Times)

Obama says he would hike several taxes on people making more than $250,000, including the amount they pay on capital gains. Currently, the top income tax rate is 35 percent. Under Obama, that would go back up to 39 percent. Obama's staff told the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center he would raise the rates for people in the top two brackets -- about 2.5 million filers out of 100 million-plus. People in those high tax brackets would see the tax rate on their capital gains hiked from the current 15 percent to 20-28 percent.

The 95 percent-plus of the American population that earns less than $250,000 would see the following tax breaks: A $500-per-worker tax credit for people who earn less than $150,000 and do not itemize, and a $4,000 credit per child in college. Seniors who earn less than $50,000 would pay no income tax.

A $4,000 credit per child in college is a decent incentive, I think.

-JP

[thinkerlady[$]]

drmomentum said

Some infor on Obama's tax plan


Whoever wins, you'll probably pay less (Chicago Sun-Times)






A $4,000 credit per child in college is a decent incentive, I think.

-JP

That is huge JP. We have 2 children, one out of college and one a senior. That $4,000. would have made a major difference, especially when there seems to be no cap on college costs. This year, I believe boy-child's tuition is $24,000. Including all related expenses, it rounds up to near $34,000. I think it will benefit parents big time.

I don't know how to quote from the article....guess my lack of computer knowledge shows. But--in reading about the cost to the treasury--Obama's overall plan will cost the treasury 2.7 billion. McCain's will cost 3.7 billion. Everything in that article points to McCain's plan lowering the cost for corporations and increasing the costs onto the public. Isn't that what we basically have now???

[drmomentum[$]]

McCain's economic plans indeed look largely to me like more of the same we've had from Bush. Especially in wanting to extend the tax breaks.

[lynnzop[$]]

Everything I've read about McCain's plan, and every time Palin opens her mouth about it, all I hear is "business" "small business". As a small business owner, sure I like to hear about tax cuts. But as an individual, I'd like to hear more about tax cuts for individuals, not just businesses.

[anderclayton]

magenta321 said

I don't know... define older...

My mother is 60... is that older?? She uses the computer. She browses the internet daily, sends emails, and organizes her church group via computer. As a technologist, all of her work is done digitally too.
My uncle is 70... is that older?? He has an online business. He has a website, he uses email, and he surfs the web.
My boyfriend's mother is 80... is that older?? She uses the computer. She browses the internet, sends email, and organizes her mahjong and bridge groups.

I think someone, regardless of age, who doesn't use the computer has not kept up with the times. That's fine for some people, but I don't think that's fine for the president of the United States.

While that's not the issue I'm voting on, it's one that resounded with me. I don't believe there are many jobs that don't use computers in this modern world. It made him seem even more out of touch, to me.

My Dad is older and actually avoids using the internet as much as he can. My Grandma was older and had just gotten the internet a year or two before she died last year. This is from a lady that typed 100 words a minute at her job. My Grandpa is still muddling through the internet.

Now imagine not being able to type and trying to get into using a computer...

If you have no real reason to use the internet, it seems like something that is extra. I mean I love it and am pretty much addicted to it myself (er, take away the "pretty much" there) but that doesn't mean that I *need* it (really I don't).
One way that I've found it very convenient is for information retrieval. Does McCain need that aspect of it?
Another big way I use it is for e-mail. It looks like McCain does use a phone (from the pic) so is e-mail *that* useful?
Another way that a politician like McCain could use it would be to connect to his constituents. McCain likes talking to them face-to-face.

So aside from those three things, why should McCain use a computer? To play Freecel?

Ander

[mtomm[$]]

Fine he doesn't want to use the internet or computer. But saying he can't really isn't truthful either and he doesn't get an apology for it.

Let me introduce you to my nephew. If you look carefully to the right of this picture you'll see a young man in a wheelchair. He is a complete quad. Meaning he spinal cord was completely severed at 16. He won this trip to the Packers game because he entered their contest ONLINE. By himself. He is quite capable of working on the computer and has no use of his fingers and very, very limited use of his arms.

So saying you can't really doesn't fly with me. Stupid commercial, yes, but no apology.

[frazzledspice]

magenta321 said

I don't know... define older...

My mother is 60... is that older?? She uses the computer. She browses the internet daily, sends emails, and organizes her church group via computer. As a technologist, all of her work is done digitally too.

It certainly isn't! It's only one year older than I am.

But to get back to McCain--in order to further his Presidential ambitions, he has taken considerable pains to present the image of being active and vigorous. I heard about his hiking the entire Grand Canyon with his sons recently.

FDR also hid his disabilities because it made him more electable.

If McCain suffered permanent disabilities due to his POW status, he has my sincere sympathy and admiration, but he certainly never made that common knowledge until his inability to use a computer made him seem like a nincompoop.

So he calculated the risk: A) He could make Obama look like a bully and gain sympathy for himself by pointing to his war injuries or B) He could look like a nincompoop, but an active, healthy nincompoop and Obama would capture all the non-creationist youth vote.

He doesn't have my sympathy in that case. He misled us for gain, and now he's calling foul.

[realtraveller]

Obama has changed the specifics of his tax plan several times over the course of this campaign. So I don't trust this. His voting record says something different. He always votes to raise taxes.

[drmomentum[$]]

Changed in what way? Please show me the changes. There's nothing wrong with changing your plan if it's necessary.

Certainly, continuing with the current plan is going to squeeze consumers right out of the picture.