Excerpted from: “Wondering No More”, Jonah Goldberg, September 12, 2008
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As part of its “get tough” makeover, the Obama campaign is mocking John McCain for not using a computer, without caring why he doesn’t use a computer.
From the AP story about the computer illiterate ad:
- “Our economy wouldn’t survive without the Internet, and cyber-security continues to represent one our most serious national security threats,” [Obama spokesman Dan] Pfeiffer said. “It’s extraordinary that someone who wants to be our president and our commander in chief doesn’t know how to send an e-mail.”
Well, I guess it depends on what you mean by “extraordinary.” The reason he doesn’t send email is that he can’t use a keyboard because of the relentless beatings he received from the Viet Cong in service to our country.
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. “
In a similar vein I guess it’s an outrage that the blind governor of New York David Paterson doesn’t know how to drive a car. After all, transportation issues are pretty important. How dare he serve as governor while being ignorant of what it’s like to navigate New York’s highways.
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Ken’s POV
Besides the potential problems raised by attacking an infirmity (I’m sure it’s strictly unintentional and “innocent” like the lipstick riff), there’s a more general marketing strategy question.
Obama is running behind with low-ed, low-income, rural old folks — who, incidentally, are the lightest users of the Internet and email.
If that is one of Obama’s remedial target market, does it make sense to run a commercial making fun of them ? Hmmmm
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From Pew Research:
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September 15, 2008 at 11:04 am |
You are assuming that people want their leaders to be as weak and uninformed as they are. My assumption is that voters want to identify with the strengths of their candidate rather than their weaknesses.
I certainly wouldn’t choose a pilot because he knows as little about flying as I do!
September 16, 2008 at 10:55 am |
In response to the posting above…
Flying a plane is a pilot’s job/specialty. Using the Internet is not in the job description of the President. It’s a leisure activity, and you are assuming that a President would be “uninformed” if he does not use the Internet. Frankly, I’d rather he become more “informed” through National Security Briefings and not through blogs / CNN.com.
September 22, 2008 at 4:19 pm |
You are responding to the wrong argument. The initial post suggests that non-internet users will reject Obama’s argument because they are also “internet illiterate”. I am suggesting that shared weakness may not make McCain attractive to these people.
As an internet user I AM bothered that McCain is so out of touch with such important technology. It suggests a certain inability to adapt that I find unattractive.
Unrelated to election point: if his injuries are keeping him offline, we need to think about this “digital divide”. Lots of kids coming home from war with terrible injuries will need to participate in the economy. They need to have access to technology. I’m sure there are some entrepreneurs reading this…