21st Century Candidate McCain PC v. Mac answer: " I'm an illiterate that has to rely on my wife..."

[FrenchieCat]

McCain, PC or Mac? Or Abacus?

The Personal IS Political
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

A while back ago John McCain was asked if he used a Mac or a PC. Sure, not a question of any relevance to anyone, that is, until his answer:

Neither, I'm an illiterate that has to rely on my wife for all of the assistance I can get.

A chimp can use a computer, how the hell can a US Senator, someone running to run the most powerful country in the world, not know how to work a damn computer after they have been around for over two decades?? It isn't that hard, you play around with it for an hour and you'll figure it out. Kids can do it before they learn to read. And John McCain can't?

...

And no, age is no excuse, because there are plenty of people his age and older who have learned how to use a computer. If he doesn't have the cognitive abilities to adapt to new technology (in other words the cognitive abilities of a 6 year old), how the hell is he supposed to keep up with the constant challenges of leading a nation? The other possibility is perhaps even more disconcerting--if McCain does have the mental capacity to learn new things, why on earth has he resisted learning how to use a computer, when computers have become such a fundamental part of our society? Computers and the internet have unlocked historically unprecedented access to knowledge and information, access that has and will continue to change the shape of society, and yet in a society where knowledge is power, McCain remains willfully ignorant of even the most fundamental tool of unlocking all of this potential? Why? What does that mean about McCain? I don't want to make too much out of this, but seriously, how could you be surrounded by this technology, this incredibly important, history-changing technology, and not at least be curious, not at least learn the basics, especially when you are a US Senator??

I don't know what to make of it, but I think it speaks volumes about McCain's character, we just don't know whether it is saying that he is hopelessly dysfunctional, or stubbornly anti-change.

See the video and rest of the article HERE

[blogslut]

1. Sad

My father passed in 1992. He would be 81 this year, had he lived. I have absolutely no doubt he would have totally mastered the personal computer and embraced the Internet.

I used to teach basic computer skills at a learning center. Over 50% of the people that came to the center were above the age of 50. They were as hungry to understand computer technology as any young person.

John McCain's unwillingness to hop on a computer tells me has no desire to learn new things.

[FrenchieCat]

2. Also means that his understanding of how the world works

is archaic! That's dangerous.

Another similarity with his twin Bush; lack of curiousity.

[DangerousRhythm]

3. My 84 year old grandma uses the internet.

She IS admittedly awesome though. :D

[Mabus]

9. I've met several 70+ and 80+ people who went out of their way to get computers

One of them was an 80+ year old woman I met at the Take Back America conference a couple of years ago. She was so sweet. She said she got a computer so she could get on the internet because she had heard about MoveOn.org and wanted to be a part of it. She stopped me at the conference because I had an Al Gore hat on and she thought I would be be able to point her to the MoveOn table. She told me she stopped me because anyone with an Al Gore hat had to know about MoveOn.

I had just been through the exhibit hall so I knew where she needed to go. I walked with her to the table to make sure she got there.

[DangerousRhythm]

12. That's so great!

I've seen some really cool older people on Youtube, doing video blogs. I aim to be that technologically savvy and spry when I'm around their age. :D

[Mabus]

13. Maybe you should ask your grandmother

:)

Or you could check out http://remixamerica.org/ Norman Lear talked about it at the Take Back America conference this year. I haven't had a chance to use it yet but it provides historic clips (like JFK speeches) and clips of historic documents read by actors. The website also provides the software to make the clips and some tips on "Fair Use".

Here's a blurb from the "about us" portion of the website:

This country is a remix, it's what we do. What did Jefferson and Paine and Adams do but mashup history, take a little from the Magna Carta, a little from John Locke, and a whole lot of rebellion. Now, thanks to the web and digital technology, everyone can join in.

This is a unique moment in our history -- We can rediscover the promise of the Declaration of Independence next to the music of Louis Armstrong next to the beats of the Beastie Boys and clips of our candidates talking about "Changes." Every one of us can own our best expressions of liberty, democracy and freedom, remix them as they see fit, and share them with the world.

RemixAmerica.org is a multi-partisan, non-profit website that uses digital technology to give everyone the chance to own the words, the music, the images and sounds of America in digital form; to remix those expressions and ideas with their own; and to send the products of our community's creativity out to the world... where others will come back to us and start it all over again...

http://remixamerica.org/about

[DangerousRhythm]

30. Wow, that's cool!

I'll have to email her that link. :D

[Mabus]

31. Cool

Norman Lear asked us to get the word out and I've been trying.

I'm sure your grandmother would have some interesting perspectives. I know I miss my grandma's views.

[DangerousRhythm]

32. Norman Lear...

...is awesome too. :D

My grandma has great stories, indeed. I remember once doing a project for school in which I asked about her youth, on an audio tape, and remember being fascinated by her WWII bomb assembly factory story in particular. I wish I still owned it today but I'm fairly certain it's long gone, in some landfill most likely. But I digress... thanks again! :)

[Hippo_Tron]

24. My 82 year old grandmother just learned how to use a computer

And it's not like McCain was 71 during the tech boom of the 90's when computers became very popular. He was actually in his late 50's (hard as that is to believe). He really has no excuse.

[Cha]

29. Aren't we just getting rid of one

of those incurious puppets?

[WCGreen]

4. It's like that woman on the Video Professor computer programs...

Who claims, very loudly, that her 2.5 year old daughter knows more about computers than she does.

What an idiot, to admit that on TV and be kind of proud about it.

Luddites of the world unite but they would need the computer and well, they can't figure out how to get the dern thing to work.

[FrenchieCat]

5. This is worse. This guy is running to be leader of the Free World.....

that can't happen!

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

6. McCain is a TRS-80. n/t

[unblock]

7. hey, the trs-80 was at least innovative. it had its day.

mccain proves you can't be a has-been if you never were in the first place.

[BklynChick]

8. my parents are in their 70s and both use the computer very competently, and they're knuckleheads.

it must be said: this man is too old and behind the times to be president. it's not just a function of his age but his perspective (or lack thereof) on things and he's made so many simple errors lately that you have to wonder about his mental faculties.

[bridgit]

10. hahaha, reminded me of hubby saying he taught his daughters linear equations...

when they were 2 & 3 but using lima beans...maybe McCain is just a pocket full of old, scuffed up Navy beans :spray:

[enough]

11. Here's a DU thread from yesterday on the subject.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3432189

[fishwax]

14. My dear grandmother has no interest in computers

but she's retired in her late 80s and likes to spend all her time gardening and reading and playing bridge. She has no interest in running the country. I think Americans (including my happily-computer-free grandmother) would be frightened at the thought of a President who doesn't know how to use the basic tool of the era.

[Summer93]

15. Bottled Hot Water for Dehydrated Babies

I went to the Remix America website. After playing the video I went down the list and played another video. This is where McCain talks about delivering bottled hot water to dehydrated babies. I had to play it several times because it made me laugh so much. He was reading it and when he heard what came out of his mouth he looked so puzzled.

[Schema Thing]

16. Scary for another reason too...

.. it just adds to that sickening feeling that they are throwing this election away. And if that's true, they either have a plan, or at least knowledge of just how bad it is going to be for our president.

We have to get a veto proof majority.

[Hepburn]

17. My 83 year old neighbor uses a computer better than most who are half his age.

A truly amazing man who is as bright and curious as the come. Another pal of mine is in his late 70s and he knows more about computers than anyone I known. In fact, he is the person who got me on the internet back in the mid-1990s and showed me some basics on getting started.

I always thought McCain was an idiot...this certainly supports my conclusion.

[chill_wind]

18. John McBush. Another Republican politician, very uncurious about the world

and the country he claims he wants to lead.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

19. he's a dessicated version of McBush

all dried up and already a bit senile.

[hedgehog]

20. I worked at a company where the person with the most powerful desktop

computer was the company chairman; unfortunately he had no idea how to turn it on. It was just a status symbol for him. Too bad for the people with real work to do. They stumbled along with some real clunkers. McCain comes from the same class. He thinks it's cute to be computer illiterate.

[starroute]

21. I was thinking earlier about McCain compared to Ron Paul

They're just a year apart in age -- McCain was born August 29, 1936, Paul on August 20, 1935. But whatever you think of his politics, Paul displays none of the fuzziness and general out-of-touch-ness that McCain does.

There have been a couple of threads lately wondering whether we will "look bad" if we seem to be making ageist remarks against McCain. To the extent that's true, we may need to think carefully about how to make the point that it has nothing to do with McCain's age -- it's just about McCain himself -- and back that up by using stories like this computer one and references to Paul as a standard of comparison.

[Rocky2007]

22. Us old farts--

Interesting thread frenchieCat.

My son was in High School in the mid to late 70's when the IBM PC Jr first appeared. I was way interested and we headed out one evening and bought us a computer -- loved DOS!

I'm not sure thinking back if he really ever got his share of time on it.

I just turned 71 the other day and have 3 computers running at this moment. The laptop I'm on now - Win XP plus Linux Hardy dual boot -- 2 desktop boxes - one running under Win XP and the other running Linux ubuntu Hardy Heron. I'm moving to Linux, as you can see.

I cannot even think about NOT having a computer close at hand -- did I mention - my 3 computers are networked -- thought not.

Viagra is cool but computers rule!!! :toast: :bounce: :bounce: :dem:

Hugs

[Hippo_Tron]

23. Even Ted "Series of Tubes" Stevens can use a blackberry

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10995.html

[senseandsensibility]

25. I've been noticing that some people on DU have very little

patience for people who do not love technology as much as they do. I realize that this discussion is about McSame not even knowing the basics and obviously having the means to learn if he had the will to do so. I can see that point, but then again, if he was a reader with a great sense of history and a solid moral vision for our country, would it really matter if he could use a computer? I could be feeling a little defensive since I've never really been comfortable with technology myself. People are different and have different strengths and weaknesses. Not to sound too corny, but it's what's inside that counts.

[JCMach1]

27. PC was invented in 1976! and has changed the world

McCain is a knuckle-dragging Luddite at this point.

[JCMach1]

26. Would people have voted for TR if he had never used a phone?

Answer: would have never happened, TR was ALWAYS curious about things.

1876- Invention of the Telephone
1976- Invention of the PC

This is a big issue. It shows the very close-mindedness of McCain.

[Cha]

28. mccain needs to join us

in the 21st century. Btw, what does mccain do?