He can type, he occasionally does type, but in general the injuries he sustained as a POW -- ones that make it impossible for him to raise his arms high enough to comb his hair -- mean that small tasks make his shoulders ache, so he tries to avoid any repetitive exercise.
Again, it's not that he can't type, he just by habit avoids when he can repetitive exercise involving his arms. He does if he has to, as with handshaking or autographs.
It's certainly possible that the Obama campaign did not know this, since McCain makes it sound in interviews as if this is a matter of choice, not discomfort because of his war wounds.
Yeah that was kind of out of line. As much as I hate these slam ads, I do genuinely think his injuries were looked over in the production of the commercial. Meh. I guess we'll never know.
2008-09-19, 01:49 PM
Matt Molnar
Re: Why Doesn't McCain Use a Computer?
Whether or not he has a good reason for not using computers, I think it's an unacceptable trait for a President at this point in history. First, it's quickly becoming the most vital medium through which people communicate. For a President to not have even the slightest grasp of how people are communicating with each other through emails and message boards and blogs, or how the media is communicating with citizens and the world with real-time news reports and videos, or even how his own government is communicating to its citizens, and is simply mindblowing. Imagine if FDR didn't know how to use a radio.
Second, there are a number of important government decisions yet to be made about the Internet over the next few years that will shape how it works for the next 50. It's bad enough that many of our Congressmen are in the dark, I don't want the executive branch to be on the same dumb boat.
2008-09-20, 04:56 PM
T-Bird76
Re: Why Doesn't McCain Use a Computer?
Wait a min...Mike, the ad doesn't say "He doesn't use a PC or email." It states McCain admits he doesn't know how to use a computer or email. That's entirely different then what you're implying here and twisting facts to your radical right wing stance ;) (just kidding bubbala). Even though McCain can't for long periods of time do repetitive things that doesn't give an excuse not to know how to use them. I agree with the ad and do not think its out of place at all.
