Obama: McCain can't email, remembers Rubik's Cubes

Computer illiteracy vs. Web 2.0rhea

By Cade Metz in San Francisco • Get more from this author

Posted in Odds and Sods, 12th September 2008 18:50 GMT

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Barack Obama has told American voters that John McCain is a poor choice for the highest office in the land because he "doesn't know how to use a computer" and "can't send an email."

In a new TV ad, the Democratic presidential nominee warns the country that his Republican opponent is still living in a time when Joanie loved Chachi.

"1982. John McCain goes to Washington," the ad announces, flashing images of a dumbbell-sized mobile phone, a vinyl record player, a monochrome monitor, and a Rubik's cube. "Things have changed in the last 26 years. But McCain hasn't."

Citing a famous The New York Times story, the ad goes to say that McCain doesn't quite get this internet thing - and still believes in Reaganomics. "He admits he still doesn't know how to use a computer, can't send an email, still doesn't understand the economy, and favors $200bn in tax cuts for corporations but almost nothing for the middle class."

Then it pans a photo of McCain and a man called Dubya. "After one president who was out of touch," the voice over continues, "we just can't afford more of the same."

In July, McCain told The Times he's badgering himself to at least master the art of reading a web page. "I am learning to get online myself, and I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself," he said. "I don't expect to be a great communicator, I don’t expect to set up my own blog, but I am becoming computer literate to the point where I can get the information that I need."

Then he said email is useless. "I don't e-mail. I've never felt the particular need to e-mail."

Of course, Barack Obama is guilty of equally ridiculous behavior at the other end of the computer literacy scale. He's given himself Web 2.0rhea. ®

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