He Can't Email...and apparently his opponent can't google [Obama belittles McCain war injuries]

The GW Patriot ^ | September 12, 2008 | Political Pulse

[Darkwolf377]

That’s too clever by half, especially since McCain’s and others’ telling the story of his Vietnam experience means those injuries are never out of anyone’s mind. The point is how McCain is strong because he’s overcome those obstacles; Obama and company just aren’t thinking in that three-dimensional way. They’re strictly checkers players.

[Paul R.]

Good point. If anyone here has not seen it & would like to forward it to, say, a lib friend, Bill Whittle over at ejectejecteject.com wrote a great essay which happens to include an excellent discussion of what it takes, intelligence-wise (and ability to use technology) to fly a Vietnam era jet fighter:

http://www.ejectejecteject.com/archives/2006_11.html

[Paul R.]

I have been thinking along the same lines the last few days: Sen. McCain could run an ad showing himself and Cindy answering e-mail (say, to a constituent) and make the ‘IT’ usage almost an ‘incidental’ part of the ad. Other angles to demonstrate “tech” savvy could be subtly worked in as well.

[supercat]

I have been thinking along the same lines the last few days: Sen. McCain could run an ad showing himself and Cindy answering e-mail (say, to a constituent) and make the ‘IT’ usage almost an ‘incidental’ part of the ad. Other angles to demonstrate “tech” savvy could be subtly worked in as well.

I'm not sure what wording would be best for the text, but how about starting with a close-up of an email screen (probably font size 2x normal or so, to ensure legibility on television sets). McCain voice-over would read the text:

From: mccain@his.public.email.address
To: barack@his.public.email.address

Dear Sen. Obama:

Communists crippled my fingers so I generally dictate my emails. One of your staffers seems to finds that funny. Why? Such attitude is a "change" from what I'm used to. Your colleague,

The letters "J-o-h-n M-c-C-a-i-n" would appear rather slowly, accompanied by audible keyboard noises. Track back the camera to reveal John McCain at the keyboard, awkwardly pecking out his name. Then have a secretary enter; John McCain slides his seat over so she can sit down. John McCain resumes speaking at a relatively fast pace, as the secretary can be seen to type in real-time with just enough lag to suggest that she's responding to his words:

PS--Perhaps some might consider it a mark of honor for me to spend painful hours at the keyboard to write my emails, but frankly I have work to do and can't afford to waste twenty minutes typing letters I could dictate in two. I could spend more time at the computer if I didn't need to accomplish anything, but I take my job pretty seriously. I would hope you could understand that.

Not sure the ad could really be done well in 30 seconds rather than 60, but it includes a few points that would distinguish John McCain from Barack Obama (e.g. the need to get real work done). My writing is pretty feeble, but perhaps someone better than myself could do something with the concept.

[Paul R.]

Well, I don’t know about all that. Maybe a lead in with a line about “Technology is key in the coming century” with video showing a pilot “at work” in a fighter plane cockpit, and then a shot of it taking off, to start. Then go to a quote (preferably from a Dem or a left leaning newspaper or magazine) about McCain being the most technologically savvy member of the Senate. Then go to John and Cindy McCain answering e-mails (but not so many details.) Maybe a comment about: “John McCain’s Vietnam injuries left it difficult for him to type, but he has always found it important to communicate with his constituents...” I don’t think much more needs to be said.