Obama mocks McCain as computer illiterate in ad

Associated Press ^ | 09/12/08 | NEDRA PICKLER

[presidio9]

John McCain is mocked as an out-of-touch, out-of-date computer illiterate in a television commercial out Friday from Barack Obama as the Democrat begins his sharpest barrage yet on McCain's long Washington career.

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The new fighting spirit comes as McCain has been gaining in the polls and some Democrats have been expressing concern the Obama campaign has not been aggressive enough. Obama's campaign says the escalation will involve advertising and pushes made by the candidate, running mate Joe Biden and other surrogates across the country.

"Today is the first day of the rest of the campaign," Obama campaign manager David Plouffe says in a campaign strategy memo. "We will respond with speed and ferocity to John McCain's attacks and we will take the fight to him, but we will do it on the big issues that matter to the American people."

The newest ad showcasing their hard line includes unflattering footage of McCain at a hearing in the early '80s, wearing giant glasses and an out-of-style suit, interspersed with shots of a disco ball, a clunky phone, an outdated computer and a Rubik's Cube.

"1982, John McCain goes to Washington," an announcer says over chirpy

[RichardW]

That should win him a lot of votes from those who choose not be addicted to computers.

[AmericaUnited]

"Today is the first day of the rest of the campaign," Obama campaign manager David Plouffe says in a campaign strategy memo. "We will respond with speed and ferocity to John McCain's attacks and we will take the fight to him, but we will do it on the big issues that matter to the American people."

They have got to be absolutely roaring with laughter and high-fiving over at McCain's campaign headquarters. They have been trying to put a big psych case on Bambi and his capos and this is proof that they've done it. These guys are out of control and will just make forced error, after forced error.

[nuf said]

So much for a change from the politics of days gone by. Obama is a PHONEY.

[Spokane]

Let’s ask Obama to describe the difference between Perl and .NET to see how deep his computer literacy is.

[wbill]

BAMF....I know how to use a computer, and I'd not heard of BAMF before. I can guess what it stands for, though. :-)

Computer knowledge is an asset, but not a critical one at that level. The president has people that crunch numbers for him. And, I'd assume that he doesn't spend workdays surfing FR, either.

Obama is just pandering to his internets-savvy, mac-using, hipster base.

[al_c]

Good grief. So now our president is suppose to be an IT professional? Find something real to discuss, 0bama.

[GraceCoolidge]

"1982, John McCain goes to Washington," an announcer says....

At which time, Joe Biden already had been in the Senate ten years!

Is this what the Obama camp considers an "issue"? McCain doesn't use a computer? What job does Obama want-- the White House or the Geek Squad? I think a computer might be pretty convenient for him, but frankly I don't see the President sitting up at nights tapping away in his blog or bidding on eBay. If he prefers to dictate his memos, that's fine with me.

[j_k_l]

This will once again expose him as a...

E   L   I   T   I   S   T

[CedarDave]

One of our Hispanic employees (who hates Obama) said this morning, “McCain may not know how to text message, but I bet Sarah does”. I had to laugh at that. And lets ask Biden if he knows how to use the internet!

[Question Liberal Authority]

Barack Obama doesn't even know how to use a bowling ball.

If 0 is so tech savvy, he ought to divulge his DU screen name so that everyone can see how well he uses this technology. And let's see every one of his emails that he's ever written or received.

[snarkytart]

Does he really think the American people care that McCain doesn't surf the Internet and type his own emails? What a freaking, out of touch retard!

I know, but let them keep it up. Obama can't run on issues.

[tioga]

whata mean.....obama has REAL accomplishments to talk about.....for instance....

[razorback-bert]

Weak, a lot of senior citizens could care less and maybe have more respect for him.

[E=MC2]

I can’t wait to start seeing the ads with photos of Michelle and Obama with their terrorist friends. Obama should be very worried about showing old photos ...

[Cobra64]

That video is fantastic. I just sent it to about 50 people.

[ladyvet]

What a dumba$$!!! Keep it up Barry! My seventy two year old mother in law and her friends don’t use a computer. If she needs something or information she’ll have me do it for her.

That said, I have to ask my kids for help if I need anything besides surfing and email.LOL!

[GraceCoolidge]

You’re right. It would be great to see an ad in which McCain says, “My opponent’s campaign recently aired an ad with this 1982 photograph of me” and makes a joke of it. Then he can add, but here are some old photos that aren’t so funny... and go to the Weather Underground, Rezko on trial, newspaper headlines, etc.

[Deb]

I beg them to keep this up.

[P-Marlowe]

Executives don’t need computer skills - that’s what underlings are for.

Underlings?

A word of advice dirtboy. NEVER EVER refer to your staff as "underlings". That smacks of the kind of condescension that only a democrat would stoop to.

They are your co-workers or they are your "staff" (and always remember that a "staff" is something that keeps you from falling).

And if you have people working under you, you'd better take the attitude that without them, you are nothing. If you were capable of doing without them, then you would never have hired them.

[Biggirl]

Reminds me of the famous typewriter poster that asked the question of Golda Meir, “But could she type?”

If Sen. McCain wants to go computer literate, just simply get a Mac, the kind and gentile way to learn about computers.