Media advance claim -- not made by McCain -- that he can't use a computer or send email because of war injuries
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SUMMARY: Since the release of an Obama campaign ad asserting that Sen. John McCain "admits he still doesn't know how to use a computer, can't send an email," several Fox News figures and talk-radio hosts have claimed that McCain doesn't use a computer or email because of injuries he sustained during his service in the Vietnam War. But the McCain campaign itself did not make this claim in response to the ad, reportedly responding that "John McCain travels with a laptop."
Since Sen. Barack Obama's campaign released an ad asserting that Sen. John McCain "admits he still doesn't know how to use a computer, can't send an email," several figures on Fox News and talk-radio hosts have claimed that McCain does not use a computer or email because of injuries he sustained during his service in the Vietnam War. But the McCain campaign itself reportedly did not cite his war injuries in connection with his computer habits, and a campaign spokesman reportedly responded to the Obama ad by saying that "John McCain travels with a laptop."
Moreover, after saying in February that he is a computer "illiterate," McCain reportedly told The New York Times in a July 11 interview, "I am learning to get online myself, and I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself," adding, "I use the Blackberry, but I don't e-mail, I've never felt the particular need to e-mail. I read e-mails all the time, but the communications that I have with my friends and staff are oral and done with my cell phone." According to the transcript provided by the Times, McCain made no mention of his war injuries in discussing his computer use.
On the September 15 edition of MSNBC Live, Republican strategist Ron Christie asserted, "[T]he fact of the matter is, while Senator Obama was a young man, Senator McCain was being beaten and tortured in a jail. That's why he can't type." Correspondent David Shuster responded: "No, no, no, no. That's not true. We have established that John McCain can type. He suffered grave injuries from being a POW, but his inability to type is not one of them. Well, we've heard from John McCain himself that he can type."
In addition to Christie, other examples of media figures advancing the claim that McCain is unable to use a computer due to his war injuries include:
- On the September 16 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Steve Doocy asserted: "The ad we're running right here, about how he doesn't email, it turns out he doesn't email because of his -- the injuries he sustained while being tortured by the North Vietnamese." Media Research Council president L. Brent Bozell III replied, "That's where opposition research has got to be a little bit more accurate before they do an ad."
- On the September 15 edition of Fox News' America's Newsroom, anchor Bill Hemmer repeatedly asked Obama spokesman Bill Burton whether he was "aware" that McCain is "unable to type on a keyboard" because of his war injuries, and ignored Burton's response that McCain "had specifically said that he was learning how to use a computer." Some of the questions Hemmer asked Burton included: "Did it occur to you that he can't use a keyboard effectively because of Vietnam War wounds he suffered for five and a half years of captivity?"; "Back to the point, did you know he can't use a key[board]?"; "Did it occur to you that the injuries he suffered in the Hanoi Hilton is the reason why?"; "So you're saying that you weren't aware of that? That's your answer then, right?"; and "If he gave flesh for the country and you knew that he couldn't use a keyboard because his arms and shoulders were broken by the Viet Cong four decades ago, is that fair game?
- Discussing Obama's ad on the September 15 edition of Fox News' Hannity and Colmes, co-host Sean Hannity started to say of McCain: "The reason he doesn't use a computer is 'cause --" Fox News contributor and columnist Dick Morris then interrupted, saying, "Because of the war injuries." Hannity replied, "Yeah, because of his war injuries."
- On the September 15 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News analyst Mary Katharine Ham asserted: "[W]e've seen several reports that McCain does go online. He does do certain things. His wife has to help him, because he has some war injuries that prevent him from actually going online. Now, this is undoubtedly unintentional on the Obama campaign's part, but it's a pretty boneheaded mistake when you're going negative."
- On the September 15 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, G. Gordon Liddy asserted: "The ad by Obama says he doesn't know how to operate the Internet, he doesn't know how to send email. ... [W]hat they don't say is the terrible war and torture wounds that McCain suffered rendered him -- it's impossible for him to type." He continued: "He physically cannot do it. He knows how to do it, but he can't do it physically because of his terrible war wounds."
- On the September 15 broadcast of KSFO's The Lee Rodgers Show, guest host Brian Sussman said of McCain: "Well, of course he can't use email, because he can't type on a keyboard. It's not his fault. If you want to blame anyone, blame Communism. It's the Communists, the captors in North Vietnam, that did this to him. But nonetheless, he is disabled. He can't manage a computer keyboard. He couldn't type when he was -- he can't do any of that, and therefore, he can't do email, right? He can't do email."
From the 4 p.m. ET hour of the September 15 edition of MSNBC Live:
CHRISTIE: David, you could try that, but to go back on topic, if you want to talk about despicable, low-gutter ads, let's talk about the ads what we're here to talk about. Senator Obama has an ad out right now that says that Senator McCain, when he came in 1982, it's more of the same, and he can't use a typewriter and he can't use email.
Well, the fact of the matter is, while Senator Obama was a young man, Senator McCain was being beaten and tortured in a jail. That's why he can't type.
SHUSTER: Right, but he can --
CHRISTIE: If you want to talk about gutter politics, David --
SHUSTER: No, no, no, no. That's not true. We have established that John McCain can type. He suffered grave injuries from being a POW --
CHRISTIE: He can type, David, but he says it is painful.
SHUSTER: -- but his inability to type is not one of them. Well, we've --
CHRISTIE: David, that's not true.
SHUSTER: -- heard from John McCain himself that he can type.
CHRISTIE: David -- David --
SHUSTER: But anyway, Ron Christie --
CHRISTIE: David, the truth of the matter is, he can type. It pains him. The McCain campaign has said that also, and Obama's trying to say that he can't type. He's not said that --
[crosstalk]
CHRIS KOFINIS (Democratic strategist): You know -- Ron, you know as well as I do --
SHUSTER: Well, John McCain has not said that, and the McCain campaign hasn't said it until this week, but in any case, we gotta go.
From the September 16 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends:
DOOCY: Brent Bozell, the president of the Media Research Center joins us today. Good morning to you, Brent.
BOZELL: Good morning. How are you?
DOOCY: We're going to try to cover a lot of territory in three minutes. The negative ads, are they working?
BOZELL: Well, negative ads as a rule tend to work, but they can also backfire if you go too far. I think Obama's got a problem right now because Obama wrapped himself around the aura that he wouldn't go negative, and that ad he released yesterday -- now, I think is the perfect symbiotic relationship. The media had been hammering John McCain relentlessly, and here Obama runs an ad citing the media as a source.
DOOCY: And you know what? The ad we're running right here, about how he doesn't email, it turns out he doesn't email because of his -- the injuries he sustained while being tortured by the North Vietnamese.
BOZELL: That's where opposition research has got to be a little bit more accurate before they do an ad.
From the September 15 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:
HAM: Well, the deal with most negative ads is that they're, you know -- they can arguably said to be had a kernel of truth in them or they -- they --
O'REILLY: But these can't.
HAM: It's hard -- well, OK. But here's -- the bigger problem with the Obama ad is that -- or the one against McCain for not being able to use a computer, is that, in fact, we've seen several reports that McCain does go online. He does do certain things. His wife has to help him, because he has some war injuries that prevent him from actually going online.
Now, this is undoubtedly unintentional on the Obama campaign's part, but it's a pretty boneheaded mistake when you're going negative --
O'REILLY: Well --
HAM: -- and they happen to go accidentally negative in the exact wrong way.
From the September 15 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes:
HANNITY: All right, let's start with -- we even have an Obama ad out that literally accuses John McCain of being dishonorable, using every name they can possibly come up with. They have attacked him as being computer illiterate. The reason he doesn't use a computer is 'cause --
MORRIS: Because of the war injuries.
HANNITY: Yeah, because of his war injuries.
From the 10 a.m. ET hour of the September 15 edition of Fox News' America's Newsroom:
HEMMER: Can't use a computer; can't send an email; can't type on a keyboard. Bill Burton, spokesman for the Obama team, with us again from Chicago. Bill, good morning to you. Why was that important to have that in the ad?
BURTON: Well, that ad is important overall because it says something about John McCain and how in touch he is with the American people's lives. You know, just today, just moments before you and I started talking --
HEMMER: Did it occur to you that he can't use --
BURTON: Hold on one second, Bill. Just moments before you and I --
HEMMER: -- a keyboard effectively because of Vietnam War wounds he suffered for five and a half years of captivity?
BURTON: One second, Bill, let me just answer your question.
HEMMER: Did you know that?
BURTON: Yeah, what -- just before -- so I can answer your question. Before -- just before you and I started talking, John McCain said on stage that the fundamentals of our economy are strong. And so that ad, that talks about the fact that John McCain's out of touch, he doesn't know how to use a computer, he can't send an email --
HEMMER: And he also said in the same sentence that, you know, Wall Street has got issues, and if I'm president, I'll clean this stuff up. Back to the point, did you know he can't use a key --
BURTON: OK.
HEMMER: No, I'm just quoting from what I'm reading from the --
BURTON: I understand that.
HEMMER: -- campaign rally in Jacksonville, Florida --
BURTON: I understand that. But if John McCain thinks that the fundamentals --
HEMMER: -- just to finish -- hang on, Bill -- my question. I'll get an answer out --
BURTON: -- of our economy are strong, then he should stand by that comment. As for your question about whether or not --
HEMMER: Please.
BURTON: -- he can use a computer, I read an interview with him in The New York Times, and another with him in the San Francisco Chronicle, where he said that he was in fact learning how to use a computer, and he was learning how to email, but he wasn't quite there yet. So it's clear that --
HEMMER: Did it occur to you that the injuries he suffered in the Hanoi Hilton is the reason why?
BURTON: Why he was still using -- learning how to use a computer?
HEMMER: Why -- and unable to type on a keyboard. Were you aware of that?
BURTON: I think that I was aware of the fact that he had specifically said that he was learning how to use a computer. So I think that -- I think that he ought to, because the Internet is the backbone --
HEMMER: So you're saying you weren't aware of that? That's your answer then, right?
BURTON: No, my answer is that if John McCain is so out of touch with the American people's lives that he doesn't understand what's going on, in their homes, on their computers, doesn't understand how the Internet affects our economy, doesn't understand that the fundamentals of our economy are not strong --
HEMMER: But if you knew that he --
BURTON: -- we're actually in a crisis, and has no plan to address it --
HEMMER: If you knew that he gave flesh --
BURTON: -- then that's something that they should be able to stand up for.
HEMMER: If he gave flesh for the country and you knew that he couldn't use a keyboard because his arms and shoulders were broken by the Viet Cong four decades ago, is that fair game?
BURTON: Bill, I understand that you keep making this exact same point, but if he wasn't learning how to use a computer and he wasn't learning how to email, then why did he --
HEMMER: I'm just asking: Yes or no. Is it fair game?
BURTON: Bill, yes or no --
HEMMER: Do you think that's below the belt or not?
BURTON: -- was he learning how to use a computer?
HEMMER: Are you -- correct, but I'm asking yes or no?
BURTON: That's the exact point. Is that --
HEMMER: All right, you're not going to answer that. Let's go to another point, OK?
From the September 15 broadcast of Radio America's The G. Gordon Liddy Show:
CALLER: Yeah. The other thing is -- they're kind of mentioning about McCain not knowing how to operate the Internet, et cetera. Well, I don't know if you want to compare the movement of McCain at the memorial versus Obama. I don't think it makes any difference if he can operate the Internet.
LIDDY: Well, now, here's the thing. The ad by Obama says he doesn't know how to operate the Internet, he doesn't know how to send email, and it shows the thing saying, saying -- what they don't say is the terrible war and torture wounds that McCain suffered rendered him -- it's impossible for him to type. He physically cannot do it. He knows how to do it, but he can't do it physically because of his terrible war wounds. And the Obama people ought to be ashamed of themselves for that. Mark in South Dakota, real quick.
From the September 15 broadcast of KSFO's The Lee Rodgers Show:
SUSSMAN: You know how when John McCain stands before his audience, there's that right arm of his that's all, just, goofy? Well, it's goofy because it was broken in three places upon ejection from the plane over Hanoi, and his arm was also busted up in several different places. And it -- the arm and the leg were never properly set. They essentially mended of their own accord, so he's all -- he's crippled up. He's a disabled vet, but of course he would never tell you that. He would never tell you he's disabled, because he's not that kind of a guy. But what's really interesting, because of this disability, you -- if you've ever seen him salute, he can't snap off a salute like everyone else.
If you have read some of his stories over the last bunch of years -- I mean, many of us have known, the guy's arm is so -- his arms are so messed up, and his shoulders are so messed up, in all -- in part also because, not just that the plane crashed, but because for a long portion of his imprisonment, his hands were tied behind his body in such a way that his shoulders just became permanently mangled. So, he's screwed up. He can't comb his own hair. John McCain, besides not being able to properly snap off a salute, he can't even comb his own hair. Now, last I looked, he doesn't have much to begin with, but he can't comb what little he has.
Something else he cannot do -- he cannot sit down at a keyboard and type. It's just -- he's disabled. He can't do that. So, this has turned into this nonsense that, well, he can't even use email. Well, of course he can't use email, because he can't type on a keyboard. It's not his fault. If you want to blame anyone, blame Communism. It's the Communists, the captors in North Vietnam, that did this to him.
But nonetheless, he is disabled. He can't manage a computer keyboard. He couldn't type when he was -- he can't do any of that, and therefore, he can't do email, right? He can't do email. So the Obama people have come up with an ad -- out with an ad, and they're trying to make it look as if he's some kind of computer illiterate boob, who is incapable of handling the rigors of emailing. That's what they're trying to do here. This -- I'll tell you what. I hope that there are some disabled groups -- groups that represent disabled people that will just make their voices heard and go after the Obama people for being absolute hatemongers when it comes to ads like this.
[begin audio clip]
NARRATOR: 1982: John McCain goes to Washington. Things have changed in the last 26 years, but McCain hasn't. 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 $200 billion in new tax cuts for corporations, but almost nothing for the middle class. After one president who was out of touch, we just can't afford more of the same.
OBAMA: I'm Barack Obama, and I approve this message.
[end audio clip]
SUSSMAN: Barack Obama, you approve the message, and guess what? You're a hatemongering, low-class fool for putting that ad out. That is as low as it gets. Mr. Smiley, happy-face, slap-you-on-the-back Christian -- that was a low blow.
SUSSMAN: Barack Obama, you approve the message, and guess what? You're a hatemongering, low-class fool for putting that ad out. That is as low as it gets. Mr. Smiley, happy-face, slap-you-on-the-back Christian -- that was a low blow.
Hey Max,
Nothing original to say as usual?
To Max. Stop smoking your own p--p while on this site. If I want to read ultra right wing hateful diatribes I will go to sean inshannity's web site. However, it is a semi free country so...........
When does your TV series start up again with Greg? Seriously now, Your posts are like finding a tu-d in a sack full of pearls. I think you are a Copra-Phagic-Hebra-Phrenic with an advanced case of dendrite neuropothy in conjunction with neuron necrosis. Other than that, I think you are swell!
1. click link
2. watch video
3. arrive at the obvious conclusion that Barrack will say anything to get elected, including lying to your face about Rev Wright.
if you need more pointers, just let me know.
Be careful not to choke on that kool-aid.
Fool.
Max,
Again, Huh? And, BTW, he didn't any years suffering for me, you or Snoop.
Anyone else notice that the new documentary footage that Swedish TV discovered showed McCain saluting after his confinement?
But weren't we piously told at the RNC by Fred Thompson that McCain was so badly injured that he couldn't do that at all, and didn't his audience practically start weeping at the mere thought of this?
Cool.
Are you going to let him stay at your place, Max? Be sure and give him the insiders tour while he's there, and show him the RNC building.
I hear they're breaking ground on a municipal sports center.
And every time Max speaks, it's like someone breaking wind....
I hear they're breaking ground on a municipal sports center.
And even better, they don't own the land yet.
What's cold? His campaign manager said today that McCain invented the Blackberry. I'm just questioning the validity of that statement with the same fervor that righties questioned the statement that Gore invented the internet.
Maybe you should stop using the POW meme as a shield to cover his lies. He did throw a BBQ for the press afterall, and apparently had no trouble flipping ribs and burgers as he personally served every single member of the press.
That's cold snoop. I'm saddened that he spent those years suffering for people like you.
That's a lie, Max. Gramps McCain didn't suffer in theat POW camp for any of us. He sufferred there because he was a lousy pilot.
When he returned to find his once-beautiful wife disabled and disfigured, he proved himself a lousy husband.
And to this day, he remains a lousy human being.
McSame captivity and injuries doesn't qualify him to be commander in chief. That's why we have medals!!! Simply because you were a POW doesn't qualify you to be Commander In Chief!! It's oblivious you are emotional and make decisions without using logic. Please access the situation for what it is and stop "begging the question". I probably need to explain that one to you too, right?
No shite Sherlock
It's oblivious you are emotional and make decisions without using logic.
Apparently you don’t understand the meaning of logic.
The question wasn’t “does being a POW qualify him as commander in chief” but rather “was untreated broken bones (while serving as a POW) responsible for his inability to use a computer”.
It’s people like you that claim to be logical that are the funniest of all.
Please access the situation for what it is and stop "begging the question". I probably need to explain that one to you too, right?
I doubt I’ll ever need anything explained by you, but thanks for the offer anyway.
PS. My emotion comes from the insensitive goons that post here that treat a man’s military service injuries as a joke simply because they disagree with his politics. That’s where the emotion comes from; it’s a sadness that people can actually be that hardhearted and unpatriotic.
Seems to be moving his hands just fine. So Grampy has stated, on the record, that he's computer illiterate, we have video of him performing physical acts much more complicated than typing, and still his inner circle of ass-kissers (not to mention the zombies posting here) are trying to milk the POW angle for yet one more excuse for their candidates incompetence.
This man is not fit to be president. He really needs somebody around him to be more honest with him than he is with the rest of the world. It's sad to see a man that could be proud of many things in his life throw it all down the crapper in desperation.
You say you use one finger.. is that finger used to hit a macro key to regurgitate the same old crap you always post here or to wave in the air at the world?
You say you use one finger.. is that finger used to hit a macro key to regurgitate the same old crap you always post here or to wave in the air at the world?
It's like the one finger YOU use to get your "facts" out of your butt, Miss Dee.
Now that I think about, if John McCain can use the touch pad of a conventional telephone why couldn't he press the keys on a computer keyboard? Are they saying John McCain can't dial a telephone because of his injuries? What bullshet...
With a laptop there are no excuses as far as your arms go. You don't have to raise your arms high, or stretch them out, or keep your hands in the air. Obviously he can use his fingers just fine.
It's also been said that he can't salute. But if he can raise a phone to his ear, why can't he salute? Does anyone know? It seems like a minimal difference of positioning.
With a laptop there are no excuses as far as your arms go. You don't have to raise your arms high...,
Maybe he's got one of those dvd players in the back of the car, with the screen up on the ceiling. If he's trying to surf the internets on that, it might hurt.
Well remember, When he was a POW, he didn't have a chair. And I haven't heard if he got one yet, either. So he might be sitting on the floor trying to reach the desktop where his keyboard is.
I can see where that could be a struggle.
It's also been said that he can't salute. But if he can raise a phone to his ear, why can't he salute? Does anyone know? It seems like a minimal difference of positioning.
Here are two pictures of Gramps McCain. In the first, he's talking on a cell phone:
And in the other, he's attempting to salute a group of veterans:
If that's as high as he can raise his arm, then he CAN use a cell phone but CANNOT perform a traditional salute. But there's no physical barrier that I can see to him using a computer, other than him having no desire to learn how to use one.
(Maybe after he loses on November 4th, he can get one f those "Video Professor" CDs and actually learn how to use a PC......)
All McCain suffers from in regard to technology is learned helplessness. Look, if McCain wasn't a Republican all these cons heaping sympathy on him for his disability would be the same cons using their responsibility mantra as a bludgeon once again. They'd be skewering him for giving in to his condition and not taking personal responsibility for learning a way to use all of this essential technology.
We know it's true.
I didn't figure he could do a full salute, with his elbow outstretched. It just seemed like holding a cell phone was far enough up that he could push it a little bit further for a few seconds to make some sort of salute. I thought he might be able to get a little bit closer than in that picture, but that's in the neighborhood of what I was expecting.
If the McCain camp hadn't trotted out the POW excuse so many times already, I could maybe buy it, but no more.
And I'm really pissed at the turgid prose from this Hemmer dude. Christ, where the hell does he come up with this "he gave flesh for his country" crap?
So, when the time comes, he could be pressing the red button instead of the green one, just because he was a POW? If he could wake up at 3 Am that is.
The guy is incapable of being President, I tell you.
Top 10 McCain sleaze ads. Please visit and vote...
Oh, and apparently McCain's injuries didn't prevent him from playing grab-@ss with all those women he committed adultry with...
Oh, and apparently McCain's injuries didn't prevent him from playing grab-@ss with all those women he committed adultry with...
He didn't have to raise his arms to grab their a$$es....
Skettle wrote:
>>i'm not sure this kind of ad works - it is like attacking a grandpa or something. just looks like obama is once again taking the old style low road of chicago politics.
Oh yes, the vague smear. His style of Chicago politics? Does that involve simply making thinks up, like saying you are for the bridge to nowhere when you are for it, accusing your opponent of teaching kindergarders sex, saying your running mate took no ear marks when she took more than any other state, and making up claims that your opponent called your running mate a pig--do you mean that type of low road politics?
Yawn. The Wright/Ayers/Rezko associations have been beaten to death by the right-wing slime machine for months ... Move on.
Find some new smears. Or, here's a a thought: Tell us why your guy is better and why he deserves to be elected.
You know I think both guys have problems. If Obama really wants to change America I think it is a great thing for an African American to be the President. It will go a HUGE way to inspiring blacks in this country and to healing race relations. I worry about the connections - and let me tell you that is my main problem with him. If people can convince me this is not a problem then I'm cool with it.
Now the problems I have with McCain is that I want to know what kind of lobbying for the military and wall street is connected to him. I think he is a maverick and I think he is his own man BUT I want to know more about what ties he has to the lobbyists.
I'm upset at both these guys for not asking for Congress to be investigated into how this Mortgage Crisis got started. Congress wants to investigate Wall street which is okay BUT who is investigating them. I know that there was lot's of lobbying by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae over who made the rules in the mortgage business. I want one of these guys to stand up and say we want an Independent investigation into this mortgage crisis that looks at all involved ( Wall Street and Congress ).
I think this country will be far, far, far better off if we all move away from the left and the right and start in the middle. I think if your whole life you only ever vote for a DEM or a GOP then probably you are not serving your country well.
I'm upset at both these guys for not asking for Congress to be investigated into how this Mortgage Crisis got started
Let me save the government some money and you some internet seach efforts. The mortgage crisis began when Phil Graham (Gramps' economic advisor, by the way), deregulated the banking industry and allowed them to package mortgages as securities, allowing them to be bought and sold around the world and to be speculated on.
That in turn brought in large amounts of capital to the banks and in order to lend it out (and make commissions and interest), they lowered the qualification threshold. All along they knew this was risky, but they were making historic profits and probably knew that when the house of cards collapsed, they could either file for bankruptcy or have Uncle Sam come to the rescue.
The mortgage crisis was started by a Republican policy decision. Any questions?
I do have some questions. I have heard that Fannie and Freddi lobbyists gave both Chris Dodd and Obama the most money off all of congress. Dodd is 1 on list and Obama 3. Also Obama has 2 big former Freddie guys on his campaign. I'm not sure how true this all is because I have not seen McCain campaign pushing this point - so I'm wondering how true it is.
I think a major problem with this mortgage crisis was caused by people not being qualified for loans but getting them. Who sets the rules that Freddie and Fannie have to follow. Is it GOP or DNC or both ? Isn't that the bottom line here - the qualifications where way too lax ?
Taken together, these 5 elements point to someone harboring a dislike/distrust for America in general.
Some of us find that this type of individual would damage our country and steer us in directions we do not wish to go. We read Obama’s message as "what’s wrong with America", and that’s not who we want as our leader.
Hah, could you imagine the great speeches in Lionheart or Henry V written in style and perspective of Obama?
Obama to the troops:
“Before you go off to fight and die, remember we probably deserve it. We are not worthy and you are unloved by not only our enemy, but by your country as well.
The generals tell me a surge may assure our victory, but I say we go in with what we have and exit in 2 days regardless of how it’s going.”
Obama to the troops: “FREEDOM. .. or something, I’m not really sure.
See you all in a couple days!”
Media Matters supressed the inconvenient articles by Boston Globe and Forbes, which reported "The injuries he incurred as a Vietnam POW make it painful for McCain to type. Instead, he dictates responses that his wife types on a laptop"...
Those articles linked McCain's inability to use a keyboard to his war injuries.
And carrying a laptop does not necessarily mean that he types. He could use the mouse, which is all you need when browsing websites that are already bookmarked by say, his wife, who reportedly helps him go online.
He cannot even comb his own hair due to the injuries.
Not sure I want a guy like that in the White House.
"The injuries he incurred as a Vietnam POW make it painful for McCain to type."
I'm not buying it... Typing for hours, perhaps...but watch how John McCain waives his arms when he gives speeches. He doesn't appear to have any limitiations in manual dexterity with his hands, either. Can he write with a pen...I think so. Yes, I understand he can't lift hios arms above his head...but I'm not buying that it prevents him from using a computer key board. More likely, the old dude is too stubborn and set in his ways to learn. Just more bullshet....McCain lies about matters great and small.
But in reality he wouldn't need to use a keyboard at all.
I've this nifty Panasonic CF-19 Toughbook that converts into a tablet PC. You don't have to know how to type at all. The handwritting recognition software is pretty good and it's easy enough to correct any mistakes it makes without using a keyboard or mouse. You don't need a keyboard or mouse to use it, just the ability to write with a stylus.
"rich donars" is this currency, like dinars? And somehow Obama couldn't have such a great record from Harvard because....???
I know, when ya got nothing, just make up something. Note that it was the Faux Gnus who claimed McSame couldn't type, not grampy himself. They forge their own fables.
Accepted to Columbia? Affirmative action.
Graduated Columbia? Affirmative action.
Accepted to Harvard? Affirmative action.
Harvard Law Review editor? Affirmative action.
Graduated Harvard Magna Cum Laude? Affirmative action.
As this clearly shows, he's really just your average imbecile who got lucky with a little help because he's black.
Accepted to Columbia? Affirmative action.
Nope. Merit.
Graduated Columbia? Affirmative action.
Nope. Merit.
Accepted to Harvard? Affirmative action.
Nope. Merit.
Harvard Law Review editor? Affirmative action.
Nope. Merit.
Graduated Harvard Magna Cum Laude? Affirmative action.
Nope. Merit. And a lot of hard work to graduate Magna Cum Laude.
As this clearly shows, he's really just your average imbecile who got lucky with a little help because he's black.
Nope. It shows that Barack Obama is an exceptional man who rose from humble beginnings to make himself the best person he could. And he makes racists like you nervous.
There are rumors a billionaire Saudi supported Obama to get him into Harvard. I would not be surprised if Harvard supported him and gave him good grades because they were getting HUGE donations to their school from this man.
I want to see objective evidence of Obama's smarts:
Columbia Transcripts
SAT score
LSAT score
I don't trust Harvard because of this billionaire saudi linked to Obama. Call me crazy if you want but I want objective evidence.
There are reports out now that just like in the 1970's when Nixon went to China and they switched him and sent us a faux Nixon, that the same people, (you know who you are) switched McCain and sent this one home to win the presidency.
I'll accept the rumor you're passing off if you'll accept the above rumor that I just made up.
There are also rumors that George W. Bush was supported back in 2004 by space aliens.
That's true. One of them was Phil Gramm.
http://www.book-of-thoth.com/archives-article-nobreaks-5683.html
There are rumors a billionaire Saudi supported Obama to get him into Harvard. ... I don't trust Harvard because of this billionaire saudi linked to Obama. Call me crazy if you want but I want objective evidence. - skettle2000
Man, that is so funny. You're demanding objective evidence of Obama's school performance because of some vague rumors you heard of a Saudi billionaire? How about starting from the beginning and demand some objective evidence of the existence of influence on Obama's performance?
You seem to be pretty selective as to where you demand verification.
I think the American people have every right to know all the information available on Palin/McCain/Obama/Biden including SAT scores / transcripts / LSAT scores. I include Palin's transcripts here as well. I want to see who wrote letters for Obama to get into Harvard - I want to see the ties. I want to see this from everybody. Call me crazy but I don't know why we can't get this data or why you would be opposed to it. I mean all 4 of these candidates could have their hand on the Nuke Button. American people, hell not just Americans, but every person in the world has a right to this information. Same as for Med records as well.
Skettle, you are ignoring the evidence of your own eyes and ears and brain and heart. We've all watched and listened to Barack Obama for some time now and his intelligence shines very clearly. He's the real deal and it's obvious. Did you demand that Bill Clinton prove that he really went to Oxford and want to see his Rhode's Scholarship? There are wingnuts claiming that he wasn't really born in Hawaii...so the Obama campaign posted his birth certificate online and the state of Hawaii confirmed it...but then the liars try to say it's forged. There is no satisfying people who want a reason to legitimatize their own prejudices.
All things aren't equal. There is plenty of evidence (not concocted) that McCain will continue the horrible Bush policies. There is plenty of proof that McCain's campaign is lying about many things. There are vicious internet rumors totally concocted about Barack Obama based upon people's subconscious fears of race and his name. If you and others can't get past that, it shows that our country is still retarded.
Do the hard reading and studying yourself, instead of demanding more "proof."
Well I still want to see the transcripts. I want to see everything and I'll make the decision. Another thing I don't like, is I'm not even sure if Obama wrote his own books. I would like to believe he did but if you read wikipedia on David Axelrod ( campaign manager for Obama ) you will see he "edited" Obama's first book before it was published. Please correct me on this if I'm wrong. I don't like when a campaign manager is editing a book - to me this could be ( AND I"M NOT SAYING IT IS ) writing the book.
What bothers me with these politcians ( ALL OF THEM ) is about 99% of what they say comes from a teleprompter and is written by someone else so the American public doesn't get to know the real them. We just get to know their campaign managers and speech writers.
No, I disagree. I don't believe every single detail of a presidential candidate's life should be an open book. Some aspects they should be able to keep private if they should choose to do so. Unless there is some reason to question the record, which there is not for Obama's time at Columbia, I'm willing to accept the official record that he performed as necessary as a student to achieve his degree.
We have their public records and their histories. We are free to judge the candidates on what they have done in the past and what they say they will do. If there is evidence that some of that record is fraudulent, further investigation is justified, such as WPE Bush's ANG record. Barring such evidence, anything else is just a fishing expedition.
It still looks to me as though you're giving greater weight to vague insuations about this mysterious Saudi than you are to the verifiable public record.
This is the particulars that I'm interested in.
Article
Couple of questions:
- who is Percy Sutton ?
- does he have an agenda against Barack ?
- did khalid al-Mansour write a letter of recommendation for Obama ? And if so how did they meet, how do they know each other ?
These are legit questions and may have good explanations and please someone answer them for me, and I will also do my own research.
- did k Khalid al-Mansour writ
According to wikipedia ( I think we all agree that is not that super biased ) this is Percy Sutton:
QUOTE from wikipedia
Sutton has been a longtime leader in Harlem politics and is a leader of the Harlem Clubhouse. The Clubhouse has dominated Democratic politics in Harlem since the 1960s. His allies in running the Clubhouse are former Mayor David Dinkins, Congressman Charles Rangel, and former New York Secretary of State Basil Paterson.
END QUOTE
Seems like DNC to me. So would he be lieing about Mansour asking him to write a letter for Barak. Why would an advisor to Saudi Billionaires be asking someone to write a letter ?
I think these are legit questions and Obama should answer them or his campaign should.
John McCain has already released about 1,500 pages of medical records. Please don't LIE by trying to say he hasn't.
Meanwhile Barack Obama released a 1-page statement from his doctor. He must -- like Clinton before him -- have something to hide.
Kind of fitting that Barack only provides a "note from his doctor" since that's probably what he'll produce when the job in the White House gets a bit too tough for him. He'll just take a sick day. Probably right after Putin or Ahmandinijad test him
Oooooo! Only one page! He has to be hiding something sinister. Certainly a doctor would have to use more than one page to describe a man who is in exceptionally good health and has no history of any medical problems.
You Hannity lap dogs amuse me so.
John McCain has already released about 1,500 pages of medical records. Please don't LIE by trying to say he hasn't.
John McCain has not yet released his medical records to the public. McCain is 72 years old, and has been diagnosed with invasive melanoma. In May of this year, a small group of selected reporters were allowed to review 1,173 pages of McCain's medical records that covered only the last eight years, and were allowed only three hours to do so.
Pearlene, If I may, I would remind you that in the Con Dictionary, HAVING RELEASED means...every man, woman, child, dog, cat and lipsticked pig in the country were sent a copy of the medical documents. If you search your MCBERRY, you will find the information. If you do not have a MCBERRY, you can simply purchase one for $5 million at a local MCBERRY store. Amazingly, it operates on thought-control..no fingers needed.
Seems to me that NOLEFTTURNS or whomever it was is just spewing Seannie the Sissies leftover puke. (NLT must always gets the big pieces). And if Obama has had all of these benefits then he owes us (WHITEY) some time in government. While we are speaking of transcripts, everyone that posts here should be willing to submit theirs ASAP.
I'll be first...As a senior in high school, of the six classes, I had 7 F's and 1 D in MATH. When the teacher asked my mom what the problem was, she told him that I must be spending too much time on MATH.
truthseeker wrote:
>>And carrying a laptop does not necessarily mean that he types.
Even if this is true--which I doubt--he can still use voice recognition, or other technology to use email. Steven Hawkins can use a computer. If he carries a computer, he should be able to use it.
Hey Truth,
In that Boston Globe article, did you see that it also said he swims and fishes, yet he can't type?
Hmmm?
"The injuries he incurred as a Vietnam POW make it painful for McCain to type. Instead, he dictates responses that his wife types on a laptop"...
She won't be able to continue that if he were to be elected. She's not gonna have the security clearance that would allow her to help Gramps conduct official business.
because his arms and shoulders were broken by the Viet Cong four decades ago
I thought it was a matter of record that McCain's arms were broken when his plane crashed.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/08/31/taking_command___the_mccain_way/
A few years after his captivity, commanding his (peacetime) squadron-- building an outdoors cypress deck and finding he needed help.
Aw, da poor cripple! The North Vietnamese beat him up so bad he could barely build a deck by himself!
What a load of--propaganda.
I am STAGGERED by the unbelievable stupidity being shown by right wingers on this point. Are these people really serious? My god, l have customers in wheelchairs with palsey who come in to buy computer equiptment from me. The reason that McCain doesn't use a computer until now is because he couldn't be bothered to learn!!
And speaking as a black male who the hell is that Ron Christie prat? My days, my best friends' 10 year old daughter has a deeper voice than him!! The only peerson i'm surprised about is Mary Katharine Ham. I have seen her on C-Span and she has always seemed an intelligent lady who is concise and doesn't just follow talking points. As for Brian Sussman and his call for diabled groups "that represent disabled people that will just make their voices heard and go after the Obama people for being absolute hatemongers when it comes to ads like this.", well l really don't see that happening. Any group who did this would be too embarrassed, considering how many disabled people overcome their disabilities and use computers everyday in the workplace!!
I have also reached an epithany. I used to think that when Dante wrote "The Devine Comedy" and it's nine levels of hell, he actually missed one. A tenth level where you are strapped to a chair and forced to listen to Easy Listening Muzak. The worst thing is that you are a few centimetres away from being able to turn it off. I have changed that to being forced to listen to right wing talk radio.
I just found a picture of Gramps McCain with an arm raised over his head....
SKETTLE2000, Please define Objective Evidence...and at which point is that evidence really objective in your mind.
Note, could it be that the only evidence you would believe is the only belief you have in the evidence
I think SAT scores, LSAT scores, transcripts are evidence. I think the SAT and LSAT are the most objective. The transcripts I'm not sure since many grades are subjective. I mean let me see the info and let the public see the info and judge it. THIS IS FOR ALL CANDIDATES. I WANT MCCAIN TO RELEASE HIS RECORDS TOO ! MED RECORDS etc !
I agree that John McCain suffered debilitating injuries in Viet Nam. Just the injuries caused by bailing out of his strickened plane, especially if not properly treated, would be enough, even if he wasn't tortured. But when he was released and returned to the US, he regained flight status - he was qualified to fly jet aircraft. He continued active duty for several more years. That suggests that he regained significant mobility and physical strength. I won't deny that his war injuries may now be causing him some physical limitations, but the suggestion that it prevents him from using a computer is absurd. As I watched the actor, Fred Thompsom, deliver that stirring tribute of McCain's war heroism, I accepted the truth that he suffered. But when he laid that line that John McCain can't salute the flag because of the torture he endured, so we must all do it for him, I realized the republicans will go to any length to gain the sympathetic vote. I have seen numerous videos and pictures of McCain saluting (in recent years. When he came home from Hanoi, there is a video of him rendering a snappy and appropriate salute. Which is it? Can or can't?
About medical records. Sure, we need to know, and no, a brief look by a gaggle of reporters for a short time isn't enough. But the person who suggsted that Barack Obama's one page medical report from his doctor suggests he is hiding something is not true. I am 62 years old, have never been sick (beyond a rare cold or a short bout of flu), have never been hospitalized, and have no medical issues at all. I have a very short medical history, so any doctor would have a hard time providing more than a short page. Perhaps Barack Obama is blessed with the same health as I have been. Thank God for that.
I find it amazing that atheletes have to undergo all this drug tests. Even billards players do today ! Why don't the politicians in this country have to undergo drug tests. I'm not talking hard drugs like cocaine etc., although that is possible that some are users.
I want to know about valium, anti-pyshchotic drugs etc.
I think someone having the finger on the nuke button should have to undergo these tests, including mental fitness.