Obama Mocks McCain as Computer Illiterate

ABC News ^ | September 12, 2008 | NEDRA PICKLER

[Pinkbell]

John McCain is mocked as an out-of-touch, out-of-date computer illiterate in a television commercial out Friday from Barack Obama as the Democrat begins his sharpest barrage yet on McCain's long Washington career.

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early '80s, wearing giant glasses and an out-of-style suit, interspersed with shots of a disco ball, a clunky phone, an outdated computer and a Rubik's Cube.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 elevator music. "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 e-mail, still doesn't understand the economy, and favors two hundred billion in new tax cuts for corporations, but almost nothing for the middle class," it says. It shows video of McCain getting out of a golf cart with former President George H.W. Bush and closes with a photo of him standing with the current President Bush at the White House. "After one president who was out of touch, we just can't afford more of the same."

[dirtboy]

IMO the President of the United States shouldn’t be spending much time on a computer anyway. That’s what underlings do. This ad will fall flat.

[1rudeboy]

Smart move, O. Way to go for the senior citizen vote.

[listenhillary]

Same with many of the senior citizens of America. Throw those vote away Obama, you don’t need them.

[AmericaUnited]

Ok, the ad sold me! I’m voting for John S. McCain as corporate CEO and Barry Obama for data entry clerk.

[Wilder Effect]

Well the computer or the Internet has not helped Obama today.

Obama drops to 45% at Intrade.

McCain close to 53%

[jakerobins]

Hey I teach people who are technologicly handicapped don’t make fun of them. They are people too. They try very hard to get over this difficult and painfull problem treatments take weeks and often are frustrating. Luckily this disadvanteage can be over come at any age! LOL I Can’t keep it up too funny.

[TexasNative2000]

Stupid mixed with poor taste is never a good recipe.

[nhwingut]

Another trap... This coming from someone who reguarly emailed William Ayers during the 90s.

[carcraft]

NO wonder the Obama campaign can't get any traction, to many people and groups under the bus. Maybe there is a great parody in the making. Instead of under the board walk it could be under the bus.

[AmericaUnited]

senior citizens of America - the group that has the highest voter percentage in the land... Barry’s a genius.

[libs_kma]

"and we will take the fight to him, but we will do it on the big issues that matter to the American people."

Yeah Plouffe, wether John McCain does email is a big issue to the American people....get real.

I seem to remember a certain rapist in chief who said he never sent an email the whole time he was in office.

[Rodm]

Mr. President, There’s been an terrorist attack ...
Well ah er ah ah just just a minute I’m updating my ah ah facebook!

[q_an_a]

I suspect that many 40-50 year old parents will say, "My kids know more than me about computers,but I don't need them to mock me for it." Plus - what a great story to present after we see McCain limping off the prisoner of war bus.

These guys are Chicago hacks - they are not as smart as they think.

[WestCoastGal]

"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. "

They are only slitting their own throats......GO ahead O.

I guess they have no clue about what electronics or suit style was during that time. Making fun of someone like John McCain adding in the old fish statement is political suicide.

Sounds like the Alinsky style of smear your opponent.

Maybe we could reply with a teenager with acne still wearing his diapers playing with GI Joe.

[j_k_l]

Did Clinton tell him to "go negative" because he wants him to fail?

He has a real problem coming off as an elitist and this is furthering that image.

[listenhillary]

I seem to remember a certain rapist in chief who said he never sent an email the whole time he was in office.

That was probably wise.

[meowmeow]

He admits he still doesn't know how to use a computer

Neither do my grandparents. I still write letters to them. Neither do the seniors at my church. I still have to call them one by one to pass information.

While they don't have computers, that doesn't stop them from voting.

[Sooth2222]

McCain’s A4 didn’t have computers? I imagine most A4 pilots had better things to do with their time than write the code for them.

[frankjr]

The computer ad was just shown on Fox & Friends and it was lame. Obama’s campaign staff were geniuses when there was no competition, now they are completely clueless.