ABC: Yes, McCain’s war injuries limit his ability to use a computer
posted at 1:41 pm on September 14, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Good work by Jake Tapper, who continues to play his coverage (mostly) down the middle. No mean feat for a Salon alum. It’s not that Maverick’s physically unable to type, as the Boston Globe insisted eight years ago; see today’s edition for a very, very, very belated follow-up on that. Nor is it that he’s perfectly able to type, as this HuffPo piece clearly implies. He can do it, but it’s an ordeal:
Assuredly McCain isn’t comfortable talking about this — and the McCain campaign discouraged me from writing about this — but the reason the aged Arizonan doesn’t use a computer or send email is because of his war wounds.
I realize some of the nastier liberals in the blogosphere will see this as McCain once again “playing the POW card,” but it’s simply a fact: typing on a regular keyboard for any sustained period of time bothers McCain physically.
He can type, he occasionally does type, but in general the injuries he sustained as a POW — ones that make it impossible for him to raise his arms high enough to comb his hair — mean that small tasks make his shoulders ache, so he tries to avoid any repetitive exercise.
Again, it’s not that he can’t type, he just by habit avoids when he can repetitive exercise involving his arms. He does if he has to, as with handshaking or autographs.
Yeah, he could get hooked up with speech-recognition software, but as another HuffPo blogger notes, that takes time to learn and time isn’t a luxury he has in the middle of a campaign.
Scott Ott of Scrappleface has thoughtfully produced a second ad for Team Barry. Click the image to watch. Your exit question: Why doesn’t McCain want people writing about this? Is the perception of a president slightly limited by injuries he suffered heroically at war more damaging than the perception of a president who’s not incapacitated at all but chooses not to go online because he’s old and wholly removed from the culture? I don’t get it.
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Exit answer: maybe McCain doesn’t see his internet savvy (or lack thereof) as an important issue when there are matters of genuine national survival to talk about.
I’m betting Osama Obama can read comic books faster than the “aged Arizonan,” too.
This is stuff for the Maureen Dowdys and Arianna Huffnpuffs to obsess about. Not real people.
MrScribbler on September 14, 2008 at 1:46 PM
Maybe he’s just embarrassed.
Keljeck on September 14, 2008 at 1:46 PM
I bet it took alot of convincing to get McCain to talk about his POW time at the convention. He does not like to talk about it, or his son being in Iraq, etc.
honorable and self-less, though stupid politically.
jp on September 14, 2008 at 1:47 PM
Who knows maybe MCCain just isnt comfortable talking about his injuries ?
I know many others spoke about his beatings and ordeal in Veitnam. But has he really mentioned it much in his speeches ?
William Amos on September 14, 2008 at 1:48 PM
I sure wouldn’t want a president that did his research out on the internets, sometimes what’s in those tubes is not correct.
Maxx on September 14, 2008 at 1:48 PM
It’s simple–he doesn’t want people feeling sorry for him. It’s a matter of honor for him. It goes back to classical Roman conceptions of stoicism and the Spartan tradition of never showing pain. He’s also from a generation that believes that you do not use something like that for personal ego gratification. You bear the pain and suffering manfully in silence and you do not use it to gain sympathy on the campaign trail.
Matt Helm on September 14, 2008 at 1:49 PM
“Our backs are hurting from student loans and the girl’s dance recital classes….you don’t see us whining.”
The Swiss Family O’bambi
sven10077 on September 14, 2008 at 1:49 PM
That’s easy – if he came out and made a big deal about it, he’d be accused of “waving the bloody shirt,” which is something the left already tries and fails to hit him with.
fiatboomer on September 14, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Let them keep on poking fun at a handicapped hero. I’m sure it will help their whiny defeatist cause.
Travis1 on September 14, 2008 at 1:49 PM
IMO, I doubt he was ever particularly pleased that this was a topic of discussion.
I have worked with this generation in health care for 20+ years. They hesitate to focus on their limitations. It’s a cultural thing.
No matter what is bugging them, it’s like pulling teeth to get them to tell the doc that they are not in tip-top shape.
keebs on September 14, 2008 at 1:50 PM
McCain doesn’t have to talk about it.
EVERYONE else is!
ArmyAunt on September 14, 2008 at 1:51 PM
I bet it hurt ABC to run this.
thekingtut on September 14, 2008 at 1:51 PM
The Dems have got to be desperate on this one. Their internal polls must be far worse than what the public polls are stating. This is sheer idiocy. Nobody wants a “young and hip” president. In any case, the Republican ticket is the cool one now, thanks to Sarah Palin.
Gabe on September 14, 2008 at 1:52 PM
In my opinion this all boils down to research. Does the Obama team not understand that research and preparation are important, or do they think they already know everything? Either one is unacceptable in a manager, let alone the Chief Executive of the United States of America.
This is also drawing out the true nature of liberals. Just like the Palin appointment showed they are turly sexist, this ad shows they actually hate the elderly and handicapped.
The McCain campaign needs to announce that Jindal will hold a cabinet position so they can let their pent up racism fly.
BuckNutty on September 14, 2008 at 1:52 PM
They are going to anyway. He looks better by asking them not to.
bj1126 on September 14, 2008 at 1:53 PM
The other thing is he is very deferential to the fact others saved his life as much as his own will. He likely feels it both unseemly and an expression of the fragility of his own will to dwell on his humbling. None of that is to denigrate him or his sacrifice, just my pointing out he wears the story differently than we hear it I’d wager.
sven10077 on September 14, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Another thing: I guess they have completely thrown Florida out of contention. If I were elderly, I would be thoroughly offended by these ads. Goodbye, Florida being in contention.
The Dems seem to be panicky and clueless. Is their whole election strategy really riding on getting out the youth vote? If so, this is another 1984 or 1988.
Gabe on September 14, 2008 at 1:55 PM
Maybe he feels like he would be whining. And McCain is not a whiner. He probably thinks the whole issue is silly anyway.
Terrye on September 14, 2008 at 1:55 PM
remember they are going to the “evil GOP wants you eating dogfood” card……
early this year….I think they are seeing bad data internally on the aged vote.
sven10077 on September 14, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Seems to be sound strategy. When your first ad is demonstrably false and drives off a certain elderly demographic, double down and do another one.
a capella on September 14, 2008 at 1:58 PM
I remember in his speech he said that other people had to feed him after he had been hurt in Viet Nam. He talked about his helplessness. I got the impression that being helpless was something he was not exactly comfortable talking about.
Terrye on September 14, 2008 at 1:58 PM
Perhaps, for the same reason he doesn’t want to talk about the two sons he’s got in Iraq.
Convertacon on September 14, 2008 at 1:59 PM
OUCH! That second ad is GREAT! Hope it gets some play!
I agree that McCain does not want to play this up, but I think this was a rope a dope issue. The McCain people knew, as we all know, the arrogance of THE MANCHILD campaign is immeasurable. THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER and his little friend Hitler, I mean Axelrod, thought this computer thing was going to be a dating/old dude issue, and instead it became a character issue and they fell for it hook, line and sinker. I am not the only one thinking this either. LGF bloggers are thinking the same thing. This comes across as a Carville/Rove rope a dope and man am I loving it! LOL!
freeus on September 14, 2008 at 2:00 PM
Hmmmm. I was just thinking about the differences between these two.
John McCain could fly a jet in combat, Obambi can drive a car.
John is married to a hot, classy lady who has lots of money, beer, and is generous to those who are less fortunate. Obambi is married to a shrew who is a tightwad, and helps hospitals kick out poor patients.
John gave more than two decades of his life in service to his country, five of which he was tortured. Obambi was a bribe facilitator, oops, I mean a community organizer, for three years. Obambi didn’t even have the courage to vote yes or no in his stint as a state senator.
thekingtut on September 14, 2008 at 2:00 PM
Or else his advisers are telling him to keep letting the Dems shoot themselves in their feet with this “young and hip” president thing.
This has got to be the stupidest strategy ever: Offend all elderly people by saying they are not cool because they don’t use computers.
Gabe on September 14, 2008 at 2:01 PM
I can’t believe anyone who even begin to think that Team Obama was unaware of MCCain’s war wounds.
1500 Paid employees
200-300 paid internet trolls
Scores of OBolggers
300 Senior Advisors
Thousands of unpaid volunteers
More Soros 527 Money that most Countries gross domestic products
A campaign that has broken all records for fundraising, taking in over a half a billion dollars since it began.
With those kind of resources at your disposal, there is no way they could have missed something like this.
Obama vowed to take the gloves off (must have been those elbow length lace ones). Right after he made his promise, he attacked McCain’s war injuries. They knew it. It was intentional.
Jim M. on September 14, 2008 at 2:02 PM
Maybe if they say this it will cause the media to write about it. Reverse psychology seems to work in this hostile media environment.
Topsecretk9 on September 14, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Make that 2500
Jim M. on September 14, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Or because, like many of us that served in the military, we don’t expect to gain any advantage from sympathy. We can stand with any man toe to toe and compete on a level field, regardless of what ails us. It is no excuse for failure, and it should not be used a a crutch for success.
Jim M. on September 14, 2008 at 2:06 PM
I’ve been giving this a little thought. My personal bias and disgust aside, Obama’s ad was targeted at the the under 30 crowd; who have responded positively judging by the repulsive and ridiculous comments on ABC and LA Times. In the end, it gets these types of idiots excited; 1. because it’s a punch from Obama and 2. because they know nothing outside of the internetz and thing that the virtual world is the real word. None of these morons were voting McCain anyhow, but it rallies the nutroots.
The fact is- show me one computer on the House or Senate floor. They don’t even use PowerPoint and still depend on big, goofy printing charts that some aid has to change out on a easel. Show me the computer on the Resolute Desk… ain’t there.
The simple fact is that the job of Senators/ Reps is, as Obama put it, to “yak”. The job of the President is to meet with people who know stuff in order to make decisions on things. On the President’s calendar, there is no ‘respond to email” time, he’s got 15 White House secretaries for that purpose because his calendar is full of round the clock meetings, even when traveling. When have you ever seen any President even walking alone? Doesn’t happen.
Reasonable people recognize what the President’s job is. The problem we have is the Obama is running on a grossly distorted image of what he wants people to THINK the President’s job is.
Make it simple- Throw out all the campaign fluff from both sides. look at the Constitution and Oath of Office for the President’s job description. Then, based on those definitions, tell me who should be the next President.
Damiano on September 14, 2008 at 2:09 PM
Same thing that I never understood about Bush. He let people lie about him, and hardly ever seemed to do anything to clear the air. And the left continued to lie, and now most of them believe that he knew about 9/11, think that he lied about Bush, and ate cake while NOLA flooded and didn’t care. It’s one thing to stay above the disgusting mud slinging of the left, and another thing to think that the truth will come out and you will be seen to be correct in the end. Because as we have all seen, the media who controls what we see and talk about for the most part, is not interested in the truth, when it comes to republicans.
wise_man on September 14, 2008 at 2:09 PM
This is a non issue. We’re electing a president, not a computer hack!
byteshredder on September 14, 2008 at 2:10 PM
McCain with the quote of the week!
“Approval of congress is down to 9%. Down to blood relatives and paid staffers”
Jim708 on September 14, 2008 at 2:13 PM
“think that he lied about Bush,”
I’m sorry. I meant to say “Iraq.”
wise_man on September 14, 2008 at 2:13 PM
McCain doesn’t want people to pity him — that’s why.
CanadianGuy on September 14, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Maybe, it’s one of the rarest qualities in the world today: humility.
Loxodonta on September 14, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Because he’s not the kind of man that wants to be praised for every little thing he does.
Sir Andrew on September 14, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Maybe the under 30 crowd should learn how the office of the presidency is run? They do not use email. He’s not going to sign up for facebook or myspace.
Blake on September 14, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Heroes don’t seek pity, nor do they exploit their heroism.
SouthernGent on September 14, 2008 at 2:16 PM
I can’t believe that I read the words “Young and hip” about a potential future president. Obama’s campagin must live and think in a bubble. Guys, wake up. It’s not New York Fashion Week, or London or Milan. So being hip, new fresh, edgie does not matter.
clemycali on September 14, 2008 at 2:17 PM
I actually don’t think it’s stupid politically. I rather admire him that he doesn’t go all John Kerry on us, invoking Vietnam at every possible opportunity. “This bicycle reminds me of the bicycles they had in Vietnam!” “We didn’t have sausages like this in Vietnam!”
capitalist piglet on September 14, 2008 at 2:17 PM
Obama does email, and look where it got him, polls crashing and burning. What made the difference, you don’t have to feel guilty not voting for the communist who is a black guy, now you can vote for the all American woman instead.
tarpon on September 14, 2008 at 2:19 PM
The lefties probably wonder why McCain hasn’t used his war service the way Kerry did (and Kerry had little to use i comaprison with McCain).
It’s not only because men like McCain want respect, not pity, but because the left has tried to turn the military as a whole into victims that have been wrongfully used by Bushilter, and the remedy is to keept the military safe at home and never use it. (relying on “diplomacy” to keep us safe, along with the UN.)
Same thing must baffle them with Palin. She doesn’t play the victim card like Hillary.
Wethal on September 14, 2008 at 2:20 PM
No, Bobby’s got his own swamps to drain in LA. The real message that MavCuda need to push is that they’re going to try to devolve power to the states, because it’s easier to clean up Baton Rouge than the District of Criminals.
Every time we’ve elected a Republican majority in Congress, they’ve been good for one quick burst of good legislation, driven by pent-up demand for common sense (Contract with America, Bush tax cuts), followed by assimilation into the entrenched culture of the capital and the media elites. McCain alluded to that in his acceptance speech, when he said that the GOP had betrayed its principles.
The Monster on September 14, 2008 at 2:21 PM
All this talk of sexism in the press with no attention to ageism. Where’s the outrage from AARP etc?….
Ozprey on September 14, 2008 at 2:21 PM
In other age related attacks:
Way to stay classy, Claire McCaskill
Yup, despite 1500 pages of medical records to the contrary; John McCain is a doddery old fool who is going to drop dead any minute./sarc
Desperation- a fragrance for men and women of the Democratic Party
Damiano on September 14, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Yep. Winners are’t whiners. And whiners aren’t winners.
Jim M. on September 14, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Hey Bambi released a redacted one page cover sheet…that’s ‘fair’…
sven10077 on September 14, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Right on target. My most frustrating thing with Bush was him NOT sticking up for himself during the Iraq War.
Frankly, we the people could have used some pep talks during those early times.
But back on topic: anyone else see this on Obama mimicking/mocking McCain in a speech a week or so ago?
Click Play and then slide it to about the 12:15 mark…he does it at 12:20. Very obvious and disgusting:
Did Obama Mock McCain’s Arm Disability?
I surely hope McCain’s campaign is gathering these despicable actions and will run some ads.
ex-Democrat on September 14, 2008 at 2:32 PM
I have to admire Obama’s strategy.
1)
Piss.. Kiss off the people in small towns, people of faith and people who support the second amendment.(Check)2)
Piss..Kiss off the women…well the white women. They were probably bigots anyway.(check)3) Piss off mothers…..(check)
4) Piss off men married to women who are mothers…(Check)
5) Piss off parents of single preg girls.(Check)
6) Piss off people who shop at walmart….(check)
7) Piss of Veterans and their families (Check)
8) Piss off older voters…(Check)
9) Piss of Americans…(check)
10) Call everyone who questions Obama a racist. (Check)
I think he has this stratagy working really well.
He is the ONE.
DVPTexFla on September 14, 2008 at 2:38 PM
At least Obama can look forward to ‘a date’ with Scarlet Johannsen. Since he’ll have so much free time after he loses the election. And McCain? Sorry. There isn’t any young hot hollywood celebrity emailing him.
wise_man on September 14, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Sadly – yes.
Presidents have always hidden physical weakness and medical conditions. The public – especially the voting public – are often like a pack of dogs: they sense weakness and it triggers predatory instincts.
Or so everyone assumes, anyway. Which is sort of ironic, since you’d think liberals would applaud those with disabilities seeking higher office based on intellect alone.
The truth is that conservatives would vote for a fierce traditionalist in a wheelchair; liberals would (as always) defy their own voiced values and refuse to support any candidate not physically strong.
They’re all about image. It’s funny, if you think about it. And physicality explains much of their adoration for a young, clueless Obama. At least he can shoot hoops and dance.
Professor Blather on September 14, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Because to him it’s petty and small, and he’s been fine for 30 years this way, and there are more important issues to deal with.
But Obama wants to focus on this, so let him. Dufus.
fossten on September 14, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Has anyone seen Schumer stammer over the poll numbers (video about halfway down the page) and repeat the same ‘ol Change/ George Bush Sucks line over and over again…
Tom, ya done well. Tom Brokaw is MSNBC’s redeeming quality. Too bad the other networks have no redeeming qualities.
Damiano on September 14, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Vote For Me and Sarah!
-John
.
sent from my Verizon Blackberry
AZCON on September 14, 2008 at 2:48 PM
I looked at that clip, and he DOES actually mock McCain. He is trying to get a laugh. Very juvenile. He thinks he is running for class president. Notice how he starts the speech, “Yo!”
Yeah, very funny: Make fun of the injuries that John McCain got as a prisoner of war. That is desperation and shows what a sleazy guy Obama is. That is worth a commercial ad.
Gabe on September 14, 2008 at 2:48 PM
Brokaw is the sole survivor of the generation of newsies who at least fake their O-gasms not having impact on their partiality…
sven10077 on September 14, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Another question about this ad: why are they emphasizing McCain’s old age when he already has the youth vote? They are mocking the people who are still undecided!!
PattyJ on September 14, 2008 at 2:50 PM
I have the impression that McCain doesn’t want his suffering in captivity (and beyond) to be seen as a qualification for being President. Yes, he’ll mention it at the convention and others will mention it elsewhere, but he doesn’t want to always bring it up (in spite of what must be incredible pressure from advisers), since it’s not what would make him a good or bad President. In other words, he doesn’t want to be John Kerry (or, for that matter, Bob Dole, whom many Democrats coarsely perceived as getting the nomination in exchange for losing the use of his arm due to his war injuries).
calbear on September 14, 2008 at 2:51 PM
so will the McCain team come out tommorrow on this Obama attack ad?
jp on September 14, 2008 at 2:52 PM
The opposition is shooting themselves in the foot all over again….Was just over at SnuffintonPost, yeah, you know, the American version of “Pravda”. The lefties are consoling themselves with all the KosKid talking points. You can smell the fear through your Dell monitor…………
adamsmith on September 14, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Eh, I’m not sure I would make a campaign ad out of that arm-thing that Oblaba does, it’s pretty low key even if intentional.
Bishop on September 14, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Face the Nation aired a new Obama ad coming out tomorrow going after the equal pay for women. Considering the trumped up BS that his moron surrogates are spewing, I expect to see an ad detailing the inequitable pay of Obama’s female staff.
The issue of McCain’s injuries will be swept under the rug.
Damiano on September 14, 2008 at 3:04 PM
I saw it the other day; it’s kind of subtle in my opinion, but the audience does laugh, as though they get the joke.
Obama is nothing but a punk. I used to think he was gifted as a politician – he had this ability to sound reasonable and moderate, even if he wasn’t (probably not hard when you’re running against Alan Keyes), but it’s so apparent now that he’s far, far too much of a child to become POTUS.
Obama needs to grow the blank up.
capitalist piglet on September 14, 2008 at 3:11 PM
I grew up in a different time and place, where everyman was very much like McCain when it came to acts of bravery. They didn’t talk about it, or brag on it. If you got them to open up about what the saw and what they did, it was better than any movie and left you with hours of rethinking the lessons they learned.
McCain is one of those men. Every time somebody refers to him as “old” it makes me bristle a bit since he really is not older than most of the folks in Congress, and as a pilot has kept himself in pretty good shape even with all the damage he carries from being tortured for years.
I don’t ever expect the post modern, ultra Liberal crowd to understand or admire the man. With all the people that I work with who don;t use e-mail or want a computer, it’s amazing that this issue has been blown so out of proportion. I have a motorcycle license, should the person I vote for president have one too? How about the elderly in this country that are older than McCain and don;t use a computer? Do the Dems think they are alienating them, because thankfully they are based on the feedback I hear. How about the folks that simply can’t afford a computer or any type of technology? The Dems have just written them off as non-fucntional.
The new Democratic party continues to get further out of step with those very people it claims to represent. For decades, they have paraded their favorite minorities at election time and given women the right over life and death. It would appear that is no longer enough to get votes, and they don’t have the perspectives, or the bull pen to win.
Hening on September 14, 2008 at 3:11 PM
My guess is they have some internal polls, or some “trusted” advisors or Democratic strategists who are telling them this is the way to go. There is enough arrogance to go around in that organization to mute anybody who might ask sensible questions regarding the ads.
Yoop on September 14, 2008 at 3:15 PM
all they’re doing is letting McCain act like Moses in reverse….he’s unifying the red sea.
sven10077 on September 14, 2008 at 3:20 PM
This is a tricky one for the McCain campaign. They don’t want to make McCain look self-pitying, but they really should find a way to go after Obama for his stupid and offensive ad.
Maybe something along the lines of ‘it’s not how you get your information, it’s what you do with it’ and ‘it’s not how you communicate, it’s what you say’. Mention about the injuries in passing though, and recap the Obama ad.
OK, here goes (with appropriate images of course):
Ta-da!
EnglishMike on September 14, 2008 at 3:21 PM
John McCain doesn’t want to talk about his war injuries for the same reason Joe Cook doesn’t. They choose to focus on things larger than themselves, like honor and country.
sgt_rich on September 14, 2008 at 3:22 PM
Yoop on September 14, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Same old liberal story: they actually believe that the far-left agenda is heartily embraced by American, and that only Republican dirty tricks keep it from being implemented.
‘Out of touch’ ain’t just a river in Norway.
Bishop on September 14, 2008 at 3:25 PM
McCain doesn’t want to play the POW card for political advantage perhaps..
Illinidiva on September 14, 2008 at 3:27 PM
As Hot Air’s resident Comic Geek I am horribly offended by this post. I’m sure McCain could lay the comic reading smack down on BO!
twoarmman on September 14, 2008 at 3:27 PM
For note, the under 30 crowd DOES. NOT. VOTE.
They’re too busy getting wasted.
Sakaki on September 14, 2008 at 3:36 PM
I think it goes beyond the pity issue. It’s a mindset.
Look around at the people near you. There are probably some who have a rare or incurable disease, or a disability, of which you aren’t even aware. A lot of the people who are diagnosed with such things (that aren’t immediately fatal or don’t necessarily affect life expectancy), learn that nothing is going to change the condition, so they learn to make accomadations, move on, and live life.
If one can get into that mind set it makes living with the condition a lot easier. The one irritant is when one runs into people who find it necessary, for what ever purpose is served, to remind you that the condition exists and that it simply must effect the way you live and think.
Yoop on September 14, 2008 at 3:39 PM
In the immortal words of Fred G. Sanford, Obama needs “five across the lip.”
Sometimes, he makes John Kerry seem almost human.
MrScribbler on September 14, 2008 at 3:44 PM
So, Team McCain can attack the ads on the fighter pilot angle, then. Just juxtapose pilots flying/landing jets versus someone doing a couple of clicks on a mouse … They could do this in a really funny way, and hit back sharply with some humor, if they want. It portrays ZERObama as the great pretender, again, his mouse clicking versus McCain’s actual piloting. It’s the story of the campaign, really.
progressoverpeace on September 14, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Anyone else having problems getting onto Scrapple?
salmonczar on September 14, 2008 at 3:59 PM
For note, the under 30 crowd DOES. NOT. VOTE.
They’re too busy getting wasted.
Unfortunately, some do both at once.
Hence, the votes for Ron Paul.
salmonczar on September 14, 2008 at 4:00 PM
McCain is running true to the military culture. As English Mike and Sgt Rich have indicated above, that culture does not talk about their heroism. Of the WWII heroes I have known, to a man they do not talk about their exploits, but rather the courageous acts of their fellows. McCain does that too. (The guy who sewed the flag in his shirt?)
In fact, it was one of the things that made Kerry play so false. NEVER had I seen a real hero talk up his own drama as did Kerry. It just isn’t done. And whether politically savvy or not, that culture runs deep, and I think explains why McCain is so reluctant to parade his disabilities.
skeeter on September 14, 2008 at 4:03 PM
Why doesn’t McCain want people writing about this?
Probably because there are some people who view any kind of disability as an absolute disqualifer.
New exit question: Would FDR have been elected in this day and age?
GarandFan on September 14, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Is this the eagleton scenario that was being floated around?
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/259779
Dr Evil on September 14, 2008 at 4:07 PM
The ad I would like to see is BHO playing with a fight simulator program while on splitscreen a cockpit view of a carrier pilot taking off and flying (McCain footage, if available, would be best). BHO playing games. McCain taking real actions. Then scenes of Berlin … the whole celebrity thing again …
progressoverpeace on September 14, 2008 at 4:07 PM
For the same reason he didn’t get teary eyed during his acceptance speech; like almost every other vet you meet the response you are likely to get if you compliment them on their courage, sacrifice, etc. they can readily think of several other vets they know personally who have done far more or sacrificed more than them.
It is a vet thing.
Bradky on September 14, 2008 at 4:08 PM
See also: Bill Clinton
Damiano on September 14, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Barack Obama’s new message:
“I’m young and hip (and dumb as a brick!)”
This message paid for by Barack Obama.
BKennedy on September 14, 2008 at 4:38 PM
McCain has to answer these. His campaign is beginning to act like Obama’s did letting accusation go without being answered.
This is the drip, drip, drip attack. No one is a knock out but if you let them go they will eventually become a tidal wave that will knock you out.
The ad about equal pay for equal work the comeback is that in their staff offices and campaigns McCain pays the women better then Obama does who are doing the same things that the men are.
You cannot let any accusation go. The media is not on our side.
Jdripper on September 14, 2008 at 4:46 PM
Brilliant streategy by the Obama Team. They are attempting to pander to women they have infuriated as the result of the misogyny of the campaign and ignoring Hillary as a running mate by telling them to “hope for change”, Unfotrunately, Obama does not rpactice what he preaches.
The Seattle Post Intelligencer, not exactly a conservative newspaper, published an article on 9/11/2008 that does not bode well for Blowhard-bama:
So the disparity between what McCain pays his female staff and what Obama pays his female staff is 21 cents for every dollar.
Jim M. on September 14, 2008 at 4:49 PM
I actually met people who said I’m voting for that crippled guy when Dole ran.
Despicable doesn’t quite cover that.
Speakup on September 14, 2008 at 5:09 PM
If I had to guess, humility.
doubleplusundead on September 14, 2008 at 5:28 PM
How Jake Tapper still has a job at ABC is beyond me.
I hope that guy has a food taster.
Can you imagine the sneers he gets in the office.
FiveWays on September 14, 2008 at 5:42 PM
FDR managed just fine in a wheel chair.
Disturb the Universe on September 14, 2008 at 5:51 PM
Despicable indeed.
Glynn on September 14, 2008 at 6:03 PM
This second ad should be much more devestating to Osama than the first ad,because in the second ad ,it shows Mccain actually in the Hanoi Hilton showing his torture wounds.You know ,a picture is worth a thousand words and this second ad should really piss people off,making fun of a bonafide war hero,who is limited by war wounds fighting for our country.Mccain should come up with a great ad showing this same picture of him in the hanoi hilton and in a poignant way pointing out his disability caused by his service for our country!!!
Marines for Mccain on September 14, 2008 at 6:06 PM
Interesting suggestion but I would bet even money that if you had injuries due to your service you would be just as reluctant (read humble) to make a big deal of them. You might even resist advisors telling you that it would be a good ad.
Bradky on September 14, 2008 at 6:12 PM
He doesn’t want to be seen playing the “POW card” too much. I, personally, think this is one place where it needs to be played but it’s clear he doesn’t want that to be the first thing voters think of when they hear his name.
malan89 on September 14, 2008 at 6:13 PM
AP
If you lurk over on the Obama blog or look through the comments on that ABC blog, there are people who believe if McCain is physically disabled he is unfit to be President. Period.
It’s a pretty clear bigotry, but it is there.
Darleen on September 14, 2008 at 6:25 PM
Interesting suggestion but I would bet even money that if you had injuries due to your service you would be just as reluctant (read humble) to make a big deal of them. You might even resist advisors telling you that it would be a good ad.
Bradky on September 14, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Marines for Mccain on September 14, 2008 at 6:26 PM
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