June 25, 2008 exchanges:

I remember you mentioning the "hard copy" letter delivered to Obama's campaign. This is a good point - and one that, to me, should be made clear to the American public. McCain dismissed the latest computer technology just like he dismissed "knowing" about the economy.

I'm not even sure who the Internet-befuddled demographic is other than those above 75. Perhaps those in more remote areas of the US (who I am guessing would support McCain regardless of this issue)?

Both of my grandparents, in their 70s, frequently use their desktop - my grandfather transmits Quality Assurance contracting documents (PDFs) to General Dynamics (he is one from the old guard "Tool & Die" crowd; brought out of retirement to monitor defense contract work quality) while my grandma prints Kroger coupons, orders who knows what, pays bills, and e-mails like no other.

-Fair, 06-25-08


This from today's Media Notes (Howard Kurtz) in the Washington Post:
If we're electing a president for the age of terror, we're also picking one for the Internet age. After attending a conference, CQ blogger David Corn wonders how McCain could have no clue about computers:
"Let's (at least this time) avoid the cheap shot, for there is a serious point here: where is McCain's intellectual curiosity? Over the past decade, more and more Americans of all ages have become wired. Using email and the Internet has become a fundamental activity of modern life. How could McCain, who has long wanted to lead this nation, say to himself, I don't need to know how this stuff works? And in an era when so much depends on the Internet--including much of the economy and aspects of national security--how could a senior legislator and commander-in-chief wannabe eschew firsthand experience of how this series of tubes and wires functions?
"What motivated--or demotivated--McCain to be a computer illiterate? Is he a fuddy-duddy resistant to change? Is he--let's be frank--too old to absorb new notions? Is he a Luddite? None of these are qualities you'd want in a president. Are there other explanations?"
Maybe he'll appeal to the Internet-befuddled demographic.
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I'm sure I told you this, how right after Obama clinched the nom, McCain asked him about the 10 town hall style events they should have together. The invitation came to Obama's campaign by hard-copy letter and someone there said, Why didn't he just e-mail this? I guess McCain is just that out of touch.
-Ing, 06-28-08