McCain's "confession" that he is not very internet savvy is not as simple as his detractors make out. The man cannot use a keyboard, or indeed mouse, due to old injuries sustained as a prisoner at the hands of the North Vietnamese (his arms were broken multiple times). How computer capable would any of us have become if we had never able to use a keyboard or mouse?

Of course, for politicians at this level there is usually a competent secretary to take care of such things. Ex-president Clinton is said to have personally sent only two emails during his eight years in the White House. Where are all the articles referring to slick Willy's computer illiteracy?

I don't see why people were so hung on Mc Cain not knowing how to use a computer. Lets face it if most of the politicians knew anything about computers they would never have passed such half assed laws like the DMCA in the 1st place.

"Can't use a keyboard because of injuries"... what absolute tosh!

There are plenty people out there with far worse injuries that use a keyboard & mouse every day as part of their work and play.

McCain should not be personally in charge of deleting data, but a fish rots from the head. McCain made very poor choices in many areas including, it would seem, IT.

His most public showing of lack of judgment was getting Palin for the VC gig.

His most public showing of lack of leadership was not being able to control her.

If he could not control someone he vetted and selected, how the fuck would he have been able to control a person that he had not chosen and had less hold over?

McCain is perfectly capable of using a computer (physically) or was in the past, he could have crippling arthritis now or something. He was a pilot after getting out of the POW camp (eventually, he spent a long time learning to walk again), and held a desk job that would have required using a typewriter. The only lasting injury is that he can't lift his arms above his head. Which sucks, but won't keep you from using a computer (I know a sys admin with the same problem).

Actually, I know 2 people who are severely disabled, far worse than what my understanding of McCain's injuries are, who use a computer. That having been said, they use accessibility aids, and they are slow compared to an able bodied person. If I were in McCain's shoes, I'd have an assistant do most of my actual interfacing as well.

-Daniel

Not that I buy into McCain being too severely disabled to be able to use a computer - because I don't - but how does that excuse him from the responsibility of taking on a member of staff who can cover for his lack of I.T. knowledge?

Personally, if I had a campaign using a large amount of computer-based data and knew nothing about I.T., one of the first things I would do is to hire a decent tech consultant. It's just management 101 really to take on staff who understand the things you don't.

This should have been Sarah Palin's Blackberry, would have been more befitting.

they save you the trouble of having to buy a mobile or laptop to get the information, lol.