Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, Ariz., has acknowledged his technological shortcomings, but some in the media continue to portray him as a techno-phobe with no meaningful contributions to that sector of the economy.
The September 16 "NBC Nightly News" examined McCain's rhetoric on the campaign trail in the wake of a serious banking crisis. Correspondent Kelly O'Donnell reported one campaign advisor cited McCain's legislative effort opening the door to technological advancements as evidence of his ability to steer Americans through the turbulent time.
"And Brian, when an adviser today was stressing John McCain's economic credentials, he told reporters that McCain quote ‘helped make this little miracle happen' - the Blackberry or cell phone - citing his work on the Commerce Committee," O'Donnell said.
O'Donnell was referring to remarks made by McCain senior policy adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin, which now many media outlets have distorted make it seem McCain claimed to have invented the Blackberry.
"He did this," Holtz-Eakin said in Miami on September 16, while holding up a Blackberry. "The premier innovation in the past 15 years comes right through the Commerce Committee. You're looking at the miracle that John McCain helped create and that's what he did."
Rather than explore McCain's work on the Commerce committee and any influence he may have had over technological innovations, O'Donnell dismissed the adviser's claim as a mistake.
O'Donnell's segment and other reports about McCain claiming to have invented the Blackberry are similar to mimicking an anti-McCain ad bashing approved by Barack Obama.
"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 $200 billion in new tax cuts for corporations, but almost nothing for the middle class," the TV ad said.
The media had previously been complimentary to McCain's tech savvy - prior to his 2008 presidential bid.
"In 2000, Forbes magazine called him the ‘Senate's savviest technologist,'" Goldberg wrote. "That same year, Slate's Jacob Weisberg gushed that McCain was the most ‘cybersavvy' of all the presidential candidates that year, a crop that included none other than Al Gore. Being chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, Weisberg explained, ‘forced him to learn about the Internet early on, and young Web entrepreneurs such as Jerry Yang and Jeff Bezos fascinate him.'"
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Are we electing a president
September 17, 2008 - 11:11 ET by Chris NormanAre we electing a president or a host on the G4 channel?
McNotObama '08
The POTUS has staff people
September 17, 2008 - 11:12 ET by BruzillaThe POTUS has staff people to fo everything but wipe his/her ass. Who cares if they can't use a computer?
it's still very clever to
September 17, 2008 - 12:54 ET by TruthMongerit's still very clever to mock senior citizens - a huge voting block - and if the dems keep this up they just might be able to get Obama to LOSE BY A LANDSLIDE
and what do we do then...? simply win the presidency - yet again?!?
we must not let this not happen
Journalism is the opium of the liberals
You know who else couldnt use a computer
September 17, 2008 - 11:55 ET by BadassBuckeyeGeorge Washington, John Adams, Abe Lincoln, JFK, and Eisenhower to just name a few.
Why not?
September 17, 2008 - 12:00 ET by general companyI donno about that, I am sure they would be as functional as anyone. If you are suggesting they had not been invented yet, well that doesnt mean they would not had been able to use one.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
GC
September 17, 2008 - 12:13 ET by BadassBuckeyeI hope that your smart enought to read what I meant with out having me have to explain it to you.
NBC Really shouldn't "go there" relative
September 17, 2008 - 12:00 ET by Teddyto who invented what.
Because NBC quite literally "invented" the exploding pickup truck!
Guess they forgot about that one though.
Who cares if MaCain can use
September 17, 2008 - 12:03 ET by bassndudeWho cares if MaCain can use a computer or not? The only thing he needs to be able to do is open the suit case and push the button:-)
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
The president weighs
September 17, 2008 - 12:07 ET by AeroSpearThe president weighs options. He can't possible be knowledgeable about everything. My guess is he knows enough (although according to Forbes magazine, he is better than that) to have a reasoning base from which to work.
He <hopefully> seeks council from those that are more knowlegdable about a subject from which he can make a balanced decision.
Based on the MSM reasoning,
September 17, 2008 - 12:11 ET by AeroSpearBased on the MSM reasoning, we could charge that they have no right commenting/reporting to the masses on economics since they haven't a.) managed a business, b.) majored in the subject, or c.) published an article in a economics journal.
On McCain's ability with
September 17, 2008 - 12:24 ET by HockeyKidOn McCain's ability with technology, I'll listen to the first reporter who can properly pre-flight a fighter jet. ("um...let's see...I don't see a key anywhere...where's the steering wheel?")
Sen. McCain being the catalyst to development of...
September 17, 2008 - 12:31 ET by buzzyboopthe BlackBerry is certainly a more plausible scenario than AlGore having invented the Internet.
Government is the only enterprise in the world which expands in size
when its failures increase. -- DC Circuit Judge Janice Rogers Brown
The mick in me can't ignore
September 17, 2008 - 12:40 ET by KillgraveThe mick in me can't ignore that O'Donnel is one hot little potato.
I just wish that she wouldn't open her mouth.
distortion?
September 17, 2008 - 12:46 ET by nicholas nicklebyhi Jeff,
Sorry, I may have missed it, but I'm not quite seeing the distortion here. Holtz-Eakins claimed that McCain's work on the Commerce Committee led to the Blackberry--that the work he did opened the doors for it--and O'Donnell says, quite clearly, that McCain's work on the Commerce Committee helped make the Blackberry "happen"--that is, made it possible. She didn't say that Holtz-Eakins claimed that McCain invented it.
Now, however, for some facts about what McCain did for the Blackberry:
Did you know that McCain voted
against the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA '93)? This was the act that authorized the spectrum auctions that created the competitive wireless
market that gave rise to companies like Research in Motion, which created the BlackBerry.
So, it looks like Holtz-Eakins should have said that if McCain had his way, the Blackberry might not have been created at all.
If the news media had done it's job, maybe that's the story we would be hearing.
Also, as far as personal judgment and leadership goes, McCain choosing Holtz-Eakins seems questionable given his performance here. Holtz-Eakins was asked about the crisis on Wall Street, and he responds by pointing a piece of (Canadian) technology? It would be less ridiculous (maybe) if McCain actually had helped create the environment in which the Blackberry was created, though as I've indicated above, McCain actually voted against creating that environment. And, even if he did vote for it, what does the Blackberry have to do with collapsing investment and insurance houses?
If McCain is elected president, I hope he picks better people for his cabinet.
Re: OBRA '93
September 17, 2008 - 14:28 ET by bloolooEvery Republican in Congress voted against it as did a number of Democrats. It raised a bunch of taxes, including fuel taxes, raised the taxable portion of Social Security benefits, repealed the cap on Medicaire taxes, etc... etc... It also gave the FCC power to license portions of the electromagnetic spectrum with the proceeds going to Congress. Gore's was the tie breaking vote that allowed it to pass...
Any idea why so many voted against it?
So, Nicky, it wasn't about technology at all, but, it was about raising taxes! That's the Democrat's mantra... "raise them, raise them, raise them..." I guess you would see that as a good thing?
(edited to add)
Dude, you gotta stop getting your talking points from the dailykos... (yesterday's Midday Open Thread, about 4th or 5th item down).Your mom should be proud to know that you can cut and paste all by your widdle self...
actually, Washington Monthly
September 17, 2008 - 14:52 ET by nicholas nicklebyalthough, blooloo, dailykos did have an interesting article recently defending Sarah Palin's actions in Troopergate.
But maybe I should've been more clear: a) Holtz-Eakins said something, which was seemingly fairly reported--that McCain's work on Commerce helped develop/nurture/whatever the Blackberry.
b) That's just not true, in part because McCain voted against OBRA.
So not only is Holtz-Eakins making something of a non-sequitur--("Tell me about McCain's position on banks," "He helped create the Blackberry")--but he's also flat-out wrong.
I didn't mean anything about taxes, which does give more context--but my point still stands: Holtz-Eakins doesn't seem to be doing a good job representing McCain, and the MSM in this instance seems to have done a fair job letting Holtz-Eakins hoist himself by his own petard.
Do you think they twisted Holtz-Eakins words out of context?
Liberal intolerance
September 17, 2008 - 13:33 ET by LionKingWhy is the AARP not in arms about these attacks on McCain?
McCain is a Viet Nam veteran... a POW survivor ... a tortured POW. He suffered injuries from that torture that has an effect on his life.
The fact of the matter is that John McCain is a disabled vet that has NOT allowed that disability to prevent him from living his life and contributing. The inferences that he is not tech savvy originated from the fact that he has trouble using a keyboard because of his disability.
The disability has nothing to do with his mind or his leadership. The attacks against him focus on his age and his disability ... 2 outrageous forms of discrimination originating from the "tolerant" left.
Liberals are SICK!
What were the McCain team thinking?!?
September 17, 2008 - 22:35 ET by DaveSAfter the field day that we had teasing Gore for saying basically the exact same thing regarding the internet, why on Earth would the McCain team phrase their Blackberry claim in that way?
DaveS
September 17, 2008 - 22:41 ET by MightyMouthI am thinking the Mcain "team" needs to hire Carl Rove away from Fox News. Just a thought.
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...