PCMag.com: Attack of the Geeks on John McCain

Photo of Warner Todd Huston.

Someone peed in Lance Ulanoff's pocket protector and it must have been a Republican, because Ulanoff, one of PCMag.com's chief geeks, unloaded on the "tech illiterate" John McCain in a July 16th article, insisting that McCain isn't "tech savvy enough to run this country."

Ulanoff is filled with all sorts of assumptions and with faux indignation that John McCain dares run for president even though he has admitted that he doesn't know a whole lot about computers. Naturally, Ulanoff begins with the left's favorite talking point du jour, that McCain is too old.

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John McCain, the oldest presidential candidate this nation has ever had, has now proven, by his own admission, that he's not tech savvy enough to run this country.

So, what is uber geek Ulanoff's reason that McCain isn't able to lead this country in a "tech" age? Why its because McCain says he can't use a computer that's why. Oh, and he's old... let's not forget that

McCain recently admitted to The New York Times that he currently has other people go online to get him the information he needs, adding that he's working on mastering the technology. According to the Times, McCain uses "his wife, and aides like Mark Salter, a senior adviser, and Brooke Buchanan, his press secretary, to get him online." McCain actually said that these people "go on for me."

Then the clincher from McCain: "I don't e-mail. I've never felt the particular need to e-mail."

Well, just before writing this, I looked the Constitution over to see where the e-mail requirement was. Funny thing is, I couldn't find it.

Ulanoff's main reason seems to be that a president that can't even operate a computer can't understand issues of Net neutraility and Internet policy and, therefore, won't have enough knowledge to make decisions in those areas. This, of course, assumes that a president knows all of human knowledge once he ascends to office and doesn't need aides and advisors to help him learn about and make decisions on important issues while in office.

Oh, and don't forget, McCain's too old.

But, let's face reality about computers and the president, any president. Thanks to the over use of the attack dogs called "special prosecutors," and the overweening interference of the Executive Branch by Congress, no president is even going to bother using e-mail and computers very much.

Last May, Bush even claimed that he looks forward to using e-mail to contact friends and family again after he leaves office. In a report on the president's remarks, a New York Times blog reported that "Mr. Bush stopped e-mailing when he entered the White House, citing security worries, and the Oval Office does not have a computer in it."

So, here we have in the presidency of the United States of America a job where using a computer is not only unnecessary, it is specifically eschewed because of the danger it represents.

So, if McCain won't even have to use a computer while in office (and that is because the left would use it to attack him), then why is it such a requirement that he be "tech savvy"?

If Ulanoff wants a president to use a computer, he might want to get Congress to stop looking for every excuse it can find to "get" the president so that a future president might find it safe enough while in office to use one in this "tech savvy" world in which we live.

So, let me say this to Ulanoff. You are too "politically illiterate" to assess if McCain is suitable enough to fill the oval office. Your opinion is uninformed and unimportant. But thanks for stopping by. McCain might be less than computer literate, but that skill is not in any way a requirement to be a qualified candidate for president of the US.

Oh, but McCain's old, too. Did Ulanoff mention that?

(Photo credit: www.gamesandmobile.com)


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Tech saviness

This lad must share "thoughts" with that Obamacon I mentioned a couple of weeks ago.  He sent me a few emails after the NB item and one of his chief complaints about MCC is he isn't tech savvy.  I asked him if he really believed that was a necessity -  I thought he was joking - and he assured me he does.

Techo Journalists Seem To Be No Different

I would get 4 to 6 techno mags weekly and a couple monthlies - PC Mag being one. It used to tick me off so much to see politics and the Global Warming Religion infused into what I thought should have been technical content. I wrote and wrote to the editors and - surprise! - not one of my letters of complaint ever made it into the magazines. I did not renew my PC Mag subscription. All the others were 'free' so when I cancelled it didn't make that big of a splash. I guess I was getting what I paid for (not unlike the audience of David Letterman's show).

PC (political correctness) has drowned Scientific American and

National Geographic to such an overwhelming extent that I cancelled both after 35 years of subscription all the way back to when I was still in Rhodesia. I miss them but will not put my money in their coffers

 

Paarl of Rhodesia

This from Ulanoff's

This from Ulanoff -

   Being "aware of the Internet" is not the same as using it. Unlike a faraway conflict, for example, the net cannot be explained in a briefing book by a well-versed aide. You either know how to use it, or you don't.

   OK... so international conflicts are easy.  It's knowing how to email that is the measure of a man's knowledge. 

   Mr. Bush can pilot a jet.  Obama cannot.  Mr. Obama will not be able to make judgements regarding air transportation.

   Methinks Mr. Ulanoff needs to step away from his computer, go outside and get some sun.

Get some...

Get some sun!? You mean, actually go outside for exercise?? Are you crazy. He probably can't stand the bright light when he answers the door for the pizza man to deliver!

Why, he'd surely MELT if he did that!

  I agree with you Warner,

  I agree with you Warner, it would be potential political suicide for a president to use a computer.  However a recent Whitehouse occupant would have been better served had he had a virtual 'affair'.  You know the guy who's username would be horndog1.

Why, heck

Why, heck, it WAS a "virtual" affair. After all, he did not have sexual relations with that woman, Monica... remember?

Oh, and Oral, they now claim, isn't really sex, remember?

... though I've yet to meet a wife that felt this empty argument would paper over a "virtual" affair... but that's how it goes.

Pure Ageism

This whole campaign is based on ageism.  You are viewed as a racist if you don't like Barack Obama for any reason (even if it doesn't have anything to do with his color.  But it is "not considered ageism" when you bring up John McCain's ageism.

----

(Good post, Warner.)

Oh please!  As several people pointed out, this is why you have "people".  Or does Lance want to deprive a fellow computer geek of a job?

There have been a few

There have been a few presidents that haven't been hampered by lack of computer expertise. Washington, Lincoln, Kennedy to name a few.

Besides, there are a few skills that Obama doesn't have, either, that should be mentioned. Ability to salute the American flag comes to mind immediately.

___________________________________ 

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber

just a new ore to mine

As I mentioned in a previous post, Warren Buffett does not use a computer. *Amazingly* he never receives criticism about this.

What I fear is that "McCain computer illiteracy" jokes will become more common because the ageism jokes are tedious.

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944

Sorry but as a...

IT professional myself most other computer guys (besides the ones who spends every waking day infront of a PC) really isn't that tech "savvy" themselves. They BS their way through life like everyone else. I for one am glad McCain isn't a tech guru at least we know he is not "detached" from the real world and he can deal with real problems instead of sitting there like a moron when the lights go out like the geek squad would. 

"9 out of 10 doctors agree that flag burning is the number one killer of liberals."