Senator John McCain Is A BlackBerry User

buecker
#1. August 2nd, 2008, at 11:04 AM.

I don’t think mccain really knows how to use anything on the phone. He has admitted to never using a computer. Why would one think he can manage a blackberry other than the send and end buttons?

Thought
#2. August 2nd, 2008, at 1:39 PM.

Barack Obama is an avid BlackBerry user as well. The difference is that Obama actually uses a computer and email, whereas McCain has admitted that he does not and is “computer illiterate.” I think there is a good chance that McCain only uses his BB for voice calls.

In fact, after being embarrassed by admitting that he didn’t use a computer, McCain then admitted that he was learning how to get online, as if it was some complicated process that takes hours.

It’s rather scary to have a candidate for President that has such a poor understanding of personal technology. As one IT consultant put it:
Ask yourself how you’d feel about working for a corporation where the CEO doesn’t know how to use a computer. No matter how smart, someone who can’t open a web page, type a letter on a word processor, or compose an email message, is going to be fundamentally out of touch with the daily experience of every member of the knowledge economy.

MacVicta
#3. August 2nd, 2008, at 4:30 PM.

Is he? Or did one of his handlers who actually use the BlackBerry simply pass him the phone after a call came in?

gquaglia
#4. August 2nd, 2008, at 7:34 PM.

Is he? Or did one of his handlers who actually use the BlackBerry simply pass him the phone after a call came in?

More likely. I doubt he or Obama would want to be bothered with trivial emails and scheduling issues, they pay people to do that for them.

Thought
#5. August 2nd, 2008, at 10:15 PM.

MacVicta: I vote for your scenario. McCain is too dumb to use a BlackBerry.

In fact, I’d say McCain and Bush are like the guys from Dumb and Dumber. McCain is easily the most intellectually empty candidate since, well…Bush.

Wayne Davis
#6. August 2nd, 2008, at 10:42 PM.

If McCain uses a bb, I’m not going to vote for him because he won’t have any time to run the country, he’ll be too busy looking for new ringtones, themes, and the latest videos.

JDW
#7. August 3rd, 2008, at 12:55 AM.

I saw a bit on the news a few weeks back, talking about how Obama is communications-literate and McCain doesn’t know a thing about computers or any other kind of modern electronics.

Obama walked into a pole reading over something on his Blackberry.

McCain had one, but his assistant was the one using it, passing it to him when he had someone to talk to.

Thought
#8. August 3rd, 2008, at 9:17 PM.

I just read an article about how some McCain strategists are trying to figure out ways to remake McCain’s image into one more tech savvy. Perhaps this picture was leaked to that celebrity website as part of that strategy.

Ironically, in the same article, one of the Republican consultant remarks “The guy is pretty busy,”… “The last thing he needs is a BlackBerry.”

Bottom line: McCain is a pathetic candidate.

Ben
#9. August 4th, 2008, at 9:35 AM.

It’s been awhile but when it looked like RIM could possibly go out of business due to those patent issues I thought I had read somewhere that members of congress got free blackberries to use? Anyone confirm or deny this? Free as in taxpayer provided.

Gabriel
#10. August 4th, 2008, at 11:31 AM.

I’ve worked for an elected official who is younger than McCain (by about five years). They all own the fanciest phones they can buy, but very, very few can use the full functions of a smartphone.

The state senator I worked for had a Treo 700, and couldn’t use the calander, email, contacts, or texting, camera, or web browser. In his coat pocket, he carried a stack of business cards held together with a rubber band. He also used email just like you would use a fax machine (if you still use such a dinosaur). He would send an email only to relay a document, making a phone call to make sure the recipient received the message.

Just because John McCain’s bodyman uses a BB to set up McCain’s phone calls doesn’t mean McCain uses a BB. If his phone is a BB, he probably can’t use it for anything more than a phone.

DaFD
#11. August 6th, 2008, at 11:25 AM.

If we’re lucky, then this is his way of figuring out how to use the internet.

Bob
#13. September 11th, 2008, at 11:36 PM.

Obama is the anti-christ.

David
#15. September 13th, 2008, at 9:17 AM.

Amazing how easily you guys get scared. It’s “scary” that he doesn’t use the email on his Blackberry. Really? Are you frightened? What a bunch of pants-wetting babies. “Look out! She’s got lipstick!”

David
#16. September 13th, 2008, at 9:26 AM.

There are several articles on the web about McCain’s technology use. He does have help: His wife handles the keyboard. But it’s sheer sophistry to say he has is “fundamentally out of touch with the daily experience of every member of the knowledge economy.” He was head of the Telecomm Subcommittee.

http://www.forbes.com/asap/2000/0529/053_print.html

http://www.slate.com/id/74812/

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/us/politics/13text-mccain.html?_r=4&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

I think he’s all right. He’s certainly not shaking in fear like you geniuses.

MJ
#17. September 13th, 2008, at 5:27 PM.

http://www.4president.us/websites/2000/mccain2000website.htm
McCain’s campaign in 2000 was the first successful internet use raising money for a primary.
Plus, it is well documented that McCain reads email but replies by dictating because he can’t type due to injuries substained as a POW. He can’t comb his hair or tie his shoes either.
And Presidents DON’T use email for security reasons. Senators have assistants do “computer work” for them.
Are you making fun of McCain for not using the internet for “personal use”, well he looks at his daughter’s blog. And there has been stories with him stating he understands the importance of “blogs”.