This post won’t truly make sense unless you watch the “offensive” Obama campaign ad first.

For those of you who can’t watch video the transcript follows:

1982.
John McCain goes to Washington.
Things have changed in the last 26 years, but McCain hasn’t:
- He admits he still doesn’t know how to use a computer. (Politico 7/13/08)
- Can’t send an email. (New York Times 7/13/08)
- Still doesn’t understand the economy. (Boston Globe 12/18/07 - behind a registration firewall)
- And favors $200 billion in new tax cuts for corporations but almost nothing for the middle class (Tax Policy Center, Analysis of Candidates’ Tax Plans 8/18/08).
After one president who’s out of touch we just can’t afford more of the same.

This ad is many things. With it’s references to 1980’s technology and pop culture it could be seen as a oblique reference to McCain’s age. So you would expect the Right to pull out the ageist card, right? You’d be wrong. Turns out the Boston Globe released a touching story eight years ago mentioning John McCain’s heroic endurance of his war injuries. From that the NRO’s Jonah Goldberg decided he could score a few cheap points with a little fake outrage and mock defensiveness of McCain’s war injuries as his excuse for not knowing how to use a computer.

Senator John McCain using his cell phone and blackberry simultaneously. (AP Photo)

Does anyone know why McCain doesn’t use a computer or email? As a couple readers suggested to me, it might be because his injuries prevent it. I mean he can’t lift his arms much higher than his chest and it looks like he has all sorts of other mobility problems with them. Maybe he can’t type or use something like a blackberry. I don’t know. But I hope the Obama campaign found out before they played the granpa Simpson card on McCain. I’d hate for Obama to be mocking a veteran’s disability to score cheap points.

Golberg’s not alone in trying to ignore the substance of this ad, but do we really expect anything less of McCain’s chearleaders? They know they can’t successfully argue against the notion that McCain’s tax plan is a massive handout to corporations and the rich, so they drum up outrage over fake controversies to try to drown out the news cycle.

The funny part? Not even McCain’s campaign agrees with them.

“John McCain travels with a laptop,” said McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds. “This is a senseless tactic from Obama’s campaign because they’re struggling with the realization that the American people understand he is not equipped to deliver change because his record has no bipartisanship or significant legislative accomplishment in it.”

Note to Goldberg: Your reader tipsters are clueless. Not only can McCain use his hands just fine (ever tried to try with a blackberry?), the McCain campaign doesn’t even agree with your fake outrage. Next time try focusing on the substance of an ad, won’t you?