John McCain: Confirmed Mac user, Barack Obama: Confirmed Mac user (and BlackBerry sufferer)

“Blogs have been buzzing recently over McCain’s admission that when it comes to the Internet, ‘I’m an illiterate who has to rely on his wife for any assistance he can get.’ And the 71-year-old presumptive Republican presidential nominee, asked about his Web use last week by the New York Times, said that aides ‘go on for me. I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself,'” The Associated Press reports.

AP asks. “How unusual is it for a 71-year-old American to be unplugged?”

“That depends on how you look at the statistics. Only 35 percent of Americans over age 65 are online, according to data from April and May compiled by the Pew Internet Project at the Pew Research Center,” AP reports. “But when you account for factors like race, wealth and education, the picture changes dramatically. ‘About three-quarters of white, college-educated men age over 65 use the Internet,’ says Susannah Fox, director of the project.”

AP reports, “McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan presented a somewhat updated picture when contacted by The Associated Press on Friday: ‘He’s fully capable of browsing the Internet and checking Web sites,’ Buchanan said. “‘He has a Mac and uses it several times a week. He’s working on becoming more familiar with the Internet.'”

“As for McCain’s Democratic rival, Barack Obama is 46, and thus in an age group where fully 85 percent of Americans are plugged in,” AP reports. “A CNN clip available on YouTube shows him so engrossed with his Blackberry while crossing a street that he bumps into the curb.”

AP reports, “One blogger opined last week that all the fuss is silly. McCain, wrote Newsweek’s Andrew Romano, hasn’t become computer literate because he hasn’t needed to. ‘When aides are responding to your messages and briefing you on every imaginable subject, the incentive to get online sort of disappears,’ he wrote.”

More in the full article here.

[UPDATE: 2:59pm EDT: According to a Newsweek article published in February, Obama also uses a Mac: “Michelle [Obama] recently bought two MacBook laptops, one for Barack and one for the kids, so they could have video chats over the Internet.” Full article here.]

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “WalterKovacs” for the heads up.]

Work on that Internet thing, John; at least you have a Mac. And get an iPhone, Barak; you’ll instantly wonder why you ever thought you “loved” your BlackBerry.

Add McCain and Obama to the list of confirmed Mac users that includes President George Bush, Rush Limbaugh, Al Gore, Karl Rove, John Kerry, Moby, and tens of millions more…

111 Comments

  1. McCain is yet another Republican candidate who can’t do it for himself and has no clue what it’s like to live in the 21st century.

    I’ll bet he has aides to put his pants on in the morning:
    ‘When aides are responding… the incentive to puts your pants on yourself sort of disappears.”

  2. “. . . go on for me. I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself . . . “

    There’s a sentence that Bush would have mangled.
    Unfortunately, it also would have been pretty filthy.

  3. Actually, MDN, Obama has an iPhone (altho he is seen most often using a Blackberry) and he uses a MacBook to have iChat/AV conversations with his daughters when he is on the road. You might want to check into this.

  4. If I had both an iPhone and a Blackberry, and actually had used the iPhone, I certainly wouldn’t carry and use the blackberry. I’ve had three or four different blackberries over about 4 years (for work) and I think they’re all crap. I wonder if someone got him the iPhone to be cool and if he’s ever used it.

  5. Ok, I used “the Google” (as our esteemed Prez might say) to further pin-down the computer preferences of Obama. This from Mac.Blorge:

    Bruce Springsteen, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Jay-Z, Ludacris are just a sample of some the artists that make an appearance on his iPod… Recently, his wife bought two MacBook laptops one for the kids and one for Barack so they could have video chats over the internet. Obama’s campaign also uses Sproutit Mailroom (a Mac application) to manage Obama’s presidential campaign.

  6. Oh the Humanity!!! How dare those Conservatives infiltrate a Liberal product!!! AAAAAAAA!!!!!!

    How dare the savior Barack Obama use something so inferior that only Republicans should use. Aren’t liberals smarter than that!! Steve, please, for the love of all things humanly sane, please, can you do anything to stop this atrocity!!

  7. haha. Should this come as any surprise to anyone? Us Republican’s use Macs because we’re smarter than you dumb ass DemocRats. heehee. And of course Osama uses a BLACKberry.
    There is a fellow that comes around here with a shirt that reads “The darker the BERRY, the sweeter the juice”.
    Blackberry-Barak-Black-Muslim-Democrat—they all fit together so smuggly.

  8. “Hum… I think most americans are pretty racists… it would be a wonder if they once get a black president.
    Well, yet… some hope is allowed…”

    Hmmmm, you sound pretty prejudice yourself.

    I am not voting against Obama because of his skin color. I am voting against him for being a liberal, a big spender, a supporter oh high gas prices, his idiotic stance regarding national security, his lack of experience, his relationships with dodgy people, his high spending tendencies, and his fondness for earmarks.

  9. Well, I’m not impressed with McCain, but this doesn’t surprise me at all about Obama. The guy is obviously clueless when it comes to most everything. He’s definitely all talk and no substance.

  10. Obama’s racist preacher and advisor probably writes his White-hating diatribes on a Mac, too.

    Michelle uses her Mac to write about how the White man enslaved her ancestors and how much she hates “Whitey” today.

    Obama uses his Mac to write about how much he despises his White grandparents.

    Yep, I’d have to agree there is a lot of racism in this political campaign!!!

  11. Quad Bore said: “I am not voting against Obama because of his skin color. I am voting against him for being a liberal, a big spender, a supporter oh high gas prices, his idiotic stance regarding national security, his lack of experience, his relationships with dodgy people, his high spending tendencies, and his fondness for earmarks.”

    For me, it’s those little ears. How could he hear anything with those!?!

  12. gZERO (the zero) said: “@Southern Voter, is being a racist D*CKHEAD hard work for you, or does it just come naturally?

    MDN, you REALLY need to monitor your blog better than this.”

    Yeah, who is MDN to allow free speech at its site. I hear these guys are really chinese secret agents using PCs.

    Hey, another slow day at the hit counter solved!!!!

  13. “I am not voting against Obama because of his skin color. I am voting against him for being a liberal, a big spender, a supporter oh high gas prices, his idiotic stance regarding national security, his lack of experience, his relationships with dodgy people, his high spending tendencies, and his fondness for earmarks.”

    And the Republican Bush admin has really done wonders to gas prices, national security and public spending, not to mention all those dodgy people in there…

    Irony is dead, indeed.

  14. Actually, If he needs email he will need to keep his blackberry…mobileme is down and will be down for 3-4 days per Apple’s own cust serv team….he’s a business user so he can’t afford shoddy, quasi-push service ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />

  15. McCain is an old dodderer. Conservatives were truly skunked by libs voting for him in the primaries, to the demise of Mitt Romney. Romney would have whacked Obama into a cocked hat in the general election. Obama is a socialist.

    Now we have two libs running. Which is the best of two bad choices. Sadly – McCain.

    What does Mitt use?

  16. @Sir Gill Bates:

    At least there will be munitions to defend this nation if McCain is in office. Obama would really like Superman to fly all our defenses to the sun so they’ll be destroyed, with our nation soon to follow.

  17. @Quadcore..
    I’m with you. Also, I think Obama’s message of hope is inspiring..but we need solutions at this point not inspirational speeches devoid of the necessary experience needed to move the country forward.

  18. “McCain is yet another Republican candidate who can’t do it for himself and has no clue what it’s like to live in the 21st century.”

    hey at least unlike Bush, McGrumpy can actually read….

  19. Maginary,

    From what I’ve seen, this nation uses it’s munitions to bully the rest of the world and declare war on anyone it feels like.

    Maybe if we didn’t have all of those munitions we wouldn’t be such a bunch of egotistical, self-centered braggarts.

    Maybe then we would try to cooperate and work with the rest of the world. Maybe then we would get off our asses and solve some of our many problems and quit blaming them on everyone else.

    Don’t blame Obama for this countries demise. Blame those who are truly responsible: Every damn one of us.

  20. Uh oh, Uh Oh said: “And the Republican Bush admin has really done wonders to gas prices, national security and public spending, not to mention all those dodgy people in there….”

    ‘Scuse me Lucy, but gas has risen 75% since the DEMOCRATIC congress took control TWO YEARS ago!!!

    And they plan on raising gas taxes as well. Look it up.

    You dummy you.

  21. Definitely longer than five minutes.

    “My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you I just signed legislation which outlaws Russia forever. The bombing begins in five minutes.”
    – Ronald Reagan, Said during a radio microphone test, 1984, 40th president of the U.S. (1911 – 2004)

  22. Sire Bill Gates said: “Maybe then we would try to cooperate and work with the rest of the world. Maybe then we would get off our asses and solve some of our many problems and quit blaming them on everyone else.”

    Let’s all cooperate. But, uh, with the Russian dictator Putin or communist China?

    Hey Billy, can I borrow the Unicorn tomorrow?

  23. We don’t need a president who doesn’t know shit about the Internet, IMHO. Net neutrality, for example, wouldn’t mean a thing to him.

    And Barack, my brother, it’s time for an iPhone makeover. Michelle already bought two Macbooks for you and her and the girls to iChat back and forth with. So what’cha waitin’ on?

    Peace.
    Olmecmystic ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”cool smile” style=”border:0;” />

  24. I’ve seen that footage of Barack with his iPhone, but figured the writer had some updated info I didn’t have.

    That footage is from right after he beat Hillary and went back to the Senate and was treated like a rock star.

    Damn, a President with a Macbook AND an iPhone? Maybe those four horsemen won’t get to ride, after all!

    Peace.
    Olmecmystic ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”cool smile” style=”border:0;” />

  25. Handsome Smitty,

    “Let’s all cooperate. But, uh, with the Russian dictator Putin or communist China?”

    Well, we don’t have to worry about cooperation with China. Your lord and master is bending over backwards to kiss their asses. Hope he enjoys the Olympics.

    He and Vladimir seem to be on the outs lately. Maybe he will get along better with Dmitry.

  26. Sire Bill Gates said: “He and Vladimir seem to be on the outs, lately. Maybe he will get along better with Dimitry.”

    Uh, pay attention. I know being an Obama support you’re a little behind the loop, Medvedev is Putin’s bitch.

    Okay, you can’t have it both ways; if Bush is working with the commies, how are we not getting along with the rest of the world?

    Concentrate – yes you can!!!!!!

    hahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

  27. Ampar(sand) said: “”Net neutrality, for example, wouldn’t mean a thing to him.”

    Known in a few congressional circles as “The Taming of the Tubes”.”

    Uh, you guys do realize Obama is a Democrat, right? Uh, the guys like to tax. How neutral will the net be after its usage is taxed.

    Liberty is dead – why do I bother with these unedumacated dolts?!?!

  28. You dumb people. Obama wouldn’t be our first black president. He would be our first Muslim president!

    We have had black presidents before:
    Thomas Jefferson
    Andrew Jackson
    Abraham Lincoln
    Warren Harding
    Calvin Coolidge
    (and maybe) Dwight Eisenhower

    Maybe a little reading would help to educate you.

  29. Our “leaders” our chosen by the Elite initially, then the media, electoral college, and eventually the owners of Diebold. btw, there is no discernible difference between the Repukes and Demorats. Can you say “velvet revolution”, I knew you could.

    mw-years, in a couple, perhaps?

  30. actually the chain of events are more like this… Elite pick some people who have bent over, the media promotes the one who are more bendable, then we ‘vote’ for them, then Diebold fixes that, and then eventually the electoral college/supreme court decides the final count. BS I say. pardon the double post.

  31. Cascadians said: I’m voting for Dr Ron Paul, the only practical sensible choice. Sure hope he isn’t stuck in the dark ages using a PC.”

    Oh, I’m sure his flying saucer has Apple on board…along with a few nuts for hibernation, naturally.

  32. Handsome Shitty,

    Yeah, I know Medvedev is Putin’s chosen successor and vassal. But go ahead and pat yourself on the back if it makes you feel good.

    Bush supports China because it’s in the self interest of him and his cronies. Big business makes some mighty nice profits from that cheap labor (yes, including Apple).

    Unfortunately, his little missile defense program has pissed off Russia and others. It’s just an extension of his creation of an American version of the Roman Empire.

    But now he is wanting to talk with Iran. Talk with Iran? I thought he (and McCain) would never do that. Nothing hypocritical about that, eh? Definitely not a phony political move.

  33. @Dayne:

    Uhh, apparently you don’t remember the time when RIMs servers were down several times in a short period of time (like a few weeks) and it was all over the news. Blackberry is having all sorts of issues of their own and is no champion of uptime!

  34. Gee, maybe McCain can use his new found computer skills to look up his own voting record, or check if Czechoslovakia still exists, or determine whether Iraq and Pakistan share a border. (All recent gaffs by McCain in interviews…)

    Let’s hope he doesn’t fall for the Nigerian email scams.

  35. I can’t say I have followed much of this stuff (after all who really cares about a superpower that gets kicked and can’t even figure out how to get back up) but I did see some news where one of them (can’t say which ones, all you yanks look the same to me) was going on about the AENUS Alliance got distracted from Bin Laddin by Iraq.

    Duh!

  36. It may be best for MDN to refrain from posting any further stories with political references on this site. MDN clearly not does not monitor the site for inappropriate comments. This topic more than any others brings out some extremely immature people – even for a mac site. Its really sad and disappointing to me that some people choose to express themselves using such offensive language and have such radical views. Mac community, lets raise the bar for entries here as we don’t need to tolerate offensive behavior here. Btw…. Here is the full Newsweek story referenced: http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/07/14/mccain-can-t-use-a-google-so-what.aspx Interesting excerpt: ” George W. Bush gave up email when he was elected in 2000. The reason? National security worries. What’s more, there’s no computer in the Oval Office, and the president can’t surf in the Executive Residence, either. McCain or Obama would certainly follow suit.”

  37. I agree with Sir Bill Gates. Only an idiot (or a dead person) wouldn’t see that Bush is all cosy with China for a reason. Politics and/or business almost always trump everything else. And now that Russia & China is improving their relationship, I’m sure he’s getting all flustered.

    And to all of you democracy/human rights/etc-now-or-bust people, as long as you keep on trying to force your beliefs on others, you’ll always have people wishing you get your a** shafted by someone.

    China’s a powerful and influential country with a fast growing economy that happens to be run on a brand of communism, but how many people in the world want to fly planes into her buildings or want to kill her people.

    *No disrespect to those affected by 9/11.

    Maybe, just maybe, Bush is not cut out for this President thing? While experience helps, it does not ensure success. Unless of course, the only requirement to be the President of the United States is to be able to sit in a classroom reading a story and looking like a less-than-intelligent person. ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />

    Empires rise and fall, my friends. Romans, Europeans, Muslims, Christians, etc – all had their golden age. Nothing lasts forever. The best thing is to accept that fact and try to make no enemies.

    But then again, what the hell do i know.

    And now for the obligatory Mac cheer:
    Woohoo! Macs Rule!!!
    ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />

  38. Wow, MacSheikh, you’ve really outdone yourself here with this statement:

    “The best thing is to accept that fact and try to make no enemies.”

    That ideology right there is what divides conservatives and liberals. On the one hand you have the party that accepts defeat without a fight. In the other hand you have people who would rather die fighting, trying, doing something about the problem instead of just giving into inevitability.

    So you go ahead and give up your crown jewels, your freedom, and accept defeat. Enjoy your long life of servitude to those who seek to destroy America. You are a traitor if you’re an American.

  39. Maginary,

    “In the other hand you have people who would rather die fighting, trying, doing something about the problem instead of just giving into inevitability.”

    I agree that to die fighting is a noble thing. But only if your fight is righteous. I had hoped we would have learned from Vietnam, but alas, no. We have allowed a virtueless man to embroil our country in another foolish act of unwarranted barbarity in Iraq. Then we grasp at any straw to justify it, instead of admitting our complicity.

    As for those here who say these conversations should be stopped, at least we aren’t talking about that friggin’ iPhone.

  40. “Maybe, just maybe, Bush is not cut out for this President thing?”

    Media outlets are reporting that George W. Bush has reluctantly agreed to end his occupation of the White House on January 20, 2009 but that he wants the record to show that he was strongly against announcing a timetable.

    His first preference was to gradually leave office over the next few years.

  41. “Only an idiot (or a dead person) wouldn’t see that Bush is all cosy with China for a reason.”

    Does no one remember what Bill Clinton did with the Chinese in the 90s? (Besides the idiots and the dead people)

    Do you libs not have any concept of history? Or do y’all just forget the facts that apply to your decisions?

  42. This is getting ridiculous. I have a BB8800 and a 2nd gen iPhone (admitted, twas a gift) and I prefer the Blackberry. How come people all of a sudden believe that the new iPhone just must be so much better than a BB? Or well…make that – all people visiting the MDN forums. Everyone here seems to be an ex-BB user and expert on the matter, right? Besides, I have a first gen iPod Touch (is there a 2nd gen at all?) for music-use-only. I wouldn’t want to have my music or those few utils & games draining the battery of my phone.

  43. Actually, Gill, I think Mao deserves the real credit.

    He instilled the slave labor that encourages MFN, which is supposed to be used to stop that behavior.

    As far as Clinton, I’m just saying that Bill signed onto it just like the others without getting any serious concessions.

  44. TowerTone,

    Yeah, you are right. The Dems have been a bunch of blowhard, gutless wonders on this. Makes you wonder just how much they really are against the war. Buncha buttholes.

    Speaking of the ol’ Chairman, I remember reading an article a number of years ago about him.

    It said he liked to dance. They had a place set up for him and would bring in young girls for him to cut a rug with. There was a separate room with a bed where they would take a little break.

    It also said he never brushed his teeth, only gargled with tea. The thought of that old bastard humping and breathing his stench on those little girls really turned my stomach. That story has always stuck with me. I wish it hadn’t.

    Just a little something to lighten the mood, eh.

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  46. How are you. He will always be a slave who does not know how to live upon a little.
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  47. Give please. It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. Help me! Please help find sites for: Morgage loan interest rate. I found only this – ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />, Virgil from Kyrgyzstan.

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