Obama Ad Ridicules McCain over War Injuries

In its zeal to get tough on Sen. John McCain, who has taken the lead in the presidential race, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign released a television ad today, titled "Still," making fun of Sen. McCain for being old fashioned. In the ad, the Obama campaign says that McCain hasn't changed much since he went to Congress in 1982, to make the case that McCain's campaign does not represent change. But the campaign crossed a line when it ridiculed McCain because he "can't send an e-mail," and unwittingly embroiled itself in another controversy that will throw the campaign off message. The charge is true, McCain cannot send e-mails. But the reason, which the Obama campaign clearly did not take the time to investigate, is that because of his Vietnam War injuries, suffered at the hands of his tortuous North Vietnamese captors, Sen. McCain cannot type on a keyboard.

The Boston Globe reported the details in an article first published in March 2000.

McCain gets emotional at the mention of military families needing food stamps or veterans lacking health care. The outrage comes from inside: McCain's severe war injuries prevent him from combing his hair, typing on a keyboard, or tying his shoes. Friends marvel at McCain's encyclopedic knowledge of sports. He's an avid fan - Ted Williams is his hero - but he can't raise his arm above his shoulder to throw a baseball.

After Vietnam, McCain had Ann Lawrence, a physical therapist, help him regain flexibility in his leg, which had been frozen in an extended position by a shattered knee. It was the only way he could hope to resume his career as a Navy flier, but Lawrence said the treatment, taken twice a week for six months, was excruciatingly painful.

The Obama campaign has been getting increasingly sloppy as McCain and running mate Gov. Sarah Palin have passed them by in the polls. Last week the campaign wasted two days defending itself after Sen. Obama derisively referred to the selection of Gov. Palin as "putting lipstick on a pig." Now comes this television ad, which is so offensive it has to have been an oversight.

Careless remarks from the candidate and a fumbling campaign staff are both signs of a desperate campaign. There is good reason for desperation in the Obama campaign. McCain leads the Real Clear Politics average of polls by 2.5 percentage points and has led in eight of the last ten polls taken. But the Obama campaign will never get back on its feet if it keeps shooting itself in them. This latest scandal will keep the campaign on the canvas well through the weekend.