JOHN McCAIN IS AWARE OF THE INTERNET

When recently asked whether he was a MAC or PC guy, Republican presidential hopeful John McCain responded:

"Neither, I'm an illiterate that has to rely on my wife for all of the assistance I can get."

Mr. McCain rightfully took a little flack from the online media for this admission, to which one of his aides responded with this statement:

"You don't actually have to use a computer to understand how it shapes the country . . . John McCain is aware of the Internet."

Ladies and gentlemen, the Republican presidential nominee has no idea how to use the internet. This is genuinely alarming. Of course, there are numerous people in this country, and around the world, who for one reason or another do not know how to operate a computer or navigate the world wide web. Those people are not running for President of the United States. Those people are not proclaiming to have the tools necessary to revitalize our economy, improve our strained foreign relations, champion the development of emerging technologies and foster unity in a nation fractured by mounting class division.

Maybe if primary school classroom instruction was supplemented by mandatory online lessons, and schools across this nation were supplied with adequate computers, we could improve our failing education system.

Maybe if the HMO bureaucracy that results in rising insurance costs and delays in medical treatment was replaced with an internet based system for processing appointments and claims, we could begin to provide real care and real savings to our sick.

These are just two minor examples of immediate benefits derived from developing a computer-literate and computer-aided citizenry.

So, excuse me while I go make an internet donation to the Obama campaign.