This website is all about Obama and Biden, but you cannot make the case for Obama without contrasting him with McCain. Unlike Obama, McCain does not seem to understand computers, the internet, and all things digital. McCain has admitted that he only recently began to explore the internet and do his own email. Imagine someone of McCain's stature living in the United States for the last 15 years and not being intellectually curious enough to even once check out the web. Is that the kind of person we want to run the country and our nation's economy?
Setting his personal tech shortcoming aside, McCain's policies related to technological issues leave much to be desired, particularly when compared to those of Obama. Below we run down a few of the obvious contrasts:
Creating Jobs and Growing the Economy:
Barack Obama proposed a far more bold, fully-developed innovation agenda than McCain – a plan that will foster home-grown innovation and ensure that we can retain and grow high-paying jobs in the global economy. Senator Obama supports making the R&D tax credit permanent, a successful, focused program that supports incremental research and unleashes American innovation.
By contrast, John McCain would continue the Bush Administration’s hands-off approach to ensuring our global competitiveness. Other than tax breaks, he has not put forward any proposals to help strengthen our workforce or help struggling communities compete in the global economy. The McCain plan for the Information, Communications and Technology sector of our economy consists of handing out cash in the form of tax breaks with nothing for workers or consumers.
Affordable Broadband Access for All Americans:
Obama will implement a national broadband strategy to connect every American household, school, library and hospital to a world-class communications infrastructure. Obama has proposed to change the Universal Service Program from one that supports 20th century voice-based networks to 21st century broadband networks, driving tens of billions of dollars into developing critical infrastructure for the next generation of American economic prosperity.
By contrast, McCain would give tax breaks to companies that provide Internet access to low income and rural customers. About 50 million homes don't have high speed Internet access. About 10 companies, including the major communications firms represented by McCain's lobbyist-adviser team, would get virtually all the tax breaks because they provide virtually all high speed Internet access. McCain fought universal service programs including the e-rate program which brought broadband to schools and libraries.
Supporting Net Neutrality and an Open Internet:
Obama has been clear and consistent in his support of net neutrality. An open internet guarantees basic American values of free expression and free markets in an open society. Obama is forward looking. He understands the ills of concentrated media must be corrected in the new media marketplace by protecting competition and free speech on an open Internet.
By contrast, McCain is opposed to network neutrality, in opposition to the interests of consumers and Americans who value an open Internet. His position appears to reject the views of his adviser Meg Whitman and to embrace the views of the key lobbyists for internet access companies who are McCain's advisers. McCain would encourage long, drawn-out, piecemeal, and lobbyist-heavy interventions by the FCC. This amounts to more money for lawyers and lobbyists but still no guarantees for citizens and consumers.
Using Technology to Transform Government:
Obama would use technology to reform government. An Obama administration would open government deliberation to the public and use technology to enrich citizen engagement with policymakers. Transparency and participation are the keys to civic participation in this self-governing society. Obama would use technology to improve government service – harnessing wireless spectrum and a new broadband infrastructure to improve public safety, and also using 21st century technology to improve the provision of basic government services to its citizens. Obama would appoint the government’s first Chief Technology Officer, responsible for ensuring that government operations and the country’s infrastructure deliver on the potential of modern technology.
By contrast, McCain will continue the practice of the Bush Administration as one of the most secretive, closed, technologically backward administrations in American history where policy is made by lobbyists behind closed doors.
Protecting and Promoting the Interests of Families in a Digital Media World:
Obama understands the concerns of parents as the first generation of children grow up in the new digital media world. He will provide parents with tools to protect our children online while protecting 1st amendment rights. Obama will encourage the creation of Public Media 2.0, the next generation of public media that will create the Sesame Street of the Digital Age and other educational programming.
By contrast, McCain has admitted he is computer illiterate and has remained silent on digital media issues. He vehemently opposed and voted against the eRate program which brought broadband into America’s schools but then turned around and took credit for its passage. Without leadership from the White House, our children will grow increasingly vulnerable to online threats and the next generation of public purpose media will never exist.
Using Technology to Help Solve America’s Most Pressing Problems
Obama has set for a series of proposals that maximize the power of technology to help solve some of America’s most pressing problems including advancing energy independence, strengthening the quality and affordability of our health care and improving public education.
By contrast, McCain’s technology plan ignores these issues entirely.
