Taking the Measure

Should presidential candidates be computer-literate? I addressed this topic earlier in a response to a Wall Street Journal column on the subject. A commenter to that earlier post, DaveW, noted that the Internet is the new media, just as TV was the (relatively) new media during the Kennedy-Nixon campaign of 1960. DaveW alludes to the fact that Kennedy was able to exploit TV for political purposes without being an electrical engineer.

Certainly, the Internet is a medium that any serious campaign must master. (Obama's campaign may have the edge, here—Obama promises to announce his VP pick by e-mail or text message as a way to obtain contact information that could be used later in the campaign to mobilize voters. The German version of Technology Review says Obama may not be the new Kennedy but might well be “Kennedy 2.0.”) But as it comes to the candidate himself, I don’t much care whether he uses a computer or even knows how to.

When it comes to tech savvy, I want a president who has succinctly and correctly answered the 14 questions posed by Science Debate 2008. Out of those fourteen, here are my favorites:

• What policies will you support to ensure that America remains the world leader in innovation?
• What policies would you support to meet demand for energy while ensuring an economically and environmentally sustainable future?
• What role do you think the federal government should play in preparing K–12 students for the science and technology driven 21st century?
• What is your view of how science and technology can best be used to ensure national security?
• The study of Earth from space can yield important information about climate change…. How would you prioritize space in your administration?
• Is it acceptable for elected officials to hold back or alter scientific reports if they conflict with their own views, and how will you balance scientific information with politics and personal beliefs in your decision making?
• What priority would you give to investment in basic research in upcoming budgets?

As far as I’m concerned, the candidates can post their answers on the Web or carve them in stone tablets. It’s the content—not the medium—that counts.