Comments on: McCain Adviser Says John McCain Invented The Blackberry

By: PD100

PD100 — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:14:33 +0000

“Hedley? I for one would gladly visit and tell you why this non-story is just another right-wing red herring intended to distract attention from the ghastly spectacle of the McCain/Palin campaign going Hindenburg.

That’s mighty offensive to gas filled antiquities.

No, wait…

By: Sean D. Martin

Sean D. Martin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:02:03 +0000

CSS: Al Gore was actively involved in the creation of the internet. … McCain did nothing of the sort with the Blackberry

Fair enough. (And succinctly and non-insultingly said. Tip o’ the Hat to CSS.)

By: C.S.Strowbridge

C.S.Strowbridge — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:06:32 +0000

“All those with their hand raised, bothered at all by the idea McCain should be criticized for making essentially the same claim Gore did?”

Al Gore was actively involved in the creation of the internet. He recognized its potential and helped move government resources to support it. The person widely recognized as ‘inventing the internet’ agrees that without Al Gore, there likely would not have been an internet.

McCain did nothing of the sort with the Blackberry, which was invented in another country and he had zero to do with it.

See the difference?

Just in case you don’t.

In the first case a person said something factual, and people lied about what they said.

In the second case, a person lied in a clear manner.

By: Wilbur

Wilbur — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:05:13 +0000

Not true. If the story isn’t true, and I hope it is not, I would think it would have been raised here.

Why don’t you start your own blog and raise it there, Hedley? I for one would gladly visit and tell you why this non-story is just another right-wing red herring intended to distract attention from the ghastly spectacle of the McCain/Palin campaign going Hindenburg.

By: Sean D. Martin

Sean D. Martin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:05:47 +0000

Gore: “During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet. I took the initiative in moving forward a whole range of initiatives that have proven to be important to our country’s economic growth and environmental protection, improvements in our educational system.”
And the misconception spread that Gore claimed he’d invented the Internet and he was widely criticized for the claim he never made. Everyone here who was bothered by that, raise your hand.

McCain aide: “Telecommunications of the United States is a premier innovation in the past 15 years, comes right through the Commerce Committee. So you’re looking at the miracle John McCain helped create”

All those with their hand raised, bothered at all by the idea McCain should be criticized for making essentially the same claim Gore did?

By: Quaker in a Basement

Quaker in a Basement — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:53:09 +0000

If the story isn’t true, and I hope it is not, I would think it would have been raised here.

So far, I think the story has been reported in just one mainstream outlet–the NY Post. I saw it mentioned at TPM, but other than that, it hasn’t really made it to the left side of the blogosphere yet. Be patient.

To me, what Obama may or may not have done in regard to the troops coming home is just slightly more important than whether or not John McCain can send an email. Apparently not everyone agrees.

Really? Who doesn’t agree? I don’t think anyone has said the email story is more important. Writing about one doesn’t preclude writing about the other. Like I said, watch and wait. If the Taheri column gains any traction, you’ll see it–and Taheri’s earlier fabrications–discussed plenty.

By: Hedley

Hedley — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:46:22 +0000

What you’re wishing for, Hedley, isn’t “addressing” the story. You just want it spread around, true or not.

Not true. If the story isn’t true, and I hope it is not, I would think it would have been raised here. To me, what Obama may or may not have done in regard to the troops coming home is just slightly more important than whether or not John McCain can send an email. Apparently not everyone agrees.

By: Quaker in a Basement

Quaker in a Basement — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:29:57 +0000

while the story about Obama possibly trying to make backdoor deals to delay the return of troops from Iraq isn’t addressed.

Brought to you by the same “journalist” who reported that Jews in Iran are being forced to wear markings on their clothes to identify them.

What you’re wishing for, Hedly, isn’t “addressing” the story. You just want it spread around, true or not.

By: Hedley

Hedley — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:11:42 +0000

As stupid a comment as this was by a McCain staffer, what is more impressive is the speed in which this story can be posted while the story about Obama possibly trying to make backdoor deals to delay the return of troops from Iraq isn’t addressed.

By: J. Goldberg

J. Goldberg — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:58:53 +0000

What’s even more impressive is that McCain can’t even use a Blackberry, you know, because he was brutally tortured, physically, mentally, and emotionally, for nearly six years in Vietnam, so many years ago.

By: riffle

riffle — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:25:01 +0000

This story should never be mentioned without noting that the company that makes the Blackberry is a Canadian company, RIM.

So even his ludicrous boasts about job-creating “miracles” involve jobs for people who don’t live in America.

By: midderpidge

midderpidge — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:08:48 +0000

It’s also nice to know that the knowledge of the financial markets that John McCain’s vast experience has brought him in this time of crisis is based on his somehow inventing a device he doesn’t know how to use.

By: mambochicken23

mambochicken23 — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:59:27 +0000

Sounds an awful lot like Al Gore inventing the internet. I hope it works out just as well for McCain as it did for Gore.