As GOP Likened Al Gore To The Internet, McCain Links Himself To Cell Phones And Wi-Fi

Eight years ago the GOP successfully used an out of context comment to insinuate that Al Gore said he invented the Internet. Thanks to a hapless traditional media with almost no one to correct that falsehood at the time, people believed it and contributed in some form to declining popularity throughout the election season.

Now here we are in 2008, and Barack Obama is far too smart to fall into that trap. Yet McCain is apparently dumb enough to set some vicious snares for himself. After delaying his response to questions for the Science Debate 2008, his answers were.....well, you've got to see this.

Devilstower over at DailyKos sums up the good parts for us too:

Take this reply to a question about maintaining America's lead in innovation.

I am uniquely qualified to lead our nation during this technological revolution. While in the Navy, I depended upon the technologies and information provided by our nation’s scientists and engineers with during each mission.

Let's stop there for a second. Here John McCain insists he's uniquely qualified to discuss technology because... he used some. Forty years ago. This is the same kind of high standard by which he assured us that Sarah Palin knew more about energy than anyone else in America, and Phil Gramm was one of the smartest people in the world on the economy. At least he didn't claim any MacGyverite tech affinities developed in Hanoi.

Okay, let's continue.

I am the former chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The Committee plays a major role in the development of technology policy, specifically any legislation affecting communications services, the Internet, cable television and other technologies. Under my guiding hand, Congress developed a wireless spectrum policy that spurred the rapid rise of mobile phones and Wi-Fi technology that enables Americans to surf the web while sitting at a coffee shop, airport lounge, or public park.

And, stop. There you have it, people. John McCain not only invented cell phones, he tossed in wifi as an afterthought.

Of course none of McCain's responses are grounded in any sort of truth. As Devilstower and the Senate's record clearly shows, McCain was on the wrong side of the legislation that helped to foster the technology that scientists helped to create. Now that John needs something to show that he is pro-science (hint: mentioning Sarah Palin is not a good idea) he does what his campaing is all about, making stuff up.

Oh and not content with the amount of bullshit that John spewed on the questionaire, one of his top aides mentioned that McCain also invented the Blackberry. I wonder what the Canadian company RIM thinks about that?