From the
Daily Howler:
THE HOTLINE (3/12/99):
GORE: GOP GUFFAWS OVER HIS CLAIM HE CREATED INTERNET
In an interview shown on CNN 3/9, Gore was asked about his vision and his experience and he mentioned that while he served in Congress, "I took the initiative in creating the Internet." Rep. Mark Foley: "The vice president is mistaken. The only thing he has ever invented is another tax. He did not invent the Internet but he sure did tax it." (Reuters, 3/12).
The bit about Foley and Gore comes near the end of today's
Howler:
Just who was the very first person to paraphrase Gore in this fashion?
Answer? Omigod! Mark Foley! Here's the start of the Hotline's report about the first day of the flap:
THE HOTLINE (3/12/99):
GORE: GOP GUFFAWS OVER HIS CLAIM HE CREATED INTERNET
House GOPers 3/11 "gleefully pounced on" VP Gore's televised remark that he had taken "the initiative in creating the Internet." Dick Armey: "If the vice president created the Internet, then I created the Interstate highway system. When historians write about the Internet, I don't think they'll put the vice president in the same category as Thomas Edison." In an interview shown on CNN 3/9, Gore was asked about his vision and his experience and he mentioned that while he served in Congress, "I took the initiative in creating the Internet." Rep. Mark Foley: "The vice president is mistaken. The only thing he has ever invented is another tax. He did not invent the Internet but he sure did tax it." (Reuters, 3/12).
Within days, "invented the Internet" was the phrasing of choice as the War Against Gore started fast.
Oh, the irony. POETIC justice, man, it's real. Who knew that God, she has such a sense of humor?
I find Bob Somerby a bit shrill and nitpicky sometimes, but he's an invaluable source when it comes to how awful our press performs. He takes the position that we should never repeat the Gore/internet meme, but I say take ownership of it.
See my earlier diary/quiz on the subject.
Who built Hadrian's wall?
Hadrian(trick question, I know)
Who built the autobahns?
Hitler
Who built the Panama Canal?
Teddy Roosevelt
Who built the Hoover Dam and the TVA?
FDR
Who got us to the moon?
JFK
Who built the interstates?
Eisenhower
Who built the internet?