McCain Advisor Credits Candidate For Helping Create Blackberry

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: John McCain

In a comment reminiscent of Al Gore's 1999 statement that he "took the initiative in creating the Internet" during his time in Congress, John McCain economic advisor Douglas Holtz-Eakin this morning suggested that McCain deserves credit for helping create the handheld communications device known as the BlackBerry.

"He did this," Holtz-Eakin, holding up his BlackBerry, said to reporters after being asked what McCain did as Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee that led him to a better understanding of financial markets, Politico reports.

Added Holtz-Eakin: "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 and that's what he did."

McCain has admitted to limited knowledge of computers and email.

The Obama campaign has already seized on the comment. It sent the Politico report around to reporters this morning with the only this editorial comment: "um, what?"

UPDATE: Asked about the comment today, senior McCain aide Matt McDonald said the Republican nominee "laughed" when he heard what Holtz-Eakin had said.

"He would not claim to be the inventor of anything, much less the BlackBerry," said McDonald. "This was obviously a boneheaded joke by a staffer."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by hugochavez9 September 18, 2008 6:49 PM EDT: And the devil came here yesterday.

Yesterday, the devil came here. Right here. Right here. And it smells of sulfur still today, this table that I am now standing in front of.

Yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, from this rostrum, the president of the United States, the gentleman to whom I refer as the devil, came here, talking as if he owned the world. Truly. As the owner of the world.; Reply to this comment


by kansas1946 September 17, 2008 11:45 PM EDT: He did this," Holtz-Eakin, holding up his BlackBerry, said to reporters after being asked what McCain did as Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee that led him to a better understanding of financial markets, Politico reports.

Added Holtz-Eakin: "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 and that''s what he did."
********************************

LMAO. Priceless.; Reply to this comment


by actornaught September 17, 2008 5:45 PM EDT: Most neocons miss the point here. Those idiots made alot of idiot noises about the lie that Al Gore said he invented the internet. The story here is that it should be pointed out to those kneejerks that turnabout SHOULD be fair play, but they will instead b!tch about it being unfair.

Why do you think they''re call kneeJERKS...; Reply to this comment


by misha128-2009 September 17, 2008 4:39 PM EDT: No he just claims to have created jobs good for America but not for the US. Canada''s in America too you know.; Reply to this comment


by ofbyfor2 September 17, 2008 12:57 PM EDT: I am an independent and I will

definitely vote for the McCain

Sarah Palin ticket at least I

know what they stands for.

Posted by freemanswish at 09:54 AM : Sep 17, 2008

You should hope that they ''stands for'' adult education, because you are obviously in need of it.; Reply to this comment


by freemanswish September 17, 2008 12:54 PM EDT: Serioulsy, Obama is so slippery

and fikle, he just bad talks

McCain which Im sick of negatives,

Bush, he would blame anyone, very

negative vibe, and very stuck up

attitude this is not what we need.

I gave up and decided Hussein

Obama is like a farse, I dont need

to be cool and cosmopolitan.

I am an independent and I will

definitely vote for the McCain

Sarah Palin ticket at least I

know what they stands for.; Reply to this comment


by dnsallday September 17, 2008 12:42 PM EDT: With all the issues needing coverage, the media takes up space with this garbage. CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS ALL SUPPORTED BUSH AND "NOW" OBAMA. That should raise a giant red flag.

Posted by Bec67
**************************************** This is fairytale funny!
Then why have you all been screaming about the liberal media for the past 10 years??????????; Reply to this comment


by dj292009 September 17, 2008 12:16 PM EDT: With all the issues needing coverage, the media takes up space with this garbage. CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS ALL SUPPORTED BUSH AND "NOW" OBAMA. That should raise a giant red flag.

Thats funny I thought the media was supporting your dear old John McCain. You act like Obama is like Bush when really McCain is like Bush. Bush - Obama = Day and Night; Reply to this comment


by bec67 September 17, 2008 12:12 PM EDT: With all the issues needing coverage, the media takes up space with this garbage. CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS ALL SUPPORTED BUSH AND "NOW" OBAMA. That should raise a giant red flag.; Reply to this comment


by bec67 September 17, 2008 12:11 PM EDT: With all the issues needing coverage, the media takes up space with this garbage. CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS ALL SUPPORTED BUSH AND NOT OBAMA. That should raise a giant red flag.; Reply to this comment