Obama claims government scientists INVENTED the computer

In tonight’s Town Hall debate forum, our esteemed candidates spoke without the benefit of teleprompters.  I just about choked when Obama made the following gaffe speaking (originally) of investing in green technologies (at about 60 minutes into the debate):

• Here in the United States it can be the engine that drives us into the future the same way the computer was the engine for economic growth over the last couple of decades…
• We can do it but we’re going to have to make an investment…
• The same way the computer was originally invented by a bunch of government scientists who were trying to figure out for defense purposes how to communicate, we’ve got to understand that this is a national security as well

Wow!  Mind you, this is an excerpt… but very very carefully transcribed with the help of a DVR to review word for word.

How out of touch are BOTH of these candidates?  Who should get the glory for inventing the computer?  The NY Times themselves in 1983 said it was one or all of three University researchers as long ago as the 1930’s!  Of course McCain didn’t invent the Blackberry, but neither did Al Gore invent the Internet.  However, no one I know could *possibly* mix up the “Internet” with the “Computer”.

Universities do great work.  They invent great stuff.  But, it’s the private sector that brings these inventions to market.  Let us never forget that.

See other bloggers’ comments
about this gaffe here, here, and here