Obama misspeaks on computer inventor

The big O can't help himself...he's pathological...it's just most of the time he hides it pretty well.

You're right that Obama misspoke here, but the context of his comment made clear that he was talking about the Internet (just like Al Gore), not the computer. The precursor of the Internet was the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a branch of the Department of Defense, charged with developing a computer network that could still be used to communicate in the event of a nuclear attack. See for yourself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darpa. In this sense, Obama was absolutely correct that "the government" invented the Internet.

Times, Good catch, I beat you all to it by about 15 minutes. See my post on the computer gaffe, biggest of the debate. http://centristnetblog.com/daily-news/obama-debate-gaffe-the-us-government-invented-the-computer/ I also posted it on the Daily Kos to drive debate. 100+ comments so far. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/7/234156/070/952/623496

There's an argument that the first electronic computer (albeit single-purpose) was the Colossus built to decipher German codes during WW II. In that case Obama would be right.

And this matters how?? Obama outshined McCain on details & realistic ideas, he actually answered questions. What is the problem with the new projector at a planetarium? This is what we call education (and science!). McCain is passe' Dave

I bet Iowa State University tried to pressure John Atanasoff and graduate student Clifford Berry into programming liberal dogma into that first computer to try to brainwash everyone who used it afterwards. That's what they do now at most universities. In fact, if it was going on today, and the two tried to put anything traditional in there,the univerisity would fire them and stuff liberal bias into it.

OMG! This is the deal breaker! I can not vote for anyone who got this wrong! LOL This is so nothing. Why is this even here?

Politician's mistakes about who invented technology are most annoying to the actual inventors, if they are still alive. But the patent records and the commercial history tell the real story if anybody is interested. The danger lies in misguided government policies that arise from erroneous understanding of technology by politicians. George H.W. Bush was made to suffer for his lack of understanding of the supermarket check-out scanner, but that only hurt him. The serious errors occur when politicians elevate unproven and, unprovable hypothesis to the status of a proven theory which is used to alter the way people live. Man made global warming is one of them. By using it to constrain the way people get and use energy, politicians have added unproductive cost and complexity to the solution of our very serious energy shortage problems.

Misspeaks or makes a mistake? Another editorial striving to be politically correct; obviously this editor doesn't want to upset Obamaites. Obama made an error. He was wrong. So? In our ever-forgiving America that mistake amounts to absolutely nothing. Obama will become president and make a lot more terrible mistakes and many will go unnoticed because he is a demigod! His demeanor alone wins him votes. Merely projection "coolness" wins Obama votes so error, mistake? So what. This is the world of America today. Barney Frank can play a crucial role in managing finances for our country, but he is nearly invisible today.

No, my friend, you must think (likely believe) that the mistake Obama made is right. Right! The article and the topic is Obama mispoke, and that's what I'm talking about. Save the republican errors for other fora. Besides, you are among those enamored with the guru. We all know you "believe" (maybe think too) Obama is infallible, likened to Christ Himself.

The debate last night was not OK specially when it comes to the questions asked by Tom Brokaw, he picked basically the same questions that had been picked before by the last two moninators. I guess because the libs. dont want to put Obama on the spot to answer hard and important questions like: abortion, judges,character,accomplishments and so on. Last night's debate it was like playing a re-run of the last two debates. I do not know why MacCain does not confront Obama with all these things, last night he went for it ( a little bit) but he did not follow thru when he talked about Fredie and Fannie, he left Obama off the hook, what about when Obama spoke about 9/11, MacCain should have come out swinging in two ways, first by attacking back regarding the observation that Obama made about President Bush saying " people should go out shopping" I live in NY and that was the best thing a leader could say to us to bring up the spirits and assure people in the USA that these toughs were not going to win and makes us feel affraid to continue with our daily lifes,any morron know that much. Second MacCain should have come back and raise the issue of Obama questionable friendships and associations with radicals and terrorists.Obama gave him the perfect opportunity but MacCain did not take it, I guess Sen. MacCain does not have it him to get down and dirty. We are at the TWO MINUTE WARNING here.

SDindependent, You seem obsessed with Bush, to the point of hyperventilation. I suggest that you take a few deep breaths. Remember, in through your nose, out through you mouth. Ognid, The first true computer was the Zuse Z3, created by Germany in 1941. Although it was electro-mechanical in nature, it could be programmed by the use of punched film stock. The first all-electronic computer was the Atanasoff–Berry Computer, developed, again, in 1941, although it was truly single-purpose as it could not be programed.

truthspeaker1: Of course. You may choose to conclude that the computer was invented in a laboratory, but I choose to conclude that the concept of the computer originates with the abacus and most significantly improved in Germany with their giant clocks made of wood, somthing we can go on about, eh?

This is a none-issue. It should never have made any paper, much less the Times. The real issues are the Communist Organizer's lack of credentials to lead our nation.

Obama's greatest gaffe was not about who invented the computer (the inventor of the abacus would argue you are all wrong since Obama did not say "electronic" or "electro-mechanical"). His greatest gaffe was in regard to the finanicial crisis where he keeps claiming Republicans are at fault for supporting deregulation when we all know that Republicans, and McCain in particular have been calling for regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for years only to be blocked by Senate Democrats living "high off the hog" from campaign contributions and special "VIP" loan rates they get for blocking the legislation. Obama "wrote a letter". That is his sole accomplishment in the Senate when it comes to the Fannie and Freddie Fiasco? Perhaps that is as close to voting "Present" as he could get. Meanwhile Republicans wrote legislation to regulate Fannie and Freddie, of which McCain was a co-sponsor. That is what a serious senator does when concerned about an issue. Legislation, not a letter is what we needed to prevent the crisis. Year after year Democrats blocked the legislation (yes as Reid now laments it takes a 60 vote majority to get meaningful legislation pass the Senate). I have searched but I cannot find any Obama floor speech supporting the legislation nor was he a co-sponsor. Apparently he was too busy running for president and/or counting his donations from Fannie and Freddie to give the issue serious thought.