Reply #41: In the world of politics he was in fact the primary champion

[Uncle Joe]

of what we know today as the Internet, this can't be denied. No other political leader that I'm aware of has been awarded a Webbie, Al Gore was the first one and I can't imagine they gave it to him for kicks.

My definition of the word championing or champion used in a political context only means that as an elected official, he or she was the primary driving force or advocate on behalf of a given issue or technology. It has no bearing on the actual inventors of said technology or private advocates of a given policy.

My definition of the Internet is an information web available to all the people, not just the Defense Dept. or a few universities. I suppose one could even argue that with out Alexander Graham Bell or Thomas Edison, or people like them, we wouldn't have an Internet. We all stand on the shoulders of our predecessors, just as Charles Lindberg couldn't have done a solo flight across the Atlantic with out the contributions from previous pioneers of aviation such as the Wright Brothers. I imagine the Internet will continue to evolve as well, but this doesn't change Al Gore's political contributions or his vision to this ongoing endeavor.

Your approach reminds me of the Republican inspired talking points the corporate media used after the Blitzer interview, of course as most Junior High students would know, Al was speaking of his political accomplishments, this was after all a job interview for the Presidency. I was astounded at how many supposedly well educated journalists couldn't tell the difference between political actions and technological ones.

That was a case of systemic slander by our fourth estate guardian watch dogs for democracy against Al Gore and by extension against the American People, and the only motivation I can think of for such an act of national betrayal, was in fact their growing fear of the Internet and the loss of power, money and influence to their own personal fortunes. After decades of reading news papers, listening to radio or watching television as the sole sources of information all of which are controlled by a just a few people, with minimal feedback or input from the American People as a whole, I view the Internet as a true gift. I also believe we've only scratched the surface of the Internet's capabilities and contributions.