McCain Claims Surrogate Meg Whitman 'Founded' eBay; Actual Founder Is Obama Supporter Pierre Omidyar

John McCain continued his string of gaffes this morning by claiming that Meg Whitman, a national co-chair for his campaign and potential pick for Treasury Secretary, had "founded" eBay with five employees.

In fact, Whitman joined eBay as CEO in 1998, three years after it was founded by Pierre Omidyar, a Barack Obama supporter.

Omidyar endorsed Obama on his blog in May:

"Barack Obama is showing a mirror to America, and despite the bad stuff we see in our reflection, we see that we are fundamentally good and strong and proud, and we can overcome our challenges by working together, across all sorts of lines, be they partisan, racial, cultural, religious, or whatever.

That's something unique about Barack Obama's America -- our America -- and that's the America I want to live in. "

Whitman has been lauded for turning the then-30 employee eBay into a multi-billion dollar auction site during her ten years as CEO. She now sits on its board. Recently eBay took drastic measures to spur growth by firing ten percent of its workforce. Days later, McCain suggested Whitman as a potential pick for Treasury Secretary.

Comments

[xmw]

This smells like the "palin sold her plane and made a profit lie"

[KarateKid]

I didn't know Cabinet posts were up for auction. I looked on eBay but coudn't find the auction. Anyone know where i can place a bid? LMAO.

[BushBites]

I got Department of Energy!

[PineyWoods]

Bet Meg Whitman is happy to be in politics right about now ... on the wrong side of one of the worst beatings in American political history. Guess CEOs can't have it all ...

[BushBites]

Carly got out just in time.

[meede]

Don't think it was Carly's choice -- It was called "hoof in mouth"

[melvina1]

she got job now of pri vate fa ce sit ter for c i n d y

[jonjon66]

Does McCain either bother to tell the truth? Is the media scared of McCain?

[luvienne]

Why does Mccain copycat Obama? Then he can't even get his facts straight?

[DeeDeeDaGumby]

everything I have come to expect in McCain.

[BushBites]

Because he never had an original thought in his life.

And he never grasped all his borrowed thoughts.

[meede]

He is old and it's called lack of memory retension (I'm saying it in a kinder, gentler way!!)

[TheGuide]

What I found interesting about this is how he followed Obama's lead. I just saw this senario last week when Obama presented his powerhouse of economicists.

[NoblesseOblige]

Does JM ever check out the facts BEFORE he s.h.o.o.t.s. his mouth off? How can anyone believe ANYTHING he has to say?

[Sillypaws]

Shouldn't Meg Whitman have corrected the error?

[AmandaBC]

Few GOP supporters can use computers and even fewer would know who founded EBay...

[melvina1]

no. in republican land, to admit a mistake is to be committing treason.

[monicaangela]

Oh well, he got it wrong again. What else is new?

[stpetebeachguy]

McCain will never admit eBay was founded by Pierre Omidyar, an Iranian-Am­erican...o­r maybe he will to tie him to Obama.

[politicojunkie]

McCain lies about any and everything. Whitman has probably corrected him on this but he could care less. He thinks everyone is stupid except him. He is such a sorry candidate.

[DaBluAce]

She was back in the back nodding yes to his lie.....she believes she founded Ebay too...both bobble heads

[Patricia013]

When I started on Ebay Whitman was not on board yet. So, how could she have founded the company. We all look up to Pierre but we look down on Whitman. She was a money waster (throwing money into China and giving them free listings - buying Skype, etc.). All we know of Whitman is arrogance and higher and higher fees. We believe she is also behind Donahoe's plan that is currently destroying Ebay as we know it. Driving small sellers off the site and ushering in big box stores to sell retail! I hear Whitman may run for governor of California. All I can say is...Meg...please, please don't! California is in enough hot water as it is! Have mercy for once - be content to count the billions you made on the backs of those same small sellers Donahoe is driving off!!!

[terkid]

Or rather, to be more accurate, Mr. McCain...

E-Bay found Meg Whitman.

Can you get NOTHING straight?

[monicaangela]

To their detriment I might add.

[Belisarius]

You are exactly right. Omidyar saw his company taking off and went to a VC, not for financing, but because they could locate and recruit a first class CEO. Omidyar, unlike most founders, knew his own strengths and weaknesses.

Meg did OK until she bought Skype, but Omidyar had the vision and the initial tech know how.

[AeschyDan]

strange propensity for lady CEOs, remember Carly Fiorina? notwithstanding, of course, the lady who may just become the country's CEO.

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

yeah....he really know how to pick 'em....just your average hockey-mom-joe six-pack N@zi CEOs