Fighting Smears Begins at Home, Mr. Gore

Sadly, Al Gore played right into the hands of his detractors while at Netroots Nation this weekend. When he surprised the gathering during a session with Nancy Pelosi, the speaker filled in the crowd on who their guest was, in case they had perhaps been residing under a rock since the early-90s. "Without him," Pelosi said of Gore, "there would be no Netroots Nation." A straight read could be that Pelosi's remark was reference to his leadership on high-tech while in the Senate and White House. But it seemed to hit too close to a sore spot for Gore: the idea that he had once claimed to have created the Internet. He responded with a laugh: "I think I'll refrain from saying that."

Gore has had fun with the topic in the past. In his 2000 campaign he joked, "Remember America, I gave you the Internet and I can take it away." For Gore, such demurring is a matter of political (and who knows -- perhaps emotional) survival. The reaction to An Inconvenient Truth was as much "wow, Al Gore functions like an actual human being!" as it was "oh my gosh the ice caps are melting and we're all gonna die before lunch." He clearly benefits from seeming recognizably more human. How'd we get here? In her masterful look in Vanity Fair at how the Al Gore of the late 90s and early 2000s was largely a media creation, Evgenia Peretz pins it down:

On March 9, 1999, CNN's Wolf Blitzer conducted an interview with Gore shortly before he officially announced his candidacy. In answer to a question about why Democrats should support him, Gore spoke about his record. "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative"—politico-speak for leadership—"in creating the Internet," he said, before going on to describe other accomplishments.

The press could hardly contain their glee. Lou Dobbs called it "a case study … in delusions of grandeur" -- which is as textbook a case of the pot calling the kettle black as has ever been recorded. Despite never having used the word "invent," quotes were wrapped around the word in media accounts. The idea was spun into a bigger picture, a stand-in for what we all -- supporters and otherwise -- knew to be true. Al Gore stretched the truth when it served his purposes. Al Gore was a creature of the Beltway with an elevated sense of self. Al Gore seemed to live in a universe different than the one the rest of us were inhabiting. Get a load of this guy! He thinks he made the Internet.

Oh, and we the public bought it hook, line, and sinker. The only problem is, Gore hadn't said anything all that far-fetched. As a Senator in the '90s, Gore did take the lead congressional role in creating the Internet. As Peretz notes, Newt Gingrich himself said that "Gore is the person who, in the Congress, most systematically worked to make sure that we got to an Internet." His 1991 High-Performance Computing Act -- aka, the Gore Bill -- provided the federal funding for developing the "information superhighway" -- a term he popularized. And the so-called "Father of the Internet" Vint Cerf said that Gore "has played a powerful role in policy terms that has supported its continued growth and application, for which we should be thankful."

Perhaps Gore was a little sloppy tongued in his conversation with Blitzer. But his word choice pales in importance to the fact that he spent a big chunk of his time in DC helping to build a global network.

But now Gore is turning his back on that legacy, a record he should, in a sane world, be proud of. We buy into the media's myth-making at our own peril. We'd all benefit from leaders who reject the tactic. We've seen signs from Barack Obama and, a bit belatedly, no doubt, John Kerry that they've learned that lesson. But Al Gore, candidate for nothing, needs to be willing to get up on stage and say, "You know what? Damn right. The Internet? All me." We all must remain ever vigilant against getting spun by the press, by pundits, by politicians. Al Gore should by all rights be leading that effort -- if he can fit it into his busy schedule of single-handedly saving the world.

Comments

[ljmck]

There can be no doubt about Gore's importance to the Net. But he is a political realist, and politics demands that you not allow one comment to nullify another. That election is over. Al Gore is correctly, and with honor and courage, choosing to let the past be past in favor of focusing on global warming.

Having said that, it's great when Nancy Pelosi and bloggers here and elsewhere tell the truth. Let us shout it in the public square, but let us not demand that Gore do so.

[RRK70]

Agree completely. Also interesting to note that McCain seems to be claiming that "the Surge" was HIS idea, yet as usual, the media is giving McCain a pass.

[richardgordon]

This is a very good piece. This is why the Huffington Post is such an important tool for uncovering the truth behind the lies and inuendo put out there. It gets beyond the bullshit. Its impossible to make people to believe reality. They have to do that for themselves. But its important for the media to have pockets of integrity were the truth is laid bare. The New York Times is one source, the Huffington Post is another. I was watching Adrianna Huffington on "Hard Talk" a BBC saying that even though she was supporting Obama now, if the time ever came to put Obama's "feet to the fire" the Huffington Post would be there to do so. I felt like applauding. This is what good journalism is about. I.E. not falling in love with your subject to the point where you lose all objectivity.

[Sumocat]

Right on. Gore took the wrong approach to the spin, joking about it instead of standing up and saying, "It's called the 'Gore Bill', morons!" Okay, maybe not in those exact words, but the bill that led to the Internet is named after him. He did in fact take the initiative in getting it done.

[BillZBubb]

I totally agree. Gore let the liars of the right wing convince the shee-ple that he claimed to have "invented the Internet". He should have responded with the facts. Still, Gore was not alone in that. Too many on our side didn't attack those who made that absurd smear. Too many on our side didn't know the facts of Gore's work in congress from ARPA, DARPA and the Gore Bill. Too many let the smarmy corporate media rats play out the caricature.

[Synergy6]

"You know what? Damn right. The Internet? All me."

The slight problem with this is... he didn't. There's a pretty good reason why we put "Father of the Internet" before Vint Cerf and not Mr. Gore. He helped somewhat, but to say he took the initiative in creating it, (as opposed to the much smaller "initiative in Congress") is simply wrong.

[BillZBubb]

Sorry, without the funding of the US government, there would have been no Internet. I repeat: NO US FUNDING, NO INTERNET. Gore was a (maybe THE) leader in congress getting adequate funding passed and making sure it transitioned from a Defense Department network to a civilian entity.

Gore never claimed, and no one with an ounce of brain power would believe he claimed, technical contributions to the Internet. But, when dealing with people who deny Gore's key role, we aren't dealing with people with a whole lot of brain power.

[Michale32086]

So, you are saying that Hillary Clinton "invented" the Iraq War??

Michale.....

[texanna]

Without Mr. Gore's efforts in the Senate the www would not have developed as it did when it did. It would have continued to be the pervue of science and the military for who knows how much longer. Mr. Gore never claimed to have invented the information highway. He only claimed to have paved the on ramp to that highway for the rest of us! As to why he doesn't stand up to the media regarding their failed attempt to paint him as a delusional, tragically comedic figure - I think he recognizes that there are more important fish to fry at this point than correcting the false impressions created by the corporatist media. That and living well is the best revenge -- can you say Nobel Peace Prize and Oscar?

[BeeOplentee]

He put his foot in his mouth and is paying for it-- still.