This is the original page.
For the current page, click on: hailalgoretoday.htmIn gratitude to the Internet's "most determined congressional
advocate" *for a marvelous development from which so much
good has come, details here>>interent.html Nader not to blame
Hail Al Gore!to page history don't despair
It is a human interest story & a national scandal Hard Lesson Ahead
hailmaryshelley.com takes great pleasure in presenting /hailalgore.htm
which provides an opportunity to anyone who would like to express
thanks for the vision and determination that was necessary to create
the Internet.
If you have found the world wide web to be a benefit to your life or
business and want to know more about what it took to bring it into
being and want to say thank you to Al Gore or anyone else who
helped, we welcome your e-mail. We will include your thanks
and comments here. e-mail to: hailmaryshelley@yahoo.comIf you would like to be anonymous, that is fine.
It took Acts of Congress to develop the Internet.
In Congress Al Gore was the most determined advocate for the Internet
The benefits Al Gore described and worked for are now evident everywhere.
How can it be an exaggeration to say he deserves credit for taking the
initiative in creating the Internet? overview of Gore's workIf you would like to learn more about Al Gore's vision and
determination here is a link to a great page. interent.htmlIf you have links that you would like to share with others, e-mail
them to hailmaryshelley@yahoo.comAn anonymous visitor e-mailed us mid December '02 to say:
"For months prior to the Nov. '00 election, I also tried to get media
and the Gore campaign to straighten out the "invented the 'Net" and
other lies---also with NO luck."
Links recommended by visitorsTo expressions of thanks To tough questions Gore hides from past
Every day for months I have heard someone say that Al Gore
claimed to have "invented the internet". I have yet, however, to find
anyone who heard Al Gore say that. So who invented the fiction
that Al Gore claimed to have invented the Internet? It is obvious
that whoever distorted what Al Gore actually said wanted to
obscure or diminish as much as possible the remarkable
contribution to the world. I first heard the misrepresentation of
what of Gore said on a nationally broadcast radio program hosted
by Michael Medved, who sneered at a mocked Gore for, as <<<note on
Medved would have us believe, so desperately trying to take this here
credit he was not due. I would like to use the Internet to track down
the originator of the misrepresentation of Gore's statement. So far
I have found the May 5th quote in the NY Daily News to be the
earliest. George W. Bush: "He's the man who said he invented the
Internet." You can find it here: interent.htmlUse any e-mail link to Tom on this page to let me know when
you heard that Al Gore had claimed to have invented the internet
and who said or wrote it.A brief hsitory will explain why I created this page: Monday, October 30
I was listening to a radio program that challenged listeners to give a reason for
voting for Al Gore for President. Curious to know what reasons would be
offered in answer to the challenge, I listened for what seemed a long time.
No reply to the challenge came so I called.
I said to the show's producer, "I like the Internet. Al Gore took the
initiative in creating the Internet." He asked me to turn my radio down and
wait my turn, which I did, listening to the show on the phone. I heard the
caller ahead of me jeeringly say that Al Gore said that he invented the
Internet and I heard the show's host agree with the caller that Gore lies
and has no credibility. When it was my turn, I began by saying that Al Gore
did not invent the Internet, but that he had taken the initiative that led to its
existence. To support this I pointed out that major figures in the high tech
field, such as Marc Andreeson, credited Al Gore with having led the
effort that brought about the Internet. The show's host said that I was being
condescending and did not allow me to provide further evidence in
support of my assertion that Gore had a remarkable record of
accomplishment with the Internet, recognized by people who were
in positions to know best about that. I don't know what the show's
host said after abruptly breaking the phone connection. I would have
turned the radio on, but the manner in which the host had cut me off
indicated that his invitation to call had not been truly extended to
everyone. Because I had evidence to support my view, I was
to be excluded. I e-mailed the show's to let him know that I thought
I had been disinvited. Later that day, a letter from Barbara Bush
came in the mail, which included this: "When George W. tells you
something, you can believe him." At the same time I was reading
Barbara Bush's letter, I heard George W. Bush on television again
saying that Al Gore said he invented the Internet, and declaring that
this was proof that Al Gore could not be trusted.
In the exchange of e-mails that followed mine to the show's host, it is
clear that the host either was ignorant of the facts or chose not to
admit them. For example, the host wrote: "Yes, he voted in support of
funding, but then again so did many others." and "You make it sound
as if he came up with the concept and passed it through all by himself."Since the fairness doctrine has been done away with, radio has
dumbed down the listening public. Many people, because they never
heard the other side and month after month heard misrepresentation
repeated, have been grossly misled about matters that affect some of
the most important things in their lives. This does not merely affect
those who listen to programs like the one I had called. I have heard
people who are interested and active in human events repeat the
falsehood that I am attempting to expose here.
Thanks to Al Gore's effort, spanning years during which
few comprehended the truth of his message, I have the ability to
share my concern about fairness with you and you have the same.
Tom Wolfsehr
Thanks: & log of efforts and help with those efforts
November 1, 2000 - 4:37 A.M. add to thanks count with two clicks
Thank you, Al Gore. I am astonished. What a great thing it is to receive
e-mail from people who visit www.hailmaryshelley.com from all over the
planet. What a pleasure it is to hear from others, like Mario Marcel Salas!
How would I have known about his terrific book without the internet you
envisioned? I wouldn't. But because you saw what was possible, I was able
to put my thoughts about Mary Shelley's work at Mario's finger tips. He was
able to let me know about his work because you saw the benefits of just this
kind of "information superhighway". Link to Mario's links at this site
Al Gore, when I read what you wrote in 1990 about what the internet could
do well before many in government and even in the tech world understood
the enormous benefits, I am astonished. It is good to be able to look back
and see such vision. Few know that a bill you proposed to create the internet
was threatened with a veto by President George Bush. I am glad to be able
to put a link here to a site where people can see your continued effort in the
face of doubt and disinterest. Whether or not you are ever President of the
United States, you have the demonstrated vision and determined and effective
leadership to the benefit of all that I would like to see in every elected office
holder.
Al Gore, Mary Shelley's vision and effort, like yours, is yet to be fully appreciated.
As one who wishes to promote ideas that make human existence more perfect.
I will say to all those that benefit from the internet, Hail Al Gore.
Tom Wolfsehr
P.S. I would like Al Gore to have a copy of Mario Marcel Salas' sequel to
Frankenstein, a book I was only able to know of because Al Gore was able
to envision people like Mario Salas and me communicating our shared interest
in Mary Shelley with each other with ease.November 1, 2000 - 10:13 P.M.
"Ebay.com has been a big help to me," says K, who is a Harry Brown
supporter. K. would like to add her appreciation for the fine effort.November 2, 2000 - 1:13 P.M.
I e-mailed Mario Salas, asking him if he would present a copy of
his book to Al Gore in San Antonio, as a gift from me to thank him
for the many benefits that come with the information superhighway
he surveyed. A few hours earlier I had been talking with a friend
about how wrong I thought it was that no credit was being given to
Al Gore for an effort that had provided so many with so much.
She thought I should pursue this by contacting the Gore campaign.
Dan, the person I spoke with, was unaware several facts that best
illustrate Al Gore's determination and advocacy in getting Congress
to pass Internet building legislation and getting the President to sign
it. This convinced me more than ever that something needed to be
done. I told Dan that not only did I think voters should be informed
for Gore's sake, but for Bush's as well. He agreed that, Bush might
be disappointed, if he won the office of President, but before being
inaugerated lost esteem as people increasingly became aware of the
connection between benefits of the Internet and Al Gore.November 2, 2000 - 2:44 P.M.
Received autoresponder e-mail from White_House.GOV
informing me that my e-mail to the Vice President had been received.
In my e-mail I had outlined my effort to publicly express my thanks
to him for his work and that Mario Salas of San Antonio had a
book I wished him to present to Al Gore on my behalf.November 2, 2000 - 10:54 P.M.
Mario Salas e-mailed me to say that he would be glad to make the
presentation, if such a thing were possible.November 3, 2000 - 7:01 A.M.
e-mailed radio host, Dave Ross, asking why Internet is not
an issue?November 3, 2000 - 4:27 P.M.
I e-mailed Maria Cantwell outlining my project and asking her to
help let Al Gore know that Mario Salas would be glad to present
my gift and thanks in San Antonio. The friend who had urged
me to contact the Gore campaign, worried that the idea would
not ago any where in the hectic last hours leading up to the
election. I have kept trying to convey my idea to Al Gore, but
worry that it was Carlos Santana that I should have been trying to
reach yesterday.November 4, 2000 - 6:45 A.M.
Following a suggestion offered by Birch, I launch a page to
take this in another direction. There has been no response
from the Gore people regarding recognition of his role in
developing the Internet. So the story is that he is hiding
from his past. That seems to be the only kind of story that
suddenly gets out and everywhere. partiescorrupt.htm#tough questionsNovember 4, 2000 - : P.M.
e-mailed Gore 2000 after having received no response to message
left for Dan that the San Antonio city council person and author
was willing to help recognize Gore's contribution leading to Internet.November 5, 2000 - 12:40 P.M.
attempted to e-mail all the other 49 Gore 2000 headquarters by
substituting the state name for Washington in the e-address, shortly
thereafter receiving a failure notice "user unknown".November 5, 2000 - 5:05 A.M.
sent Palm Springs democrat official e-mail "help Gore get
recognition for his recordNovember 5, 2000 - 1:20 P.M.
sent link to web letter to Gore to Palm Springs democrat officialNovember 6, 2000 - 6:48 to 6:59 A.M.
put up story (news.htm) and submitted to news tips e-mail of
each of the three commercial tv stations in Seattle. Later check
showed no traffic to the page after 9 a. m.November 7, 2000 - 7:17 A.M.
Voted. Interviewed briefly on exiting polling place by a
woman with NBC.November 8, 2000 - 4:05 A.M. (Florida time)
vote count in Florida 2, 906, 997 Bush
- 2, 904, 519 Gore
2, 478
November 8, 2000 - 5:27 A.M. (Florida time)
vote count in Florida 2, 907, 600 Bush
- 2, 905, 712 Gore
1, 888
November 8, 2000 - 5:59 A.M. (Florida time)
vote count in Florida 2, 909, 199 Bush
- 2, 907, 544 Gore
1, 655November 10, 2000 - 6:05 A.M.
added links to information & thanks page from informal student
help page as well as this page. The idea came as I was writing an
answer to a question I had received from a student the night before.
In the e-mail I had added a comment that expressed my pleasure at
being able to share my work and information with others so easily
and credited Al Gore for his great effort.November 11, 2000 - 7:09 A.M.
E-mailed Filia Rationis (author of site that provided so much
information that had been helpful) In less than an hour a reply
came. My idea is to see if other site proprietors such as myself
would include information and means of registering thanks.Many people are saying that Raph Nader's campaign is responsible
for Gore's loss to Bush. Consider this: If Gore had campaigned on his
record as one who had most sytematically worked in Congress to make
sure that we got to an Internet, which is exactly what Newt Gingrich
said September 4, 2000, surely one or two out of each thousand of those
who voted for Bush in Florida would have voted for Gore instead. Thus,
by informing voters of the benefits of his vision, determination, and
ability, Gore could have won the election. Nader's 20 thousand plus
votes were not the cause of Gore's loss. Gore's failure to make known
his accomplishments were the cause. Would voters have voted for Bush,
if they realized that he had for four months been eagerly discrediting a
leader of a bipartisan effort in Congress that had resulted in a great
many benefits to the American people? Gingrich's "in all fairness"
statement of September 4 points to the very real possibility that a
President, so willing to discredit excellent work of Congress for his
own gain, might have difficulty working with Congress.It is a principle of political justice that information pertaining to
a decision be considered before rather than after that decision is made.
For this reason, hailMaryShelley.com presents the question, have
Americans considered the information that supports the National
Journal's view of ten years ago that Al Gore was the "most
determined advocate"* for the Internet?
I now hope for two things:
One; that George W. Bush described himself more
accurately as a "uniter not a divider" than he described
Al Gore as "the man who said he invented the Internet."
Two; that Americans will forgive Al Gore for daily
allowing his opponent to put words in his mouth.
Tom Wolfsehr*National Journal, 11/10/1990, page 2768 Back to text (introduction)
Mario Marcel Salas at about site at what's new