Monday October 16 9:35 PM ET
'Father of Internet' Endorses Al Gore
By Thomas Ferraro
St. LOUIS (Reuters) - Vinton Cerf, known as a bona fide ''Father of the Internet,'' has endorsed the presidential bid of a one-time, self-proclaimed inventor of it -- Al Gore (news - web sites).
Gore's campaign said on Monday that Cerf is one of more than 420 high-tech leaders who have decided to back the Democratic vice president's White House bid.
Running mate Joseph Lieberman (news - web sites) plans to formally announce their backing during a visit to Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday and then hold a conference call with many of them, aides said.
``These high-tech leaders know Al Gore understands the new economy and will make responsible choices to see that the economy stays strong,'' said Gore spokesman Douglas Hattaway.
Gore, a longtime proponent of advancements in technology, has conceded one of his biggest mistakes was when he was seen as claiming credit a few years ago for helping invent the Internet.
Still, many in the industry credit Gore, particularly during his years in Congress, for pushing for increased funding for federal research that did help bring about the Internet.
Cerf played a key hands-on role in development of Internet and Internet-related data packet and security technologies while working for the U.S. Department of Defense (news - web sites)'s Advanced Research Projects Agency.
Widely known as a ``Father of the Internet,'' he is currently a senior vice president of Internet Architecture and Technology for WorldCom. Inc. |
