Cantor: BlackBerry use was note-taking, not disrespect to Obama

Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th, says he was not being discourteous to President Barack Obama on Wednesday night, he was merely taking notes about what the president was saying during his speech.

Television cameras caught Cantor using his BlackBerry as Obama delivered his call for health-care reform to a joint session of Congress. Bloggers have taken note of the apparent inattentiveness.

Cantor, who is the Republican whip and a leading critic of Obama’s, said he carries his BlackBerry with him at all times. On Wednesday night, the White House did not make available the text of Obama’s remarks to members of Congress beforehand, as is the usual custom, Cantor said.

Cantor said he was reading excerpts of Obama’s speech on the BlackBerry and taking notes as he did so.

As for the speech, Cantor said he found it to be “incredibly partisan,“ but he said he was glad to hear that Obama was willing to consider Republican ideas.

“There are some things we can agree on,“ Cantor said.

But, he said, “I was looking for a reset button” on the Obama health-care plan “and I don’t think he got there. The American people are very fearful about what he is planning to do.“