"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. 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."