Ruminations of an Expatriate

Archive for the ‘Plagiarism’ Category

Obama Plagiarism

Monday, February 18th, 2008

Everyone paying even casual attention to the democratic nomination campaign has is aware of today’s dust up wherein Clinton campaign officials are accusing Obama of “plagiarizing” Massachusetts’ governor Deval Patrick’s gubernatorial stump speech, countering his opponent’s contention that words aren’t important. Patrick has assured the world that he and Obama are friends and supporters, and often share stump speech material.

The funny thing to me in the whole sorry episode, which the media is eagerly lapping up, is revealed in this Politico.com report.

Here’s Patrick at a rally for his gubernatorial campaign on Oct. 15, 2006, during the final stretch of his successful campaign against then-Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey (R):

“But her dismissive point, and I hear it a lot from her staff, is that all I have to offer is words — just words. [bold added] ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, [applause and cheers] that all men are created equal.’ [Sustained applause and cheers.] Just words – just words! ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself.’ Just words! ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.’ Just words! ‘I have a dream.’ Just words!”

So Obama, whose chief political strategist, David Axelrod, and speech writer, Jon Favreau, also worked for Patrick, may have been sharing stump speech material with Patrick; but it was in response to Clinton’s lifting an attack from Patrick’s republican opponent.

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