Wolfson and McGovern: Obama Copies Other People's Homework
On a Clinton campaign conference call with reporters this morning, Howard Wolfson and Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts presented two events as part of the same pattern: the Obama campaign’s apparent equivocating on a promise to take public financing in a general election against John McCain (whether or not what he said constitutes a pledge is disputed) and the emergence of video evidence that part of a recent Obama speech was almost exactly the same as part of a speech given by Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts.
“If you use someone else’s words of someone else’s ideas, I believe you should credit them,” said McGovern, going to on to say that he worked for Deval and “probably campaigned [his] heart out for him.”
Obama’s inspiring ideas, McGovern said, “seem less authentic and more political. They’re not his ideas.”
The idea was to suggest a pattern of uncredited intellectual appropriation by Obama. McGovern went on to mention Obama’s economic plan, which has been criticized as a copy of Hillary Clinton’s earlier proposal. “His economic plan is really Hillary’s economic plan, and that’s fine,” McGovern said, “but he should credit her.” We need a leader, he added, “not just someone who can copy someone else’s homework.”
Wolfson said, “The point we are making overall is that Senator Obama’s record…is thin. He is really asking us to judge him on the strength of his rhetoric and the strength of his promises.” Wolfson went on to say that “yesterday, [Obama] decided not to honor the pledge and today we learn that Senator Obama’s rhetoric comes from Governor Patrick, in this instance.”
One reporter (who did not identify himself) asked if the Clinton campaign wasn’t “making mountains out of molehills.”
Wolfson repeated that “in many respects [Obama] is asking people to judge him on the strength of his rhetoric and the strength of his promises.” Now, Wolfson went on, “He’s breaking his promises and his rhetoric isn’t his own.”
Responding to the same question, McGovern said that Patrick’s speech was “a very powerful speech, a turning point in Patrick’s campaign.” The fact that Obama took it without attribution, McGovern added, makes Obama seem “politically calculating” and “less authentic.”
McGovern then said that if Clinton had done the same thing, the media would be in a frenzy.
Which is probably true. If reactions I have seen this morning, and the “molehill” question from the reporter are any indication, this is not a narrative that will long endure with Obama supporters, unless the Clinton campaign continues to push it. We haven’t heard the last of this, I’m guessing.
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 45.8
- 41.6
- Obama +4.2
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 55.6
- 33.0
- +22.6
- McCain
- 52.6
- 34.3
- +18.3
Okay so where are all the Obama lovers Now, I believe Obama is a fraud, and has some explaining to do.
Can't believe this is not a top story on the News channels.
Your right if this was Hillary,it would be a top story.
Hillary president for 2008
Well the truth of the matter is that the american people are behind Barack! The american people are sick and tired of Hillary's negative angry campaign. LEADER + ANGER = HITLER, BIN LADEN, HUSSEIN, KIM JONG, CHAVEZ.
All of these leaders have lead by anger and it seems Hillary still does not get that WE DON"T WANT THAT!
M from PA
There was articles a while ago about how often Clinton has plagiarized Obama's speeches. What we are talking about now has to do with the similarities in a speech that defends the same ideas. The idea is that speech is powerful and to cast it off as "just" a speech is to discredit some of the great orators over time who have led this country to action. Obviously when you confront the idea that speeches are not important, you would use great speeches that have had a profound effect on the public and some of the more famous quotes from those speeches to drive the point home.
Please... Are you really going to say that Clinton or McCain don't consistently borrow rhetoric from other people's speeches? Someone was working a little too hard on this one.
Yawn....must be a slow news day.
I.E. Big Deal.
the clintons are grasping at straws... hard to fight a decent man
What are the plagiarized statements, exactly? This is the problem with the Clinton's negative attacks - no specifics, just a general allegation. That is the way dirty politics are practiced, just throw something icky out there and hope it sticks and people repeat it.
Deval Patrick has, by the way, come out to day and said that he and Obama work together and share ideas. He's not upset about this at all, why should Clinton care?
As for the pledge about using only Federal funding in the general election (aside from there being no specific pledge, just support of the issue) what position has Clinton taken? My understanding is, she has not even discussed, let alone pledged, not using private funding if she is the nominee. Again, classic Clinton, throw out the dirt against her opponent, on an issue that she is not clean on at all. Remember, she uses PAC and lobbyist money in her campaign, and apparently intends to continue to do so in the general, if she gets there.
If they are interested in plagiarism I'm sure some courageous media person would be interested in looking over all of HRC's not-so-original moments. This is taking things a bit too far, don't you think?
"Deval Patrick has, by the way, come out to day and said that he and Obama work together and share ideas. He's not upset about this at all, why should Clinton care?"
She cares because she's DESPERATE!
And desperate times call for desperate measures...
i really dont understand the fuss when we know that the speeches are written by speechwriters anyway! If this was a closed notebook test I might actually care, but this is otherwise nonsense
YOU'RE, not your.
But you're wrong anyway so...
OBAMA PRESIDENT FOR 2008
Brandon, I agree. The point is that Clinton and his supporters are trying grab anything they can to foster a smear campaign against Obama because the KNOW that they are in grave danger in losing this nomination. They desperate, and people can sense it, the media sees it . In fact, I'm looking forward to Clinton next gambit. I regards about who's is stealing who, Clinton is the last person who can talk about plagiarism. The New Republic has an article about how she, also, likes to take borrowed lines from other politicians, SPECIALLY Barack Obama. At least Obama is on record as recognizing he takes borrowed lines (and vice-versa) from his long time friend Gov. Deval Patrick from Massachusetts. I am starting to lose respect for Hillary.
This is a sign of desparation from the Clintons. Worse from them is yet to come, and the stench seems all too familiar. Who wants to yield to that kind of politics? I'd rather lose the election to the Republicans one more time just to rid the Democratic party once and for all of the Clinton ilk. Much like Reagan did when he challenged Ford in the primaries in 1976. The bitter Reagan "revolutionaries" sat out the general election, the Republicans lost to Carter, only to come back four years later, transforming their party, and held on to power for decades. It may be time for that kind of realignment (and housecleaning)among us Democrats.
Yeah, Hillary is desperate all right. She's desperate she might become a desperate housewife in Chappaqua, baking cookies at home, and singing the Tammy Wynette song, 'Stand By Your Man.'
According to Hillary, the above things are what she could have done years ago but chose not to.
At least the Clinton's now have plenty of DOUGH to bake the cookies.
Borrowing a few lines from Obama's friend is really trivial stuff. Surely they have other things to talk about than this. It's kind of ironic the Clinton campaign isn't doing THEIR OWN HOMEWORK.
It must be on odd feeling for her: to be all prepped for a coronation only to run smack-faced in to something so trivial as democratic elections and the will of people. Ouch.
www.rezcowatch.com
yeah....he's real decent, huh? because oprah says so?
do your homework...
Oprah? Who d'at? Seriously, homework is important. My life experience was my homework...Vietnam Vet, then college, then years making no money working with the less fortunate, then I got a break, changed jobs and now make six figures. I've lived my homework. You?
Obama is the future, the Clintons are the past. Get used to it. It won't be so bad, really.
The troubling part of this is the message it sends. Many high school and college kids are required to sign pledges that if they use quotes that they use in their papers they will credit them to sources. So many young people are watching this campaign -- should Obama be setting an example that it's not okay to plagiarize -- that if you lift someone else's words or plans you must credit them?
That is why American people are responding to Obama . They want change from this kind of garbage from Hillary team.
so THIS is all that is left in Hillaryland?! Can we play that part again where the Clintons say exactly the same (cnvention and King funeral)? Is is not OK for 2 candidates who are on the same page, same team, share same advisor - but you have to be married?! And what about Clinton's "stealing" of the entire "Change" theme? That one did not work so well, either... What a sad state of affairs - it show what they are down to...
Obama said: "If you can't stand the heat you better get out of the kitchen.
Obama said: "Are you better off today than you were four-years ago?
Obama said: "My impression of Hillary. "It rhymes with rich."
"so THIS is all that is left in Hillaryland?!"
Well, no.
There is this:
Bill Blames Obama for Ouster of Candidates
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/16/671522.aspx?p=1
And this:
Mich. superdelegates may be key for Dems
(A co-chairman of Hillary's Michigan campaign says that there are 'second-class delegates')
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/NEWS04/802170542/...
And let's not forget about the tears -- again.
Ha Ha Lets also not forget that she did state "words are cheap"! Maybe she was referring to words from other people-(her speech writers) that she is paying for? We all know how cheap she is and the quality shows in her speeches.
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey GOODBYE BILLARY!
Clinton Campaign "plagiarizes" Bush 41 campaign theme:
In 1988, George H.W. Bush (Bush 41) frequently said that his experience as Vice President, made him...
"ready on day one to be a great President"....
in 2008, Hillary Clinton frequently says her years in the White House as First Lady, and 8 years (one and 1/3 term) in the U.S. Senate....made her...
"ready on day one to be a great President"
ironically,
when Sen. Kennedy endorsed Obama, he used the same language
jh
I have read the Clinton campaign's point on Barack's usage of someone else's speech. I also viewed the videos comparing both speeches and I do see their point.
What is striking is the dark and adolescent sneering attacking Clinton. It takes guts, resilience and great strength for her to persevere through that for so long.
This is why American kids are responding to Obama. Many of them copy homework and have no trouble understanding rock stars. Obama is a youth rock phenomenon, a feel good speaker who uses his friend's speeches. HS kids have no trouble understanding this.
Keith Olberman had a clip of Obama giving a speech in December 2007. He is delivering a line and says "I stole that line from my friend Deval Patrick because it is the right line to use. It's OK, he steals from me too." Open, direct, nothing sinister. The audience smiled. I guess Howard Wolfson missed it. Clintons are toast.
Actually Wolfson is lying: Clinton has stolen other people's ideas without giving them credit and the media was never in a frenzy over it. So to say the media would be in a frenzy if this was Hillary is an outright lie.
If Obama and Devrol trade ideas and use each others ideas and he told him to use it its not Plagiarism its a blunder. Obama is NOT perfect the Clinton and the media are the ones that want to make him seem perfect. Because Hillary is seen as pariah because of the media and the negativity that they bring Obama is seen as this perfect contrast. Obama has said on several ocasions that he is not perfect. So for them to think that if he makes a blunder and they can say Aha I got you and it will cause people to see him as a fake is ridiculous.
As far as stealing economic plans am I really suppose to believe that after Hillary just went to Obama and told him she wanted to be a part of his Patriot Tax plan that he cosponsored with Durbin. Somehow I sincerely doubt that. They are accusing someone who has written two books is a Law Professor of plagiarising. Whats even laughable Clinton has stolen so many lines from Obama after Iowa. When somene point that out to the Clinton campaign their response is well she is not running on her rhetoric. So apparently its only Plagiriasm for people who are running on their rhetoric. The Clinton's really need to stop they are dividing they are alienating making accusations about things they are guilty of themselves. They keep bashing democrats in red states claiming that they dont matter since the democrats won't win the sate anyway. Its truly pathetic. They may end up winning the battle and losing the war because by the time they get to the general election they will have turned off half the country.
Now she is aligning with John McCain saying that Obama wont keep his word as far as campaign financing. This from a woman who has gotten more money from lobbyist than any other candidate.
Its just a preview of what their Administration will be like which is more of the same no wonder Obama keeps saying its time to turn the page. It really is.
Carol
For this 61 year old man who has been a democrat and for universal health care for over 40 years. The sadness is how few voters in this dumb America {when I was getting my BA in Economics 40 years ago the term was "the dumbing down of America" --how few Americans look at past decades of work. Hillary can take your cheap shots just like she took MSNBC mouthpiece Chris Mathews on when Cute Chris thought she was down and out before New Hampshire. Anybody watch Hardball lately? Wonder why Cute Chris on Hardball for MSNBC has been more careful??
For me it is about ---Universal Health Care--- and experience--- and she has it and he don't.
I detest people who pile on be it on the school yard or anywhere else. At issue here is that Obama experiance is slim.
The Clinton's are looking desperate. It's embarrassing.
Mr. Bergkamp:
Care to elaborate a little more about Mrs. Cinton's so-called 35 years of 'experience'? Beacause, from where I'm standing, it's looking a little...sparse.
And as for Health Care, it's already been established that both health care plans are nearly identical. Clinton's claim that more people would be covered under her plan is simply not true. Go to factcheck.org and see for yourself. What her plan would do is garnish wages. Good luck with that.
Hillary Clinton cannot take any kind of criticism (but she excels at dishing it out). She is dismissive and divisive. I am tired of scorched-earth politics. I want someone who will unite the country. Hillary Clinton is not thtat person. She is mediocre at best, and if her spouse were not Bill Clinton, she wouldn't even be where she is now. Can anyone say Eva Perón or Imelda Marcos? But to be fair, at least Evita and Meldy loved being around average people. And they were personable.
Mrs. Clinton is churlish, arrogant and contemptuous. We've had nearly a decade of that nonsense. I, for one, don't want any more of it. She ran a bad campaign, and now that things aren't that great, she's grasping at straws.
Obama has style, sense, and substance. And is gracious to boot. No, he's not perfect. But he's a damn better choice than Clinton.