Clinton Accuses Obama of Plagerism
Clinton says Obama took talking points from Patrick. Was it plagerism? Does it matter? Will it hurt him, or is it just a last ditch effort at mud slinging?
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From an AP article:
“The Associated Press reported in January that Obama had borrowed ideas and speech points from Patrick, often without attribution. But with Obama now leading in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination — he won the last eight nomination contests — Clinton’s campaign is trying to chip away at the premise of his candidacy. Wisconsin votes on Tuesday.
“Don’t tell me words don’t matter,” Obama told the Wisconsin audience, attempting to rebut Clinton’s oft-repeated charge that he is long on rhetoric and short on policy specifics. ”’I have a dream’ — just words? ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal’ — just words? ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself’ — just words? Just speeches?”
Patrick, faced with similar charges from his GOP opponent, used nearly identical language during his 2006 governor’s race.
”’We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal’ — just words? Just words?” Patrick said. ”’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?”
The accusations momentarily put Obama on the defensive and distracted from a tour in Ohio, where he hoped to focus on the economy. He shrugged off the criticism and noted that Clinton occasionally had borrowed language from him.
“I really don’t think this is too big of a deal,” Obama said at a news conference. “When Senator Clinton says ‘It’s time to turn the page’ in one of her stump speeches or says she’s ‘fired up and ready to go,’ I don’t think that anybody suggests that she’s not focused on the issues that she’s focused on.”
He acknowledged trading ideas with Patrick and said they had borrowed language from each other on occasion. Obama said he probably should have given Patrick credit, but said the oversight didn’t indicate a pattern of deception.”
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I think that Obama is to blame for not using a better speech writer and for not double checking the working being done on his behalf. The Clinton campaign is ridiculous for attacking Obama on this issue though. This only distracts for issues of substance (which is probably the point). I think Obama is the best hope and choice that the Democratic party has. Obama’s appeal is far reaching, as a libertarian I am opposed on a fundamental level to many of Obama’s policies but I believe he is sincere and offers an ideal often missing in politics… hope.