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'Change You Can Xerox'
August 22, 2008 11:41 PM
Remember that clunker of a zinger from Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY?
Trying to make hay out of Sen. Barack Obama's use -- with permission but not attribution -- of some language from previous speeches by Gov. Deval Patrick, D-Mass., Clinton essentially called Obama a copycat.
The controversy soon died down.
But lest we forget, the man whom Obama has apparently chosen as his running mate -- Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del. -- has an episode in his past where he used someone else's lofty rhetoric, unattributed, as well.
Biden withdrew from the Democratic primaries for the 1988 presidential campaign after it turned out he had lifted passages from British Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock without attribution.
"Stupid," an older, wiser Biden judged for ABC News' Charlie Gibson twenty years later, for a profile of the major 2008 presidential contenders. "My mistake. Born out of ignorance, thinking I didn't have to prepare. And I didn't deserve to be the nominee. And all of a sudden, internationally, I'm this guy who cuts corners, who isn't honest, who's using other people's words. And it was, it was, man, it was, it was terrible."
The episodes are not completely similar. And Democrats sure feel confident that the problems in the U.S. right now will overshadow political kerfuffles like these.
But I’d sure expect Republicans to make hay out of it all.
- jpt
August 22, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (119)
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OB or BO campaign just opened up for themselves a pandora box of contradiction ...
the media archives is full of the opposites between O and B ... how silly can BO get ?
August Curse it is !
Posted by: Contradiction Galore | Aug 23, 2008 2:29:31 PM
Dear PUMAs,
Your darling Hill brings nothing to the ticket....no foreign policy, economic, or military exprience. She lied about Bosnia, Ireland, and totally exagerated about China. She failed miserably at healthcare. She's totally polarizing. Not to mention, both she and Bill HATE Obama. Plus, she adds NO change and she would bring out the Repubs in full force. What does she bring to the table besides a bunch of crazed angry women and their male appeasers? NOTHING! Biden was the best choice. Now you can just take your toys and go home if you want.
Posted by: Feather | Aug 23, 2008 2:10:21 PM
"I could have easily vote for Biden for President."
No you couldn't. Biden quit after losing the Iowa caucus. Nobody was given to chance to vote for this loser. The media was drum beating for Hillaey to quit after Iowa too remember.
Posted by: geevill | Aug 23, 2008 1:49:12 PM
At least Biden chose an illustrious individual to plagiarize from, not Georgian facts from the Wikepedia like McCain.
Posted by: kat | Aug 23, 2008 12:47:13 PM
The plagiarism scandal happened for Biden after the stump speech he'd been reading time and again got shortened and the attribution got taken out-- It can't be plagiarism if one makes the attribution seventy times and then once forgets to.
I for one think Biden is a great choice for Obama and he has the potential to show that even someone who doubted Obama's presidential potential in 2007 can feel confident about Obama now. If the Democrats harness now the idea of "Change of Mind" with Biden then they will have something voters who want to change their minds need to know. They will watch Biden explain how he changed his mind....
Posted by: Jerome | Aug 23, 2008 12:19:23 PM
McCain should pick a sharp smart woman. There are lots of those. Then it's a test of of Pelosi against her own gender, and to see if they can quit sabotaging each other.
I did warn you about the texting stunt. Surely you didn't believe he was going to lose the newscycle to the Internet? He may be inexperienced but he isn't naive.
What the McCain camp should do now is dig into Obama's advisor's blogs and see what kind of proposals they are making. That will tell the country what to expect from an Obama administration, that is, fill in the gaps of the mystery candidate by outlining the thinking of his 300 Spartacles.
... all of whom will be deeply disappointed should this man win because as the texting scam proves once again Obama is about Obama.
Posted by: len | Aug 23, 2008 11:31:52 AM
"CHANGE you can BOTH XEROX and ABDICATE"
WOW...if it was really true that OBAMA texted his VP pick at 3am ...it just goes to show that HRC's 3am Ad is still haunting him ...
so the new AD this FALL will be read :
... Biden is picking up the 3am call ...
... 'cos OBAMA has put his phone to a CALL FORWARDING MODE to BIDEN ...
Posted by: 3am CALLs ---> BIDEN | Aug 23, 2008 11:10:09 AM
"Democrats sure feel confident that the problems in the U.S. right now will overshadow political kerfuffles like these."
-----
Systematic lying in pursuit of power isn't really a "kerfuffle". And if blow-hard Biden hadn't been too busy pretending to run for president to do his committee work -- or to oversee his underling Obama's -- Georgia and Afghanistan might be presenting less of a mess.
If the Democratic delegates nominate this brace of blustering fantasists, the Kerry sabotage of the Democratic Party will be complete.
Note that the text message ploy really WAS just a way to build a list of phone numbers: the VP was announced last night, and the text message went out today. What a crock.
Posted by: Belle Starr | Aug 23, 2008 11:05:24 AM
NJH wrote:
"Great. Now the Democrats have two plagerzing narcissists instead of one. What a winning ticket."
Watch out, they'll send you to the countryside for 're-education' for using the N-word!
Posted by: Bob Centarius | Aug 23, 2008 10:34:28 AM
I had not realized Biden was the same age as Cheney.
Since the libs made a big deal about Cheney's draft deferrments, maybe we should make a big deal out of Biden's.
Posted by: Altfreep | Aug 23, 2008 10:25:09 AM
LOL
Obama has all the suckers had again with the 'text message' ruse. They wanted to be in touch with Paris Obama, gave their information up, and all they will get now is messages asking for money! LOL
Suckers, did you really think he was going to give you the information before their true supporters, the main stream media?
Posted by: Rob | Aug 23, 2008 10:16:02 AM
I could have easily vote for Biden for President.
I will not vote for Obama under any circumstances: I will not reward with my vote all the race-baiting, the undemocratic tactics to steal the primaries rigging the caucuses, the backroom deals by the DNC to accomplish a faction coup within the Democratic party, with the complicity of the MSM.
Posted by: Rick | Aug 23, 2008 10:04:42 AM
Obama - snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. I say this as a Republican. I'm truly a little saddened by the foolishness of the Democrats. The Republican party is also a mess. Unless one party gets its act together, both will remain as they are - dysfunctional.
Posted by: Sammy | Aug 23, 2008 9:56:29 AM
NEWS FLASH: In a desperate attempt to add GRAVITAS to the ticket OBAMA names BIDEN as his VP pick.
BYLINE: BIDEN has previously stated that OBAMA lacks the experience to be PRESIDENT.
Posted by: Nicolas | Aug 23, 2008 9:52:07 AM
Great. Now the Democrats have two plagerzing narcissists instead of one. What a winning ticket.
Posted by: NJH | Aug 23, 2008 9:51:12 AM
Obama could have selected Mary, Mother of Jesus as his running mate and you still would have voted McCain.
Posted by: Willem van Oranje | Aug 23, 2008 9:45:45 AM
Well, well, well Obama picks another "politics as usual" politician and a fellow kerryite! Fantastic! He just keeps digging himself a larger and larger hole that he will not be able to get out of eventually! I couldn't be more pleased with his selection. We thank him for the unsolicited attention and help he is giving to the Hillary supporters in our quest to elect John McCain. Perhaps the next time a woman candidate runs for office the Dems will have learned a lesson about being disparaging towards the female gender. You think? lolololol Oh, that's right, a few days after he won the nod he made a comment to the press regarding the women voters, "They'll get over it." Well we haven't and we won't. You are history Obama. When we get done with you you won't even be able to be elected to the position of dogcatcher! lolol Keep up the good work Obama! We are thrilled on your V.P. choice! Thanks so much for all of your help! It is so appreciated!One loser picking another huge loser! Biden did really well in the presidential race! Obama was so wise to hitch his wagon to Biden's star. I think he didn't even consider Hillary because he pretty much knew it was a done deal for us and we would NEVER vote for him. He could have had Jesus as his running mate and I still would have voted for McCain in November! Good riddance to bad rubbish is what I say! Obama, go back to your museum like house, and leave us alone! LOSER!
Posted by: Mary Anne | Aug 23, 2008 9:38:04 AM
Wow, I didn't think Obama would really go through with it. Biden really puts the lid on several issues.
- WA outsider. Closed
- Against Iraq war. Closed
- Shares views with Obama. Closed
- Fresh and young. Closed...McCain doesn't look so old compared to Biden.
- Party unity. Clinton was never considered. Bye-bye HRC supporters.
At least this makes the decision easier for dems on the fence.
Posted by: FishMonger | Aug 23, 2008 9:29:33 AM
As Biden said last year, Obama's not ready to be president.
Posted by: Sammy | Aug 23, 2008 9:28:17 AM
You must be kidding!!!! JOE BIDEN??????
C'MON GUYS -- CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN???? Oh no -- that does it for me. It's McCain all the way in '08.
PUMA
Posted by: clarabeau | Aug 23, 2008 9:16:34 AM
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