The internet is all afire with the claim that Melania Trump’s speech at the Republican Convention yesterday lifted a section from Michelle Obama’s Convention speech in 2008. Likely the plagiarism did occur and Trump should fire his wife’s speechwriter. However, it is also likely that Michele Obama’s speech writer plagiarized that section of her speech from a 1992 book, Business Success in South Africa. Per the Zero Hedge blog:
However, in a curious development, the IOTWReport website finds some curious analogues between Michelle’s own 2008 speech, and a book written in 1992 by African author Rob Marsh titled, “Business success in South Africa.” Spot the similarities.
“And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you’re going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them, and even if you don’t agree with them.”
And Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values, and pass them on to the next generation. Because we want our children — and all children in this nation — to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.
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“…is based upon the application of certain basic truths: that integrity is all important, that your word is your bond, that if you owe a person money you pay him back, that you work hard, enjoy what you do and show a loyalty to those with whom you work and do business. He instilled in me simple, clear cut values and a will to succeed.”
Those really aren’t that close. I mean, there’s “your word is your bond”, but just about any list of values is going to include that.
Disagree Pinky. Both involve advice from parents to kids. Both use the phrase “you work hard”. It isn’t as clear cut as her obvious plagiarism from Saul Alinsky in the same speech:
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/07/19/melania-trump-plagiarism-hillary-biden-barack-michelle/
but I think it is more than coincidental.
Pinky, I think the point is that the standard of evidence used to convict Melania right now in popular opinion could be likewise used to convict Michelle of the same charge.
They are desperate and pathetic. They (including Pink) need to distract themselves and assorted low-information liberals (I repeat myself again) with this nonsense.
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They can’t cover the substantive speeches, which call out the real, serious problems which (unjustly unindicted) Mrs. Bill Clinton, Obama et al caused.
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How is it that we have “Speechgate!” scandalizing certain newscasters and
pundits, when those same newscasters and pundits couldn’t have cared
less about Hillary’s home-brew email server?
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They have peculiar priorities when it comes to broadcasting causes for
concern…
Excuse me, T. Shaw?
Play nice gentlemen. I am still on vacation and I have little time to moderate comments.
My son’s high school teachers pass their students’ work through plagiarism-checking web sites. It’s not hard. Anyone can do it. Hopefully Trump’s other people will be smarter concerning available resources should he get elected.
BTW, how is Joe ‘Neil Kinnock’ Biden doing today?
Pinky –
“Excuse me…(T.Shaw)”
Aren’t you plagiarising Steve Martin?….EExCCuussse ME!
No. The Martin quote wasn’t checked on the plagiarism web site.
Seriously for a moment.
I agree with T. Shaw that this plagiarism cry is nonsense. I disagree with him on wrapping Pinky in the mix.
Let’s not focus on the attempt to sideline the anti-Clinton retoric, which in my modest opinion was popcorn good!
BTW…. Steve Martin’s use of Excuse Me, was plagiarized. Gabby Johnson, cousin to Howard Johnson in Blazing Saddles, said; “I suuad tdat dee shaaiff is a nnnagr.” to which Jeffery Johnson said; I couldn’t of said it better myself! If you listen closely you’ll here Levi Johnson say; “Excuse me?”
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In conclusion (plagiarism!), the gravest difference between Michelle Antoinette’s 2008 speech and Ms. Trump’s is Melania spoke the truth. Michelle Ob’s speech, proven by seven-plus years of racial divisiveness, exclusionary rhetoric, and rancor, was utterly deceitful.
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PInk. I love you man. But, if you think that this tempest in a teapot is anything besides a liberal mud-slinging opportunity, there is no excuse for you.
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PS: another Obama-caused police murder in KC is being reported. That makes 31 LIA PO’s this year killed by Obama.
Maister McC wrote: “…but I think it is more than coincidental.”
“That is reasoning for a Roman, but not for a Jew.” 🙁
qui ad aequitatem venit, puris manibus veniendum est.
Who cares about any of this? It is just another stone to cast at our man Trump. But he will triumph–Trump will Triumph!
T. Shaw – I didn’t say that this was anything more than a tempest in a teapot. I said that the charge against Michelle was even less than that.
I only wish the Donald would plagiarize someone other than Donald Duck.
Pinky, pacem. Got a smoke?
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D. Will: soon that will be “President The Donald.” He can’t possibly be worse for America than Obama has been or would be crooked, insane Mrs. Bill Clinton.
This is ridiculous!! Even my parents and grand-parents used the same words to us as children! If this is all that people can find to talk about then the news media needs to get a different job and the rest of us need to get on with our lives.
May the Good Lord give us something more important to talk about.
@Just me.
Exactly!
You see it!
Liberial media redirects as a means to defend it’s castle.
Time the castle is flattened.
Nice story in the ny times about the long time Trump writer, ex ballerina who fessed up to the goofs involved:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/21/us/politics/melania-trump-speech-meredith-mciver.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=ts-item%202_of_3&module=span-ab-lede-package-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0
As I have stated to a few since the flap, Michelle’s words were neither original nor her own. To be plagerism you must be coping someone’s original work or ideas. A quick search of “dream big, work hard” revels it being used at least as often as 468 times. The phrase “My Word is my Bond” was eloquently delivered by Dustin Hoffman in the movie HOOK and is also the title of Sir Roger Moore’s Autobiography. The sentances in questions have been echoed by parents, grandparents, commencement speakers, speech writers, et al throughout the decades. This was “much ado about nothing”, Shakespeare? Or someone else…