The Trail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008

"Talk good" should probably be "speak well". Joe Biden was unable to shrug off these same type of charges in 1988.

Looks like the mud is flying high now. Hillary needs to change the way things are going, thus expect more and more seemingly petty actions like this.

These "charges" have some merit though (nothing like Biden though), yet only if it is a repeated pattern or a blatant instance.

Will this help Hillary, really help her?

Barack vs. Hillary- The Google Effect:
http://newsusa.myfeedportal.com/viewarticle.php?articleid=47

Obama should say, "Mrs. Clinton should not be upset, f Mrs. Clinton ever says something memorable, I will plagiarize it also, to be fair."

Why does this matter? Because Obama is running his campaign on words! They're not even his. How cheap. What a fraud.
Clinton '08

The NYT has Patrick's response, which completely bursts this petty little bubble. Interesting that Clinton has the poor judgment to slam Obama for this the same day she is being slammed for copyright infringement over her YouTube video song (a Jackson 5 rip-off, from what I've heard)

Distraction is a well-known tactic for one who knows he's weak and losing.

Can we please get back to other things? Like the ISSUES?? I don't like the fact that the voters' time keeps getting wasted with all this drivel. We need to get to the point, Mrs. Clinton. If you don't have one, please stop interrupting the process. Thank you.

Clinton Inc. is desperate, having exhausted its search through Barack's kindergarten records.

Clinton Inc. can now document and confirm that Obama has plagiarized the 26 letters of the alphabet.

"All of Obama's speeches use the 26 letters of the alphabet!!" a breathless Clinton thug stated.

"And all 26 letters of the alphabet have been used by Hillary before Obam was born!!!"the Clinton Inc. thug concluded.

Sticking to the issues would be nice.

I'm really not sure why this is such a big deal. Deval supports Barack, and one of Partick's chief advisors (David Axelrod) is now working for Obama. Patrick himself says he has no problem with it, and that he even encourages it. I'm no fan of Obama's, but Hillary's attacks on this particular matter seem to be a cheap trick to, ironically, do the same thing she has accused Obama of doing all along -- ignoring substantive issues.

mishte hit the nail on the head a couple reponses ago...

Hillary should worry more about whether she can say anything anyone ever WANTS
to plagiarize.

Hillary is not ready for the Presidency, perhaps she could be Secretary of Partial Birth Abortion.

This goes to INTEGRITY and PROVES that Obama's campaign really is "just words". My two grandchildren laughed when they watched the speeches youtube; they have to submit their essays to an online service that checks for plagiarism, why don't we hold a presidential candidate to the same standard?

Man, I was for Clinton for awhile, but this is over the top. expressing sentiments using "words" is not plagarism. First off, plagarism implies grades, or publishing fees. You are not not "plagarising" if you recite shakespeare in the park. only if you publish it and claim it. Obama is conveying a feeling to a crowd. It's like a rock star announcing every line of a song, and then having to footnote, during the song, parts of the song that are form older songs. Nonsense. If Clinton says "i am not a crook," does that mean she's stealing Nixon's line?????

I honestly can't believe that this subject is getting so much play at this stage of a hotly contested primary. I understand that MSNBC is going to run a special on this subject this evening?OMG. Is Hillary Clinton really THIS desperate? Senator Obama won't debate me for the 19th time in Wisconsin and he borrowed lines from a friend of his in one of his speeches. Let's get real people. I thought Hillary wanted a campaign focussed on the issues!

Plagerism? There is absolutely nothing wrong with borrowing a line or two from a friend and collegue. How is that any worse than reading a speech that you paid some speech writer to write for you. The lines that Senator Obama borrowed from his Massachusettes Governer friend were actually involving quotes from Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King, as I recall. Name me a politician stumping for office, especially for President, who hasn't quoted all of these people before. I seem to recall Hillary "borrowing" some line from at least a couple of these men earlier in this campaign herself.

Senator Obama was absolutely correct in alluding to the fact that others in this campaign have "borrowed" lines from his campaign. For a while, virtually every candidate from both parties adopted "Change" as their theme and their own personal philosophy after Obama's win in Iowa (including Hillary Clinton). She basically plagerized Senator Obama's Slogan; changing a word to make it her own. Now she is using, "Yes we will" witch is clearly stealing from Obama's, "Yes we can". Just yesterday, I read where Hillary is now closing her stump speech with a stolen adaptation of "Fired Up - Ready to Go"; leading the chant, Obama-style to stir up her supporters at campaign rallies. And she dares leveling charges of plagerism against Senator Obama? GET A LIFE, HILLARY!

Hillary and the Clinton's just make me Sick. What a bunch of liers and scam artists they are! "I never had sex with that women!" - What a shameless person lies to the entire world. If Hillary had any descency, she would have left Bill years ago, but NO she knew all along that one day she would be running for President herself and therefore it was OK to let Bill cheat, lie and God knows what else. Then, the Clinton's are worth 35 Million!? Please explain to me where you came up with that money - Why don't they disclose their Tax Returns for the public to see if they are not hiding something? Every Speak Hillary gives is taken right from Obama himself - what a copy-cat? Even in debates, she always waits for Obama to give his answer, then she repeats word-for-word - then she turns around and accuses Obama for Plagiarism? - WHAT A JOKE?

Like a fighter losing in the 12th round, she throws wild punches, hoping something will land.

Enough about the speeches. If Hillary (or anyone else) had such oratory skills, she'd be "finding her voice" all over the place. Obama is so good in that area that Hillary has no choice but to convince the public that good speeches are a sign of shallowness. Good luck with that.

Also, Hillary's latest claim that Obama avoids specifics in favor of rhetoric is itself a vague and generalized slur. What has he been unspecific about? What do we need to hear more of? Energy policy, economics, foreign affairs, health care? If she named an area, people could say, "I remember him talking about that, what does she mean?" With this line of attack she also unwittingly insults more than half of democratic voters so far as gullible dupes who have fallen for his act. The experience issue is a fine one for her to highlight, but this "all hat no cattle" ruse is silly.

Wow! Another plagarist.

I wonder if he plagarized in collge too.

This is seriously ridiculous! There is a war going on, we are probably into a recession, the country is probably in the worst shape it has been in decades and that's all the Clintons have.
If nothing else, it shows desperation from their part and also the media for devoting much time to it.
Either discuss the issues or stay at home.

I see, Obama is blamed for using uplifting words while Bill Clinton is busy uplifting skirts and taking $30 million from guys who trade with dictators in Kazahkstan.

No more Clinton's or Bush's trashing our democracy, thank you.

So far it seems like the commentariat has decided that Obama's use of Patrick's "good lines" is not that big of a deal. But I don't see how it's not. He borrowed a whole rhetorical section of Patrick's speech in a way that made it sound like it was his own. To me that's a pretty lame thing to do. It's also lame when Hillary says she's "fired up and ready to go" or proclaims that "yes, we will." But those are such common expressions that I don't think it's quite as egregious -- as a matter of plagiarism, at least (although, as I said, it's pretty darn lame). Obama borrowed a whole line of argument, and reeled off Patrick's words almost verbatim. I do think it cuts into his authenticity claim. He has (rightfully) mocked Hillary for getting caught planting a question at a rally, but now he's out there using someone else's material. It's an act that would be judged unacceptable in a high school election. Obama should not get a pass on this one.

The larger issue here is integrity (or lack thereof). A pattern is emerging:

"If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election." - Barack Obama

He is now waffling on this. Why?

Realistically, Obama should step down because plagiarism is a serious charge, one that was also brought against MLK, Jr. and seriously tainted his legacy. Obama has been speaking at college campuses, if a college student did this in a speech or a paper, he would be expelled, no questions asked. As has been mentioned earlier, Biden was forced to drop out of an earlier presidential race due to plagiarism. This story has real legs....developing....

Hillary Clinton employed a Ghostwriter for her book "It Takes a Village" and didn't acknowledge the writer in any way in the book.
I remember the Washington Post covering that episode.

In light of that history why would she ever jump on Barack Obama for using a couple lines from a friend??

I honestly can't believe that this subject is getting so much play at this stage of a hotly contested primary. I understand that MSNBC is going to run a special on this subject this evening? OMG. Is Hillary Clinton really THIS desperate? Senator Obama won't debate me for the 19th time in Wisconsin and he borrowed lines from a friend of his in one of his speeches. Let's get real people. I thought Hillary wanted a campaign focussed on the issues!

Plagerism? There is absolutely nothing wrong with borrowing a line or two from a friend and collegue. How is that any worse than reading a speech that you paid some speech writer to write for you. The lines that Senator Obama borrowed from his Massachusettes Governor friend were actually involving quotes from Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King, as I recall. Name me a politician stumping for office, especially for President, who hasn't quoted all of these people before. I seem to recall Hillary "borrowing" some line from at least a couple of these men earlier in this campaign herself.

Senator Obama was absolutely correct in alluding to the fact that others in this campaign have "borrowed" lines from his campaign. For a while, virtually every candidate from both parties adopted "Change" as their theme and their own personal philosophy after Obama's win in Iowa (including Hillary Clinton). She basically plagiarized Senator Obama's Slogan; changing a word to make it her own. Now she is using, "Yes we will" which is clearly stealing from Obama's, "Yes we can". Just yesterday, I read where Hillary is now closing her stump speech with a stolen adaptation of "Fired Up - Ready to Go"; leading the chant, Obama-style to stir up her supporters at campaign rallies. And she dares leveling charges of plagiarism against Senator Obama? GET A LIFE, HILLARY!

I love the reference to 'Clinton, Inc'. She/he/they are despicable and will search for anything to raise the level of cacaphony so as to distract from ... anyone?? THE REAL ISSUES!! Several others made the point about the weak/losing grasping at straws when desparate. We are finally getting someone of substance (OBAMA) and she/he/they are trying to cut him down.
Another bunch of words - WE SHALL OVERCOME!

Hillary's got brass, citing Obama for "plagiarism"... she's the one who's been co-opting Obama's and Edwards' messages shamelessly... "change", "turn the page", "yes we can", and even in her acting performance in NH, she tearfully used John Edwards' words "this isn't just politics for me - this is very personal"... Now she's turning around to whack Obama for using some lines from an ally of his. Give us a break, Hillary.

I am a poet and language is free as long as you are not in violation of the copyright of someone else's material. And if someone gives you permission to use that material to enhance on your own there is nothing wrong with it.

Isn't the Clinton camp now using "Yes We Will?" Which is a spinoff from Obama's "Yes We Can?"

Let's not get petty people, let's stay with the real issues!

The more light that the media shines on Obama the more we see that the emperor has no clothes.
Borrowed lines from a speech-
Flip flopping on a financing pledge-
Paying off super delegates $700,000-
Inadequate health plan coverage-
Lack of experience-
129 present votes-
And so it goes...

For me, Hillary Clinton 2008!!!!

The Clinton Campaign is in free fall... how pathetic.
How completely pathetic.

What am I missing? 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'
'We have nothing to fear but fear itself.' Just words?
'I have a dream'

We all know where all these words came from. What's the big deal???? Obama was just quoting these great men. What's that? 10 words out of 10,000?? Give me a break. Cintonites are so freaking desperate. Sheesh.... get a life!

Do you think maybe Hilary has had anyone write a few lines for her own speeches? I'm sure she doesn't write them all herself. Besides, she's not above "borrowing" Obama's lines if she thinks they're working. Lately, it doesn't seem like she's above anything at all. The lower her polls get, the lower she stoops. She could have come out of this race noble. Instead, she has lost me and so many others.

This is 'much to do about nothing'. Oops, who do I attribute that too? I don't want a Clintonian monitor of this site to blurt out dpi2Dan is doing what Obama did. YO!
He did not do anything wrong! Take a chill pill for God's sake!

I was for Clinton before seemingly, petty stupid things like this forced me over to Obama who frankly is better in EVERY way that she is not. Why is the Youth taking an interest? They can relate to what he exposes. Why are all diversities climbing on board? They hear, see and aknowledge that this is just not politics anymore. It is a crusade! A crusade that never in the past was created from nothing to be this tidal wave of hope!

Clintonians...take these words and you know where you can put them.

What a Cheap Shot.
Obama is the best yet in the past 15 years to run for president...Give the guy a break...Hillary has had 16 years of support now she is like a drowning man...clutching to a straw.

"Yes we can". These are NOT Obama's words either. This is from the united farmworkers union and they support Hillary.

The desperate strategy we're seeing from the Clintons is like being in last 15 seconds of a football game, trailing by 8 pts, on their own 20 yard line. It's called, the "Hail Mary." Oops, now I'm guilty of plagiarism, since that term has been uttered before...

...so sue me!

Obama is a candidate whose campaign has mostly been exciting and motivating crowds. That's not necessarily bad, but what the Clinton camp is saying (and I have been saying all along) is that there needs to be some substance to those words. Words should only take you so far. But they have seemed to have gotten him the nomination. So the Clinton campaign needs to neutralize this strength of Obama's (and thank God they're trying, because I don't want just a speech giver for a president) and that's what they're allegation of plagiarism is doing.

Obama is emotionally charging folks with what some may say is false hope built only on talk or words.

And come on people, don't lie to yourselves, Obama used an entire segment of Deval's speech almost word for word.

Ridiculous.

I'm on the Clinton's side on this one. And so should every American be - because any one running for president should have to show multi dimensions. And they are attempting to make him to do so - but the media is continuing to protect Obama just like he is tephlon. He seems to be Mr. Untouchable. Don't dare say a bad thing about poor ole Obama. Hmmmm, remember that Bush tactic (got us in a war))))))))))))

Plagiarism charges? For three lines? From a supporting governor? These are the things Clinton supporters are up in arms about?

If this is motivational tools for the Clinton supporters, let them have it. She's attempting to plagiarize his whole movement. She's trying to run as the candidate for change? Please....her experience argument? Obama has three times as many bills written, co-authored and sponsored in his time in the Senate while she was pre-planning her failed run at the Presidency. Flip-flopping? Hello, she flip-flopped on the war! Flip-flopped on NAFTA. Flip-flopped on Florida and Michigan. Flip-flopped on her own team of support staff and campaigners. The list goes on and on....

I love it, Clinton supporters. Keep bringing the baseless empty arguments...you only make yourselves look more and more foolish, and your candidate is doing a great job putting nails in her own political coffin. A great job unifying the country, Hillary....bang up job.

If this is her experience, she can have it.
OBAMA '08!!!

Senator Obama and Governor Duval have been close political allies. That Obama has used some of Duval's phrases and talking points (many raised in discussions between them) was always publicly acknowledged. As an ordinary citizen, I had read about this shared dynamic a long time ago. One may think of Obama and Duval as co-speechwriters for each other. Duval has said that he revels in Obama's deployment of his phrases. As for Hillary and her surrogates, she/they has/have stolen so many lines from Obama (turn the page, yes, we can/will, etc) that it has raised speculation by some media commentators that she should be hauled up for grand lacerny. When Obama quotes MHK, Pres. Kennedy, FDR, their words are in common circulation, and we quote these words all the time without being accused of plagiarism. Many of us are so very sick and tired of these negative attacks and the panicked old politics of personal destruction. Talk to the issues and stop gaming the public discourse with really dumb desperate negative accusations. Hillary, have you no shame?

Boy, Clinton camp desperate and hypocritical much? I know they've heard of talking points because all their dittoheads say nearly identical statements. Even Bill and Hill say exactly the same things on the stump, verbatim. So is Bill plagiarizing Hill or vice versa? Or maybe it's just that they speak often and think similarly, kind of like Deval Patrick and Obama? Move on, folks. Nothing to see here.

I like how he apologizes for not giving him credit in Wisconsin, like it was just that once. He definitely used the same exact lines in Va Beach last sunday.

Phenomenal grammar, by the way. I don't apologize for being able to talk good either. Speaking well, on the other hand...

If this is plagiarism and is a serious charge and if such a candidate cannot continue their campaign then Hillary would have been the first to be eliminated.
No candidate can campaign if this the rule because whatever words & phrases that make sense is already spoken some where, some time in our history.

I live in Massachusetts and voted for Deval Patrick. It scares me that Barak Obama might replicate the pattern of Govenor Patrick. Patrick gave soul-stirring stump speeches in his campaign for governor, but has accomplished nearly nothing in his first year in office, and this is with an overwhelmingly Democratic legislature. Nationally, it's a real gamble hoping that a one term senator who uses other's words can get us out of the Bush/Chenney mess.

Hillary's problem is that the chickens are coming home to roost. When did she lose this election? When she abused numerous White House workers, when she said unecessarily rude things to FBI agents investigating whitewater when she insulted the security detail looking after her as First Lady. We know you for who you are, Hillary - and we don't like it!

very simple to parse this.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Plagiarism
1. the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work.

I'd say that virtually everyone currently running for president in either party has done that... in the last 30 seconds.

This is not news, nor even newsworthy.

The Clinton charge of Obama's plagiarism is a bit thin. "I have a dream" and "all men are created equal" are famous statements that are part of the public domain.

We love you Hillary. Keep coming on. If he can't take the heat needs to get out of the fire. We all know Axlerod ran Patrick's campaign in Mass. and what a mess Patrick has made of Mass. These are Axelrod's words. The true mastermind of a campaign based on speeches which go for a feel good vibe rather than substance. Kind of like what a drug addict goes after. Short term pleasure without thoughts of future consequences.

Keep those punches coming....he can't shrug off everything. Now everyone wtil be looking for more instances of using others words for his own gain. I am sure they are out there.

AMERICA WE NEED TO BE REALISTIC WE CANNOT LIVE ON SPEECHES ALONE PLUS COPIED!!

SENATOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON OFFERS SOLUTION!!

VERSUS

SENATOR BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA GIVES SPEECHES WITHOUT SUBSTANCE!

AND AFRAID TO HAVE A DEBATE WITH SENATOR CLINTON IN WISCONSIN.

WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID FOR?

DEBATE IS ONEWAY OF GAUGING OR FINDING OUT WHAT KIND OF CANDIDATE YOU ARE ELECTING FOR PRESIDENT? UNLESS YOU ARE AFRAID THAT VOTERS WILL FIND OUT YOUR WEAK POINT.

AS OF NOW AMERICA IS LOOKING FOR A STRONG LEADER AND EXPERIENCE WHO CAN DELIVER NOT JUST PROMISES! WE CANNOT HAVE ANOTHER GEORGE W. BUSH PART 2. WE CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER MISTAKE IN ELECTING A WRONG PRESIDENT AGAIN!

VOTERS ITS ALL IN YOUR HAND - DON''T BELIEVE IN ALL YOU READ AND HEAR, DON''T BELIEVE ON MEDIA MANIPULATION, SPIN DOCTORS, PUNDITS, POLLSTERS, UNION ENDORSERS, CELEBRITY ENDORSERS, POLITICIAN ENDORSERS.

VOTERS YOU DECIDE - DON''T ANYBODY DECIDE FOR YOU.

YOU ARE THE DECIDING FACTOR AND YOU KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR COUNTRY. THERE'S A LOT AT STAKES HERE. AMERICA CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER BLOW!

DON''T BELIEVE EVERYTHING WHAT THE MEDIA IS FEEDING YOU - THEY ARE VERY BIAS AND MANIPULATORS.

VOTERS MAKE A CONSCIOUS DECISION WHO YOU WANT TO VOTE THAT WILL BEST SERVE OUR COUNTRY FIRST AND FOREMOST.

VOTE WISELY AND PRUDENTLY.

God Bless America!!!!

If Hillary Clinton gets the nomination, I'm voting for McCain.

Since when plagerism is reffered to as "barrowing lines" mr. obama. In my daughter's economic class seven kids were failed for barrowing lines from others without naming the source. It is embaressing for a young harvard garaduate to resort in plagerism in order to impress people. This gives me the indication that you probably made your way through harvard by "barrowing lines" as well, right. shame on you. shame on you, shame on you.

If this the "best" that Hillary and whatsis-face can come up with, that is indeed pathetic. Shows what they have to resort to when they have nothing more authentic to offer. They are just not connecting with the democrat constituency in general. It is my sincere hope that Obama NOT select Hillary as a running mate!! God forbid something should happen... we'd have two whatsis-faces in the White House.

By the way, the plagiarism charges aren't about the "I have a dream," etc, they're about the fact that Patrick used them in exactly the same way, in exactly the same context in his 2006 campaign. Silly people. Try reading the articles. Or look up "Just words, Just not Obama's" on youtube.

The Howard Wolfson and Mark Penn team is PRECISELY the reason why I stopped supporting Hillary last summer. They wouldn't know how to tell the truth and stay positive if their lives depended on it. There was NO WAY I was going to support a candidate who surrounded herself with such awful people. It's more than electing a Pres; it's also the administration, and these two would no doubt get prominent posts. Obama's Axelrod, on the other hand, has been a class act all the way. Hope he'll be Obama's Chief of Staff when he's Pres. They've stayed on message and remained as positive as Clinton has allowed them to be.

Hillary Clintons Plagerism
John Edwards
And it's all just very personal for me now. I have no idea whether it's politically popular - probably not - it's just what I feel

Hillary Clinton a few weeks later in NH

"This is very personal for me,it's not just political, it's not just public ? I see what's happening. We have to reverse it."

Hillary Clinton "Fired up and Ready to Go"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rweVOO-fhug

Hillary Clinton saying "Yes we will"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRQD-MsSpfI

Hillary Clinton did not write her book "It takes a Village"
http://www.awpwriter.org/magazine/writers/btodd01.htm

i think he probably said "talk good" to sound folksy and appeal to the blue collar workers he was speaking to. or he said it with an ironic grin (showing he was kidding) but that kind of thing gets lost in a plain old transcript.

It's time to harness the excitement we're seeing among Democrats for BOTH amazing candidates and go into November as a unified party. Sign the petition to Howard Dean and the DNC at http://www.16yearplan.com

According to Barack, words matter ... that is ... except when they're borrowed from someone else.

Seeing the way Hillary is behaving these days, may be Hillary''s parents should have.....

www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqKWXirsU

Are we now being taught ethics and morality by the Clintons? The same Clintons of the Lewinsky era? How stupid do they think we are???

Seeing the way Hillary is behaving these days, may be Hillary''s parents should have.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqKWXirsU

Here are some details from the Massachusesetts mandatory health care program which Clinton wants to make national:
"What are the costs? Costs are determined by family size to be covered, age of adults to be covered and income level. A single person must pay the FULL COST of insurance premiums if their income is greater than $30,636. A couple must pay the FULL COST of insurance premiums if their income is greater than $41,076. A family, 1 couple with one child, must pay the FULL COST of insurance premiums if their income is greater than $51,516, and so on. Government assistance is provided to those making less than the stated income level within each family size mentioned above. To get more information on the assistance provided, you may go to www.mahealthconnector.org . This assistance may be changing soon, as indicated by this recent article in the Boston Globe. www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/15/health_plan_rates_may_rise_by_14/
Below is a table with premium costs PER MONTH of plans currently available within numerous categories:
Single making more---------------------Insufficient------------------Good---------------------
than $30,636/year--------Age----------Coverage-----------------Coverage------------------
---------------------------------30--------------$199.40--------------$347.69 - $473.42
---------------------------------40--------------$201.30--------------$396.00 - $577.00
---------------------------------50--------------$253.20--------------$441.50 - $826.06
---------------------------------60--------------$398.81--------------$695.39 - $946.83

Couple making more--------------------Insufficient------------------Good---------------------
than $41,076/year--------Age-----------Coverage-----------------Coverage------------------
---------------------------------30--------------$428.72--------------$747.54 - $1060.80
---------------------------------40--------------$579.84--------------$884.00 - $1252.29
---------------------------------50--------------$586.87--------------$942.00 - $1717.43
---------------------------------60--------------$857.43--------------$1144.00 - $1906.63
Family, 1 child more--------------------Insufficient------------------Good---------------------
than $51,516/year--------Age-----------Coverage-----------------Coverage------------------
---------------------------------30--------------$618.15--------------$1077.85 - $1572.00
---------------------------------40--------------$792.48--------------$1390.71 - $1673.67
---------------------------------50--------------$845.23--------------$1475.49 - $1915.00
---------------------------------60--------------$1139.53------------$1984.00 - $2415.07
About this table - The column titled "Insufficient Coverage" is the monthly premium for the cheapest plan available within all categories. The reason I titled it "Insufficient Coverage" is that I believe it is just that! This plan has a $2000 deductible per person, or $4000 for a family. It only covers 20% of hospital stays after the deductibles are met. I don't believe this is a worthwhile health insurance plan because the premiums don't justify the high deductibles, and because what we uninsured really need is protection against a huge unexpected hospital bill. I included this option in the table, however, to be honest about the lowest cost plans that are available. The column titled "Good Coverage" is the monthly premium for a range of different plans that have low or no deductibles, and 100% coverage for hospital stays. To see all the plans available for every family size and age, you can go to www.mahealthconnector.org . "

Here's an article to clarify points of what Clinton's "experience" has brought us...straight from the Washinton Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/31/AR2006123101004.html

And, thanks to my friend Analu, here is the counterpoint of the Clinton "experience" argument:

"Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term (6yrs.), and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law, (20) twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.

These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress (www.thomas.loc.gov), but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you.

1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Hon
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty.
Only five of Clinton's bills are more substantive:

16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11
18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.

There you have it-the facts straight from the Senate Record.

Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive, so I'll mainly categorize.

During the first (8) eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced:

233 regarding healthcare reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These inculded:

**the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law),
**The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law),
**The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
**The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),
**The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee), and many more."

[stats quoted from comments section of http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/02/04/obama-campaign-memo-re-february-5th/}

Wow! Just, Wow!
I'm crushed. I just can't believe it.
I was a big supporter of Obama's, but now I realize how much of my preference was based on his ability to turn a moving phrase. Given that I can no longer assume that phrase isn't cherry picked from speeches of other politicians, I'm just plain embarrassed I could have been such a sucker.

A few words of my own, a few excerpts, feel free to plagiarize!! This was to be expected of Hillary, start throwing dirt.

Obama is a far more beautiful person than Clinton. He's beautiful on the inside. What kind of example is a woman who stays with a cheating husband? Who will say or do anything to get elected? Hillary Clinton has always had a victim mentality, anyone who understands people can see this. This is not a stable person. In comparison, how incredible is Michelle Obama? Isn't she a better female role model than Clinton? Hillary Clinton's experience is mired in controversy, ranging from:

1) turning $1,000 into $100,000 in cattle futures while working for the Rose law firm. She received tips from James B. Blair who was outside counsel for Tyson Foods in Arkansas. In one day she made over $10,000 on day trading which would point to insider knowledge from within Tyson Foods.

Washington Post (please check my references if you like)

2) to Whitewater, a 1980s land deal that went bad and revealed that 1) Bill Clinton exerted pressure on an Arkansas businessman, David Hale, to make an illegal loan that would benefit him and the owners of Madison Guaranty; and 2) that an Arkansas bank had concealed transactions involving Clinton's gubernatorial campaign in 1990.

3) to Travelgate, the 1993 firing of seven longtime employees of the travel office, which handles travel arrangements for reporters and television crews covering the president. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is alleged to have pressured White House lawyers into dismissing the travel office staff and bringing in the FBI to investigate them, so that friends of the First Family could enjoy the office's patronage spoils.

Columbia Journalism Review/New York Observer

4) In the aftermath of the apparent suicide (yes, it gets ugly!) of her former partner and closest confidant, White House Deputy Counsel Vincent Foster, Hillary Clinton ordered the overturn of an agreement to allow the Justice Department to examine the files in the dead man's office. Her closest friends and aides, under oath, have been blatantly disremembering this likely obstruction of justice, and may have to pay for supporting Hillary's lie with jail terms.

New York Times

5) In August 2000, during her first Senate run, Clinton met with the Hasidic community in New Square, where many members were working to obtain clemency for four members of their community who had been convicted of stealing tens of millions of dollars from the state and federal government.
She refused to talk about the controversial pardons of the four New York Hasidic Jews by her husband. New Square voted 1359-10 for the first lady - although other nearby Hasidic enclaves voted 3480-152 for Clinton's GOP opponent, former Rep. Rick Lazio.

New York Times

6) Hillary Clinton's brother Hugh Rodham , was paid approximately $200,000 from Almon Glenn Braswell, whom President Clinton pardoned for mail fraud and perjury, as was Carlos Vignali, whose sentence for cocaine trafficking was commuted. News of his involvement in the pardon controversy prompted an outrage in Washington, D.C.

"I knew nothing about my brother's involvement in these pardons," Sen. Clinton said at the time. "I knew nothing about his taking money for his involvement."

The Clintons asked Hugh Rodham to return the cash, which he did.

Time Magazine

7) Hillary Clinton's brother Tony Rodham was paid $244,769 over 2½ years by a carnival company, United Shows of America, owned by Edgar and Vonna Jo Gregory. The Gregorys had been convicted of bank fraud and were seeking pardons. Tony Rodham has said he mentioned their pardon application to his brother-in-law, who ultimately granted the Gregorys a pardon. But Rodham said he was not paid for anything having to do with the pardon.

Boston Globe

8) Peter Paul has business relationship with Clintons that goes bad. Clintons steal one of his clients and he retaliates turning Clinton in for violating campaign regulations during a fundraiser he held for her to the tune of $1 million. The FEC formally determined that Hillary Clinton's Senate campaign treasurer, Andrew Grossman is legally responsible for the three false FEC reports that Hillary's finance director, David Rosen, was criminally charged and tried for in mid-2005. Mr. Grossman signed a "Conciliation Agreement" with the FEC on December 13, 2005, admitting his culpability, and agreeing to pay a civil fine and amend his false reports to reflect the $721,000 that he failed to report since October, 2000.

Wall Street Journal

9) Pastor Got $1.5 Million in Clinton Earmarks Before Endorsement

Widely reported

10) Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton gives large earmarks of $1 billion in government-backed financing for a development project called Destiny. Robert Congel, the owner of Destiny, then turned around and financed and campaigned for her.

Robert J. Congel, his family and associates affiliated with his development have donated $40,000 to Clinton's state and national campaigns since she first ran for office in 1999.

Congel co-hosted a Syracuse fundraiser for her, an event said to have raised an additional $50,000. Lobbying firms hired by Congel in connection with Destiny and other ventures also donated more than $200,000 to various Clinton campaign funds, records show.

LA Times

11) New School in New York City, which received $1.6 million in earmarks in this year's defense budget and $6 million previously, is particularly well-connected. Its president, former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.), campaigned for Clinton in Iowa. Three school trustees are among Clinton's most prominent backers, having each raised at least $100,000 for her campaign. A former trustee is Norman Hsu, who was indicted on fraud charges. After Hsu's criminal past was revealed last summer, Clinton returned $850,000 he raised for her.

LA Times

12) to falsely attacking Obama as a pro-life candidate for voting "present" in New Hampshire.

13) Her husband Bill Clinton says he consulted her on every major decision. Does that include Rwanda, and his decision to stand by and watch genocide kill hundreds of thousands of people? She is firmly entrenched with Bill and the establishment, at best a dirty politician who knows everything there is to know about our political system. A vote for her is a vote for the status quo. The Republicans are so sure she is the next Democratic nominee that there's even a movie set to release.

14) http://www.hillarythemovie.com/

15) btw Bill Clinton is an experienced sexual predator with at least half a dozen rapes or assaults on women reported.

Posted by: Phil6

"Realistically, Obama should step down because plagiarism is a serious charge, one that was also brought against MLK, Jr. and seriously tainted his legacy. Obama has been speaking at college campuses, if a college student did this in a speech or a paper, he would be expelled, no questions asked. As has been mentioned earlier, Biden was forced to drop out of an earlier presidential race due to plagiarism. This story has real legs....developing....

Posted by: Phil6 | February 18, 2008 04:14 PM

You and the rest of the Hillary Shills need to get off this little boat. If this argument is all that the Hillary campaign has left...arrgghhh! Drop out of the race for something like thins? What are you smoking?

There are serious issues at hand, and for someone who proports that she is an issues gal, well, were are they?

Giving speeches about how giving speeches isn't the same as solutions, and then crying about such a petty little jab.

hahaha...please!!!

Take Obama's words out and the Emperor is naked. Plagiarism is serious because it involves a) integrity b) originality c) capacity and d) judgment. All qualities required for a president. The democratic campaign is stressful and it is supposed to be to eliminate the weak candidates. This is as close to a Howard Dean's as we are going to get. In sum, Obama cracked under pressure. Republicans will explore his weakness to the full extent. Again, his lack of experience will require a strong VP. Not great for Obama supporters.

"we have two oilmen in the White House" -- Hillary Clinton, today

"we have two oilmen in the White House" -- Nancy Pelosi, August 26, 2006

You can google just about anything any of the candidates say and someone has said it before. I really can't believe the US media can make a big story out of this.

Two years from now, regardless of who wins the presidency, there will be a major crisis with difficult decisions to make. We'll look back to see what was said about it during the election, but instead of substance we'll see that the US media was focused on whether something already has been said.

Sad times for journalism.

Hillary Clinton's attacks against Obama reek of a candidate that is desperately trying to remain in contention and remain relevant to the campaign. Its clearly not working - even having the opposite effect.

Her attacks are part of the same tired political strategy of trying to tear down an opponent when you cannot beat them. Its the same old divisive Clinton style of politics which Americans are desperately seeking to avoid.

Clinton apparently feels that since she is unable to maintain front runner status she must drag the front runner down to her level of desperation.

Fortunately, her tactics are failing in that Obama refuses to stoop to her low level campaign tactics, and, by staying on the high road, proves that he can be the candidate that truly brings the change that Democrats and all Americans are seeking.

Clinton's divisiveness and hunger for power is giving voters in remaining primary states more and more proof that she does not have the leadership abilities necessary to be a serious candidate to oppose McCain, let alone succeed as President.

She might as well quit the race now and campaign for Obama as her current tactics amount to about the same thing. With every attack, Clinton makes the case for supporting Obama stronger and stronger.

I love this! Democrats are going to lose!

Why? If Obama wins, lot of Hillary supporters are going to stay off the polls and Big "O" will be just a 0 against Sen. McCain. You cannot survive without Latinos and white middle aged women!

If Hillary wins, most african americans will stay away and Hillary will lose!

Ultimately this proves race matters. Why? "O"prah Winfrey who made money talking up women's issues, chose race over another women. She invited Obama but would not invite anyone else? Folks for a public talk show host, is that not discrimination? Its OK for a black female to discrimate (supported by advertisements, but not for a white person?)

Code words will fly. You got to win the south buddy. Sure you won the south where only black voters and some white democrats vote. Remember reagan used code words. Willie Horton here I come. "Cocaine user" here i come. Affirmative action here I come. Welfare here I come. More effective passionate "swift boat" ads here I come. It will NOT be "republicans" but rush limbaugh and other folks. Oh, LA burning riots (Rodney king) here I come! all the asian store owners who got looted, will vote John McCain. Woo hoo! Its a election for democrats to lose and they are doing it in spades. Go Republicans! The media which has been coddling Obama, cannot shield him from "precise targeted red button attack ads". Survive the pissed off Hillary voters, face Ann Coulter, Bill Oreilly, Hannity and Limbaugh!

Loser democrats. They could not change a single thing 43rd Bush asked for though they were in the majority!

Even if you defeat Mcain (hats off), you will face a hostile military (you never served in one, did you?). You have stagflation, subprime-rate issue (most of them lower economic class folks) to bail out. Have fun! You also have to face the senate with filibuster powers. Also the supreme court is firmly in the RIGHT! Ha ha ha!

I love to see the losers maim each other! Go go go! who thought the republicans will win 4 more years with such a pathetic field?

James

There is a real issue buried beneath this non-issue. It is the question of wether words alone ARE enough. Obama is right, a revolution starts with words, but a revolution only succeeds by the efforts of competent people who rebuild a nation from a dream.

Is Obama competent? He probably is, but he is unproven. Mrs. Clinton may be an uninspiring battle-axe but her competence is hard to doubt.

Obama could be another JFK, but he could also be another Jimmy Carter. Clinton of course is, well, Clinton. The 90's were a good decade. I stand by Hillary even when she makes a silly accusation like this one.

Posted by: bkmhawaii | February 18, 2008 04:46 PM

I DID NOT WRITE THIS! THESE ARE NOT MY WORDS. DON'T ACCUSE ME OF PLAGERISM.

BUT I THINK THEY ARE RELEVANT TO THE ARGUMENTS AT HAND.

IT TOOK ME 35 YEARS TO FIND THIS!

Here's an article to clarify points of what Clinton's "experience" has brought us...straight from the Washinton Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/31/AR2006123101004.html

And, thanks to my friend Analu, here is the counterpoint of the Clinton "experience" argument:

"Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term (6yrs.), and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law, (20) twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.

These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress (www.thomas.loc.gov), but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you.

1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Hon
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty.
Only five of Clinton's bills are more substantive:

16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11
18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.

There you have it-the facts straight from the Senate Record.

Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive, so I'll mainly categorize.

During the first (8) eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced:

233 regarding healthcare reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These inculded:

**the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law),
**The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law),
**The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
**The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),
**The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee), and many more."

[stats quoted from comments section of http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/02/04/obama-campaign-memo-re-february-5th/}

Posted by: bkmhawaii | February 18, 2008 04:46 PM

Smart one, James, that's why polls show McCain either tied or losing to either of Democrats. You've lost the House, you're losing this election, and have lost the firm support of the people...all in the span of eight years. You can have your 100 years in Iraq...the military and the people will turn on you far before the end of this century. Best of luck in your hole, hiding in fear.

I don't understand those of you who are on Clinton's side on this one. Here is the Random House definition of "plagiarism":

"The unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work."

This was not "unauthorized use." The original "author" of the words himself, Deval Patrick, has made that clear. Either he and Obama were talking about how to respond to Clinton's criticism that "words aren't action," or Axelrod, who advised both people, wrote the words himself and suggested them to Obama. Either way - no "unauthorized use" here. This makes it different from the Biden case. This is a non-issue!

Folks:
Please post more dirt on Hillary, so in the outside chance she wins, we can use that to mudsling her!

Also any more dirt on "O"bama please post. We will come here to create more neat swift boat ads. heh, heh, heh! Oh I forgot, we will start calling him "Barack Hussien Obama" from now on or "Barack Hussein" Or "Hussein Obama"

Seems much ado about nothing. Politicians do this all the time. This is a speech not a disertation. That line Barack said had about 5 different people who made those original quotes. To quote every single one of them would be rediculous. I know the Cintons are desperate to stop Obama but this is a bit much.

bkmhawaii said: "During the first (8) eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced"

---

And how many of these failed, failed because they were watered down, passed?

John McCain's only hope is that the Clintons prevail in stealing the nomination by their nefarious tactics, and in doing so, divide the Democratic party in the fall. I know that I won't be voting for Billary in any case. She is "politics as usual," and will keep the lobbyists in business if she is able to win with her negative campaign. What will Bill do if left alone in the White House without adult supervision?

All power corrupts. Thats why we have the 22nd amendment limiting persons to 8 years as President. Two for the price of one for 8 more years is why Hillary is wrong.

But we better realize that "personhood" should include the spouse as well, or we may find past presidents marrying whoever is electable!

What if George Bush divorces Laura and marries Mitt Romney in Massachusetts to become the next "first consort"? When power to spend $3T is at stake, greedy men will do anything!!! :)

You can either vote for a President who will:

1. Unify the country
2. Bring more people into the Dem Party
3. Give America a new face to the world and bring us into the future.
4. Bring the Indies into the fold
5. Be able to bring moderate Repubs into the equation
6. Has a real vision as to the possibilities that America can achieve

OR a President that can:

1. Unify the GOP
2. Return us to the past
3. NOT bring the Indies in to the fold
4. Not bring moderate Repubs into the fold
5. Bring many suitcases of baggage with them
6. Have an air of disdain by half the country

Hmmmm...

It's media's fault for picking up on this (worthless) story. Aren't there other more important things left in this campaign?

What puzzles me is the dichotomy between Obama's voting record (liberal - check votesmart.org, Obama's composite liberal score is 86 vs. Clinton's 70) and his campaign message (centrist). This is the reason why he is not talking about his proposed policies in his stump speeches and sends people to his website. This clearly shows that people are not choosing based on what each candidate can do, but on likability - which others call "inspiration." Karl Rove was a master of producing a great campaign for Bush Jr., but clearly that didn't translate into a great presidency. I am sure that the three candidates really left in the race are better than Bush Jr., but from "better" to "great" is a long way.

Since everybody seems to ride the Obama wagon, we can expect 4 more years of failure: McCain who wants us to stay in Iraq indefinitely or Obama who will disenfranchise the independents that now are worshiping him. I hope I'm wrong, but I've seen this happening too many times.

bkm:

How long have we been in Korea?

washington4 said: "Folks:
Please post more dirt on Hillary, so in the outside chance she wins, we can use that to mudsling her!"

---

Do what you hate mongers usually do, make stuff up. If you say it 1000 times it becomes true.

Maybe this might explain why the Hillary campaign is acting so desperate:

Barack Obama has expanded his lead over Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin to 13 points, according to Public Policy Polling's latest survey in the state.

Also, a new CNN poll show them tied in TX.

=====

Wow. Obama!!!!

bkmhawaii
You say, In first year in senate, Hussien Obama "authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427". wow! One bill every 2 days! Yeah, gore, invented the internet. And of course Hillary did not cosponsor any of them! Buddy, senate runs on seniority!

Stop whatever you are smoking, in that hole you live in.

If Hillary loses both WI and TX, its over folks. Even James Carville has said this.

Posted by: dmarcule | February 18, 2008 05:01 PM

Since everybody seems to ride the Obama wagon, we can expect 4 more years of failure: McCain who wants us to stay in Iraq indefinitely or Obama who will disenfranchise the independents that now are worshiping him. I hope I'm wrong, but I've seen this happening too many times.

_-----------------------------

I can see it with McCain, but what makes you so sure that the Indies will become disenfranchised?

Hillary's Supporters are grasping at straws with this, and it is understandable, Hillary's campaign is admittedly not where it thought it would be year ago at this stage of the campaign. But this does not phase Obama supporters, and for independence who read all the facts about this and put it in its proper context, will conlude this "gotch moment" is all about nothing, and just politics as usual.

pup,

Hillary has more similar characteristics to Jimmy Carter than Obama does, and the notion that knowledge of policy is ENOUGH to succeed in the Whitehouse is just silly. If she can't inspire cooperation, ALL the POLICY KNOWLEDGE in the world is USELESS.

this is so silly. first off, the words " i have a dream, " MLK "we have nothing to fear but fear itself, " FDR " we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal " Declaration of Independence --aren't patrick's either, these are all widely used phrases in our national lexicon. for example when someone tells you to " never give up " (do they need to site winston churchill) ? -- obama was using an rhetorical argument used by patrick- and you can't plagiarize an argument. this is really desperate from the HRC camp- and shows that her hired guns really do lack ideas, and solutions that will connect with the american people.

Clinton's mindless distractions are an insult to the intelligence of the American people. Next she'll try to convince us that Obama just stole his ideas from Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy. Sorry, Mrs. Clinton. These are American ideas. They're not for sale. They belong to all of us.

Clinton's campaign is a nasty joke. I hope the Democratic party doesn't fall for it.

Posted by: washington4 | February 18, 2008 05:04 PM

In reference to bkmhawaii:

You say, In first year in senate, Hussien Obama "authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427"...

Posted by: washington4 | February 18, 2008 05:04 PM

----------------------------

Really adult like with the Hussein cheap shot. What's your point using his middle name? Are you trying to pander to the fears of the ignorant, by aluding to some mythical muslim background.

You are the atypical Hillary supporter. Slinging your anti-futuristic pro staus-quo rhetoric, all in hope of increasing your demographic.

Posted by: washington4 | February 18, 2008 05:04 PM

In reference to bkmhawaii:

You say, In first year in senate, Hussien Obama "authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427"...

Posted by: washington4 | February 18, 2008 05:04 PM

----------------------------

Really adult like with the Hussein cheap shot. What's your point using his middle name? Are you trying to pander to the fears of the ignorant, by aluding to some mythical muslim background.

You are the atypical Hillary supporter. Slinging your anti-futuristic pro staus-quo rhetoric, all in hope of increasing your demographic.

This is more of the Clinton campaign engaging in the OLD POLITICS. They will do it until they destroy the Democratic party.

Did you see the Clinton campaign staffers above pretending to be Republicans. It's vile, but not surprising.

This is why so many people hate politics. This is a non-story turned into story by the Clinton spin machine and the media much like the handshake snub. I know the Clintons ar desperate to deflate the "words" of Obama but this is really a cheap shot. They shoud be ashamed.

Senator Hillary Clinton is really pulling for straws, isn't she?

This has got to rank as one of the most irrelevant and impertinent political arguments. Is it possible that Chelsea is a "practicing thespian" and her brother is a known "homo sapiens"?

We'll need to start CGI-ing our politicians so that they can be squeaky clean, brush with Pepsodent and walk with giants.

(doink!)

plagiarize (merriam webster): to present the ideas or words of another as one's own. You would think a professor of law would be well versed on this subject. I wonder if he has ever had a student that had this type a problem........people actually loose jobs over this one! He dodges debates because as the nuts and bolt of issues enter the picture.....he bolts!!!!

This is all part of the Clinton campaign theme of DENIGRATION and STAGNATION. DENIGRATION of Obama and STAGNATION of the Democratic party.

Are you serious?? Has the Clinton camp sunk so low as to do anything to win no matter how disgusting and underhanded it might be? Plagarism?? Are you serious?? If this is the bar that Hillary's hack opertive Wolfson sets then everyone in America is gulity of it. How many people in America repeated the phrase "Where's the beef?". We heard it in songs and commericals and everyday people on the street. It almost became a phenomenon on its own. And yet you didn't hear the average Joe say "Where's the beef?" and then follow it with a footnote that someone else actually first said this on such a date. It is incredibly ridiculous and nobody cares. How is this debate providing healthcare for everyone and helping strengthen the middle class?

At least Obama knows where he got the sentence from and even got permission from Gov. Deval to use the sentence in his speeches. I have no idea who first coined the phrase "Where's the Beef" but that hasn't stopped anyone in America from using this phrase.

The good news is that this gives Obama some experience dealing with nasty attacks like he will get from the Repubs during the general election. Thank you Hillary for being Obama's sparring partner.

Posted by: CitizenXX | February 18, 2008 05:05 PM
---

I can see it with McCain, but what makes you so sure that the Indies will become disenfranchised?

---

Because if he follows any of the plans he (or his advisers) are proposing, he will need to pay by raising taxes for upper middle class. This was discussed at length during the last Dec. and first Jan. Dem. debates, but nobody seems to remember it now. Clinton also raises taxes, but for wealthier individuals. Most independents are upper middle class, not wealthy, not blue collar. Interestingly, Clinton's plans target the core democratic base, although she has a history of being more centrist. Looks like Clinton's supporters DO know what she proposes, because she attracts exactly those people. Some (most?) of Obama's followers are the complete opposite of what it should be based on his position on issues.

Charges of plagiarism from the wife of the single greatest thief of every good Republican idea to come down the pike during his administration? What's the world coming to?!? lol

You know what Hillary Clinton's worst problem is? There isn't a single nasty thing she can accuse Barack Obama with that either she or her husband (or both) haven't done FIRST AND BIGGER!

And that's a really BIG problem for her (and that's not the media's "fault").

Ahhhh, so this is what desperation smells like. PMSL with these charges, after Patrick said 'why don't you use this'. lol

It's just desperation time for Hillary, folks. She's definitely grasping at straws. When you think you are entitled to the post of commander-in-chief because you are married to a former president it's tough to face the facts.

She's so desperate she's now saying she eats Mexican hot peppers to ward off colds. Automatically, that should get the Latino vote, right? Wrong!

These charges are laughable compared with the Kurtz allegation Hillary is telling the American public one thing and, off the record, telling the press corp something different.

"On her campaign plane, Clinton started coming back to the press section for off-the-record chats, usually harmless but sometimes including comments that contradicted what she was saying publicly, according to participants. Two weeks ago part of the media contingent revolted, saying the conversations did them no good if they couldn't use the information."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/04/11/LI2005041100587.html?hpid=topnews

Why is the press covering this story up? Becuase this is what happens when you try to report honestly about the Clintons:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0907/5992.html

Give me a break. Are you telling me that anyone expects every word that comes out of a president's mouth to be his own? That's why they have speechwriters. I went into the primaries happy to have the opportunity to actually have at least two candidates I thought I could support instead of the prospect of voting for the lesser of two evils. My only advice to Obama at this point is not to get down in the mud to wrestle with a pig: both of you get dirty and the pig likes it. Plagarism Alert: I swiped that saying from my Dad, who swiped it from someone else. That doesn't make it any the less true.

I'm wondering if Obama will give credit to Hitler since he stole whole paragraphs from some of his speeches. Here are 4 examples

http://smithfiles.com/2008/02/17/uncovering-aldolf-obama/

The Clinton campaign makes me sick with these stupid trash attacks. They need to back off and let the party and this country move forward. I once admired the Clintons and I voted for Bill twice but now I am starting to despise them.

I'm pretty sure Hillary didn't rip off "the empowerment of solutions" from anyone. I can't imagine anyone with an IQ above seven mouthing such a phrase without breaking down into fatal giggles.

Hilarious!! James Carville, one of the least ethical people in this world is accusing Obama of being so. TOOOO FUNNNY!!

Insincerity is sooo unattractive.

If his zealous sheep-like supporters will take one sober moment to reflect, they"ll shake off the spell of demagoguery that Obama has cast, aided by the unquestioning media that fabricated him. Some say he''s riding on nothing but great oratory. Today we learn it''s great plagiarized oratory. I"ll go a step further-he''s a second-rate speaker with meaningless lines that insult our intelligence, who stutters his way through debates and interviews. Great orator? The new JFK?? Talk about audacious! To paraphrase an orator who tells it like it is: "this whole thing is the biggest fairytale I"ve ever heard!"

The Clintons make me hate them more and more. And they are completely turning me off to politics. Is this really what it has come down. Obama could have been accused her of plagarizm!!! No one can deny that she has used lines of his on the stump! John McCain just said "Fired up and ready to go" just the other day. And it was all over the news, and no one accused him of plagarizing. God, is this really America. Give me a break. This is why the Clintons need to go, and anyone associated with them. This is the politics that we've seen in George Bush the last seven years. Democrats wake up and vote her out!

Obama supporters make me sick. You guys can't defend your guy, so instead you fling mud at Hillary. Obama is a plagirizer and thats the bottom line. He borrowed exact lines from his friend, the Mass governor during his election run in 2006. Obama robots should just admit what happened and move on. Look at Obama's reponse to this. He admits that he should have given credit to who originated the speech. You, guys love your idol so much that you just can't come to grips that he screwed up big time in responding to Hillary's claim that his speeches are just hollow. He proved that with his speech. =

This charge of "plagiarism" is simply a distraction - a clear sign of desperation on the part of Hillary Clinton. I am glad senator Obama has treated it dismissively. He needs to stay focussed and march on to victory

rickhoncho says, "I'm wondering if Obama will give credit to Hitler since he stole whole paragraphs from some of his speeches. Here are 4 examples," then refers to a site that gives four quotes it attributes to Hitler. A couple of questions, however: (1) Maybe Hitler said them, as the website claims; but when did Obama say them? (2) Didn't Hitler say whatever it was he said in German?

More mindless drivel from the Clintonites!!

conbrio,

The only FAIRYTALE in this campaign, is that Bill CLinton pretends that he's not been cheating on Hillary for the past 6 years. The sad part of that FAIRYTALE is that it suggests incredibly POOR JUDGMENT on the part of Hillary. Naive???

Who wrote "It Takes a Village"?
Barbara Feinman

Whose name is on the cover?
Hillary Rodham Clinton

What color is the pot calling the kettle?

"Yes We Can" was used by the immigrants in their marches a couple of years back. Some couple 100,000 strong.

They said,

"Si se puede!" Yes we can. It was heavily attended by Illinois Washington pols.

So of course he shrugs off copying something. The whole campaign is based on borrowed rhetoric.

I believe Bill Clinton used "Hope" in his run.

That's why Obama is nothing new.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M6x1H08aFc

Looks like a total ripp to me

Hillary Clinton has not had an original inspiring quote in her life. What a pathetic loser candidate. She needs to drop out before she destroys the party.

Plagerism makes a dramatic headline, but just like the "snub" brouhaha of two weeks it is far more important as an illustation of the continuing Rovian tactics of the Clinton campaign. It reminds me of the old story (told by Orson Welles among others)of the frog and the scorpian. Fleeing a forest fire, a frog and a scorpian come to a swift flowing river. the frog says two the scorpian "Get on my back, I'll get to you to safety on the other side" Halfway across the river, the scorpian bites the frog who, dying, says "Why? You will die too" And the scorpian says: "But I cannot change my nature"

Posted by: ocean73_2000 | February 18, 2008 05:40 PM

Obama supporters make me sick. You guys can't defend your guy, so instead you fling mud at Hillary. Obama is a plagirizer and thats the bottom line. He borrowed exact lines from his friend, the Mass governor during his election run in 2006. Obama robots should just admit what happened and move on. Look at Obama's reponse to this. He admits that he should have given credit to who originated the speech. You, guys love your idol so much that you just can't come to grips that he screwed up big time in responding to Hillary's claim that his speeches are just hollow. He proved that with his speech. =

Posted by: ocean73_2000 | February 18, 2008 05:40 PM

-------------------------------

Take the needle out of your arm!

The Clintons will DO ANYTHING, SAY ANYTHING, and CHEAT their way to the nomination if they have to.

The Clintons disgust me.

The Clinton campaign is opposed to INSPIRATION & HOPE and for DENIGRATION & DESPAIR .

ATTENTION HILLARY LOVERS:

The superdelegates are watching. I suspect they do not like the Hillary campaign trashing the probable Dem nominee. She better be careful or they may pull the plug on her even before she has a chance on March 4th.

BREAKING: The Obama campaign is now distributing a video to the media that shows Hillary giving a speech where she uses the phrase "Fired up and ready to go", clearly plagiarizing Barack Obama.