I looked at the relevant blocks, and there were parts of about 8 lines that were copied word for word. Are those common thoughts and platitudes? Absolutely. The structure was basically identical. Could speech writers follow a template on something like this? I don't know. I tried to run it through a plagiary checker last night and struggled because it was bringing up news articles related to the comparison of these two speeches.
Here's the thing, I don't blame Melania. The campaign said in a statement she worked with a team of writers. They said they took fragments that reflected her thinking. A speech writer could have lifted this part of the speech because it conveyed similar thoughts to Melania (and most Americans), changed some words, and thought it would be okay.
There are others who thought, even right here on FR, that possibly it was sabotage. It was extremely odd how quickly this Jarrett Hill fellow was able to recall Michelle Obama's 2008 speech. It appears he remembered it before even Googling based on his Twitter.
This was discussed on CNN and MSNBC last night, and the consensus seemed to be to just admit it and move forward. Melania wasn't getting the heat really. Many seemed to think it was a speech writer who did this, and a person who is a Clinton supporter on CNN said that letting the speech writer go would alleviate the problem.
Manafort makes it clear that Melania herself didn't plagiarize which I don't believe she did. I would blame the speech writer. Manfort makes it clear that Trump isn't firing anyone and adds to CBS,
"They're a couple of phrases. It's basically three places in the speech and its fragments of words," he said. "She knew what she was doing. And she never cribbed from another speech without acknowledging that she was quoting somebody else."
"We're talking about words like compassion, love of family, respect," Manafort added. "These are not words that are unique words, that belong to the Obamas."
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/paul-manafort-defends-melania-trumps-convention-speech/
You are allowing this to completely drown out the emotionally devastating speech Sean Smith’s mother gave last night and how it will resonate with voters. Hillary Clinton knows this and that’s why it’s bimbo eruption 101 all over again.
: Destroy Melania, take the focus off Smith.
Sean Smith could have been my son or yours. The average voter knows this too.
You can’t plagiarize cliches. They are often voiced and repeated without any identifiable source. That is why they are cliches. Mrs. Obama was not the first to use those phrases in public speaking.
Total non story. Most people could care less unless they are on the Never Trump wagon. The same points said are universal values. Move on and get over it. This whole thing is a nothing burger.
Thanks for the summary. In the big picture it is not consequential. If Trump had no “scandals” the media would invent them.
To say that “my word is my bond” or “keep promises” or “do what you say you’ll you do” is plagiarism is to repudiate the English language and it’s common usage. I’ve seen dumb libtards crap before but this inanity takes the wedding cake !
The only tools who'll fall for this bullshit 'story' are those who already hate us, along with their recent Cruzbot allies.
Let’s see the exact lines supposed taken.
If they are things like, “I love my family, and I think my husband will be a great _________.”, then we should absolutely recognize that those lines have been spoken not just in politics but in the world for thousands of years.
They are common thoughts.
Is there an UNCOMMON thought in the mix at all? Is there some policy line?
And did Nixon ‘crib’ Kennedy when he said “Ask not what your country can do for you...ask what you can do for yourself!”
Nope it was a response, a political point.
I don’t really care. Is someone going to grade Melania’s speech and it go on a permanent record like a University?
Speaking of grades where are Obama’s? Or is it Ibama?
I recall that 0bama plagiarized Devel Patrick’s “just words” speech, word for word, and another Devel Patrick speech as well. MLK plagiarized his doctoral thesis, and his “I have a dream” speech. Alex Haley plagiarized another author’s work, including it in his book, Roots. Biden has plagiarized speeches made by others.
So, you see, this is very common, but the media is focused now on derailing Trump, so they are in full scale attack mode.
The media will overdo this like they always do,by the end of the day she will look like a victim and be getting sympathy
"Let me ask you why is it that Morning Joe and I are always seen swimming around in that unflushed toilet over at msnbc?"
Further, to think that anyone ever listened to Mooshell or took note of what she said after her first time I’m proud rant is to place credence or noteworthy - Ness where none is deserved. Puhleez with this bullcrap. Puhleez.
Melania was born in Yugoslavia and managed to get out of Dodge before the SHTF by practicing the ethnic referenced in both her speech and Michelle’s. Melania lived it, Michelle talked about it but then complained about life as an Ivy league student. Neither woman owns these concepts as they are pretty universal.
I caught a bit of the Sixty Minutes interview and I saw a bit of Matt Lauer interview Trump this morning. Both interviewers took on the tone of calling Trump “into account” for some things he had said. They came across as a fussy school-marm.
Can you imagine them taken that tone with the witch?
Reminds me of when someone interviewing Ann Coulter strangely asking her if she had ever seen two women making love. Her reply: “Only when Katie Couric is interviewing Hillary Clinton.”
Here, they didn't go far enough. Let me help:
Evil Paul Manafort Weakly Denies Melania Trump Plagiarism Charge, But He's Such A Liar, What A Petty Little Creep, Vote For Hillary!
...so I wake up this morning, and I see a woman being attacked by the foaming rabid bitches in the media. I thought the left was the champion of oppressed women, yet they are the ones doing the oppressing. Hypocrites. Nothing but fraudulent hypocrites.
What was all that Moochele prattle about changing our history, first time proud of this country, etc.? Didn’t hear any of that last night.
The response should be that the difference between the speeches of Melania and the wookie is that to Melania, these words have real meaning and truth.To the wookie, they are just words.
If I were them I'd simply say, "great minds think alike," and let it go at that.