Posted on 07/06/2006 9:36:05 PM PDT by churchillbuff
Universal Press Syndicate issued a statement this afternoon saying it might look into the plagiarism allegations against Ann Coulter in two possible ways.
"We'll see what we can find on our own," said Kathie Kerr, the syndicate's director of communications, noting that Universal would use the information referenced in Sunday's New York Post article. That story quoted John Barrie, creator of the iThenticate plagiarism-probing system, who said he had easily found several examples of alleged plagiarism in Coulter's new "Godless" book and in her Universal columns from the past year. Several blogs had earlier found these and other examples.
Kerr added that Universal may also use a plagiarism-finding tool from Barrie's company.
The Universal spokeswoman said Barrie has yet to return her call (he hasn't returned E&P's calls either), but added that she did hear from a sales-division person at the iParadigms company with which Barrie is affiliated. Kerr said she was told that iParadigms wasn't sure if it "could provide the same information about Coulter as was given to the Post," but that the syndicate "could subscribe to the service that provided the information" to that newspaper.
"This tool is a service sold through subscription on LexisNexis," said Kerr. "We use the research tool on LexisNexis quite a bit. The plagiarism tool is called Copyguard and is about a year old. We'll want to set up a trial period and of course get pricing on this tool, but it sounds like something that would benefit us. I don't know how long it will take to get a trial period set up."
Universal syndicates Coulter's column to more than 100 newspapers.
RIP, RWP.
Did you ever find out what happened? Or is that too rude of a question?
" Some people can't handle truth without the treacle."
It's really funny you should say that. 'Some people' comes back to FR like a boomerang.
I often criticizeed Peggy Noonan for the treacle in her writing. You couldn't read it without getting diabetes.
But in the last couple of months, Peggy's gotten fed up with deficit spending and ever-increasing government bloat. She's dropped the treacle and come out swinging like a real conservative.
The bots [hereinafter referred to as 'some people'] can't handle the criticism and have commenced trashing Peggy Noonan.
The ad hominems you read are so often attackers describing themselves you wonder how much integrity is left in political discourse.
We remember differently. Biden was savaged for his wholesale appropriation of Neil Kinnocks (sp?) speach and was forced out of the Presidential race. To some extent his career has never recovered from that.
I gut me e a edumacation
What makes you think that?
I am well aware of Biden's history as it was national news. I am curious, though, as to what bearing does it have on your totally misreading the intent of my post.
I haven't read all the replies yet, but I'll bet it won't be long before some "Freeper" says/whines, "...well, Ann brought all this on herself."
First, do you have any idea of the length of a twenty five words? - Just asking that question took 14 words and has no descriptive adjectives. Second, most likely the words she allegedly plagered may have been quoted to prove a point as to the position of the left. I highly doubt she was presenting a pro-death position as her own thought. Third, it may have been a common position that has been stated so often that it is public domain. And fourth, twenty five words in a book of how many words?
Anyway, Mark Steyn himself has committed something along these lines, it appears, also. I'm as big a fan of Mark as anyone here, but couldn't help but be disappointed and said so.
We don't give our military a pass when plausible claims of atrocity come up ... why go into denial for columnists?
That's the thing- it doesn't make sense. It would be nice to see what the papers are referring to.
What ever you don't Cheat on Her, "SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: Could be very hazardous to your health."
You look like a DU troll to me.
Any guy who'd "cheat" on Ann Coulter needs his head examined - plus his eyes and a few other things.
LOL, yes, my absolute favorite kind of thread; excellent troll bait!
They just can't help themselves.
Sounds like they are trying to make paraphrasing other works plagiarism ... but only for conservative authors.
Where was there ever a big stink on Ward Churchill?
That's what I was thinking when I read this story about plagiarism, "the, and, but and moreover." Ann Coulter is one of the most original authors with a keen command of creative language that I have ever read. What's bugging these people is that she is so original and can turn a phrase as no one else can. I detect the green eyes of jealously in their pending witch hunt. Instead of hurting "Godless" sales, it will help sell her book.
Friday Story Dump in order to give something for the dying media to talk about on sunday.
Seriously, The company is OWNED by a Moveon.org supporter who is also a founder of a leftwing radical antiwar group.
I would just LOVE to see Ann file a damages suit against them. They SCREAM plagerism but whisper "ooops never mind."
Partial list, so far:
"Read My Lips: No New Liberals,” Aug. 5, 2005
Example 1: "As New Hampshire attorney general in 1977, Souter opposed the repeal of an 1848 state law that made abortion a crime even though Roe v. Wade had made it irrelevant, predicting that if the law were repealed, New Hampshire 'would become the abortion mill of the United States.'"
Alleged Source: "In 1977, Souter as state attorney general spoke out against a proposed repeal of an 1848 state law that made abortion a crime -- even though the measure had been largely invalidated by the Supreme Court in Roe. vs. Wade… 'Quite apart from the fact that I don't think unlimited abortions ought to be allowed . . . I presume we would become the abortion mill of the United States[.]'" ("Liberals Leery as New Clues Surface on Souters Views," Los Angeles Times, Sept. 9, 1990)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 2: "He filed a brief arguing that the state should not have to pay for poor women to have abortions — or, as the brief called it, "the killing of unborn children" and the "destruction of fetuses." At this point the only people more opposed to abortion than Souter were still in vitro."
Alleged Source: "The year before, Souter had filed a legal brief arguing that the state should not have to pay for abortions for poor women. Abortion was referred to as "the killing of unborn children" and the "destruction of fetuses."" An assistant attorney general has said that he, not Souter, wrote the brief. (Ibid)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 3: "Also as state attorney general, Souter defended the governor's practice of lowering the flag to half-staff on Good Friday, arguing that "lowering of the flag to commemorate the death of Christ no more establishes a religious position on the part of the state or promotes a religion than the lowering of the flag for the death of Hubert Humphrey promotes the cause of the Democratic Party in New Hampshire."
Alleged Source: "In 1978, Gov. Meldrim Thomson exhorted state employees to 'reverently observe Good Friday' and ordered flags flown at half staff to 'memorialize the death of Christ on the Cross.' A federal judge struck down the order as a violation of the First Amendment's ban on an 'establishment of religion.' Souter appealed, arguing that Jesus Christ is a 'historical' figure. 'The lowering of the flag to commemorate the death of Christ no more establishes a religious position on the part of the state or promotes a religion than the lowering of the flag for the death of Humbert Humphrey promotes the cause of the Democratic Party in New Hampshire,' Souter wrote." (Ibid)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 4: "Souter vowed in a newspaper interview to 'do everything we can to uphold the law' allowing public school children to recite the Lord's Prayer every day."
Alleged Source: "In 1975, the New Hampshire Legislature gave elementary schools the authority to recite 'the traditional Lord's Prayer' each day, despite earlier Supreme Court decisions barring such activity. In a newspaper interview, Souter promised to 'do everything we can to uphold the law,' but a federal judge struck it down as 'patently and obviously unconstitutional.'" (Ibid)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 5: "As a justice on the New Hampshire Supreme Court, Souter dismissively referred to abortion as something 'necessarily permitted under Roe v. Wade' — not exactly the 'fundamental right' he seems to think it is now."
Alleged Source: "In 1986, the New Hampshire Supreme Court upheld a woman's right to sue her doctor because he did not test for potential birth defects and advise her of the option of abortion. In a concurring statement, Souter referred to abortion not as a fundamental right, but as being "necessarily permitted under Roe vs. Wade[.]" (Ibid)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 6: "In a private speech — not a brief on behalf of a client — Souter attacked affirmative action, calling it 'affirmative discrimination.'"
Alleged Source: "In a May, 1976, speech reported in a newspaper account, Souter said he opposed affirmative action, calling it 'affirmative discrimination.'" (Ibid)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 7: Souter openly proclaimed his support for the 'original intent' in interpreting the Constitution.
Alleged Source: "Souter has declared himself a believer in the strict 'original intent' view of interpreting the Constitution." (Ibid)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
"Thou Shalt Not Commit Religion," June 29, 2005
Example 1: "A photo of a woman breastfeeding an infant, titled 'Jesus Sucks.' — NEA-funded performance"
Alleged Source: "One photo showed a woman breastfeeding an infant; it was titled Jesus Sucks.'" ("Heritage Backgrounder No. 803: The National Endowment for the Arts: Misusing Taxpayers' Money," Jan. 18, 1991. The Heritage Foundation (not available online))
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 2: "A photo of a newborn infant with its mouth open titled to suggest the infant was available for oral sex. — NEA-funded performance"
Alleged Source: "The title of a photo of a newborn infant with its mouth open suggested the infant was available for oral sex." (Ibid.)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 3: "'F—- a Fetus' poster showing an unborn baby with the caption: 'For all you folks who consider a fetus more valuable than a woman, have a fetus cook for you, have a fetus affair, go to a fetus' house to ease your sexual frustration.' — NEA-funded performance"
Alleged Source: "Sister Serpents Fuck a Fetus poster depicting an unborn baby with the heading 'For all you folks who consider a fetus more valuable than a woman, have a fetus cook for you, have a fetus affair, go to a fetus' house to ease your sexual frustration[.]'" (Ibid.)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 4: "Performance of giant bloody tampons, satanic bunnies, three-foot feces and vibrators. — NEA-funded performance"
Alleged Source: "Props such as giant bloody tampons, satanic bunnies, three-foot turds, and dildos." (Ibid.)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 5: "A novel depicting the sexual molestation of a group of 10 children in a pedophile's garage, including acts of bestiality, with the children commenting on how much they enjoyed the pedophilia. — NEA-funded publisher"
Alleged Source: "Experimental novel titled Saturday Night at San Marcos relates the sexual molestation of a group of 10 children in a pedophile's garage, including acts of bestiality. The children relate how much they enjoyed the pedophile's sex games." (Ibid.)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 6: "Christ submerged in a jar of urine. — NEA-funded exhibit"
Alleged Source: "'Piss Christ' featured Christ on a cross in a vat of the artist's own urine." (“How the NEA Pollutes American Culture,” The Boston Globe, Jan. 24, 1995)
(Identified by Raw Story & The Rude Pundit)
Example 7: "A female performer inserting a speculum into her vagina and inviting audience members on stage to view her cervix with a flashlight. — NEA-funded performance"
Alleged Source: "Sprinkle masturbates with sex toys and, inserting a speculum into her vagina, invites audience members on stage to view her cervix with a flashlight." ("Heritage Backgrounder No. 803: The National Endowment for the Arts: Misusing Taxpayers' Money," Jan. 18, 1991. The Heritage Foundation, December, 1993 (not available online))
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 8: "A performance of large, sexually explicit props covered with Bibles performing a wide variety of sex acts and concluding with a mass Bible-burning. — NEA-funded performance (canceled by the venue in response to citizen protests)"
Alleged Source: "Create large sexually explicit props covered with a generous layer of requisitioned Bibles. After employing these props in a wide variety of unholy rituals, SRL machines will burn them to ashes." (Ibid.)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 9: "A show titled "DEGENERATE WITH A CAPITAL D" featuring a display of the remains of the artist's own aborted baby. — NEA-funded exhibit"
Alleged Source: "Put on a show called Degenerate with a Capital D, which included Alchemy Cabinet by Shawn Eichman, featuring the remains of the artist's own aborted baby." (Ibid.)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 10: "A play titled 'Sincerity Forever,' depicting Christ using obscenities and endorsing any and all types of sexual activities as consistent with Biblical teaching. — NEA-funded exhibit"
Alleged Source: "'Christ' uses vulgar obscenities and condones any and all types of sexual activities as being consistent with Christ's Biblical teaching." (Ibid.)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
BOOKS
Godless
Example 1, Page 5: “The massive Dickey-Lincoln Dam, a $227 million hydroelectric project proposed on upper St. John River in Maine, was halted by the discovery of the Furbish lousewort, a plant previously believed to be extinct.”
Alleged Source: “The massive Dickey-Lincoln Dam, a $ 227 million hydroelectric project proposed on upper St. John River, is halted by the discovery of the Furbish lousewort, a plant believed to be extinct.” (“People and events that made Maine's century,” Portland Press-Herald, Dec. 12, 1999 (Not available online))
(Identified by Rude Pundit, John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 2, Page 37: “...the judge called it "inconceivable" that Tiffany's injuries were caused by wrestling moves. After the trial, Tate's new lawyers admitted that the "wrestling defense" was "bogus."”
Alleged Source: “...the presiding Judge said that it was “inconceivable” that Tiffany Eunick’s injuries were caused by Lionel Tate mimicking wrestling moves. Indeed, since the trial ended, Lionel Tate’s new lawyers have filed court papers in which they admit that the “wrestling defense” was, in their words, “bogus.”” (“Retraction to WWE And the Public," Parents Television Council, July 11, 2002)
(Identified by Rude Pundit)
Example 3, Page 95: “As the president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, Pickering presided over a meeting where the convention adopted a resolution calling for legislation to outlaw abortion.”
Alleged Source: "As the president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, Judge Pickering presided over a 1984 meeting where the convention adopted a resolution calling for legislation to outlaw abortion." ("About Planned Parenthood," Planned Parenthood Federation of America pamphlet, 2004 (Not available online))
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
Example 4, Page 209: “It’s also possible that galactic ruler Xenu brought billions of people to Earth 75 million years ago, piled them around volcanoes, and blew them up with hydrogen bombs, sending their souls flying every which way until they landed on the bodies of living humans, where they still invisibly reside today – as Scientology’s L. Ron Hubbard claimed.”
Alleged Source: “Yes, according to Scientology doctrine, a galactic ruler named Xenu brought billions of people to Earth 75 million years ago, stacked them around volcanoes and blew them up with hydrogen bombs. Their souls then clustered together and stuck to the bodies of the living.” ("Pity This Blushing Bride-To-Be,” San Francisco Chronicle, July 3, 2005)
(Identified by John Barrie/New York Post)
High Crimes and Misdemeanors
Example 1, Page 219: "At least four Democratic fund-raising officials have revealed that former DNC Finance Chairman Marvin Rosen explicitly advocated selling access to the president . . ."
Alleged Source: "Four Democratic fundraisers have stated that former DNC Finance Chairman Marvin Rosen explicitly advocated selling access to the President. . ." ("A Case for Impeachment," David Chapman, Human Events)
(Identified by David Chapman/Boston Globe)
Example 2, Page [TK]: "A DNC fundraiser told Nynex Corporation executives that they would receive invitations to White House coffees if they joined the DNC's 'Managing Trustees' program and agreed to donate $100,000 . . ."
Alleged Source: "A DNC fundraiser told Nynex executives they would receive invitations to White House 'coffees' if they joined the DNC's 'Managing Trustees' program and agreed to donate $100,000 . . ." (Ibid.)
(Identified by David Chapman/Boston Globe)
I very much doubt even the powerful Apple could copyright the letter 'i'...
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