19 February 2008

Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it, doomed to repeat it, doomed to repeat it

Much to-do in the MSM over 'plagiarism' accusations between the Clinton and Obama campaigns, with point-counterpoint videos showing up on YouTube.
Supposedly Obama 'stole' lines from a speech by Deval Patrick, given back in 2006.
The first one cited is "We hold these truths to be self-evident..."
The second one cited is "We have nothing to fear but fear itself..."
The third one cited is "Ask not what your country can do for you..."
The fourth one cited is "I have a dream..."

Now, is it suspicious that Obama used the same set of quotes (though only three of the four and not in the same order)? Sure.
Is it plagiarism? No. ('Inspired by' isn't the same.)
Because Patrick lifted them all himself, from the Declaration of Independence, FDR, JFK, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
First of all, if you steal from a thief, is it theft?
And, if you're going to steal (like Patrick did), steal from the best.

Rico says it's much ado about nothing. Oops. seems somebody named Shakespeare already said that... (And the headline for this post? Georges Santayana. See how easy plagiarism is?)

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