The Desperate And Pathetic Clinton Attack Machine

In a transparent attempt to make an issue out of a non-issue, the Clinton campaign is leveling charges of plagiarism against Obama based on a speech he made. For those who aren’t already familiar with the context, here are the facts. Obama, upon the advice of his friend Deval Patrick (Governor of Massachusetts), used a similar appeal to one that Patrick himself used in a speech in 2006. Here is the text of both passages:

Patrick’s 2006 Speech:

“I hear it a lot… that all I have to offer is words, just words. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident,’ just words? Just words? ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself.’ Just words? ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.’ Just words? ‘I have a dream’-- just words?"

Obama’s Speech:

”Don’t tell me words don’t matter. 'I have a dream’— just words? ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal’ — just words? ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself’ — just words? Just speeches?”

Now, the first thing to note is that both men are quoting third parties, and neither is claiming that the words are their own. Everyone knows who first uttered the phrases “I have a dream”, “We hold these truths to be self-evident…”, and “We have nothing to fear but fear itself”. Neither Patrick nor Obama originated these words, and neither of them presented the words as if they were their own. So, what is left?

There are two words left in common between the two speeches – “just words” – and these two words make up the sum total of the alleged plagiarism. What was Obama supposed to say?