Obama Caught in the Act!

By Pamela Mortimer

Barack Obama has been known for using rhetoric in his speeches throughout his presidential campaign. Monday, Hillary Clinton’s camp pointed out that it might serve Obama better if he actually used his own words. Obama has been accused of swiping a speech from Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, made when he was campaigning for office two years ago.

In a speech delivered in October 2006, Patrick responded to critics’ accusations that he was spouting hollow words by saying:

"‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ 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?"

During Saturday’s Wisconsin Democratic Party Dinner in Milwaukee, Senator Obama used the same sentiment, almost verbatim:

"Don’t tell me words don’t matter," Obama said. "‘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?"

Some critics made the immediate charge of plagiarism upon hearing the speech. On Monday, Obama admitted that he should have given Governor Patrick credit for the speech. Obama added that Patrick is a longtime friend and adviser who shares similar speech writing techniques.

"Look, I was on the stump and he had suggested we use these lines. I thought they were good lines," Obama said during a tour of a titanium plant in Ohio. Asked if he should have given Patrick credit, Obama said: "I’m sure I should have. Didn’t this time."
"I’m happy to give Deval credit, as I give to a lot of people for spurring all kinds of ideas," Obama said. "But I think it’s fair to say that everything that we’ve been doing and generating, the excitement and the interest people have in the election, is based on the core belief in me that we need change in America. And that’s been heartfelt and that’s why I think it’s been so effective."

Obama later commented that it was cynical for Clinton to complain about his motivational abilities.

"If you are not involved, if young people especially are not involved, so that we can form a working majority for change, then nothing’s going to happen. So I make no apologies for being able to talk good," he said.

"…being able to talk good?" Seriously.

Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe claims that Senator Clinton’s attack on the plagiarism issue is a tactic to avoid her inability to combat Obama’s oratorical skills.

"I think it’s a curious charge coming from Senator Clinton, who actually repeatedly throughout this campaign has used language that Senator Obama used. … Senator Obama’s language has been copied by the Clinton campaign," Plouffe said.