Melania's speech

mule_eer

Freshman
May 6, 2002
20,438
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I forgot how much he lifted from others in his own speeches.
I'm not saying that he did or didn't cite others when he made those statements, but I don't have an issue if someone cites their reference. I honestly don't have a big problem with Mrs. Trump's speech either - I have more of an issue with them just denying that it was copied from Mrs. Obama. Own your mistakes and give credit where it is due.
 

bornaneer

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Jan 23, 2014
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Hillary Clinton: “No bank can be too big to fail, no executive too powerful to jail.” After the Obama campaign accused Clinton of stealing lines in 2008 — a claim supplemented by The New Republic, which accused her of stealing lines from then-Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) — she ought to have learned her lesson. But in 2016, she stole lines from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who responded by telling NBC News’ Meet the Press, jokingly: “We’re looking into the copyright issues here.” Clinton was accused of lifting other lines, too — and Sanders supporters responded on Twitter with the wry hashtag: #StealtheBern.
 

bornaneer

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Michelle Obama: “…the world as it should be.” In 2008, the aspiring First Lady was accused by bloggers of lifting lines for her DNC speech from Saul Alinsky. Alinsky wrote, in Rules for Radicals (emphasis added): “The standards of judgment must be rooted in the whys and wherefores of life as it is lived, the world as it is, not our wished-for fantasy of the world as it should be.” Michelle Obama said: “And Barack stood up that day, and he spoke words that have stayed with me ever since. He talked about ‘the world as it is‘ and ‘the world as it should be.'” (Perhaps Mr. Obama left out the attribution.)
 

mneilmont

Sophomore
Jan 23, 2008
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The sequence is a bit odd, but the context of the words are the same I have used many times. I have heard others use them many times. Tell me your path to success? How will you go about achieving your life's goals? There are not that many ways and words you can use to ask someone where they want to be eventually. How are you going to get there?

Answer will contain: education, hard work, get along with others, integrity in dealings with others, honor their request, etc.

There are only so many words to use to explain your goals and plans to achieve. Even the words to expand a thought are fairly limited to words used previously.

Assuming Mrs Trump actually wrote her own speech, I doubt she had interest in politics in 2009 to even listen to Mrs Obama speech. She may have done some research on prior speeches, but I doubt that she was careless enough to copy word for word her predecessor.

Other than "the first time in my life, I have been proud...... " speech was the only time I remember anything she said worth repeating. Really, how difficult would it have been to recall words and order in a speech 7.5 years ago, and compare to something last night? What would be the degree of difficulty to distinguish those words as being part of Mrs Obama's speech so long ago? I have heard the same words used by so many others at different times that it would have been near impossible to determine who used the words in near same order.
 

mule_eer

Freshman
May 6, 2002
20,438
58
48
The sequence is a bit odd, but the context of the words are the same I have used many times. I have heard others use them many times. Tell me your path to success? How will you go about achieving your life's goals? There are not that many ways and words you can use to ask someone where they want to be eventually. How are you going to get there?

Answer will contain: education, hard work, get along with others, integrity in dealings with others, honor their request, etc.

There are only so many words to use to explain your goals and plans to achieve. Even the words to expand a thought are fairly limited to words used previously.

Assuming Mrs Trump actually wrote her own speech, I doubt she had interest in politics in 2009 to even listen to Mrs Obama speech. She may have done some research on prior speeches, but I doubt that she was careless enough to copy word for word her predecessor.

Other than "the first time in my life, I have been proud...... " speech was the only time I remember anything she said worth repeating. Really, how difficult would it have been to recall words and order in a speech 7.5 years ago, and compare to something last night? What would be the degree of difficulty to distinguish those words as being part of Mrs Obama's speech so long ago? I have heard the same words used by so many others at different times that it would have been near impossible to determine who used the words in near same order.
I'm not going to assume Mrs. Trump is the one at fault. Someone is at fault though. I couldn't embed the CNN video, but the link is below.

politics/2016/07/19/melania-trump-michelle-obama-speech-similarities-side-by-side-sots.cnn
 

op2

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Mar 16, 2014
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On cnn.com right now is text from Melania's and Michelle's speeches with common text highlighted. Yes, a lot of it is the exact same words but the sentiments are generic stuff. I bet if you searched you could find others saying the same thing. There are only so many ways to express a sentiment.

Ever have a family member of someone at your office die and they pass around the condolence card and you think what you want to say and then look at the card and see someone else has already used the exact same words and so you have to change? That's happened to me plenty. I think it's the same thing with Melania's speech.

Why is it necessary for the spouse of a POTUS candidate to give a speech anyway? What's the point? I lot of this stuff is just silly.

ETA: Also, as silly as politics is it wouldn't shock me if this were a ploy by the Trump campaign. Have Melania say nice stuff, have people attack her for it being too close to what Michelle said and then that makes the other side look mean for picking on a nice woman that said nice stuff. Like I say, politics is silly.
 

mule_eer

Freshman
May 6, 2002
20,438
58
48
On cnn.com right now is text from Melania's and Michelle's speeches with common text highlighted. Yes, a lot of it is the exact same words but the sentiments are generic stuff. I bet if you searched you could find others saying the same thing. There are only so many ways to express a sentiment.

Ever have a family member of someone at your office die and they pass around the condolence card and you think what you want to say and then look at the card and see someone else has already used the exact same words and so you have to change? That's happened to me plenty. I think it's the same thing with Melania's speech.

Why is it necessary for the spouse of a POTUS candidate to give a speech anyway? What's the point? I lot of this stuff is just silly.
Watching them side-by-side is pretty telling. It's not exactly word for word, but it's pretty obvious that Michelle's was used as the pattern for Melania's with a few words changed. The order and some of the word choices make it obvious. If it stopped at hard work, your word is your bond, etc, I might not think that. The dreams part really highlights the issue.
 

MikeRafone

Freshman
Oct 5, 2011
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I was on this board then. Are you as condemning of a senator and VP who really has been in power? I remember Biden's interrogating of Bork and all I could think, who did he steal his questions from. Melania owes her achievements to her own work, not racial preference or lowering of standards. Michelle's own words.

Melania owes her achievements to genetics, surgery, nekkid pics and marrying a rich old fart.

Waking up to the King of Combovers every morning is an ordeal not many women would be willing to face. I guess she's earned it, but that could be said about most gold diggers. Anna Nicole Smith, where are you when your country needs you?

As for the convention last night, it was sad to watch. Chachi as a keynote speaker? They'd have been better off if Melania and Trump's daughter's would have lifted up their tops and jumped on trampolines in shifts on the podium.
 

WVUBRU

Freshman
Aug 7, 2001
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Melania owes her achievements to genetics, surgery, nekkid pics and marrying a rich old fart.

Waking up to the King of Combovers every morning is an ordeal not many women would be willing to face. I guess she's earned it, but that could be said about most gold diggers. Anna Nicole Smith, where are you when your country needs you?

As for the convention last night, it was sad to watch. Chachi as a keynote speaker? They'd have been better off if Melania and Trump's daughter's would have lifted up their tops and jumped on trampolines in shifts on the podium.
Chachi was not a keynote speaker. Just a b lister spouting off nonsense.
 

MikeRafone

Freshman
Oct 5, 2011
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But, but, but, he's Fonzies nephew! Not the keynote speaker? An insult to "Happy Days" and "Charles In Charge" fans across the country! This must be avenged!

For this alone, I'm not voting for Trump. Write in's for LaRouche anyone? He's saner than Donald and prettier than Hillary.
 

bornaneer

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But, but, but, he's Fonzies nephew! Not the keynote speaker? An insult to "Happy Days" and "Charles In Charge" fans across the country! This must be avenged!

For this alone, I'm not voting for Trump. Write in's for LaRouche anyone? He's saner than Donald and prettier than Hillary.
You and some of your friends actually still watch political conventions? I learned my lesson many years ago after watching Dan Rather and his ilk re-edit everything I had just seen. I've better things to do.....reruns of "Ice Road Truckers" are playing tonight and tomorrow its "Ancient Aliens" followed by "Cake Wars".
 

MikeRafone

Freshman
Oct 5, 2011
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I know the guy who used to be the dispatcher in Yellowknife on "Ice Road Truckers". He had a bad accident and wasn't able to drive again due to injuries. He pulled a Trump and is shacked up with a former dancer in Florida these days, the old goat.

That guy on Ancient Alien's hair kind of resembles Donald's. He doesn't have the swirls and the expensive industrial strength hair spray, but if he works hard he might one of these days.

I love to watch the conventions. Where else can you see pols that loathe one another kiss each others asses for four nights when they actually want to stick a fork in the others throat?
 

Airport

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Dec 12, 2001
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I think it was definitely copied, and they changed or added a couple of words. The order is the same, and the part about reaching for your dreams is a dead give away. I'm not really bothered by it as much as I'm amused by it. For all of the anti-Obama bluster from Trump, using Michelle's words in the potential first lady's address is purely comical.

With respect to the Biden thing that Airport mentioned, Biden dropped out of a presidential campaign because of his plagiarism. I'm not suggesting that Mrs. Trump do the same, only that it isn't correct to say that Biden got a pass for doing the same thing.

The last time I looked, Ms Trump wasn't running for elected office. Biden should never have been on any committee that required that Senator to organize his own thoughts.
 

Mdeer

Heisman
Apr 10, 2002
24,501
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LOL, is right. I'm amazed that some of you are stupid enough to believe it wasn't plagiarism. It was word for word in several instances. LOL!
Who cares if it was ? You really think this will change anybody's vote come November ?

You are more worried about this than Hilary's emails
 

Airport

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You were not posting on the ot board at that time. Quit lying.

Yes, I had commented on Biden's past plagiarized comments. He took a sword for it and that means a lot to me when someone screws up and is willing to admit their mistakes. Trump won't and it appears you won't either.

Where can you look to see when you started posting on it? I am somewhat old, 61 is the new 60, but I thought I was. As I have said, Melania is not running for office and is not a writer or author or anything other than his wife. There's only so many ways you can say somethings. By the way, english is not her native language. I wonder how well you could speak in front of thousands in the auditorium and millions more watching on television, in her native language?
 

Airport

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Who cares if it was ? You really think this will change anybody's vote come November ?

You are more worried about this than Hilary's emails

English isn't even her native language. I wonder how well these rubes on here that are criticizing her would do speaking in her native language in front of thousands, on a national stage under the bright lights? My guess is they would **** the bed.[poop]
 

WVUBRU

Freshman
Aug 7, 2001
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Where can you look to see when you started posting on it? I am somewhat old, 61 is the new 60, but I thought I was. As I have said, Melania is not running for office and is not a writer or author or anything other than his wife. There's only so many ways you can say somethings. By the way, english is not her native language. I wonder how well you could speak in front of thousands in the auditorium and millions more watching on television, in her native language?
Dude, i have been active on the ot board since 2001 and I can recognize most of the active members since then. You started posting on this board in 2014 or so even though from comments of others, it seems you have been on the blue lot for many years. Conversation on Biden took place mostly in 2008. Doesn't take a genius to figure this out.
 

mule_eer

Freshman
May 6, 2002
20,438
58
48
Where can you look to see when you started posting on it? I am somewhat old, 61 is the new 60, but I thought I was. As I have said, Melania is not running for office and is not a writer or author or anything other than his wife. There's only so many ways you can say somethings. By the way, english is not her native language. I wonder how well you could speak in front of thousands in the auditorium and millions more watching on television, in her native language?
Biden was busted for plagiarism in his 1988 run for president. If you didn't have a ton of thumb tacks, you weren't posting on any boards at that time.

If she were speaking in her native language, it would have been much more difficult for me to realize that she had plagiarized parts of her speech.

While I'm posting, did anyone else notice that her forehead nor her eyebrows moved during that whole speech. I'm not knocking her personal choice to get botox. If it's good enough for John Kerry, it's good enough for Melania Trump. I just wondered if I'm the only one who noticed.
 

Airport

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Dec 12, 2001
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Biden was busted for plagiarism in his 1988 run for president. If you didn't have a ton of thumb tacks, you weren't posting on any boards at that time.

If she were speaking in her native language, it would have been much more difficult for me to realize that she had plagiarized parts of her speech.

While I'm posting, did anyone else notice that her forehead nor her eyebrows moved during that whole speech. I'm not knocking her personal choice to get botox. If it's good enough for John Kerry, it's good enough for Melania Trump. I just wondered if I'm the only one who noticed.

She has a forehead and eye brows?[roll][roll][roll][roll] I did not stay up to watch the speech. First lady speeches aren't important.
 

Airport

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Dec 12, 2001
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Dude, i have been active on the ot board since 2001 and I can recognize most of the active members since then. You started posting on this board in 2014 or so even though from comments of others, it seems you have been on the blue lot for many years. Conversation on Biden took place mostly in 2008. Doesn't take a genius to figure this out.

Pretty sure I started on the OT board before 2 years ago. I have been on the blue lot for a long time.
 

Airport

All-American
Dec 12, 2001
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Biden was busted for plagiarism in his 1988 run for president. If you didn't have a ton of thumb tacks, you weren't posting on any boards at that time.

If she were speaking in her native language, it would have been much more difficult for me to realize that she had plagiarized parts of her speech.

While I'm posting, did anyone else notice that her forehead nor her eyebrows moved during that whole speech. I'm not knocking her personal choice to get botox. If it's good enough for John Kerry, it's good enough for Melania Trump. I just wondered if I'm the only one who noticed.

Does it really matter when a potential first lady speaks?
 

WVUBRU

Freshman
Aug 7, 2001
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Pretty sure I started on the OT board before 2 years ago. I have been on the blue lot for a long time.
You might have posted every once in a while but you haven't been active like you are now for more than a couple of years at the most.
 

Airport

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You might have posted every once in a while but you haven't been active like you are now for more than a couple of years at the most.

Maybe so. I thought I started around the time Romney ran.
 

mneilmont

Sophomore
Jan 23, 2008
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If she were speaking in her native language, it would have been much more difficult for me to realize that she had plagiarized parts of her speech.
You suggesting that you recognized the parallel while she was speaking last night? Damn, I would like to have your recall. Probably have heard those words in a thousand different forms since Mrs. Obama delivered hers.
 

mule_eer

Freshman
May 6, 2002
20,438
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You suggesting that you recognized the parallel while she was speaking last night? Damn, I would like to have your recall. Probably have heard those words in a thousand different forms since Mrs. Obama delivered hers.
Nope. I didn't watch any of it live. I did listen to the news this morning, and that's where I first heard the side-by-side comparison.
 

mneilmont

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Jan 23, 2008
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Nope. I didn't watch any of it live. I did listen to the news this morning, and that's where I first heard the side-by-side comparison.
You gave me a fright, my friend. That would have put me at too much of a handicap to discuss any differences with that kind of talent. Later
 

MikeRafone

Freshman
Oct 5, 2011
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As the old saying goes, "If you're going to steal, you might as well steal from the best." Way to go Melania!
 

MikeRafone

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Oct 5, 2011
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Better than getting there by marrying a rich coot old enough to be your father.

The disadvantages few hundred years of slavery and Jim Crow imposed on Black folks, the reason for Affirmative Action, goes right over your head doesn't it?

I can hear Trump talking to his handlers last night, " Call maintenance and have then up the air conditioning, you can't see her nips! That was the point of the tight white dress! "
 

Airport

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Dec 12, 2001
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Better than getting there by marrying a rich coot old enough to be your father.

The disadvantages few hundred years of slavery and Jim Crow imposed on Black folks, the reason for Affirmative Action, goes right over your head doesn't it?

I can hear Trump talking to his handlers last night, " Call maintenance and have then up the air conditioning, you can't see her nips! That was the point of the tight white dress! "

Actually, I don't have a problem with affirmative action, as long as the person who got pushed out is told and he/she is first in the next class. Melania would have been successful without Donald, she was a model before meeting him. I know all the problems that blacks have faced here. How have they fared in Africa? Is it better there under their own rule or here? Melania is a beautiful woman, Michelle isn't. Not fare to compare them based on attractiveness.
 

bornaneer

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That guy on Ancient Alien's hair kind of resembles Donald's. He doesn't have the swirls and the expensive industrial strength hair spray, but if he works hard he might one of these days.
You talkin bout this guy?
 

bamaEER

Freshman
May 29, 2001
32,435
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Borrowing heavily (I'm being kind) from Michelle's 2008 speech, that's just embarrassing. Trump needs to fire a speech writer or two, shew. It's no wonder that Trump likes to speak off the cuff with speech "writers" like that. smh
I just think it's a riot she stole Michelle Obama's speech, not Mrs Bush, Reagan, Nixon,etc. In whacko logic, that's akin to plagerizing Eva Braun.
 

Mntneer

Sophomore
Oct 7, 2001
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Better than getting there by marrying a rich coot old enough to be your father.

The disadvantages few hundred years of slavery and Jim Crow imposed on Black folks, the reason for Affirmative Action, goes right over your head doesn't it?

I can hear Trump talking to his handlers last night, " Call maintenance and have then up the air conditioning, you can't see her nips! That was the point of the tight white dress! "

It's the difference between teaching a man and giving a man.