Obama Defends Use of Mass. Gov.'s Words

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO -- Barack Obama visited a titanium plant in Ohio today where he spoke about job loss and the economy. However, he could not evade questions about alleged plagiarism and his speeches.

"I've written two books, wrote most of my speeches, so I think putting aside the question that you just raised in terms of whether my words are my own, I think that would be carrying it too far," Obama told a reporter at press conference in Niles.

Regarding the issue of whether or not he lifted words from one of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's speeches, Obama said the two are friends.

"Deval and I do trade ideas all the time, and he's occasionally used lines of mine and I, at a JJ dinner in Wisconsin, I used some words of his."

Obama was quick to point fingers at Hillary Clinton, who he says has used his words on the stump.

"When Senator Clinton says its time to turn the page in one of her stump speeches or says she's fired up and ready to go, I don't think that anybody suggests that somehow she's not focused on the issues that she's focused on."

Obama is campaigning in Ohio and Wisconsin today, where he has been aggressively pursing the blue collar vote. He has been touting his own economic policy and criticizing Clinton for her support of NAFTA and permanent trade relations with China.

"Now the years after her husband signed NAFTA, Senator Clinton touted the free trade agreement as First Lady and called it a victory in her book. She also supported permanent trade with China when she was running for the Senate," Obama argued.

"Now that she is running for president she says that we need a time out on trade. No one knows exactly when this time out will end, may be after the election."

Obama also spoke about his meeting with John Edwards yesterday, which he said was the first time the two met in person since Edwards suspended his campaign. Obama said Edwards is still mulling over the idea of an endorsement and that a decision is not imminent.

However, Obama emphasized that meeting with voters is more valuable to his campaign than are big endorsements.

"Right now what I think is most important is for me to make sure that I'm getting out and talking to voters and we may be getting to the stage of the campaign where endorsements are helpful," Obama said.

"But what's most helpful ultimately is that people have a sense that I will be fighting for them in the White House, that my priorities are their priorities. If they know that, then endorsements will probably have less sway."

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by pilgrimsway-2009 February 20, 2008 1:18 AM EST: Man files Federal Lawsuit against Obama regarding GAY bj''''s and drug use claims

A man named Larry Sinclair posted a video to YouTube claiming to have used cocaine and engaged in a gay BJ act with Obama when Obama was a state legislator in 1999.

In the video, Sinclair claims he and Obama met on two separate occasions, that Obama used crack cocaine and that Sinclair performed oral BJ on Obama both evenings.

Now Obama and company are quickly trying to quiet this man, but Sinclair has filed a federal lawsuit. Sinclair filed suit against Obama and his campaign guru David Axelrod in Minnesota district court for allegedly attempting to abridge Sinclair''''s right to free speech, and for waging an intimidation campaign against him.

check out the video on youtube for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=sVeFVtcdSY

Plaintiff: Larry Sinclair
Defendant: Barack Obama, David Axelrod and Democratic National Committee

Case Number: 0:2008cv00360
Filed: February 11, 2008

Court: Minnesota District Court
Office: DMN Office [ Court Info ]
County: St. Louis

http://obamawho.wordpress.com/20
08/02/16/obama-faces-lawsuit/; Reply to this comment


by pilgrimsway-2009 February 20, 2008 1:14 AM EST: Move over Martin Luther King Jr! Obama is here to replace your dream! Maybe if you were alive you could look up to Him as your mentor! In any case you would carry Obamas luggage for His dream not your dream!; Reply to this comment


by tbweb February 20, 2008 1:00 AM EST: Posted by libra127 at 01:43 PM : Feb 19, 2008,,,

I don''t support Obama but I must admit I find myself defending him a lot and I think its because I just want to see a clean campaign! There were also several occasions when I supported Clinton when I thought she was unfairly treated, I almost feel like I''m playing the role of campaign referee and I like it! Look, Obama said he should have referenced his source, said it was a mistake and took the hit! The Voters in Wisconsin obviously forgave him and as a result Clinton has just lost her 9th State in a row! So its all academic as they say, Hillary needs to score points on the issues, no side shows!; Reply to this comment


by libra127 February 19, 2008 4:43 PM EST: "Her assertion that using words WITH permission is "plagiarism" is baloney."
Posted by alicethebat at 07:32 AM : Feb 19, 2008

When the accusation was made, it wasn''t known that Patrick had given Obama "permission", so your charge of baloney is....baloney. Nonetheless, plagerism is not an issue of permission. If you are using someone else''s text, you need to use quotes and reference the author. Anything else is pretending the words are your own. This doesn''t apply when you are using cliches (like "let''s turn the page" or "yes we can"), which is what Obama nonsensically accused Hillary of doing.; Reply to this comment


by alicethebat February 19, 2008 10:32 AM EST: As a voter in Clinton''s key demographic group (middle-aged females), I''ve been a supporter of her campaign until quite recently.

However, I''ve become very saddened by petty incidents like this and the earlier missteps by Bill.

Her assertion that using words WITH permission is "plagiarism" is baloney. Even more saddening is her seemingly genuine belief that someone can''t be inspirational and practical at the same time.

Six months ago, the press was criticizing Obama for being too dry, too pedantic and too focused on often-unpopular, detail-oriented plans.

I don''t hear that criticism much anymore -- it''s been replaced by swiftboating from the candidate that I formerly loved -- but the plans are still there, and they''re still just as detailed, if anyone cares to notice.

At this point, I wholeheartedly support Barack Obama for president. He is inspirational, unifying, honest and meticulous. I wish him the best of luck.; Reply to this comment


by alicethebat February 19, 2008 10:29 AM EST: As a voter in Clinton''s key demographic group (middle-aged females), I''ve been a supporter of her campaign until quite recently.

However, I''ve become very saddened by petty incidents like this and the earlier missteps by Bill.

Her assertion that using words WITH permission is "plagiarism" is baloney. Even more saddening is her seemingly genuine belief that someone can''t be inspirational and practical at the same time.

Six months ago, the press was criticizing Obama for being too dry, too pedantic and too focused on often-unpopular, detail-oriented plans.

I don''t hear that criticism much anymore -- it''s been replaced by swiftboating from the candidate that I formerly loved -- but the plans are still there, and they''re still just as detailed, if anyone cares to notice.

At this point, I wholeheartedly support Barack Obama for president. He is inspirational, unifying, honest and meticulous. I wish him the best of luck.; Reply to this comment


by jaykay221 February 19, 2008 8:14 AM EST: "There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be fixed by what is right about America," Mrs Clinton, in a speech to a Hispanic group this week.

"There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America,", Bill Clinton - 20 January 1993.; Reply to this comment


by jaykay221 February 19, 2008 8:11 AM EST: "There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be fixed by what is right about America," Mrs Clinton, in a speech to a Hispanic group this week.

"There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America,", Bill Clinton - 20 January 1993.; Reply to this comment


by samthetvcat February 19, 2008 4:08 AM EST: "You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose."
%u2014Mario Cuomo, New Republic, 1985

http://www.wordspy.com/waw/20021009113332.asp

Ah ha ha - great find dinslc!; Reply to this comment


by dinslc February 19, 2008 3:55 AM EST: In New Hampshire, Hillary defended her earnest speaking style by saying (in an indirect reference to Mr. Obama) "you campaign in poetry, you govern in prose."

SHE plagiarized.

That particular political maxim was first uttered in a 1985 speech at Yale University, by Mr. Cuomo.; Reply to this comment