Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

malaise

(297,147 posts) Tue Jul 19, 2016, 03:05 PM Jul 2016

Chances that Melania Trump didn't plagiarize Michelle Obama? Less than one in a trillion [View all]

It looks like it's pretty safe to rule out any chance that Melania Trump's plagiarism of Michelle Obama's convention speech was an accident. Despite some defenders saying Melania Trump lifted words "coincidentally," the Washingtonian used Turnitin.com to find that "the likelihood that a 16-word match," like the one between Trump's speech and Obama's, is "'just a coincidence' is less than 1 in a trillion." The longest match between the two speeches is 23 words:

http://theweek.com/speedreads/636988/chances-that-melania-trump-didnt-plagiarize-michelle-obama-less-than-1-trillion

18 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Chances that Melania Trump didn't plagiarize Michelle Obama? Less than one in a trillion [View all] malaise Jul 2016 OP

The really hilarious thing is that the speechwriter also rickrolled her: Nye Bevan Jul 2016 #1

Hehehehehhe malaise Jul 2016 #4

It's absolutely hilarious watching Republicans try to defend this flaming turd. sarae Jul 2016 #2

It's crazy malaise Jul 2016 #5

So you're telling me there's a chance! Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2016 #3

Just a little mistake malaise Jul 2016 #6

Now they're so desperate, they're quoting Sparkle Pony to try to deflect suffragette Jul 2016 #7

Four times greater than winning PowerBall. lpbk2713 Jul 2016 #8

Oh My malaise Jul 2016 #9

Bad math on my part. lpbk2713 Jul 2016 #10

I was hoping someone would figure this out! Thanks! HuckleB Jul 2016 #11

I knew someone would check Turnitin malaise Jul 2016 #15

Nice. HuckleB Jul 2016 #16

It was kind of plagiarism a school kid would do Trekologer Jul 2016 #12

I once had a student who stole two sentences from malaise Jul 2016 #17

This involves math and science... tallahasseedem Jul 2016 #13

K&R Solly Mack Jul 2016 #14

1 in a trillion for a 16-word match. What about a 23-word match? SunSeeker Jul 2016 #18