Does Political Plagiarism Matter to you?

[susankh4]

Just wondering whose constituencies plagiarism matters most to?

:think:

[Orrex]

1. It started bothering me for four score and seven years ago.

Scandalous!

[Dr. Strange]

4. Can you provide a Link-oln for that?

[Orrex]

6. I don't have it with me

I'm in Pittsburgh, but I left all of my citations at my Gettysburg address.

[madinmaryland]

5. Nice post. But you Orrex are no William Pitt!

[Orrex]

7. Maybe not, but...

Has William Pitt written a "Brazillions Joke" sonnet?


I didn't think so!

[madinmaryland]

8. Dude! You are no William Pitt....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=4434567

:rofl:

[Orrex]

11. Whoa! It's still no sonnet, but...

He got an F-Bomb out of CaliforniaPeggy! That must count for something!


Also, it's hysterical that the GP madness needed calming even back in '05.

[Iggo]

2. It bothers me.

And I have an Associates Degree.:headbang:

[Deep13]

3. Actual plagerism is stealing.

Using someone else's words with permission is not plagerism, but may be a little dishonest if no attribution is made. I don't think this thing with Obama is as bad as the Biden thing in 1988 was. In that case, Biden had lifted a speech from a UK politician almost word for word.

[JohnCheg]

9. Ask not

What you can plagiarize
Ask rather who might plagiarize you

[madinmaryland]

10. The only thing we have to plagiarize is plagierism itself!

:silly:

[Tyler Durden]

12. Ich bin ein PLAIGERISM.

[ExPatLeftist]

13. What a loaded poll!

Does political plagiarism "matter"? Reminds me of similarly obtuse questions such as "do you like freedom?" Of course most people do, but those simplistic questions are skewed in that they do not cover the specific ongoing conversation, and often try to prove a straw-man point or claim support where it does not exist.

I really think the debate here is what constitutes "political plagiarism", not whether people are "pro" or "con"... And I have lately seen the word "plagiarism" stretched way beyond its original meaning.

Fact is, since this country was started, the same or similar phrases have been used ceaselessly in political rhetoric. The Constitution is quoted all the time. Is that plagiarism? Not in my book. And not by definition either.

And what is the purpose of trying, arbitrarily, to tie it to educational level? Try to "prove" that those one side or the other of an argument is "stupid"?

I wonder how many fake votes were on that one as well...

I really wish that there was not such a focus here, from all sides, on scandal, tactics and phony outrage. I think more people are probably concerned with what kind of president these two would make than whether they use the theme of another's speech or whether they once lied or was a bit weasel-ish. They are politicians, and the sad fact is that all politicians use what we might consider sleazy tactics and they also all Lie, as they are only human. Pointing out that an individual politician does so is like singling out an individual in a pool and being outraged that she is wet.

Considering that, it seems pretty petty to be outraged that a politician may use a theme that they like from another's speech (similar to how people in other professions do the exact same thing).

So, to honestly answer the poll, I would say that plagiarism concerns me, yes, as would true plagiarism of a political nature (I do not know of a specific definition for this phrase "political plagiarism"), but if you are talking about the current arguments and accusations about both Obama and Clinton, then I do not care in the least about it, because it is weak, phony, petty, and distracts from the actual issues. Plus all the people freaking out over it, usually for blatantly partisan purposes, is extremely annoying.

[susankh4]

20. The point of tying it to an educational level is....

I think this accusation is aimed at a certain constituancy. That would be one of Barack's constituancies. And I am not sure how I feel about it.

On the one hand, I think it may be a rather genius move on the part of Hillary's advisors. Maybe Maggie Williams???

But... I can also see it going up in flames. Cuz, as much as I like Hillary..... this seems a very strange item for her camp to latch onto at this point. Counter-intuitive, if you will.

I was actually trying to avoid the "big boards" ... cuz I was concerned about too many responses only based on the sides folks are choosing. And that isn't my point, to be honest.

I was looking for thoughtful conversation.

[Oeditpus Rex]

14. The real question is:

How many different ways to spell "plagiarism" will we see here?



:popcorn:

[Renew Deal]

15. True plagiarism bothers me very much.

Stealing words and ideas in a very direct way bothers me. What's going on with Obama is BS.

[redqueen]

16. Why did you post this in the Lounge?

:wtf:

[susankh4]

17. Sorry if that's not right....

But

1) I wanted to avoid the hysteria in the GD board.

2) I was looking for some real democrats, and figured a "lounge" might be a good place to find them. <wink>

3) I am rather new to DU, and don't know all the rules yet.

[LeftyMom]

18. If I want to read gd:p I will read gd:p. Get this shit out of the lounge.

kthxbai.

[susankh4]

19. It was a simple question...

and I was trying to keep it out of the gutter.

If there is a way that I can move it now, I will.

[Orsino]

21. Thanks for your *concern* over this vital matter. n/t

[SteppingRazor]

22. EEWWWWW!! Political conversation in the Lounge?! Heresy!

:spank:

[kwassa]

23. Ask not for whom the poll plagiarizes; it plagiarizes for thee.

[Seeking Serenity]

24. I clicked "Not sure what plagiarism is"

With all the sturm und drang over at GD-P about this issue, I'm not entirely sure what plagiarism is anymore, not in the political context anyway.

[Ellen Forradalom]

25. Since when has a politician said anything original?

:shrug:

[Inchworm]

26. As president I promise to -insert wonderments-

And to get you to believe this -insert convincing statement here-.

I follow the beliefs of -insert loved speaker here- when I say -insert paraphrazed statement that mirrors said loved speaker here-

Vote for me because -insert loved speaker's name here- would want you to!

*pause for applause*

:hi: