Comments on: The night the plagiarism charge died http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/22/the-night-the-plagiarism-charge-died/ Human Animals at the Crossroads of Culture, Science, Religion and Media Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:17:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: grumpypilgrim http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/22/the-night-the-plagiarism-charge-died/#comment-16395 grumpypilgrim Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:58:28 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/22/the-night-the-plagiarism-charge-died/#comment-16395 The plagiarism charge might matter if Obama were in a forum that required complete originality -- such as when submitting a college term paper. Obviously, a political speech is not such a forum. Moreover, a speech is more than mere words. Two speakers can use the same words yet produce profoundly different results, just as two different people can tell the same joke yet produce vastly different amounts of laughter. To charge Obama with plagiarismzed without mentioning the impact he achieved by his delivery ignores this important factor. (Of course, Hillary had good reason to ignore it: she conspicuously fails to generate similar impact with her own delivery.) What I don't understand is why Hillary persists with her pathetic attacks -- one day declaring herself "proud" to share the same stage with Obama, the next lambasting him with such a petty charge. Whether Hillary is doing it because she lacks good judgment or because she's getting bad campaign advice doesn't matter: either way the mud lands on her and voters move to Obama. It's disappointing to see such an accomplished candidate implode the way Hillary has. Then again, McCain imploded last year and now he's the Republican nominee, so one never knows. The plagiarism charge might matter if Obama were in a forum that required complete originality — such as when submitting a college term paper. Obviously, a political speech is not such a forum.

Moreover, a speech is more than mere words. Two speakers can use the same words yet produce profoundly different results, just as two different people can tell the same joke yet produce vastly different amounts of laughter. To charge Obama with plagiarismzed without mentioning the impact he achieved by his delivery ignores this important factor. (Of course, Hillary had good reason to ignore it: she conspicuously fails to generate similar impact with her own delivery.)

What I don’t understand is why Hillary persists with her pathetic attacks — one day declaring herself “proud” to share the same stage with Obama, the next lambasting him with such a petty charge. Whether Hillary is doing it because she lacks good judgment or because she’s getting bad campaign advice doesn’t matter: either way the mud lands on her and voters move to Obama. It’s disappointing to see such an accomplished candidate implode the way Hillary has. Then again, McCain imploded last year and now he’s the Republican nominee, so one never knows.

]]> By: projektleiterin http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/22/the-night-the-plagiarism-charge-died/#comment-16347 projektleiterin Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:10:14 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/22/the-night-the-plagiarism-charge-died/#comment-16347 Thank you, Erich. I will forward it. Thank you, Erich. I will forward it.

]]> By: Erich Vieth http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/22/the-night-the-plagiarism-charge-died/#comment-16304 Erich Vieth Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:01:32 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/22/the-night-the-plagiarism-charge-died/#comment-16304 Barack Obama's site has a large section on Women's Issues, and he is clearly gaining the support of many women's groups with his strong pro-woman stands. The sub-topics on his site include: Health care issues: Health care system changes, Empowering women to preven HIV/AIDS, Supporting Research into Women's Health, Fighting Cancer (including breast cancer); Reproductive Choice: Supporting a woman's right to choose & Preventing Unwanted pregnancy. Preventing Violence Against Women Economic Issues for Women (fighting for Pay Equity and Investing in Women-owned small businesses and Improving Child Support Collection, among other economic issues). Other major divisions include Poverty and Education. http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/womenissues You have to dig past the front page of Obama's site to get to these, but that is true of many other issues addressed in his site. Those issues directed to the specific interests of various constituencies are addressed under the category "People" rather than "Issues." For an indication of the extent of the support Obama is getting from women, visit this link: http://women.barackobama.com/page/content/WFOhome Barack Obama’s site has a large section on Women’s Issues, and he is clearly gaining the support of many women’s groups with his strong pro-woman stands. The sub-topics on his site include:

Health care issues: Health care system changes, Empowering women to preven HIV/AIDS, Supporting Research into Women’s Health, Fighting Cancer (including breast cancer);

Reproductive Choice: Supporting a woman’s right to choose & Preventing Unwanted pregnancy.

Preventing Violence Against Women

Economic Issues for Women (fighting for Pay Equity and Investing in Women-owned small businesses and Improving Child Support Collection, among other economic issues).

Other major divisions include Poverty and Education.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/womenissues

You have to dig past the front page of Obama’s site to get to these, but that is true of many other issues addressed in his site. Those issues directed to the specific interests of various constituencies are addressed under the category “People” rather than “Issues.”

For an indication of the extent of the support Obama is getting from women, visit this link: http://women.barackobama.com/page/content/WFOhome

]]> By: projektleiterin http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/22/the-night-the-plagiarism-charge-died/#comment-16299 projektleiterin Sun, 24 Feb 2008 10:16:33 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/22/the-night-the-plagiarism-charge-died/#comment-16299 On some feminist blogs that I read he gets called sexist and he also gets criticized for treating Hilary with condescenion. The topic list on his website also does not mention reproductive rights or women's issues. Is that true? He seems more likeable than Hilary Clinton and more genuine, because he shows emotions. She always has this smile on her face, regardless what people say to her. Did anybody see "Borat"? I had to think of this movie where most people maintained their professional composure, not a hint of surprise or indignation, no matter what Borat tells or asks them. I mean, being professional is good and all, but I'm surprised at the lack of any kind of human reaction. I was wondering if that was an American/British thing (the British guests he had on the "Ali G Show" were the same), maintaing professional composure at all cost? On some feminist blogs that I read he gets called sexist and he also gets criticized for treating Hilary with condescenion. The topic list on his website also does not mention reproductive rights or women’s issues. Is that true?

He seems more likeable than Hilary Clinton and more genuine, because he shows emotions. She always has this smile on her face, regardless what people say to her. Did anybody see “Borat”? I had to think of this movie where most people maintained their professional composure, not a hint of surprise or indignation, no matter what Borat tells or asks them. I mean, being professional is good and all, but I’m surprised at the lack of any kind of human reaction. I was wondering if that was an American/British thing (the British guests he had on the “Ali G Show” were the same), maintaing professional composure at all cost?

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