Organizing for America

Clinton's Borrowed Lines

Dana Milbank: "Clinton Has Been The Most Flagrant Shoplifter Of Other's Campaign Rhetoric." "In the presidential race, Clinton has been the most flagrant shoplifter of others' campaign rhetoric. Last week, she cribbed verbatim three of Obama's slogans in a single phrase: 'We are fired up and we are ready to go because we know America is ready for change.'" [Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 1/7/08]

CLINTON STOLE LINES FROM OBAMA

Clinton Stole "Turn The Page," Stole The Notion That She Turned Down Corporate Offers And The Idea That Iowans "Kick The Tires" From Obama. "On May 2, Obama told the California Democratic convention: 'It's time to turn the page.' Eleven days later, Clinton declared that 'people are anxious to turn the page.' Also on May 2, Obama noted that he "turned down the corporate job offers" after law school; 10 days later, Bill Clinton said in a video, 'she turned down all the lucrative job offers.' In February 2007, Obama told voters in Iowa that they should 'kick the tires and be clear that I have a grasp of the issues,' while Clinton said in September, 'you got to kick my tires and see whether or not I'll collapse.'" [Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 1/7/08]

Clinton Singled Out "All The Young People" In The Hall After Obama Did It And Clinton Spoke Of "Change You Can Count On" After Obama Made His Slogan "Change We Can Believe In." "Of course, it may just be coincidence that Clinton singled out 'all of the young people' in the hall after Obama had done just that, or that Clinton spoke of 'change you can count on' after Obama made a slogan of 'change we can believe in.'" [Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 1/7/08]

CLINTON HAS STOLEN LINES FROM OTHER CANDIDATES

Hillary Clinton Used Riff In Speech At Coretta Scott King's Funeral Saying "As We Are Called, Each Of Us Must Decide Whether To Answer That Call By Saying Send Me." Hillary Clinton, at Coretta Scott King funeral: "As we are called, each of us must decide whether to answer that call by saying send me." [CNN Transcript, 2/7/06]

Ø Bill Clinton, At The 2004 Democratic Convention, Said "Let Every Person In This Hall And Like-Minded People All Across Our Land Say To Him What He Has Always Said To America: Send Me." Bill Clinton, at the 2004 Democratic Convention, said "During the Vietnam War, many young men, including the current president, the vice president and me, could have gone to Vietnam and didn't. John Kerry came from a privileged background. He could have avoided going too, but instead, he said: Send me. When they sent those swiftboats up the river in Vietnam and they told them their job was to draw hostile fire, to wave the American flag and bate the enemy to come out and fight, John Kerry said: Send me. ... So tonight, my friends, I ask you to join me for the next 100 days in telling John Kerry's story and promoting his ideas. Let every person in this hall and like-minded people all across our land say to him what he has always said to America: Send me." [Bill Clinton convention speech, 7/26/04]

Clinton, Speaking About Her Health Care Plan, Said "If It's Good Enough For Congress, It's Good Enough For Every American To Have Those Same Choices." Clinton: "I figure if it's good enough for members of Congress, it's good enough for every American to have those same choices at the same affordable cost." [Hillary I Know Event, 12/17/07]

Ø John Kerry Noted That Bush's Line About The Medicare Bill Could Also Be Used To Describe His Own Health Care Plan, "If It's Good Enough For Their Congressman And Sentors To Have Choice, Seniors Ought To Have Choice." John Kerry: "My health care plan's not an empty promise. Bush used that very plan as a reason for seniors to accept his prescription drug plan. He said, if it's good enough for their congressmen and senators to have choice, seniors ought to have choice. What we do is we have choice. I choose Blue Cross/Blue Shield; others choose other programs. But the fact is we're going to help Americans be able to buy into it. Those that can afford it are going to buy in themselves. We're not giving this away for nothing." [Bush-Kerry Debate, 10/13/04]

Ø President Bush, On The Medicare Prescription Drug Bill, Said "It It's Good Enough For The Members Of Congress To Have Choice, It Ought To Be Good Enough For The Seniors In America To Have Choice." President Bush, on the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill, said "I used to say if it's good enough for the members of Congress to have choice, it ought to be good enough for the seniors in America to have choice." [CNBC, 11/26/03]

Clinton Used Example Of Blockbuster Keeping Tracking Of Videos As Analogy For Keeping Tracking Of People Who Get Visas Who Come Into The United States, Which Edwards Had Used Five Months Before. Clinton: "You can keep track of videos from Blockbuster, you ought to be able to keep track of people you give visas too who come into the United States." Edwards, five months earlier: "We can figure out when someone's walking into a blockbuster, it seems to me we can figure out when somebody is coming in the United States of America." [ABC World News, 2/18/08]

Ø Clinton Talked About How If Video Stores Can Keep Track Of Their Tapes And DVDs, Surely We Can Keep Track Of People Here On Visas, Which Is A Point Edwards Had Made. Clinton "talked about how, if video stores can keep track of their tapes and DVDs, surely we can keep track of people here on visas, many of whom overstay them and become illegal immigrants. I've heard Edwards make the same point, except he explicitly cites Blockbuster." [TNR, 11/20/07]