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Trump Campaign on Melania Plagiarism: “Concept Michelle Obama Invented English Language is Absurd”

HeadlineJul 20, 2016

Meanwhile, controversy continues over Melania Trump’s speech on Monday, in which she plagiarized multiple sections of Michelle Obama’s speech at the DNC in 2008.

Michelle Obama: “Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values, like you work hard for what you want in life.”

Melania Trump: “The values that you work hard for what you want in life.”

Michelle Obama: “That your word is your bond, that you do what you say you’re going to do.”

Melania Trump: “That your word is your bond, and you do what you say and keep your promise.”

Michelle Obama: “Because we want our children and all children in this nation to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work hard for them.”

Melania Trump: “Because we want our children in this nation to know that the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.”

Melania Trump in her speech Monday night at the RNC, and Michelle Obama in her speech at the DNC in 2008. The Trump campaign has repeatedly denied the accusations of plagiarism.

Katrina Pierson: “Look, these are our values—Republican values, by the way—of hard work, determination, family values, dedication and respect. And that’s Melania Trump. And this concept that Michelle Obama invented the English language is absurd.”

That was Trump spokesperson Katrina Pierson. RNC chief strategist Sean Spicer, meanwhile, said Melania’s speech used common phrases, and compared lines from her speech to dialogue in the animated TV series “My Little Pony.”

Sean Spicer: “Melania Trump said, 'The strength of your dreams and the willingness to work for them.' Twilight Sparkle from 'My Little Pony' said, 'This is your dream. Anything you can do in your dreams, you can do now.'”

That was RNC chief strategist Sean Spicer speaking on CNN. But journalists and experienced speechwriters widely agree Melania Trump did plagiarize parts of the speech. According to The New York Times, months before the RNC, the Trump campaign hired two speechwriters, Matthew Scully and John McConnell, to draft Melania Trump’s text. But The New York Times reports Melania Trump disregarded this draft and instead asked for help from former ballet dancer Meredith McIver. She had helped Trump with his book “Think Like a Billionaire.” At a protest outside the RNC, activist Julia Johnson criticized Melania Trump for plagiarizing Michelle Obama.

Julia Johnson: “Surprise, surprise, stealing from a black woman. I mean, it’s ridiculous how much this country is based off of the exploitation of labor of people of color, of oppressed people, of poor people. So, I’m sure that she thought that she would get away with it, and nobody would care.”

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