Clinton Camp Calls Obama Plagiarist

He says same of her, but admits he 'should have' credited lines

By Zach Samalin, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 18, 2008 6:48 PM CST

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Clinton Camp Calls Obama Plagiarist — Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at a rally Monday, Feb. 18, 2008, in Youngstown, Ohio. (AP/Photo Mark A. Stahl) (Associated Press)

(Newser) – Hillary Clinton accused Barack Obama of plagiarism today over a speech he gave two nights ago, the Swamp blog reports. Obama retaliated by hitting Hillary with five instances of her robbing his words, including "Yes, we can" and "Bring this country together." But the Illinois senator later admitted to lifting phrases from a 2006 speech by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

In that speech, Patrick defended rhetoric by asking whether famous lines like "We have a dream" were "just words"; Obama asked the same in his speech Saturday. Patrick absolved Obama by saying that the "point is more important than whose argument it is." Patrick let him use the words, Obama said, but he admitted that he "should have" given the governor credit. (Read more Hillary Clinton stories.)

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