Sen. Scott Brown‘s Staff Blames ’Oversight’ for Plagiarizing Elizabeth Dole Speech
- Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:41am by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) was accused of plagiarizing former North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole in a message on his website. (AP)
Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown said it was a technical error that led to a passage from an Elizabeth Dole speech being posted on his official website after a Democratic group accused the Republican senator of plagiarism.
In a message to students, autobiographical words attributed to Brown were identical to remarks the former North Carolina senator delivered when she kicked off her Senate campaign in 2002 and later appeared on her official website.
The Boston Globe reported:
Brown’s staff acknowledged yesterday the words originally were Dole’s and said their presence in Brown’s message was the result of a technical error.
“I was raised to believe that there are no limits to individual achievement and no excuses to justify indifference,” said the message from Brown, which was removed later yesterday. “From an early age, I was taught that success is measured not in material accumulations, but in service to others. I was encouraged to join causes larger than myself, to pursue positive change through a sense of mission, and to stand up for what I believe.”
Aside from the omission of an opening line — “I am Mary and John Hanford’s daughter” — in Dole’s speech, the Bay State Republican’s language is the same throughout.
The language has since been removed from the site, replaced by a shorter, three-sentence passage.
Sen. Scott Brown's website before the passage in question was removed.
Brown spokesman John Donnelly told the Globe the language was posted in error while his staff was creating the senator’s website.
“Senator Dole’s website served as one of the models for Senator Brown’s website when he first took office. During construction of the site, the content on this particular page was inadvertently transferred without being rewritten,” Donnelly said. “It was a staff level oversight which we regret and is being corrected.”
Sen. Scott Brown's website as it currently appears.
The passage was discovered by the American Bridge 21st Century, a liberal super PAC that according to the Globe has been combing Republican records ahead of the 2012 elections.
“This kind of plagiarism makes me wonder how many things about Scott Brown are really genuine,” said Rodell Mollineau, president of American Bridge 21st Century.
According to Politico, a welcome message for interns on Brown‘s site also looked similar to Dole’s old Senate page. Her former chief of staff Brian Nick said Dole’s office was “certainly aware that Sen. Brown’s office used our site as a template during the transition period.”
“Obviously we were made aware by his staff that there was an error by an intern or staff member who was working on it at the time … obviously it’s much ado about nothing,” Nick said, calling it “very common” for offices of lawmakers to “share templates” for “a lot of generic language.”
This is the second controversy for Brown in two weeks. Last Tuesday, his 2012 Democratic rival Elizabeth Warren made a crack about Brown’s infamous Cosmopolitan photo spread when he was in law school, noting she “kept her clothes on” to pay for school. Asked about it two days later, Brown responded, “Thank God,” prompting outrage from women’s groups and the Massachusetts Democratic Party. Brown later said he was “joking” and it was a response to Warren’s “wisecrack.”
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Comments (46)
godhead
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:27pmOther than the fact that he’s a soft porn star, is there anything genuine about this guy?
Report Post »Libertarian B 4 Libertarians Were Cool
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 5:19pmBrown–another RINO.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:20pmAnother RINO exposed.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:05pmPerhaps but such actions shouldn’t be acceptable no matter how conservative they are. What is worse than the plagiarism is the bogus explanation. Either throwing the staff under the bus or claiming it was a technical error. Someone gets paid well to review, edit and approve the content that goes on the web site.
Report Post »aafriend
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:32pmhe took the payoff the minute he walked in the door
Report Post »sjohn70037
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:11pmBefore I realized Sarah Palin was nothing but a political hack I actually donated money for this guy’s election. He’s done nothing but prove his RINO incompetence since.
Report Post »sgtstubbs
Posted on October 15, 2011 at 3:49pmBeen saving up all year 1k to the right person running for President, but so far non have looked me in the eye and spoke the truth. I to have looked at Cain, Newt, Perry, Romney. I have talked to Newt along time ago and I remember that he said that the coming years are going to be dangerious for Freedom. Romney said “Please move”, and I did. My question is which one would you trust with your wife…?? or Car.
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 1:10pmToo bad Hank, Jr. can’t make an analogy of Brown and Obama playing basketball bc they are two of the same…take your choice on which side of Hank’s previous analogy that would lead us.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:53pmWhat an idiot.
Report Post »Rob
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:47pmHe is a RINO anyway, I don’t care about him.
Report Post »AmericanDogMan
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:35pmScott Brown is going to lose!!
The passage of Dodd-Frank is his fault!!
~Period~
The tea party in Massachusetts is disappointed and they’d rather him lose and try again in 6 years than prop this loser up!! I even heard whispers about a primary!!
~Repube-licans will learn, Strong Conservatism equals enthusiasm and W’s~ Moderation equals L’s
Report Post »VerySeniorCitizen
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:49pmSenator Brown and his staff are trying to suggest that this is an error. So I guess we can all assume that the Senator doesn’t remember what he was taught as a child and was willing to agree with whatever appeared on his website.
Report Post »MBA
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:56pmGuess that technical error was the forgotten footnote? Not! What a loser. Typical politician.
Report Post »libertytreecaretaker
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:30pmHe is a progessive republican what did you think you were getting! Wake up people!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:21pmFunny how the left is outraged by little slip ups like this but, have no problem with an Attorney General or President lying under oath.
Report Post »goatrope67
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:51pmYeah, because that NEVER happens when a conservative is President. Right?
Report Post »VerySeniorCitizen
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:52pmHey GONZO, How do you guys feel about an Attorney General who ‘couldn’t remember’ – dozens of times when being debriefed in front of the Senate. Does the nick-name ‘Gonzo’ ring a bell??
Report Post »txrailroader
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:20pmThere must be something in the water up north,I think the the Gov.of the same state did the same thing not to long ago and said it was a over site as well……
Report Post »lubo54
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:11pmReally Scuba doo
Report Post »Look at his record and see if he leans toward Obama and then tell yourself who is the idiot!!
theonefromabove
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:22pmThis is why we need a new group of tea partiers.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:22pmI could care less about Scott Brown. You told everyone you are a tea party supporter and then said you would vote for one of Obamas minions. Real good job of supporting the tea party. So tell me why you aren’t a dope.
Report Post »Buck Shane
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:30pmEvery election, rain or shine, I faithfully go out and vote for the politician who pretends to represent me.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:08pmAll politicians do this… it is just unquoted quotes!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:06pmThis is almost a hanging offense in Massachusetts. For a Republican.Or Scott
Ted The Murderer” Kennedy was proclaimed Senator Til Death, as a reward for killing, then abandoning Mary Jo K.
Report Post »Dudley Do-Right
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 3:38pmOr when Teddy Kennedy cheated on his Spanish test in college. I guess you guys would have preferred Martha Coakley? Just be thankful he ain’t Kennedy!
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:05pmElizabeth Warren will be running against Scott Brown for his senate seat.
Two Progressives fighting it out. One on the Right and One on the Left both trashing the Constitution. Some choice. The founding fathers would be rolling over in the graves to see what happened to their 13 colonies. They died for nothing.
The true conservatives (are there any in MA?) will have the same choice for senator I had in Florida. A RINO Republican (Marco Rubio) or Charlie Crist and whoever that democrat was. All talk about about the Constitution but would trash it in in a minute when it comes to NOT enforcing illegal alien laws or weakening the laws and opening our borders or granting illegal alien amnesty to garner all those votes.
God help America.
Report Post »dpselfe
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:03pmSure wasn’t a problem for Joe Biden. But wait….he’s a liberal….so he gets a pass………..smfh…..
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:03pmcan you say someone is going to have a really long weekend,heck they might just find time to join the protest,you know it was no ones fault,so why would they want to fire anyone,but they will and man will the left scream, but hey they will have another voice,and other environmentalist who is crapping and littering the environment, idiot knew they were plagiarizing someone else s speech.
Report Post »RichNGadsden
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:01pmI was tickled to have seen this man win election in Massachusetts simply because he became a stick in the eye of the uber left liberals. He is nonetheless a RINO and we can only expect him to vote with the Republicans probably less than 50% of the time. He needs to ‘fess up and take responsibility for his plagiarism. Don’t have much respect for this guy, but he does beat the alternative in Warren the true left wing loon.
Report Post »Dudley Do-Right
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 5:17pm“According to the Washington Post, Scott Brown voted with the majority of Republicans 80% of the time.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Brown
What % did Kennedy vote with the majority of Republicans?
Report Post »lubo54
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:00pmHere is another RINO that blames his staff for his stupidity. If I were a citizen of MA and being a tea party supporter, I would definitely vote for air-head Warren. At least she is honest about saying she is a liberal democrat.
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:08pmYou are a tea party supporter but you would vote for a far left kook. That tells me you are an idiot too.
Report Post »True American66
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 4:24pmWhat it tells me is that he is NO Tea Party Supporter!
Report Post »Nlitend1
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:58amThey are politicians!! This is what they do. It is much ado about nothing, because they make no attempt to be original in the first place. That’s probably a good thing too because original people sound like ron paul…”let’s legalize heroin”
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:51amOversight? If it was plagiarized it was plagiarized! Someone took text and wrote it into his speech. Plain and simple. Quit lying you RINO DIP WAD!
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:55amSpeech, written web site, whatever.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:51amThey want that COMMIE Warren IN! They NEED her to hold the Senate. Brown now has a HUGE target on his back! They will use a fine tooth comb on everything! Support him or be stuck with HER. UGH
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:06pmYep
Better the progressive you know than the progressive who is worse. It doesn’t say much for the voters of that state who continue to vote in progressives.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:50amSee even Republican students of our public education system can’t recognize plagiarism. Our public schools are failing everyone. I instruct computer classes at the college level and some can’t even following simple written step by step directions. They can’t equate the written steps with the topics taught step by step in the book; they lack critical thinking and problem solving skills. No matter how much I say in class the steps in the book are completed the same as in class work; it does not resonate with them.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:02pmMy wife teaches MIS in college and she complains of the same thing almost daily!
Report Post »PoliticalJunkieToo
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 12:10pmI took a college class for the hell of it because I was interested in the topic and students MUST SUBMIT all papers by email to the instructor. EVERY PAPER is sent though a plagiarism website and if caught – the student is kicked out. The college allowed students to run their own papers though the plagiarism website BEFORE submitting it to clear up any problems and there are plagiarism sites on-line you can use that will scan your paper also so there is NO EXCUSE for plagiarism.
Report Post »garyM
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:49amScott Brown was a good replacement for Kennedy, same mold!
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:46amNot surprised at all. He misrepresented himself as a “republican”. He’s just another democrat.
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:54amA Tea Party member needs to run against this guy. Hopefully the “right” citizens of Mass will kick his arse right back to where he came from.
Report Post »godhead
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:54pmBut but but . . . he drives a truck!
(Now do you see how gullible you idiot Tea baggers are? All it takes is a picture of some soft porn model in a pickup truck and you go all runny inside – all of you – bunch of nancy boys. Geez.
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