Trump speechwriter takes blame for lifted remarks
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Melania Trump, left, wife of Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, spoke during the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, and Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, in Aug. 2008. Melania Trump’s well-received speech Monday to the Republican National Convention contained passages that match nearly word-for-word the speech that first lady Michelle Obama delivered in 2008 at the Democratic National Convention.
CLEVELAND » A speechwriter for Donald Trump’s company said today she made a mistake and apologized for using passages from a 2008 Michelle Obama speech in the Republican party convention speech delivered by Melania Trump.
In a statement issued by the campaign, Meredith McIver took the blame but made it clear that Mrs. Trump knew the passages were from the first lady’s speech.
“A person she has always liked is Michelle Obama,” McIver says of Mrs. Trump. “Over the phone, she read me some passages from Mrs. Obama’s speech as examples. I wrote them down and later included some of the phrasing in the draft that ultimately became the final speech.”
The passages in question came near the beginning of Mrs. Trump’s nearly 15-minute speech.
In one example, Mrs. Trump said: “From a young age, my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise, that you treat people with respect.”
Eight years ago, Mrs. Obama said: “And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: like, you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond, that you do what you say you’re going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect.”
There were similar overlaps in a passage dealing with conveying to children that there is no limit to what they can achieve. Mrs. Trump’s address was otherwise distinct from the speech that Mrs. Obama gave when her husband was being nominated for president.
McIver, co-author of some of Donald Trump’s books, said she offered to resign but the Republican nominee for president refused to accept her resignation.
“I did not check Mrs. Obama’s speeches. This was my mistake, and I feel terrible for the chaos I have caused Melania and the Trumps, as well as to Mrs. Obama. No harm was meant.”
McIver was described in the statement as an “in-house staff writer at the Trump Organization.”
100 responses to “Trump speechwriter takes blame for lifted remarks”
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The mainstream media has spent more time on this matter, involving the wife of a candidate, than they have on vetting the honesty of the other candidate. Anyone think there may be some bias here?
I don’t give a hoot where her remarks come from, they are fine with me. And what if she shares similar thinking with Obama wife! Everything in speeches in thius world has been said in one form or the other before.
Why are the Democrats spending so much time attacking women? I thought they were the party of women lovers. Guess they fooled me.
Attack on women? Lol, sarge forgets he and the others attack the woman candidate, 24/7. What a hypocrite.
We’re not talking about a woman. We’re talking about someone with poor communication skills and judgment, an “undereducated” person who made a conspicuous PR error that undermined whatever positives her speech might have contributed to her husband’s campaign.
This is what happens when a guy chases only hot dumb models.
So now you degrade a legal immigrant who happens to be a woman. HiLIARy is watching you.
Attacks not necessary, she is her worse enemy. Her campaign is imploding.
I can’t wait for your head to implode when Hillary Clinton is elected President in November, which she will be.
Brah Hillary’s campaign is chugging along, raising money like crazy, organized on the ground, always on message. You really need a reality check. This is good – they had to throw somebody under the bus and now they have done this. But they could not even do that right. Why did they admit that Melania knew the passages were from Obama’s speech. All this did was confirm things the campaign and it surrogates denied, that they knowingly lifted passages from Michelle Obama’s speech, and Malania knew nothing of it. Stupid,,,,
Too funny. Lock her up.
Now you are reciting a comment I have made several times about the Chump in this commentary section.
Anyway, the media can attack the Trumps the media will beat it to death.
You mean like when the mainstream media spent all that time on Trump’s birther consipracy theory? In my best Donald imitation: ‘There is something going on there!’
the speech writer’s reasons are ludicrous. such speeches should reflect that the speaker feels, not what others feel. this was a personal speech and any feelings should be from her heart. by using someone else’s words, it shows that the speaker lacks sincerity in the speech, just saying things that really have no meaning coming from her.
In Melania’s defense, ANYBODY would have found it difficult to think up nice things to say about Donald. So it’s no wonder she ended up saying nice things about Obama instead.
Haha, Team Trump already grasping at straws!
Glad you pointed the insincerity out. Everything coming out of Crooked Hilliary mouth is speech written. Everything is contrived.
Brah get real, at this political level every candidate has speech writers. There is a process where the candidate and their speech writers collaborate of the speech, the candidate basically telling the speech writer that the purpose of the speech is, who the audience is, and what they want to say. Then the speech writer writes the speech and the candidates reviews, edits and delivers. Its not contrived, its just a process t hat is ultimately controlled by the candidate.
Sheriff David Clarke did well. Where are the comments?
Who the h-ll is sheriff David Clarke? Where are the senators, congressmen, governors etc. They’re so hard up for speakers. BORING
You are not paying attention. Glad you asked. The night’s theme is “Make America First Again.”
The headliners are Trump’s running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Eric Trump and Lynne Patton, vice president of The Eric Trump Foundation.
Additional speakers include Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (via video), Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Gingrich’s wife, Callista Gingrich, retired astronaut Eileen Collins and State Sen. Ralph Alvarado of Kentucky, who will speak about how “the Republican Party is the party of opportunity for voters of all backgrounds, especially Hispanics.”
Pence never really heard of him except he got some heat because he supported business owners to refuse service to people who did not fit in with their religious beliefs. Cruz and Rubio according to Fox News are not going to be there in person. Both of them are under immense pressure to endorse Chump from the party chair. Even Greta Van Susteren told the chair that she understands why they’re balking because of Chumps personal attack on them and their families during the primaries. The other speakers all has beings or never beings. Up until last week Gingrich publicly denounced Chumps insults and behavior. As far as Hispanics no way in h-ll. Not after he has slammed them over and over again. Remember his disrespect to the Hispanic federal judge who is a American citizen by birth. He is going to find out very quickly that payback is a b-tch. Like it or not he needs the minority and white women vote which he will never get. What Fox News Montell Williams just walked out on Bill O’Reilly and he is pis–d. The circus is getting stranger.
I am watching Bill O’Reilly and there is more action going on outside the convention with the dump Chump protesters. What the republicans really need to worr about is the makeup of the protesters versus the delegates. Whites inside and whites, blacks, Hispanics, gays and everybody else outside. Big trouble for Chump.
Rubio ninety second spot on video. Cruz honored to be there with his wife Heidi. His memory is so short. The Chump insulted Mrs. Cruz’s looks during the primaries. If that was my wife he’d be missing his front teeth. Ted Cruz who said Chump is a pathological liar and now asking us to vote for him? What a hypocrite. Just a couple of months ago they’re at each other’s throats now they’re kissing each other’s bu–s. Speaker after speaker and I still don’t see the fire and motivation that the republicans need to win. The senator who shut down goverment is blaming democrats for the suffering of the working class. The only thing that this loser and Chump have in common is that they’re both pathological liars.
Spoke to early the guy has ba-ls and didn’t endorse the Chump. The campaign continues to crumble and implode. Now back to the family because that’s all he has who no talk stink about him. The circus continues to become stranger.
Hey sarge where are you. Fell asleep during the boring convention?
She is just the fall guy… I mean fall girl. Actually I think one of the Trumps sons (ie. the son in law) copied and pasted their step mom’s speech and when the shatz hit the fan for the plagiarism, they needed a patsy to take the heat away from Melania and Trump’s inner circle of family members who are running his campaign. Because if this woman McIver truly made the mistake, knowing how vengeful Trump is AND the person who made the mistake is a female, he would of fired her immediately. The fact McIver was NOT fired means, like how Nago citing “math errors” was not fired for voter suppression in the last Honolulu mayoral election, means someone else behind the curtain is responsible.
Michele Obama did the SAME THING folks,she plagiarized Elizabeth Dole’s speech. Yes ! Indeed there are similarities in that speech.& JFK did the same thing,plagiarized a speech from another famous president! This is so trivial folks. Acts of Desperation by the MSM.
I’m glad The Donald had showed Kindness and understanding.And refused her resignation……… Everybody makes mistakes.IMUA
Donald couldn’t fire her or let her resign. His lawyers said that would reflect badly and reflect more guilty circus clown bike race action.
Like the FBI said there was no criminal intent. No prosecutor would try the case.
In the court of public opinion, which probably counts more in this case, the Trump are toast.
Carp swallower, hook, line, and sinker. Yum yum. Hope you’re saving some money to contribute to Aryan Ailes defense fund. Sick Heil!
Similarities of a sentence here and there are “similarities.” Entire paragraphs being nearly identical is PLAGIARISM. There is a significant difference your rationalizing will not cover up. Melania plagiarized. And from a source she should not plagiarize from. She plagiarized. What’s your response to that?
Again, there was no criminal intent. No prosecutor would try this case.
Thanks for explaining exactly why the FBI decided not to charge Hillary with the email server issue as a legal matter. No criminal intent. You contradict yourself like most Trumpzis….
No criminal intent, but it surely makes one look stupid.
The why didn’t Donald show “kindness and understanding” to fired Corey Lewandowski his former campaign manager as well? Also if the story now is Melania admires Michele Obama as a “person she has always liked” does that mean mean Melania is a closet Obama supporter and really wants a female in the White House which means Melania supports Hillary Clinton?
This basically proves Melania Trump KNEW she was speaking stolen passages. She personally read and provided them to the speech writer. And she then definitely read them again in preparation for the speech. That speech was practiced. Melania was well aware she was copying Michelle’s speech before stepping up onto the podium that night. She didn’t just step up without having given that final draft a number of read throughs. Even when using a teleprompter, you practice a speech like that….especially when your command of the english language is weak to begin with. Just like her husband, a liar and cheater!
“Her English is weak”….I think she speaks 4 different languages bro.Do you? “This basically proves Michele Obama knew she was speaking stolen passages” as well?
Yes I agree Hillary is “just like her Husband a liar and a cheater”. Sad for libs,even with the facts staring at them in their faces,they still deny it. SAD!
Moi,Hillary not mention in article. Keep on subject. Most immigrants do speak several languages! Why does dognald want walls?
Another Sad one eh Nana? And for your information i was not opining to your post. Keep on subject ? I suggest you learn how to read first . As Yoda would say”I sense great frustration in this one”….. must be hanging around Boots and Klastri ? NanakuliBoss ? My eye!
If Melania truly speaks 5 different languages, right now she needs to focus ONLY on English. Her current ability to speak English is not cutting it.
HIE, the key phrases in Mrs. Obama’s speech were: “you work hard for what you want in life,” “your word is your bond,” you do what you say you’re going to do,” and “treat people with dignity and respect.” These are common catchphrases and expressions that have been used by many people ad nauseam and are not Mrs. Obama’s original thoughts. They have been in the public domain for many years. As such, they belong to or are available to the public as a whole and therefore not subject to copyright infringement or plagiarism. If you believe Mrs. Trump was speaking passages stolen from Mrs. Obama, you must believe that Mrs. Obama stole them from people who previously uttered them.
You’re a lone voice in the woods. The writer admitted she plagiarized Mrs. Obama’s speech.
You keep writing about copyright, and that makes no sense in this case. There is no requirement of any kind, nor has there ever been, to show that a copyright was violated in order to establish plagiarism. You just made that up from thin air for some reason.
MSNBC reporter just said there is more media covering the protesters then there are protesters. Sorry libs, no action there. It’s all inside with great speakers now listen very carefully and you may catch a borrowed phrase. Trump 2016
A lousy student does not know the difference between studying, using your brain, and coming up with a classic speech or essay. A lousy student like you (and Melania and her speechwriter) copies (plagiarizes) because you have no adequate studying, thinking, or creating skills.
Yes, Team Trump is wishy-washy and contradicting each other about this matter, but pretty much they’ve admitted that it’s PLAGIARISM. Did you read the article? Sorry about your reading difficulties.
I hope you aren’t going to watch the convention today and tomorrow.
Who let the monkeys out?
Monkey > Trump > Trump supporter
Very weak. Try again.
Are you saying the Michelle Obama’s speech contained original thought? If so, you need a reality check. She and her speech writer copied and used what others have been saying for many years.
No. He’s saying that as of yesterday, the whole Trump camp (you along with them) were on their third day of denying Michelle Obama’s speech was used as a direct source for some of Mrs. Trump’s. Today, when the Trump’s have admitted that parts of the speech were indeed copied verbatim you guys are still looking around desperately for stones to throw. Well, the cotton balls you’ve found instead are causing a predictable degree of injury.
Ronin006, carefully read Klastri’s reply. Also take a few minutes to google “plagiarism.” The definition is simple and clear. No ambiguity. School and college students learn to distinguish between their own words and words borrowed from others. In the latter case, the writer or speaker is required to give credit to the original source. The ideas may be common knowledge, but the phrasing is unique to Mrs. Obama. Changing a few words doesn’t make the theft any less serious. The implication is that Mrs. Trump is either ignorant or disdainful of intellectual property rights. In either case, it’s an indictment of her competency as a potential First Lady. The fact that she failed to immediately stand up and acknowledge her blunder says a lot about her integrity. All she had to do, as soon as it was exposed, is to apologize for her oversight. This would have been the right thing to do. Americans are willing to forgive ignorance or a blunder, but we won’t tolerate evasion or scapegoating. Allowing a staff member to take the fall is a sign of cowardice, of lack of character. It may not be too late for Mrs. Trump to step up, apologize, and simply admit that she made a mistake and takes full responsibility for the plagiarism. It’s never too late to speak the truth, and truth has Its own powers of healing.
I stand by my original comments. The use of common catchphrases and expressions used by many people in speeches or literary works is not plagiarism when subsequently used by others. What is next? I suppose when someone starts a speech by saying “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” someone will claim it is plagiarism because it was previously used by someone else.
Such original thoughts.
In the overall spectrum, this is truly a trivial matter. That being said, the Trump campaign (particularly his defiant adviser) has egg on its face with the way it was handled. Denial, denial, deflection, deflection. Embarrassing. Waiting to hear what one particularly vociferous poster has to say of this revelation.
What difference does it make.
She belongs in stripes.
The Trump campaign, and Mr. Trump himself, is the reason this story has lived as long as it has. The story is not that Mrs. Trump plagiarized Mrs. Obama’s speech – that was obvious to anyone who can read. Rather, the real story is how the campaign lied repeatedly, and in different ways, to pretend there was no plagiarism. They just should have said immediately that there was a mistake, and it won’t happen again. Period.
Mr. Trump cannot admit mistakes. Not ever, and not about anything. He is a psychotic, and it’s shocking that his supporters cannot see sadly obvious fact.
It sort of looks like they did admit the source (I am not sure I would call it plagiarism), once the confusion settled down.
Of course by then, maybe they had no choice.
Your statement about Trump not being able to admit mistakes seems a little too broad.
From the Anderson Cooper interview.
“But I had two women that I never blamed [for the divorces] because I worked so hard that my job came first. [It] never came first with my children. … I was a better father than I was a husband.”
Trump then added, “Not that I would change anything, but if I did [work] a little bit less, I probably wouldn’t have had two marriages that didn’t work out.””
That’s exactly what I mean. He’s blaming working hard instead of the fact that he is serial adulterer. He has no discipline (listening to any stump speech he gave proves that) and instead of admitting that he had one sexual affair after another with strangers who were not his wife (at the time) he blames being a hard worker. What a load of garbage.
He’s a psychotic.
Please don’t watch the convention today and tomorrow. You’ll only get more upset.
Sounds like admitting a mistake to me.
It is not as though he was blaming someone else’s having worked too hard.
And there are other examples, including stated regrets about some of the things he said in the primaries.
The successful, complex building projects he completed would have required enormous self-discipline.
If he will apply this to rebuilding our dismal national infrastructure it would really be something.
Multiple, large projects on budget and on time. Think about the mess with the Honolulu rail system.
As for your claim of psychotic
From the National Alliance for Mental Illness
Psychosis includes a range of symptoms but typically involves one of these two major experiences:
Hallucinations are seeing, hearing or feeling things that aren’t there, such as the following:
Hearing voices (auditory hallucinations) ….
Delusions are strong beliefs that are not consistent with the person’s culture, are unlikely to be true and may seem irrational to others, such as the following:
Believing external forces are controlling thoughts, feelings and behaviors ….
When I watch some of the interviews, where he is not in political mode in front of the crowd, I do not see it at all.
I expect that a year ago, his belief that he could be President would have been evidence for you of this.
In fact, I think that your use of this term, which often describes serious personal tragedy, is almost unfeeling and exploitative.
I’ll watch the convention today and tomorrow, waiting to see if they’ll ever say anything that makes sense. Yesterday was supposed to be the “Make America Work” day. Did they talk about Trump’s economic plan? NO. All they did was talk stink about Clinton on the GOP’s “Make America Work” day.
Does Trump have a plan? NO. Do Trump supporters care? NO, they stopped paying attention in the 1950’s.
If you listen carefully you may understand what they are talking about. I know it’s hard but give it a try. If you are successful you might listen again tomorrow and the plan will be very clear. The program has started now so pay attention. Save your comments for later. Thank you.
“But I had two women that I never blamed [for the divorces]…” Why would Trump blame them (his ex-wives) for the divorces? He committed adultery on both his wives!
It is my observation that it is not that uncommon in a divorce to blame the other side.
A lot of these stories have two sides to them.
Cricket_Amos – You’re obviously an apologist for Mr. Trump’s personality defects. That’ll sell with some folks here, but it won’t sell with me.
He was a serial adulterer, and he bragged about it in public, in the press and on tape.
Play the tape.
According to the FBI there was no criminal intent. No responsible attorney would prosecute.
In any event “what difference does it make” Nobody died like in Benghazi.Sean Smith’s mother said she should be stripes. I think she meant black on white. What do you think?
Like I said earlier, I think you need to get a job.
Working for Trump.
Zero plus zero equals zero!
Ah c’mon. They should’ve just given her the question Miss Hawaii had:
“If the election were held tomorrow, would you vote for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump for president,” Brown asked. “And why would you choose one over the other?”
Hillary Clinton. Because Mr. Trump is psychotic.
Does that sound OK?
How will Hillary be able to get a top secret background check if she is Commander in Chief? Will the government issue it to her?…Interesting….
Of course.
Klastri, has no clue of the process required to get a clearance!
Wow Nobody talking about this speech by a rhttp://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/michael-mukasey-rnc-speech-bash-hillary-clinton-40717571etired Attorney General..Enjoy..
Rerun Nobody talking about this speech by a former Attorney General..Enjoy….http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/michael-mukasey-rnc-speech-bash-hillary-clinton-40717571etired
More stupid than interesting.
Paulh808 – Of course I do, since I have one currently myself. There will not be a problem with a security clearance.
The fix is in. .http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/michael-mukasey-rnc-speech-bash-hillary-clinton-40717571
Paulh808 – You chose to write here as if you know something about security clearances, but in fact you don’t know anything about the process, and chose to write without doing five minutes of research. Some people may actually be interested, so I’ll explain it here.
Security clearances are not mandated for the President, Vice President, Members of Congress,
Supreme Court Justices, or other constitutional officers. The criteria for election or appointment
to these positions are specified in the U.S. Constitution, and except by constitutional amendment,
no additional criteria (e.g., holding a security clearance) may be required.
As Commander-in-Chief, the President has the authority to establish the standards for access to
classified national security information. This authority is typically exercised through the issuance
of executive orders. Executive Order 13467, which covers suitability checks and security
clearances for federal employees, applicants, and contractors, includes a determination of which
executive branch individuals are covered and which are exempted.
The same folks who applauded and applauded and applauded Mrs. Trump with that same speech (MO’s words) are the ones who have maligned Mrs. Obama as a riotous bitch every single time they can after her speeches (esp. that one eight years ago). Yes, racism is alive and well in this country.
You’re right, of course. Mr. Trump spent years trying to sell his snake oil about Mr. Obama not being the “real” President because he was born elsewhere. So he tries to delegitimize the administration and then uses Mrs. Obama’s words. Pathetic.
Mr. Trump isn’t aware enough to appreciate the irony. He’s a psychotic.
Don’t be mad just because you bought the snake oil and couldn’t get a refund. I know, I know, I know sixth grade.
Carp swallower, hook, line, and sinker. Yum yum.
“The Apprentice: 1st Lady” is in pre-production and hopes to start shooting in January. Producers hope to have an initial run of 20-30 episodes. The new show has not yet been picked up by any major or cable network.
Michelle Obama must be flattered that her messages are being well received.
What I found scary about this incidence was statement by Chris Christe, … that “Mrs. Trump’s speech can’t be plagiarism because “93 percent” (of the text) was completely different..” Guess the vetting process for potential VP candidates is also not up to scratch !!!
Mahalo
I took legal action against someone for plagiarising fewer words than this speechwriter did. Odd they’d rip off Michelle O’s words though, I thought the Repubs hated her? The whole convention has been one long parade of hate. Makes me feel that if you’d disagree w/any of those folks they’d think they had the perfect right to kill you.
Of course if Clinton did the same thing w/a speech they’d be screaming about it. Hypocrites.
This surprises me.
Copyright infringement is a basis for legal action, but it is my understanding that plagiarism by itself is not.
Plagiarism is taking the writings or ideas of someone else and using, selling, or publishing those writings or ideas as one’s own writing. The original owner of the intellectual property can file suit for misappropriation or unjust enrichment against the plagiarist in order to recover improper profits and costs of recovery. Plagiarists can also be sued for fraud if they deny the plagiarism took place and continue to improperly accrue profits.
Sticks and stone will break my bones but words will never hurt me.
Time for Mel to use her degree, oh wait, she didn’t graduate.
I’m moving on. Just a word of sadness for Mark Takai and his family.
Of the hundreds, or thousands, of literate, respected wordsmiths, authors, and writers over the ages, why would the Trump campaign choose Michelle Obama to plagiarize from?
Unless it’s some sort of unintended genius marketing ploy to keep the speech relevant in the news cycle a few extra days.
Or, on the other hand, maybe the Clinton campaign feels threatened by the smart, charming, successful, legal immigrant wife of their opponent and is blowing the issue out of proportion to distract from the scandals plaguing their candidate?
Are you blaming Clinton for Trump’s choice of speechwriters, or for someone in the media having a decent memory?
This is getting to be so stupid. Trump lady reads to the writer and the writer makes the speech and Trump lady had to read it a mess of times knowing that’s sounds like Mrs. Obamas speech and she reads it to everyone anyway. Trump lady should resign.