Michelle Obama and Melania Trump
At least one passage in Melania Trump's speech Monday night at the
Republican National Convention was plagiarized from Michelle Obama's
address to the Democratic National Convention in 2008.
Side-by-side comparisons of the transcripts show the text in
Trump's address following, nearly to the word, the first lady's own from
the first night of the Democratic convention in Denver nearly eight
years ago.
The controversy quickly overshadowed the speech, which was to have
been her introduction to voters. It focused on her immigration to the US
and her love for her husband.
A Republican operative familiar with how the campaign was handling
the speeches said a number of senior aides had a role, edited Melania's
speech, suggested changes and provided guidance.
The Trump campaign released a statement on the speech after the
similarities were uncovered, but the statement did not mention the
plagiarism charge.
"In writing her beautiful speech, Melania's team of writers
took notes on her life's inspirations, and in some instances included
fragments that reflected her own thinking. Melania's immigrant
experience and love for America shone through in her speech, which made
it such a success," according to Jason Miller, the senior communications adviser.
Earlier in the day, Melania Trump told NBC's Matt Lauer: "I read once over it, that's all, because I wrote it ... with (as) little help as possible."
Here is Melania Trump, on Monday:
"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. They taught and showed me values and morals in their daily
lives. That is a lesson that I continue to pass along to our son," Trump said.
And we need to pass those lessons on to the many generations to
follow. 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."
And here is Michelle Obama, on August 25, 2008:
"And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values:
that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your
bond and you do what you say you're going to do; that you treat people
with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you
don't agree with them.
And Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values,
and to pass them on to the next generation. 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 for them."
-CNN
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