August 12, 2008
McCain Plagiarizes Wikipedia — More Foreign Policy Gaffes (Peter Fenn)
CQ reports that Mr. Foreign Policy, John McCain, just plagiarized Wikipedia in his recent comments on Georgia.
Remember, this is the man who confused Sunnis and Shiites and had to be corrected on his third attempt by Joe Lieberman. Also, the one who brags about his foreign travel but seems to think that there is an “Iraqi-Pakistan Border,” referring on "Good Morning America” to the “hard struggle” on the non-existent border.
The editor complained to CQ that McCain lifted lines without attribution, as required by their terms of use. Here are two instances, according to CQ:
First instance
one of the first countries in the world to adopt Christianity as an official religion (Wikipedia)
vs.
one of the world's first nations to adopt Christianity as an official religion (McCain)
Second instance
After the Russian Revolution of 1917, Georgia had a brief period of independence as a Democratic Republic (1918-1921), which was terminated by the Red Army invasion of Georgia. Georgia became part of the Soviet Union in 1922 and regained its independence in 1991. Early post-Soviet years was marked [sic] by a civil unrest and economic crisis. (Wikipedia)
vs.
After a brief period of independence following the Russian revolution, the Red Army forced Georgia to join the Soviet Union in 1922. As the Soviet Union crumbled at the end of the Cold War, Georgia regained its independence in 1991, but its early years were marked by instability, corruption, and economic crises. (McCain)
Strange that McCain would crib Wikipedia for his speeches — stranger still that he would need these Cliff’s Notes, if he is such a “foreign policy expert.”
Is it time we question his competence and experience — and, of course, his judgment?
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Penn
You are crazy! If that is plagerism, then I am Queen Elizabeth.
Spreading false accusations is breaking the law.
Comment by JFK-HRC — August 12, 2008 @ 10:09 am
JFK;
How do you do Queenie!
Comment by Mike Coleman — August 12, 2008 @ 10:57 am
He used the word "and" 57 times, same as at least 240 Wikipedia articles!
Comment by Igor R. — August 12, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
That's a ridiculous charge! Everyone knows that McCain doesn't have a clue how to find anything on Wikipedia.
Furthermore, it's very unlikely that McCain is saying anything these days that hasn't been scripted word-for-word by his campaign staff.
McCain is a blockhead warmonger and if he gets elected we can expect his term to be a total militaristic approach to world affairs.
He was very near the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy; he didn't have anybody then to look things up for him on Wikipedia.
Comment by smilinjack — August 12, 2008 @ 1:00 pm
When you see idiotic allegations like this you know Obama is going down.
Comment by wewillallbeconned — August 12, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
Wewill;
How does this affect Obama? McCain is the clown that took stuff from Wikipedia and tried to make it his own. Your neonuts make me laugh trying to make it seem that everytime that grandpa mccain f*cks up it's bad for Obama. Please inform yourselves and quit making me laugh, it's killing me.
Comment by Mike Coleman — August 12, 2008 @ 4:51 pm
Mike Coleman: I saw the word grandpa in Wikepedia. Apparently, you're a plagiarizer also.
Comment by wewillallbeconned — August 12, 2008 @ 5:21 pm
Holy cow Fenn. Can you reach even more? Your first instance, a PARTIAL sentence is about idiotic as saying a single word can be plagiarized. The second, stating historical facts You should be worrying about much more substantial things.
Since you wanted to go there, you must have a short memory to forget Obama's entire plagiarized speech in February? Almost word for word compared to your accusation of McCain in a loosely paraphrased sentence at best.
Here's your reference for your boy Obama:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8570.html
Even more interesting, Obama was a professor. He should at least know better.
Comment by ObamaNOT — August 13, 2008 @ 7:34 am
Yeah, and don't forget McCain said there were 57 states too. Oh wait — that was Obama — never mind.
Comment by Nobama — August 13, 2008 @ 7:56 am
Nobama, that was an oldie but goodie. Funny how Quayle chooses an alternate spelling of "potato" and the media is all over it, but Obama thinks there are 57 states with "one left to go" and barely a blip on the radar. Kid gloves.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2008/05/11/old-media-ignores-obamas-57-states-couldnt-get-enough-quayles-potatoe
Comment by ObamaNOT — August 13, 2008 @ 9:09 am
This plagerism is further proof McSame and his neocon, lobbying squad of cronies are unfit for command.
Heck-uv-a job Brownie!
Mission accomplished!
I looked in to Putins eyes and saw his soul.
Comment by Jesse Tarleton — August 13, 2008 @ 10:19 am
Where's Joe Lieberman, Johnny mccame, when you need him?
Comment by S.R. Beck — August 13, 2008 @ 11:41 am
57 states or don't you knuckle draggers know that. We have the 50 states, District of Columbia(51), Puerto Rico (52), Virgin Islands (53), American Samoa (54), Guam (56) and Northern Mariana Islands (57). In each a Democratic primary was held. Next time don't take a mistake in number of primaries as not being equal to number of states, especially when they have a voice in electing the next president.
Comment by Mike Coleman — August 13, 2008 @ 11:47 am
[...] McCain Plagiarizes Wikipedia — More Foreign Policy Gaffes (Peter Fenn) @ 9:36 am [...]
Pingback by McCain Plagiarizes Wikipedia — More Foreign Policy Gaffes « The Michigan Conservative Dossier — August 13, 2008 @ 1:07 pm
Sorry Mikey, but no matter how you try to spin it, primaries don't equal states.
Comment by ObamaNOT — August 13, 2008 @ 1:17 pm
Oh and EVEN IF Obama was talking about primaries, he said "57 with one more to go." That would be 58. Doesn't add up even with your spin Mikey.
Comment by ObamaNOT — August 13, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
Using Wikipedia is not such a bad idea. You can even look up how many states there are in the U.S.A. You can compare the dates of notable civil rights events to your birth date. And if you are running for an office where you'll be representative of all U.S. citizens you can read that the Trinity Church might not be the place to be if you couldn't derive this from 20 years of attendance. You can even read the history of the SDS, William Ayers and more. Obama should try it!
Comment by richard — August 13, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
ObamaNut;
You forgot about the Expats that lived overseas. They had one too, remember! To my count that is 58. Game, set, Match.
Comment by Mike Coleman — August 13, 2008 @ 4:19 pm
As a US Citizen, and a proud resident of the great state of AZ I am ashamed of McCain representing our people.
We THE PEOPLE have every right to demand that he takes a competency test and an ALZHEIMER exam. The man is SENILE and to trust him with the Presidency is suicidal.
We DESERVE TO KNOW if he passes the tests.
The corruption in his campaign is a secondary, though not less important. His smear campaign against Obama is beyond contemptible. I am ASHAMED that he represents our great state and I predict he will lose AZ in November.
SHAME ON YOU JOHN MCCAIN.
Comment by SANDA in Tucson, AZ — August 13, 2008 @ 5:24 pm
And Colon Powell's Speech before the UN Security Council inciting war against Iraq was Plagiarized as well. Quoted from a college students 1991 paper gleaned from the Internet.
Why wasn't that reported in the U.S.?
Comment by Donaldd — August 13, 2008 @ 6:12 pm
#20
Donaldd; And here I thought this was a topic on McCain and Obama. Why don't you list the names of everyone ever to have been accused of plagiarism? Try to stay on topic…
Comment by ObamaNOT — August 15, 2008 @ 9:37 am