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Feb 18, 2008 8:48 pm US/Central
Obama Says Borrowed Lines Not A Big Deal
NILES, Ohio (AP) ―
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Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick looks on as Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama speaks to an crowd at Boston Common Oct. 23, 2007 in Boston.
Robert Spencer/Getty Images
Sen. Barack Obama said Monday that he doesn't think it's a big deal
that he borrowed lines from his friend Massachusetts Gov. Deval
Patrick, although he probably should have given him credit.
Patrick said during his gubernatorial campaign a year and a half ago
that words matter, like "I have a dream" and "all men are created
equal."
Obama used the same lines Saturday night in Wisconsin. Obama said
that Patrick suggested he use the lines to respond to Hillary Rodham
Clinton's suggestion that Obama is more of a talker than a doer.
Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson accused Obama of plagiarizing
Patrick, and that's particularly troubling since Obama's appeal is
based in large part on his rhetorical skills.
"It raises questions about the premise of his candidacy," Wolfson told reporters in a conference call.
Obama, D-Ill., says that's going too far.
"Now hold on a second. Let's see — I've written two books, wrote
most of my speeches," Obama told reporters at a news conference after
touring a titanium plant.
"I'm happy to give Deval credit, as I give credit to a lot people
for spurring all kinds of ideas," he said. "But I think that it is fair
to say that everything that we've been doing in generating excitement
and the interest that people have in the election is based on the core
belief in me that we need change in America."
Asked whether he wished he would have given him credit given the
criticism he's facing, Obama responded: "I was on the stump, and he had
suggested that we use these lines. I thought they were good lines. I'm
sure I should have — didn't this time."
"I really don't think this is too big of a deal," he said. He said
he's noticed Clinton using his phrases sometimes, like "it's time to
turn the page" and "fired up, ready to go."
Obama focused on the economy during his trip to this economically
depressed manufacturing region of Ohio. He promised he would end tax
breaks for companies which move jobs overseas and use the money to give
tax breaks to companies who invest in the United States.
At his news conference, Obama also said he didn't expect any
immediate endorsement from John Edwards after his secret meeting with
his former rival yesterday. "I think he's still mulling things over,"
Obama said.
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