It’s been just barely 24 hours since the 2016 Republican National Convention kicked off in Cleveland and there’s already been plenty of questionable happenings.
First Lady Michelle Obama’s 2008 Democratic National Convention speech in support of then-senator Barack Obama’s bid for the White House was arguably one of the best given by a First Lady in recent history, so much so that Donald Trump’s wife Melania apparently decided to take a page out of her book.
Melania addressed the RNC crowd for the first time on Monday night and journalist Jarrett Hill, who was in attendance, pointed out more than a few blaring similarities between Melania’s speech that night and Mrs. Obama’s 2008 DNC speech in Colorado. Jarrett later took to social media to share video of Michelle’s original speech in support of his claims and it wasn’t long before Twitter took notice.
CORRECTION: Melania stole a whole graph from Michelle's speech. #GOPConvention
— Jarrett Hill (@JarrettHill) July 19, 2016
WATCH: https://t.co/8BCOwXAHSy pic.twitter.com/zudpDznGng
“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,” Melania said in her speech. “They taught and showed me morals in their daily life. That is the lesson that I continue to pass along to our son. And we need to pass those lessons on to 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.” The transcript of Michelle’s 2008 speech included eerily similar language. “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,” the transcript reads. “And Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values, and 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.”
As many began to accuse Melania of plagiarism and question why the wife of the presumptive GOP presidential nominee would think she could blatantly incorporate words from the First Lady’s speech into her own without being called out, the Trump team released a statement. “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,” Trump campaign manager Jason Miller said. “Melania’s immigrant experience and love for America shone through in her speech, which made it such a success.”
No matter whose side you’re on in this year’s race for the White House, these transcripts certainly don’t lie.
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