If the biggest hit that Barack Obama took during last night’s debate with Hillary Clinton was her repeating her already shop-worn plagiarism allegation, then her campaign is in even worst shape than I thought.
Josh Marshall cites a great example of Clinton’s own phrase borrowing at Talking Points Memo:
“I mentioned at the end of my debate blog that the pivot of Hillary’s powerful concluding remarks came from Bill Clinton’s 92 campaign. Clinton had various permutations to it back then. But TPM Reader CG found one example in this November 1992 article by Anna Quindlen . . .
“Clinton, 92: ‘The hits that I took in this election are nothing compared to the hits the people of this state and this country have been taking for a long time.’
“Hillary Clinton, tonight: ‘You know, the hits I’ve taken in life are nothing compared to what goes on every single day in the lives of people across our country.’ “
Josh then delivers a most appropriate punch line:
”Just to be 100% clear, there’s nothing in the least wrong with this. And it’s a great line. But I think it shows the silliness of the ‘plagiarism’ charges based on a few borrowed lines. Politicians borrow good lines and catch-phrases. Happens all the time. There’s nothing wrong with it.”
Having done a fair amount of Clinton bashing, I would be remiss if I did not praise her for what we can only assume was a heart-felt exit line as she shook Obama’s hand:
“I am honored to be here with Barack Obama. I am absolutely honored. Whatever happens, we’re going to be fine. You know, we have strong support from our families and our friends. I just hope that we’ll be able to say the same thing about the American people, and that’s what this election should be about.”
That got far and away the biggest applause of the evening and deservedly so.