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If someone borrows your words, you ought to be able to charge interest

No, Isakson didn’t plagiarize. But he was borrowed from.

Here’s the piece by Don Rhodes in today’s Augusta Chronicle.

Rhodes found that a near identical speech was given by U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) in 2004.

Here is the example given:

ISAKSON: “I hope you’ll take your graduation diploma today and not frame it and put it on the wall but treat it like a passport and have it validated over and over and over again; wherever you go and wherever you travel.”

MILLER: “In a few minutes you are going to receive a diploma. You can frame it or hang it on the wall — do whatever you’d like with it. But if I were you, I’d treat it like a passport. I’d have it validated over and over and over again as you go through life … as you continue your education, move through your career development, or in whatever interests you choose to pursue.”

A staffer for Miller told Rhodes that an aide to the Florida congressman had heard Isakson deliver a version of his speech, and “had asked to borrow the basic remarks.”

Isakson told a slightly different story. He told Rhodes:

“Jeff [Miller] called me about 30 minutes ago and said, ‘That was a great speech. One of my staffers went to a graduation and heard you give it, and they brought it back, and I gave you credit when I made it but somehow it didn’t get into the Web site.’”

It’s there now.

Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment |

Comments

By Austin Rhodes

June 21, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

In the age of the Internet, this type of thing is pretty easy to catch. Great work by my good friend (no relation) Don Rhodes!

By Hairy Rhodes Palmcumsteinski

June 21, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this

He who picks own butt should not shake hand with the truth 4shizel

By Hairy Rhodes Palmcumsteinski

June 21, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this

He who picks own butt should not shake hand with the truth 4shizel

By Hairy Rhodes Palmcumsteinski

June 21, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this

He who picks own butt should not shake hand with the truth 4shizel

By Hairy Rhodes Palmcumsteinski

June 21, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this

He who picks own butt should not shake hand with the truth 4shizel

By Grading Wooten

June 21, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this

Hacking is a disease. Why should Isakson or Miller be any different? He wants to matter, he admires things he reads and he wants other people to think that HE invented the words that made them feel that way. He wouldn’t be in politics if he wasn’t a self deluding self agrandizing jackass.

I have found that the person who guards their intellectual property the most is the one who stole it the earliest.

Hacks.

By betty boop

June 21, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this

That sort of “borrowing”used to earn you an F in school. Betty Boop says he earned it. Betty Boop

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