Obama: "This is Not a Big Deal"

Referring to the charges of "plagiarism" being alleged by Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson. I agree and I can't believe how big a deal this is. (For example, it's all over the news and memeorandum.)

Wolfson says that Obama "lifted" the words and ideas of Obama-supporting Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. Patrick responds that he and Obama often exchange ideas. An Obama spokesman counters with this video of Clinton "borrowing" Obama's lines, including "Fired Up and Ready to Go ."

This isn't the type of accusation that actually sways voters; it's more likely just to exacerbate tensions between Obama and Clinton supporters. Wolfson should have thought twice about bringing it up. (Not that I'm complaining. Let them duke it out.) Obama is going to come out looking better than Clinton when it's over, given that Patrick says "we do that all the time" and Obama says "I forgive you, Hillary." It just looks petty.

MORE: Seriously, I'm not sure why Wolfson would even bother talking about this. It's not like they're going to be able to portray Obama as an idiot who couldn't come up with his own stuff. Obama's way too smart for that inference to stick.

Is it possible that Wolfson woke up in the morning, realized that he had nothing negative to say about Obama to the morning press gaggle, and this is the best he could come up with?

posted by Gabriel Malor at 04:52 PM

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