Hillary Clinton team: Barack Obama is a copycat

Hillary Clinton relished the drop-in appearance set up for her with Stephen Colbert last Thursday night, but her campaign's mood soured when aides learned Barack Obama would be appearing on the same show via satellite.

"I can't believe it -- he's such a copycat," fumed a person close to Clinton, telling Newsday that the candidate herself said she was surprised by Obama's Colbert Nation invasion.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton says his boss was simply taking "The Colbert Report" up on its repeated requests that he appear -- and that the producers had suggested the Thursday time slot. (Colbert's spokeswoman didn't return calls for comment.)

"I'm not surprised the Clinton campaign is attacking us for going on 'The Colbert Report' -- since their campaign is 100% negative," Burton said. "But I do have to say, this is about the lamest attack they've come up with so far."

Perhaps, but it also reflects a deeper resentment among Clinton insiders over what they believe is Obama's penchant for pilfering their ideas, the political equivalent of the popular kid rising to the top of the class by cribbing the nerdy valedictorian's notes.

"Sen. Obama has clearly followed us on an entire range of issues," says Clinton's policy chief Neera Tanden. "It raises a fundamental question: If Sen. Obama can't propose his own major policies during the campaign, how is he going to do it as president?"

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a top Clinton surrogate, said Obama is "clearly picking up a lot of her stuff, especially on economic stimulus. It's really noticeable."

To make their point, the Clinton campaign is circulating a memo to surrogates that details ...

alleged Obama policy lifts on issues such as the establishment of a national infrastructure bank, the creation of five million new "green collar" jobs and a plan to force colleges to adopt a universal financial aid form.

Clinton, who prides herself on being a policy wonk, is particularly peeved about what she believes to be Obama's borrowing of her economic stimulus and foreclosure-relief packages.

"I came up with that a year ago," she told an audience in Bethlehem, Pa., over the weekend, referring to her plan to allocate billions to states for mortgage-assistance programs.

In many cases, Clinton's camp argues, Obama simply cut and pasted Clinton proposals, then tossed in a few hundred million in funding to make him look bolder. One example cited in the memo was Clinton's proposal last October to more than double the tax credit for public college students to $3,500. A month later, Obama proposed a similar plan --- but one-upped Clinton by raising the maximum credit to $4,000.

Also in October, Clinton rolled out a proposal to set aside $1 billion to help states develop paid family leave programs. A month later, Obama rolled out a similar policy -- with an extra $500 million.

Clinton's surrogates have been hammering away on these points in blogs and in the comment sections of small newspapers in Pennsylvania and Indiana. One Clinton partisan, posting on Pennsylvania's Altoona Mirror site, accused Obama of "lies and theft of Hillary Clinton's policies, position papers, etc. and expounding on them to make them his own work/ideas."

Burton denied that Obama has ever willfully borrowed any proposal from Clinton -- and countered by contending that it's Clinton who is copying Obama on Iraq, the most crucial issue she faced as a senator.

For instance, Burton suggested that she only backed a plan pushed by Sens. Harry Reid and Russ Feingold to end the war after he publicly backed the plan.

"Who's copying who?" Burton asked.

-- Glenn Thrush

Glenn Thrush writes for the Swamp of the Chicago Tribune's Washington Bureau.

Comments

[Blake]

Anyone remember her "Ready for Change" motto? Exactly.

[ashish]

smells of desperation from hillary's camp

we know you are running for 2012 and sabotaging the dem's chance to ensure a mccain victory

you and your team are reprehensible

[Get your own]

My advice is Barack to get his own. His own ideas, his own time slots.
If it was reversed we all know by now how much he would be whinning.

[Bob Scofield]

Copycat? What is she, 5 years old? If she were attuned to pop culture at all she would know that Colbert loves Obama.

[edmonds]

BARACK is a liar and would say anything and everthing to get your vote.

His words have no credibility with me or anyone in my community and as an african american I am insulted by the race card his campaign has pulled, you are the opposite of Bill Oreily and I despise you people, you could never create consensus and your entire campaign is the only bambooozlin going on you fraud

[hillaryaliar]

If you lie about small things; you'll lie about big things. Hillary cant be trusted........... A leader is honest; Hillary is not, thus, Hillary should not be our leader.

[Benjamin]

Democrats are copying Democrats?! You mean they have similar ways of addressing policy issues? These ideas existed before Hillary or Obama adopted them and put their own spin on them. They aren't so unique. We are not talking about patented technologies here... A good idea is a good idea.
We should stop fighting over who adopted an idea first, and find out who has a better way of carrying the ideas out and getting them done.

[toedmonds]

when did Barack lie? We KNOW for a FACT that Hillary lied to our faces without blinking. Bosnia... and it was not even a big deal; if she can lie about that how can I trust her when she talks about things with significance and weight?

Hillary is a proven liar. Sad, but its the honest truth.

[Bill Bradley]

Gee, and I've got video of Michelle Obama on The Colbert Report last week.

Really original idea by the Clinton campaign.

People saying and reporting this kind of penny ante stuff shows the campaign is scraping the bottom of the barrel.

[Larry Oregon]

LOL! Whats next from HITLLERY? Liar liar pants on fire? How funny. Pack it up Hitllery You can't win ! HAHAHA! Oh yeah and pay your bills!

Obama 08

[tmoore]

She is RIGHT!!! If he makes it to white house (hope Not)
he will do nothing for 4 years. NOTHING!!!

[Dal]

Lets look at who is lying. I ran from the plane under sniper fire. Does that sound TRUE. Who was that person none other than Hillary Clinton. 60% of the people poled said they do not trust Hillary. Lets close this discussion by saying Hillary stop lying.

[Obama is fake]

Clinton campaign is 100% negative? What a STUPID remark to come from the Obama campaign. Just another reason why my Hillary vote will not stay in the democratic party. Obama is gonna win this so you would think his people would try to keep their anti Hillary remarks to themselves as they cannot, I repeat cannot win the White House without Hillary supporters. If he thinks Hillary is negative, wait until he has to fight against the Republicans!

[cry_hillary_cry]

boo hoo hoo...wahhh...boo hoo...crybaby clinton is upset that a presidential candidate appeared on a top rated cable tv show too! waahhhh!

why isn't she crying about the fact Edwards was on there too - BEFORE BOTH OF THEM!

Crybaby Clinton's campaign and her whiny white women supporters are not the kind of people we want running the country or in charge of the nukes. Is she gonna nuke some poor country becuase their head of state has the same pumps on as her?

WAHHHH! WAHHH!

[Blake]

I know that this is not a good way to bring the Democratic party... but I have to comment on one observation I've had.

Does it seem to anyone else that Hillary supporters never have a good reason for supporting her?

The only thing I ever hear is subjective and indefensible commentary such as "Barack is liar. I don't trust him. All he says is lies." or "Hillary would make such a better President than Obama because she knows stuff."

It is my honest and eager request that if there are any Hillary supporters out there with an objective mind and have a case to make for their candidate... please speak now.

(maybe the problem is that anyone with an objective thought process knows better than to support her... that was below the belt, i'm sorry. just think before you type, people)

[jennifer potenciano]

this latest incident where hillary denounces obama for being a, in effect, "serial" copycat & pilferer proves obama's untrustworthy character & intellectual & moral bankruptcy.

yet, i'm thoroughly surprised why most of the american media seem to gloss over these very serious flaws in obama's character, to the point of censoring news accounts or other articles that, precisely, aim to expose obama for what he really is.

seen in this light, it is not at all a puny act of courage for a newspaper publisher to add his influential voice to the clamor for hillary’s “anointment” as the democrats’ presidential bet.

pittsburgh tribune-review owner richard mellon scaife said a mouthful about barack’s (no quibbling here) incompetence, compared to hillary’s vast experience, courage, preparedness, vision, program of government. oh boy, scaife’s glowing endorsement of hillary makes barrack look like chicago’s “boy mayor” during the traditional annual observance of "children’s week."

but make no mistake about obama’s wiliness, even if he can’t hack it as commander in chief or america’s chief economist. after all, obama is a veteran product of the gangster-type-politics, chicago style (recall the warlord daley, pere, & his kind in the olden days, similar to the philippines’ semi-feudal, gangland political bosses exercising undisputed political power in the boondocks, where only the thickest-faced, crocodile-skinned, & unconscionable killer politicians could survive & rule). this was obama’s preparatory, intermediate & collegiate, as well as graduate school for machiavellian power politics, where he, obviously, excelled. the "dirty politics" craft that he learned there, he now applies in full force & glee against hillary today. (recall his seemingly self-deprecatory, yet frightfully loaded taunt uttered during his chicago days: "i may be skinny, but i'm tough!)

but there’s this bad news for obama. someone, a dutiful journalist, has made a comprehensive account of his stint as an illinois politician. though it’s certainly riveting, the account is not at all entirely pleasant to obama, whom the writer described, in sum, as a dyed-in-the-wool machiavellian politician (opportunistic, wily, duplicitous, ruthless, untrustworthy, liar, vain, two-timing, condescending, patronizing, consumed by overweening ambitions, everything bad & negative).

thus, in the spirit of truthful reportage, could this commenter recommend to the millions of readers of the LOS ANGELES TIMES and to the great American voters—the entire American people themselves—to please read an expose on obama by JONATHAN KAUFMAN @ today’s edition of the WALL STREET JOURNAL?

the EXPOSE is a highly revealing, eye-popping, vote-influencing, sense-knocking, idiocy-correcting, fanaticism-destroying, completely informative piece on obama.
though late in coming, this piece, it is hoped, will knock some sense into the thick skulls of hard-headed delusional obama fanatics, so that they may get enlightened in time for them to correct their choice for the democratic presidential nominee in favor of hillary rodham clinton.

it is hoped that this expose on obama will give your readers (native americans & int'l. readers) the true facts about the wily obama, so that we may view the slicky prexy nominee wannabe in the proper perspective.

all the by-now well-known obama dirty tactics, his slimy politics, killer-instinct binges, his damn-all-of-you-stupid-pols-i’m-the-best-one legendary self-conceited putdowns, in fine, his textbook machiavellian politics are in full grandstand parade here in this kaufman in-depth reportage.

read it—and weep for your choice, should you root for barrack, weep for your children, and weep for america. for the third , & perhaps, last time (before armageddon), let a truly duplicitous, if smooth-talking demagogue bring you to apocalypse now.

be properly warned.

now that obama has been thoroughly unmasked, the great american people should no longer be fooled by this great political pretender, a political fakir who's a disgrace to both of his black & white genes & forefathers.

for a while, the great american people have been had by the smooth-acting of obama, the snakeoil salesman. i do hope it's not yet too late in the day for the american voters to get wind of your special report on the phony obama.

it behooves all right-minded americans to at least xerox this obama expose 300 million times so that they may use such copies to slap obama in the face, even as you tell him to "go to hell, machiavelli." ****

[Mara]

FRONT PAGE NEWS! Obama Accused of Pilferring! I expected a real story - computers lifted, speeches copied - and what's the big news? That Obama was invited to be on the Steven Colbert show.

This is one of the lamest articles I have read in a once superb national newspaper.

[BJ]

This supports my contention that Barack Obama CLEARLY does not really have a firm grasp of the solutions needed for the economic crisis we are having... NOR does he really know what his foreign affairs policies really are!

I remember distinctly, in one debate, he said that as president, he would meet with any world leader. While Hillary said she would not, unless some procedures are followed, and there is a clear view of what concessions are to be made.

In another debate, he doubled back... saying yes, I will meet with any world leader...PROVIDED some provisions are met before hand!

THIS is the way he has conducted his entire campaign. In the beginning, he was ALL RHETORIC... when asked for specifics, all he did WAS COPY Hillary's proposals, with just enough changes to own it as his.

In the ABC debate, it was clear that when he was not scripted, he stuttered and fumbled. And when questioned further, he double-talked and tried to recover, only to stumble and fall flat on his face! His numbers did not add up. AND, his attack came the next day...AFTER David Axelrod had a chance to script his allegations. And where did they air their resentments? on MSNBC, the Obama news agency!

Such is the case with his health care plan! Even Elizabeth Edwards prefers Clinton's plan over Obama's! WHY? Because it made more sense, numbers wise, in order to achieve universality.

This man is a farce! He keeps saying he does not want a negative campaign... so on the last days of the PA Primary, what does he do? He ATTACKS! he OUTSPENDS. This man just cannot take the heat. And will not keep his word! WHY? Because in order for him to succeed with any Legislation he needs, he has to FACE the OLD WASHINGTON STYLE POLITICS in Congress & the Senate, in order for it to pass. Let's see then how far his "policy of change" will get him.

[Greg Jones]

WHY IS THE MEDIA HIDING THE TRUTH ABOUT HILLARY'S SECRET RELIGION (CULT ?)

It was obvious as one would watch the 'coverage' of the war that all of the cable news networks were working for the Bush Regime. The ONLY place we as Americans could attempt to gather some truth was through C-Span, Huff, Democracy Now and a few other sites which would show all of the networks to be actually misleading America. Now, with as simple a tool as Google, Americans can find out information that the networks won't give. Hillary's secret religion (cult) known as 'The Family' is a D.C. based group of the richest folks in America who 'pray to Jesus for the elite to rule the world' . The fact that there has been absolutely no mention of her cult leads one to believe that the higher-ups at the networks (and other big corporations) are a part of 'The Family'.....and the plan to rule the world. I know.... it sounds far fetched. You can find a great list of links regarding 'The Family' at www.Blacks4Barack.org. Truthtellers like Huffington, The Nation, Mother Jones and others have all done recent stories about 'The Family'....but where's CNN, MSNBC, Fox or the gang. They all know that there's an internet rumbling going on right now about this cult. But....no mention. Do the research yourselves....Google 'Hillary The Family' or 'The Fellowship' or 'The Christian Mafia'....once you do....you'll see that it is not only scary....BUT IT MUST BE STOPPED !!!!!!!!!!!!!! LEARN/SHARE !!!!!

Visit: www.Blacks4Barack.org
(A Multi-Racial Organization Dedicated to Truth)

[suzyku]

Who's whining now! Hillarycrites that's who!

[Tre]

Is this a true story? Come on..this cannot be a true story!!! Please tell me that this is NOT a true story!!

I am now praying for Hillary Clinton to not only get out of this race after PA, but also get voted out of her senate seat by NYers when that time comes.

She is as vile as her disgusting and immoral husband.

The fact that she is still in this race just proves how many white male bigots and 60+ year old white female hags there are in this country.

[Yeung]

Is Hillary in kindergarten or what? Copycat? Copycat?
She needs to stuff a sock in it and stop whining.

[Tom J]

Recommended campaign handbook for the Clintons:
Tradition and Change in American Playground Language
Herbert Knapp and Mary Knapp
The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 86, No. 340 (Apr. - Jun., 1973), pp. 131-141 (article consists of 11 pages)
Published by: University of Illinois Press on behalf of American Folklore Society

Tomorrow's talking point:
Sticks and stones may break my bones
But words will never hurt me.