Rand Paul Confused about Plagiarism

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Rand Paul's Gattaca Moment

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MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow pointed out the similarities between Rand Paul’s talk in Virginia about Gattaca and that futuristic film’s Wikipedia entry.
. . . A revision history of the Gattaca Wikipedia page showed Paul had to have copied the speech since no changes were made after Paul’s speech.
A June 12, 2013 speech on immigration discussed the movie Stand and Deliver.
. . . the Wikipedia article on the film with red lines over the text...appears verbatim in Paul’s speech.
~ Andrew Kaczynski on Buzzfeed

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Well, we, we borrowed the plot lines from ‘Gattaca,’ a movie, and I gave credit to the people who wrote the movie. I think they’re arguing about whether things are properly footnoted. And there are technicalities to this. But nothing I said was not given attribution to where it came from.
~ Senator Rand Paul R-Kentucky, via Politico

The rest of it's making a mountain out of a molehill from people I think basically who are political enemies and have an ax to grind. This is really about information and attacks coming from haters. The person who's leading this attack -- she's been spreading hate on me for about three years now.
~ Senator Rand Paul referring to Rachel Maddow, who first brought the plagiarism to light on her show

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Nobody is accusing you of pretending that you wrote ‘Gattaca’ or that you wrote ‘Stand and Deliver,’ that is not what this about. This is not about you explaining a plot line. This is about you lifting other peoples’ words verbatim and pretending that they are your own. This is something that high school students know not to do. And you are presenting yourself as potential candidate for president.
~ Rachel Maddow on MSNBC via Politico

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UPDATE: Rand Paul calls Rachel Maddow a 'hater'... http://t.co/EGJ0fU1RNJ
— DRUDGE REPORT (@DRUDGE_REPORT) October 31, 2013

not how it works RT @AaronBlakeWP: Rand Paul says he didn't plagiarize because he cited the movies he was describing. http://t.co/4qiCeifDn9
— Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) October 31, 2013

Even today, Sen Paul still says he only "described the plot of a movie." Does he even understand that he copied the wikipedia page?
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) October 31, 2013

Rachel Maddow: Rand Paul "does not understand what plagiarism means" http://t.co/WtjUmJVJKV
— HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) October 31, 2013

Can someone add Rand Paul's plagiarism of Wikipedia to his Wikipedia? Then maybe he will read about it. http://t.co/6iGcNVX5dW
— Zach Green (@140elect) October 30, 2013

Rand Paul response to plagiarism charged: "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) October 30, 2013

No one has updated Rand Paul's page to note that he's the first politician to be caught plagiarizing from Wikipedia. http://t.co/sHiXyfqsL6
— HALLOWEEN NAME (@LOLGOP) October 29, 2013

Read Wikipedia page while listening to the speech. #sofunny >>RT @PoliticalTicker: Rand Paul accused of plagiarism http://t.co/dhXg7GAfRU
— Brenda (@falennon) October 31, 2013

Rand Paul's Gattaca Moment

Rachel Maddow, host of an MSNBC talk show and bane of Rand Paul’s existence, accused the Kentucky Senator of stealing lines from his speech at Liberty University on Monday from a Wikipedia entry about the 1997 movie Gattaca.
. . . In all, Maddow accused Paul of quoting almost word-for-word four passages in the Wikipedia entry explaining the science fiction movie.
~ Kentucky Courier Journal

Gattaca Wikipedia Page Here



. . . it’s ridiculous enough that the Kentucky Senator used a 16-year-old science fiction film’s plot as some lame attempt to stir up fear while giving a speech. Then he just compounds his absurdity by plagiarizing the movie’s Wikipedia page.
~ Forward Progressives

Paul: “In the movie Gattaca, in the ‘not to distant future,’ eugenics is common and DNA plays a primary role in determining your social class.”
Wikipedia: “In ‘the not-too-distant future’, liberal eugenics is common and DNA plays the primary role in determining social class.

Paul: “Due to frequent screenings, Vincent faces genetic discrimination and prejudice. The only way to achieve his dream of being an astronaut, is he has to become what’s called a ‘borrowed ladder.’”
Wikipedia: "Due to frequent screening, Vincent faces genetic discrimination and prejudice. The only way he can achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut is to become a ‘borrowed ladder.’”

Paul: “He assumes the identity of a Jerome Morrow, a world class swimming star with a genetic profile said to be ‘secondary to none,’ but he’s been paralyzed in a car accident.”
Wikipedia: “He assumes the identity of Jerome Eugene Morrow, a former swimming star with a genetic profile “second to none”, who had been injured in a car accident, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.”

Paul: “Jerome buys his identity, uses his DNA — his blood, his hair, his tissue his urine — to pass the screenings.”
Wikipedia: “Vincent ‘buys’ Jerome’s identity and uses his ‘valid’ DNA in blood, hair, tissue, and urine samples to pass screening.”

Outstanding! > Rand Paul plagiarizes Wikipedia in campaign speech for Ken Cuccinelli at Liberty University. http://t.co/VNwWxPrpF0 #gattaca
— Glenn Carlson PE PhD (@CarlsonEngineer) October 29, 2013

So Rand Paul stokes 50-year old fears of eugenics at Falwell's Liberty University. Wait. Don't you gotta believe in evolution first?
— Paul Rodgers (@PaulRodgersKY) October 29, 2013

Apparently Rand Paul is disappearing down the anti-science rabbit hole.
— Tom (@TRLangham) October 29, 2013

Plot twist? Rand Paul is a true #gattaca fanboy and wrote the Wikipedia entry. @maddow
— Erin (@erinsaurus) October 29, 2013

I'll give Rand Paul some props, at least while he was reciting the Gattaca Wiki page his hair almost looked real.

— Kennethinavolgimaski (@skunkwerks16) October 29, 2013

Not sure what's worse: Plagiarizing from Wikipedia or treating it as an authoritative source for information. #RandPaul #Gattaca
— Jason Febery (@JasonFebery) October 29, 2013

Seems to me that Rand Paul immersed himself too much in '#Gattaca', Ayn Rand, and '1984' and not enough in 'Oliver Twist'.
— Jason Febery (@JasonFebery) October 29, 2013

“@Cincienquirer: Rand Paul warns science could be used to alter gene pool http://t.co/OCy9F4fTlz” LOL ever hear "survival of the fittest"
— Дженифер (@onthatnew) October 29, 2013

Obama's "Jedi Mind Meld" Meme - Updated with Real Trekkie Stars

"I am not a dictator. I'm the president. So, ultimately, if Mitch McConnell or John Boehner say we need to go to catch a plane, I can't have Secret Service block the doorway, right?" He also declared he couldn't perform a "Jedi mind meld" to sway opponents, mixing Star Wars and Star Trek as he reached for a science fiction metaphor.
~ President Obama in remarks on Sequestration Day via Seattle Times

When talking about Republican leaders, Obama said he couldn’t do a “Jedi mind meld” to persuade them into a budget agreement.
Fans were quick to point out that the “Jedi mind trick” comes from Star Wars, while the Vulcan mind meld is a Star Trek reference.
~ CBS Boston

UPDATES:

Only a Vulcan mind meld will help with this congress. LLAP

— Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) March 1, 2013

@therealnimoy You are assuming they have minds to meld with. :-)

— Sunfell (@Sunfell) March 1, 2013

“Jedis are the guardians of peace and justice. And mind meld is the Vulcan way of having the force of pure, clean communication between one mind and the another,” Takei said on “The Ed Show” on Friday. “Well, that’s what the president is trying to do–bring those two forces together.”
Takei also compared Republicans with Klingons, recurring villains in the Star Trek franchise, but predicted “the force of the mind meld and the force of Jedi power” will eventually produce the common ground that’ll be required for a resolution.
~ Mr. Sulu on MSNBC's The Ed Show

We must bring balance to the Force. #Sequester #JediMindMeld twitter.com/whitehouse/sta…
— The White House (@whitehouse) March 1, 2013

Obama just confused Star Trek and Star Wars by saying Jedi Mind Meld. I think it's time to impeach.
— Darth Vader (@DepressedDarth) March 1, 2013

@depresseddarth I find your lack of faith disturbing.
— Gideon Rosenblatt (@gideonro) March 2, 2013

"Jedi Mind Meld"?? No reaction from GOP, but Obama is banned for life by Comic Con.
— Paul Myers (@pulmyears) March 1, 2013

#Obama is neither a dictator nor willing to engage in a #jedimindmeld with #GOP leaders. Best. Presser. Ever.
— Shu-Fy H. Pongnon (@shufypongnon) March 1, 2013

#JediMindMeld #NotThePhraseYourLookingFor
— Jason Redmond (@JasonRedmond74) March 1, 2013

A #jedimindmeld is when someone gropes your face to distract you from your money levitating out of your wallet.
— Paul Miller (@psmiller) March 2, 2013

"I love you." "I know, Jim, but that's illogical." #JediMindMeld
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) March 1, 2013

So much for #Obama being the most divisive president in history. He just united two completely different universes. #jedimindmeld
— Matteo Wyllyamz (@mouselink) March 1, 2013

Guys, it wasn't a mistake. The sequester means we can no longer afford both Star Wars and Star Trek. #jedimindmeld
— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) March 1, 2013

Obama concludes press conference: "Live long, prosper, and may the force be with you." #jedimindmeld
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) March 1, 2013

Phasers on geek RT @politicalticker#JediMindMeld: May the forced spending cuts be with you -wp.me/p4HKM-19wu

— Jim Acosta (@jimacostacnn) March 1, 2013

Space Tweets ~ Day of the Russian Meteor

This doesn't happen every day . . .

I don't normally tweet this stuff, but look at this #RussianMeteor video. Watch the end for the sound. Wow. youtube.com/watch?v=rsOKcj…

— Ben J. Pierce (@BenJPierce) February 15, 2013

Shockwave at 0:13, with lots of footage of panic/broken windows esp. towards the end: youtube.com/watch?v=XIAm5h… #russianmeteor

— Jonathan Stade (@acheron) February 15, 2013

At least 250 people injured in spectacular #RussianMeteor shower - interior ministry bbc.in/15gVj7D twitpic.com/c3vvwu #метеорит

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) February 15, 2013

2,962 buildings including 34 healthcare facilities, 361 schools and kindergartens damaged by #RussianMeteor youtube.com/watch?v=1kvHl5…

— Oliver-Ah (@_MyMindTalks) February 15, 2013

Watch this incredible footage of the #RussianMeteor entering the atmosphere and the aftermath of its entry bit.ly/YvSbON

— NewsHour (@NewsHour) February 15, 2013

The 10-ton meteorfright: 20,000mph rock explodes over Russia and injures 1,000 in blast mirr.im/XE0JCq #RussianMeteor

— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) February 15, 2013

A meteor just crashed into Russia...no comet. #RussianMeteor

— Puns (@omgthatspunny) February 15, 2013

I, for one, welcome our new meteor overlords.#RussianMeteor ow.ly/hJY2A

— Student Noodles (@StudentNoodles) February 15, 2013

I felt a great disutbance in my vodka, as if millions of potatoes suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. #RussianMeteor

— Nick Minecci (@Gettysburg7) February 15, 2013

We laugh at Russia today, but in 21 years we're gonna realize a kid from Krypton landed with that metor, and he will rule us.

— daveweigel (@daveweigel) February 16, 2013

Aliens land in Russia. Putin sees father for the first time in 3000 years. Cries glass tears #RussianMeteor

— sam petresky (@SemPetersky) February 15, 2013

LOL ..RT @cdasilva: High res photo of yesterday's meteor over Russia#Russianmeteor twitter.com/cdasilva/statu…

— Loulaaaaabell (@lightnessalways) February 16, 2013

Meteors, & asteroids, & nuclear bomb tests, oh my! #RussianMeteor

— Celina MC (@celinaemcee) February 15, 2013

Lindsay Graham says Chuck #Hagel knew about the #RussianMeteor but did nothing to stop it.

— SheSheGo (@SheSheGo) February 15, 2013

@kagrox The only thing that stops a meteor is a good guy with a gun.

— Jeremy Littau (@JeremyLittau) February 15, 2013

I wonder if Sarah Palin saw the #RussianMeteor from her house? :)

— Jeanne Kimsey (@SnarkAmendment) February 15, 2013

Dear God, it was a nice try but i asked for Tea Party Headquarters, not Russia. This was just a waste of meteorite. #RussianMeteor

— John (@linnyitssn) February 15, 2013

#RussianMeteor Coming!DUCK!!! twitter.com/lolpacorg/stat…

— LOLPAC Left Out Loud (@lolpacorg) February 15, 2013

Friday must have felt like Christmas to the cast of Doomsday Preppers. #RussianMeteor #Asteroid

— Tommy Noe (@EastTNVol) February 16, 2013

So the #RussianMeteor is the beginning of the end. This is how all doomsday movies start. #livetweet from my secret bunker

— Freddie Ortiz Junior (@fortizjr) February 15, 2013

Meteor strike yesterday, asteroid near miss today. And Obama is POTUS. The Mayans didn't miss it by ALL that much.

— Ken Gardner (@kesgardner) February 15, 2013

#RussianMeteor I hope it didn't wake up the Doomsday Machine that Dr. Strangelove warned us about.

— Ryan Ellis (@MovieFiend51) February 15, 2013

Hollywood take note what's NOT happening in those alleged meteor vids: No cars running into each other. Ppl aren't panicking. #RussianMeteor

— Jonathan M. Katz (@KatzOnEarth) February 15, 2013

#RussianMeteor @gop claims that meteors don't kill people, angry gods hurling meteors do.

— drhug (@drhug) February 15, 2013

REPORT: Taylor Swift already writing a song about the breakup of the #RussianMeteor

— The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) February 15, 2013

What makes you so sure that the #RussianMeteor wasn't Death Eaters?

— Professor Snape (@_Snape_) February 15, 2013

Goodnight, VD. Goodnight, Russian Superman. Goodnight, Carnival Poopship. Goodnight, Moon.

— Matthew (@Matterless) February 15, 2013