'08 Democrats Reuse, Recycle Rivals' Best Lines

[ariesgem]

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, the Democratic presidential hopefuls sure do like each other — a lot. As the candidates meet on debate stages across the country and speak to voters in town squares, they have adopted many of the same refrains.

Campaign staffers privately giggle as they compare the language used by their bosses and later adopted by their Democratic rivals. They sometimes accuse the other campaigns of stealing their stump lines.

But who was the first White House contender to talk about hope or to promise that he or she is the only candidate offering both change and experience? Some are clear to track.

On April 28, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois delivered what was later dubbed the "turn-the-page" speech to California Democrats, saying: "I'm running for president because the time for the can't-do, won't-do, won't-even-try style of politics is over. It's time to turn the page."

Less than two weeks later, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York said on MSNBC that she thinks voters "are so anxious to turn the page."

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Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina has done same page-turning himself — in a July 24 e-mail from adviser Joe Trippi with the subject line, "Last night we turned the page," touting his boss's debate performance the previous evening. The past few months have revealed several examples of the candidates lifting one another's phrases.

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The copycat game has become something of a joke among campaign staffers.

An August Salon.com quiz matched candidates with their stump lines, and staffers for Mr. Edwards and Mr. Obama, quizzed by The Washington Times, weren't sure whether Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Obama or Mr. Edwards gave two quotes.

One, from Mr. Obama, talked about a "once-a-generation" moment to "move history in a better direction." The other, from Mrs. Clinton, included the need "to come up with innovative solutions to deal with the problems we face, because we cannot do it alone."


http://washingtontimes.com/article/20070906/NATION/109050094/1002


Yeah I know it's from that rag The Washington Times, but it's something we've all talked about here. They ALL do it. It reminds me of when Dean came out in 03' with his catch phrases. By the time the campaigning was over, Kerry was just about saying "You got the power! Let's take this country back!". ;-)

[Ellen Forradalom]

1. We're serious about saving the environment

Our words don't go directly into the landfill.

[sandnsea]

2. Well no, Kerry was saying "turn the page"

and needing to "move America in a new direction".

He sure as hell never said the idiotic "you got the power" that scared the hell out of most people who heard it.

But whatever.