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one_voice

(20,043 posts)
Tue Feb 2, 2016, 06:31 PM Feb 2016

Rubio Copied One Of Obama’s Most Famous Speeches – And Obama’s Speechwriter Just Called Him On It

Marco Rubio may have come in third in the Iowa caucus behind both Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, but for reasons that remain unclear his team – and the media – are treating it like he just locked up the presidency. (Don’t break out the champagne just yet, Rubio fans, third place finishers almost never end up winning the nomination.)

But clearly thrilled with the narrative that he had pulled off a political upset…by coming in third… Rubio delivered a tone-deaf “victory” speech about how no one thought he could do it… come in third, that is.

“So this is the moment they said would never happen. For months, for months they told us we had no chance. For months they told us because we offer too much optimism in a time of anger, we had no chance. For months they told us because we didn’t have the right endorsements or the right political connections, we had no chance. They told me that we have no chance because my hair wasn’t gray enough and my boots were too high.”

To political insiders watching the speech, there was growing bafflement. Anyone with any familiarity with one of Obama’s most iconic speeches – when he won the Iowa caucus in 2008, a very real upset – noticed immediately that Rubio was pretty much plagiarizing the sitting-president almost verbatim.

Here’s Obama’s:

“They said this day would never come. They said our sights were set too high. They said this country was too divided, too disillusioned to ever come together around a common purpose. But on this January night, at this defining moment in history, you have done what the cynics said we couldn’t do.”


Like any copy-cat, Rubio’s version paled in comparison to the original. Obama’s speech was forceful, aspirational, and concise. It set the tone for Obama’s entire campaign. Here was an underdog who no one believed could do it, handily beating the favored choices. As a result, Obama’s comments felt earned. Rubio is using a more “fake it til you make it” approach.

Hilariously, Obama’s former speechwriter was one of the people scratching their heads at Rubio’s carbon copy. He scorched Rubio’s campaign in a tweet.

He could've at least thanked Obama for the opening line https://t.co/meP627U6pv

— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) February 2, 2016

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/02/02/rubio-copied-one-of-obamas-most-famous-speeches-and-obamas-speechwriter-just-called-him-on-it/
29 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Rubio Copied One Of Obama’s Most Famous Speeches – And Obama’s Speechwriter Just Called Him On It (Original Post) one_voice Feb 2016 OP
I knew ... MrWendel Feb 2016 #1
yep....me too! FrenchieCat Feb 2016 #26
Does Rubio do anything original? nt valerief Feb 2016 #2
I think the record number of senate votes... Blanks Feb 2016 #8
Excellent point! He's an original slacker. nt valerief Feb 2016 #9
That's all I remember about him LittleGirl Feb 2016 #29
Yes ejbr Feb 2016 #12
Rubio: copying the speech of a famous person -- very high school and unethical. /nt NCjack Feb 2016 #3
I'm not seeing "almost verbatim" plagiarism there (nt) Nye Bevan Feb 2016 #4
I'm with you. Plucketeer Feb 2016 #7
Of course not... Ino Feb 2016 #14
I'm not either. cui bono Feb 2016 #18
Same. This is really, really reaching. linuxman Feb 2016 #24
"Shitty little weasel" COLGATE4 Feb 2016 #5
the funny thing is that Rubio came in third Enrique Feb 2016 #6
Didn't Rubio's people say he would win Iowa? rpannier Feb 2016 #16
Came in third, but was the first to declare victory. I guess that passes for a win, now. merrily Feb 2016 #27
Typical laziness on Rubio's part. lpbk2713 Feb 2016 #10
Well I have to say Mika called him on it and added that the real malaise Feb 2016 #11
His "boots were... 3catwoman3 Feb 2016 #13
Who told Rubio "my boots were too high"?,sometimes republicans say weird insider stuff,high boots? Sunlei Feb 2016 #15
Jeb LiberalAndProud Feb 2016 #17
Weird. n/t cui bono Feb 2016 #19
ok,I see what his weird boot comments are about, he was mocked about his height by all other Rs. Sunlei Feb 2016 #20
And he'll be back. He won't take the nom, but he will be back. LiberalAndProud Feb 2016 #22
agree, both of them have younger age on their side & they will be back. Sunlei Feb 2016 #25
I think Rubio meant the heels on his boots, but did not want to reference high heels. merrily Feb 2016 #28
Bigger Problem erpowers Feb 2016 #21
"Rubio" is a CIA asset. Don't be surprised to see him survive all the primaries librechik Feb 2016 #23

MrWendel

(1,881 posts)
1. I knew ...
Tue Feb 2, 2016, 06:37 PM
Feb 2016

that sounded familiar when I was listening to him ramble on last night. If there was ever a time for him to take a sip of water, ripping of a speech and going on for 15 mins would be it.

LittleGirl

(8,291 posts)
29. That's all I remember about him
Wed Feb 3, 2016, 09:48 AM
Feb 2016

is that he's been AWOL in the senate for months and yet people in Iowa voted for him? Seriously, do your job first, then campaign. ugh.

 

Plucketeer

(12,882 posts)
7. I'm with you.
Tue Feb 2, 2016, 07:19 PM
Feb 2016

One really has to stretch things to see similarities - at least from what's presented in the OP.

Enrique

(27,461 posts)
6. the funny thing is that Rubio came in third
Tue Feb 2, 2016, 06:58 PM
Feb 2016

Rubio coming in third is the moment that "they" said would never happen? I don't remember anyone saying that.

malaise

(269,157 posts)
11. Well I have to say Mika called him on it and added that the real
Tue Feb 2, 2016, 07:30 PM
Feb 2016

difference was that Obama actually won

3catwoman3

(24,041 posts)
13. His "boots were...
Tue Feb 2, 2016, 08:06 PM
Feb 2016

...too high"? Say what? Cuban heels, or hip waders to protect himself from all the BS he is spewing?

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)
20. ok,I see what his weird boot comments are about, he was mocked about his height by all other Rs.
Tue Feb 2, 2016, 10:35 PM
Feb 2016

His first, third place, 'win' and in his speech he's negative and shows he is wounded by his fellow contenders.

He used Obamas speech and changed, added his own weak-crybaby words. He's not a very positive person.

LiberalAndProud

(12,799 posts)
22. And he'll be back. He won't take the nom, but he will be back.
Tue Feb 2, 2016, 10:46 PM
Feb 2016

He intends to be PotUS someday. Pay attention.

And for that I'm glad O'Malley introduced himself this primary. We need a deeper bench, but god, I am so glad for OM. He will have my support in his next primary. Let him not lose heart.

merrily

(45,251 posts)
28. I think Rubio meant the heels on his boots, but did not want to reference high heels.
Tue Feb 2, 2016, 11:00 PM
Feb 2016

His boots themselves are really only ankle height.

erpowers

(9,350 posts)
21. Bigger Problem
Tue Feb 2, 2016, 10:40 PM
Feb 2016

To me the bigger problem is that Marco Rubio may be making things up. Who ever said that he would not, or could not come in third? I thought that, before Donald Trump announced he was running for the Republican nomination, Marco Rubio was considered either the front runner or the number two guy. I do not think there were many people, if any, who thought Marco Rubio, even at his age was not a top tier candidate. I believe Rubio was considered the Latino alternative to Jeb Bush. I may be wrong, but I think a number of people were shocked at how poorly Marco Rubio was doing at the beginning of the Republican nomination process.

On the other hand, many people did not think President Obama could beat Hillary Clinton in Iowa, beat her for the Democratic nomination, and win the general election. I believe there were people who told President Obama he was too young and needed to wait his turn. I believe there were people who told President Obama America was not ready for him, a black man, to be president. So, it seems more like Marco Rubio stole President Obama's story.

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