Plagiarism???

*GASP* (feigning shock)

Could it be that Barack Obama is plagiarizing speeches from Gov. Deval Patrick (MA)???

Not so fast!

Gov. Patrick did an interview with the New York Times in which he made clear that he explicitly gave Obama permission to adapt his effective "Just Words" speech - as the two are close friends:

In a telephone interview on Sunday, Mr. Patrick said that he and Mr. Obama first talked about the attacks from their respective rivals last summer, when Mrs. Clinton was raising questions about Mr. Obama’s experience, and that they discussed them again last week.

Both men had anticipated that Mr. Obama’s rhetorical strength would provide a point of criticism. Mr. Patrick said he told Mr. Obama that he should respond to the criticism, and he shared language from his campaign with Mr. Obama’s speechwriters.

Mr. Patrick said he did not believe Mr. Obama should give him credit.

“Who knows who I am? The point is more important than whose argument it is,” said Mr. Patrick, who telephoned The New York Times at the request of the Obama campaign. “It’s a transcendent argument.”

Clinton has been "plagiarizing" recently too, saying "fired up and ready to go" as her supporters chant "Yes, she can."

The Clinton camp is really grasping at straws with this one. As if screaming "Why won't you debate me in WI (even though I'm not even in the state and we're debating twice before March 4 anyway)?" wasn't enough now they're insinuating that Obama's plagiarizing his speeches. Give Me A Break.