Sen. Biden’s Problems With Plagiarism

Well, so much for Biden! The press has pummeled another politician to pulp. We’re laughing them out of the race this campaign season. I know your editorial (“Who Said That,” Sept. 18) is going to generate a thousand copycat versions (speaking of plagiarism), but I couldn’t resist. It’s tough deciding on candidates these days. We voters, who feel that “he that loseth his honesty hath nothing else to lose” (Lyly), are learning that, among politicians, “common sense is not so common” (Voltaire).

One wonders what Biden could have been thinking of: He didn’t just borrow a phrase here and there, he practically usurped whole speeches. Since “great thoughts come from the heart” (Vanvernagues), we’re left to question Biden’s sincerity.

It also follows that “a man should be upright, not be kept upright” (Marcus Aurelius) by investigative reporters. Still, we are admonished to “judge not lest we be judged” (the Bible). It will be interesting to observe if we have any candidates for the presidency left by November, 1988.

Considering the store of knowledge we have garnered in recent days about the present crop of candidates, has anyone thought of giving Jimmy Carter another go at it? After all, “the more a man knows, the more he forgives.” (author unknown--sometimes referred to as the Greek philosopher, Anonymous). Experience is the best teacher (Carlyle).

P.S. Your editorial made my day.

GAIL FUNARO

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