The tables have turned and it would appear that Sen. Rand Paul is now the victim of plagiarism.
The New York Times reported Thursday night that North Carolina Senate candidate Greg Brannon may have lifted sections of Paul’s 2010 campaign site. Brannon, one of North Carolina’s Republican Senate candidates, is hoping to unseat Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan in 2014.
The Times noted at least three instances on Brannon’s website where the text appears to be directly copied and pasted from Paul’s site, including a section where Paul described how his experience as an ophthalmologist has helped him understand the problems facing Americans when it comes to the health care system. Brannon is an obstetrician who’s had his own OBGYN practice in North Carolina since 1993.
Paul is currently being accused of plagiarizing several sources, including Wikipedia, in speeches and in his writings. Though he has not issued an apology, he’s defended himself in multiple interviews and promised to make footnoted versions of his work available in the future.
Paul endorsed Brannon last month, so perhaps in this case, imitation is the best form of flattery.
Traci Lee