Jim Gerlach - Serial Plagiarist!

Here locally, the awful Jim Gerlach has repeatedly accuse candidate Lois Murphy of being a plagiarist. It's an utterly stupid charge, as it's for the kind of thing candidates and politicians do all the time. They claim ownership and endorsement, not authorship, of speeches, legislation, plans, proposals, etc. That's not to say a politician could never be guilty of actual plagiarism, but they aren't exactly held to the standards of college English class or non-Domenech journalism. Here's Gerlach's most recent press release where he makes the charge yet again. It's apparently the only thing he's got in his campaign, as he knows he's going to lose. But, hey, since he thinks this is the most important issue facing the country let's hold him to his own standard.

The Gerlach campaign has said this kind of "plagiarism" (which isn't really plagiarism, but he's setting the standard, not me), demonstrates someone "has no integrity and lacks any ethical standards" and "calls into question everything that comes out of” Murphy's mouth.


So, turnabout is in this case fair play. I give you the wanker Jim Gerlach, serial plagiarist.


First, Gerlach sends out a press release which is identical to a four month old House Education and Workforce Committee press release. A sample. Committee release:

Improved disclosure and transparency of Head Start. The bill will require all Head Start grantees to make available to the public an annual report detailing how money was spent, the sources from which funds were received, and how the agency has performed in terms of meeting the requirements of the law. An independent financial audit will also be required annually.

Gerlach release:

Improved disclosure and transparency of Head Start. The bill will require all Head Start grantees to make available to the public an annual report detailing how money was spent, the sources from which funds were received, and how the agency has performed in terms of meeting the requirements of the law. An independent financial audit will also be required annually.

He also published identical material as Jon Porter and Barrett Gresham on the same day.

Porter:

Since the founding of this country, the federal courts have retained jurisdiction over cases between citizens of different states involving large amounts of money. However, because of an anomaly in the way the law has been interpreted, class action cases involving parties from many states and millions of dollars have been excluded from this rule. The result has been a proliferation of large class actions in “magnet” state courts that cannot be transferred to federal court. The Class Action Fairness Act closes this loophole by creating federal jurisdiction over large multi-state class action cases.

Gerlach:

Since the founding of this country, the federal courts have retained jurisdiction over cases between citizens of different states involving large amounts of money. However, because of an anomaly in the way the law has been interpreted, class action cases involving parties from many states and millions of dollars have been excluded from this rule. The result has been a proliferation of large class actions in “magnet” state courts that cannot be transferred to federal court. The Class Action Fairness Act closes this loophole by creating federal jurisdiction over large multi-state class action cases.

Barrett:

It puts an end to the various ‘tricks’ currently used by some lawyers to stay out of federal court. In addition, this legislation creates several provisions specifically designed to ensure that class members – not their attorneys – are the primary beneficiaries of the class actions process.

Gerlach:

The legislation also puts an end to the various ‘tricks’ currently used by plaintiffs’ lawyers to stay out of federal court . . .”

“The plan contains several provisions specifically designed to ensure that class members – not their attorneys – are the primary beneficiaries of the class actions process.

Anyway, there are more examples. One could waste an entirely lifetime hunting for them I imagine. This is a stupid issue. But, Jim Gerlach is a serial plagiarist!

Call his campaign headquarters and ask him when he's going to stop plagiarizing.

610.458.7374

And then donate some money to Lois Murphy to help get this idiot out of office.