The good people of DailyKos have put together several excellent summaries of the plagiarism against John McCain vis-a-vis his recent "Cross In the Dirt" story from his days when he was serving our country honorably in the US Navy. If you haven't already, I urge you to check out their diaries here (rickrocket), here (TomP), here (Calouste), here (Throwing Stones), and here (Hesiod).
I don't have a lot to add to their breakdowns, but I thought since the McCain camp just held a hasty press conference in response I would post the transcript here for people who are following the story.
[MCCAIN]
I'd like to think you all for coming out here on such short notice. I wanted to respond to recent allegations that I may have plagiarized or fabricated some aspects of my experience when I was a Prisoner of War. I want you to know that I wholly refute those charges. I've never told the story before... the story about the Cross in the Dirt made by one of my guards that gave me hope during my capture... and that's because I considered it deeply personal. I'll take some questions. Go ahead Ed.
[ED WEST - AP]
Senator McCain, are there any other personal incidents from your life that you haven't shared yet?
[MCCAIN]
Yes Ed... there is one other one that comes to mind. I guess since I've shared so much of my story this can come out now too. Back when I was an eagle Scout we had a Pastor in our troop named Pastor DeVought... The Pastor and I used to go to this beach by the scout camp and walk early in the mornings... we'd pray and he'd share some scripture with me. If you went out to that beach you'd see two sets of footprints side by side... and then occasionally you'd see only one set of footprints. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking the pastor must have abandoned me while we were walking. But you're wrong. It was during those times that he carried me. Yes - Shirley?
[SHIRLEY SATYRE - MCCLATCHY NEWS]
Thanks Senator... did you have any experiences earlier in your life that helped shape the candidate you are today?
[MCCAIN]
That's a great question Shirley. Boy did I ever! Back when I was in the ninth grade... there was a ciphering test that I just hadn't studied for. And I sure didn't want to take that test. My Father Otto owned an office building, and I hid out in the attic for two years to avoid the test. There was a secret entrance behind a bookcase... and I just holed up there. My Ciphering teacher kept looking for me though, and eventually he found me. Back in those days they had corporal punishment and I don't mind telling you he hided me a good one! But I kept my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. Elvis?
[ELVIS PRESLER - NATIONAL ENQUIRER]
Senator McCain--and I know this might be a little embarassing--but I understand you've been working on a song about your campaign. Do you think we can hear it?
[LAUGHTER FROM PRESS CORPS]
[MCCAIN]
Leave it to Elvis Presler to ask for a song!
[MORE LAUGHTER]
[MCCAIN]
You probably get that all the time because of your name. Elvis, I'm flattered that you'd ask. And I definitely don't mind sharing it. Normally I'd have one of my staffers playing along with me on the Harmonium, so don't mind if I just do this a-capella.
I call this, "The Straight Talk Express."
Buddy you’re a boy make a big noise
Playin’ in the street gonna be a big man some day
You got mud on yo’ face
You big disgrace
Kickin’ your can all over the place
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you
Buddy you’re a young man hard man
Shoutin’ in the street gonna take on the world some day
You got blood on yo’ face
You big disgrace
Wavin’ your banner all over the place
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you
Buddy you’re an old man poor man
Pleadin’ with your eyes gonna make you some peace some day
You got mud on your face
You big disgrace
Somebody better put you back in your place
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you
On the Straight Talk Express!
[POLITE APPLAUSE FROM PRESS CORPS]
[MCCAIN]
Thanks guys, hey don't print the flat notes!
[LAUGHTER]
[MCCAIN]
I've got time for one more. Gennifer?
[GENNIFER BLONDE-MELONS - FOX NEWS]
Senator McCain, speaking of the Straight Talk Express, is it true that the bus broke down recently?
[MCCAIN]
Sorry are you asking about MY bus or Senator Obama's MESSAGE?
[LAUGHTER]
[MCCAIN]
Seriously though. Yes. That did happen. We were driving along in the ol' Straight Talk Express, and it started to buck a little bit. I remember telling the driver "KEEP IT ABOVE 55MPH! IF WE GO UNDER 55MPH, SOMETHING TERRIBLE COULD HAPPEN!" But we came up to a red light and had to stop... steam and smoke were just pouring out of the engine. I took one look at it and turned to my personal attache and said, "I am become death, shatterer of worlds!" Turns out it was just the radiator.
Thanks again for coming out folks, and for helping me beat back the baseless attacks. The cornerstone of my campaign is my character, and allegations that I'm somehow telling other people's stories or using other people's frames for MY experiences are just transparent attacks on that. Wow you certainly do look eager to be called on... I said that was the last question but no problem. Bruce what do you need?
[BRUCE BICKLE - USA TODAY]
Thanks Senator McCain... My readers want to know... do you have a personal motto... some deeply personal wisdom or experience that gets you through the day?
[MCCAIN]
I'm glad I took one more, because that's a great question. I'd have to say my personal philosophy... and I'm going to talk a lot more about this in my upcoming Memoir--The Audacity of Hope--is probably this:
"You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps. Are you working hard or hardly working? When a tree falls in the forest and there's nobody there to hear it, don't mess with my mess."
And you shouldn't just buy the book for great insight like that... you should buy it for this cookie recipe I got from Nieman Marcus.
[APPLAUSE]
[MCCAIN]
Thanks again everyone.
Well it seems like he covered all the bases. Maybe the plagiarism thing was a little too good to be true. He'll probably give us lots of openings for legitimate criticism in the future though. Keep up the good fight!