Despite allegations of plagiarism against Vice President Kamala Harris, the New York Times has downplayed their significance. However, a similar scandal during Joe Biden's 1987-1988 presidential run led to his withdrawal from the race. This stark contrast in treatment has drawn criticism from Republicans and raised questions about media bias.
Kamala Harris, the current Vice President of the United States, recently faced allegations of plagiarism in her 2009 book, "Smart on Crime." Republican critic Christopher Rufo, who brought the accusations to light, claims that Harris lifted passages from various sources without proper citation.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the New York Times published an article dismissing them as minor violations. The Times cited plagiarism expert Jonathan Bailey, who claimed that Rufo had only found "five sections" of "about 500 words" that amounted to something problematic. Bailey also stated that the alleged plagiarism was an "error and not an intent to defraud."
Kamala Harris Plagiarism Scandal: A Tale of Two Reactions
However, the Times' reporting on Harris' plagiarism stands in stark contrast to its coverage of a similar scandal involving Joe Biden during his 1987-1988 presidential run. At the time, the Times described Biden's borrowing of excerpts from other politicians' speeches as "damaging" and labeled his plagiarism as "thievery and disinformation."
This disparity in treatment has led to accusations of media bias and a double standard. Republicans, including Rufo, have criticized the New York Times for downplaying the Harris allegations while harshly condemning Biden's actions.
Kamala Harris Plagiarism Scandal: A Tale of Two Reactions
Rufo also criticized the Washington Post for blaming the Harris plagiarism on technical difficulties. The Post interviewed Bailey, who claimed that such errors were common during a period when electronic research became more common but plagiarism detection had not yet emerged.
However, Rufo pointed out that the Post had taken a different approach when it criticized first lady Melania Trump for "lifting a few turns of phrase" during a 2016 speech. In that case, the Post did not attribute the errors to technical difficulties.
Kamala Harris Plagiarism Scandal: A Tale of Two Reactions
In addition to the Harris allegations, Rufo was also the source of allegations of plagiarism against Claudine Gay, the former president of Harvard. The revelations that Gay had reportedly copied numerous academics over the course of her own academic career led to her removal as Harvard's president.
The contrast in the media's treatment of plagiarism allegations against Harris and Biden has raised questions about the fairness and objectivity of certain media outlets. Critics argue that the disparity suggests a bias in favor of Democratic candidates.
Kamala Harris Plagiarism Scandal: A Tale of Two Reactions
Despite attempts to downplay the significance of the allegations against Harris, the scandal has cast a shadow over her reputation and raised concerns about her ability to serve as Vice President.
