Those who had a hard time telling Ann Coulter and Adolph Hitler apart, now will know the reason why. Ann Coulter, the foul mouthed right wing diva may not be liberal in her politics but she is not above liberally lifting material for her books and columns from other published sources. So reports the New York Post. Perhaps she pilfered from Der Führer too.
"Conservative scribe Ann Coulter cribbed liberally in her latest book, "Godless," according to a plagiarism expert.
John Barrie, the creator of a leading plagiarism-recognition system, claimed he found at least three instances of what he calls "textbook plagiarism" in the leggy blond pundit's "Godless: the Church of Liberalism" after he ran the book's text through the company's digital iThenticate program.
He also says he discovered verbatim lifts in Coulter's weekly column, which is syndicated to more than 100 newspapers, including the Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Sun-Sentinel and Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle.
Barrie, CEO of iParadigms, told The Post that one 25-word passage from the "Godless" chapter titled "The Holiest Sacrament: Abortion" appears to have been lifted nearly word for word from Planned Parenthood literature published at least 18 months before Coulter's 281-page book was released.
A separate, 24-word string from the chapter "The Creation Myth" appeared about a year earlier in the San Francisco Chronicle with just one word change - "stacked" was changed to "piled."
Another 33-word passage that appears five pages into "Godless" allegedly comes from a 1999 article in the Portland (Maine) Press Herald."
Sources from which Coulter may have lifted material for her syndicated columns include the L.A Times and the Heritage Foundation among others. The NY Post report moved Universal Press Syndicate which syndicates Coulter's columns to seek a copy of Barrie's report. Fearing exposure, Coulter has lashed out at the New York Post in her characteristic vicious manner. It is interesting to note however, that there is no denial contained in the diatribe.
"....Today, the latest installment of Coulter's column takes aim at the New York Post, although her July 5 piece doesn't mention the Post's July 2 plagiarism story.
Coulter wrote: "Once considered a legitimate daily, the Post has been reduced to tabloid status best known for Page Six's breathless accounts of Paris Hilton's latest ruttings, and headlines like 'Vampire Teen -- H.S. Girl Is Out for Blood.' How crappy a newspaper is the Post? Let me put it this way: It's New York's second-crappiest paper."
She added: "Maybe the Post's constant harassment of me is an attempt to shake me down for protection money like they did with billionaire businessman Ron Burkle. I have sold a LOT of books -- more books, come to think of it, than any writers at the New York Post."
Keep a lid on your operatic outrage, Ms Coulter. Or see Rush Limbaugh's doctor for a prescription.
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