Republicans dismiss Melania Trump speech flap as media 'nonsense'

Many Republicans aredismissing thecontroversy over whether Melania Trump's conventionspeech contained acoupleof passages from one delivered by Michelle Obama in 2008, insteadblaming the media for creating a flap over nothing.

"It's not a controversy here, quite frankly.I think it's an issue created by the mediawhichRepublicans are pretty familiar with," said Brent Bogardus, a New York state delegate. "They've beaten up on us all the time with nonsense like this."

Many speeches contain similar passages, Bogardus said, denying that thespeech by Melania Trump, Donald Trump's spouse,has become a needless distraction.

"It is not an issue for anyone at this convention."

• Melania Trump's speech mirrors Michelle Obama's
• Behind the scenes at Trump's 'showbiz' convention

Melania Trump's 10-minute speech on Monday nightwas largely well received until it was noted that a couple of sentences appeared to be similar to those in Michelle Obama's 2008 Democratic convention speech in Denver.

In ClevelandMelania Trumpsaid: "From a young age, my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise, that you treat people with respect. They taught and showed me values and morals in their daily life."

Striking similarities: Michelle Obama's speech vs Melania Trump's speech

8 years ago

Duration 0:37

Melania Trump's speech at the Republican National Convention bears striking similarities to Michelle Obama's 2008 speech.

Eight years agoMichelle Obamasaid: "And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: like, you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond, that you do what you say you're going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them and even if you don't agree with them."

• Trump played little role in conservative platform

Trump adviser Paul Manafort told The Associated Press that the issue has been totally blown out of proportion. And many delegates inside the Quicken LoansArena where the Republican convention is taking placeseemedto agree.

'Stupidest thing in the world'

"It's the stupidest thing in the world. I don't know why people care so much about it," said Michael Barnett, a delegate from Florida. "I think if a mistakewasmade, you can't blame Melania. I'm sure shedidn't write that speech."

The campaign said Monday night's speech was written by a "team of writers" who had spoken with MelaniaTrump about herlife experiences and included fragments that reflected her thinking.

Barnett said he believessome staffer on Trump's campaign will likely lose their job over the issue.

"Youdon'twantto do something that ends up embarrassingthe potential first lady."

But he also noted that President Barack Obamahas been accused of lifting passages froma speech from formerMassachusettsgovernor Deval Patrick and "nobody remembers."

Tenneseedelegate Tim Hutchison said a portion of the media is always going to select something tocriticize Melania Trump.

"That's as good as any of them. There's only so many words you can use to express how youfeel about someoneor how someone is," he said.

"It's somethingfor [the media]to run with and I'm very awarewhen the mediacreates issues."

But CarlyRoman, a student from New York, said that clearlythere issome overlap in the language of the two speeches. In the greater scheme, though, it's not a big deal, she said.

She thought Melania Trump delivered an excellent speech, particularly since it was not inher first language.

"But it definitely does cast a shadow over it and now I think a lot of people are not foccusing on the things she did right in light of this."

Melania Trump at the RNC

8 years ago

Duration 17:50

Donald Trump's wife takes the stage in Cleveland on the 1st day of the Republican convention