COLUMBUS (TDB) -- U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt is out with her column today, a piece that urges school bus safety. The Daily Bellwether has read much of it before. In October 2005, the superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol wrote many of the identical words in identical phrases, which makes the Cincinnati-area's Schmidt look like a political Calamity Jean for the GOP. Col. Paul McClellan retired earlier this year, but his "Colonel's Columns" from his desk at the highway patrol are still around and Schmidt seems to have plagiarized his thoughts and work. Or an eerie coincidence has taken place. Or the conservative lawmaker was just too danged liberal in her borrowing.Schmidt's version is here, (and Weapons of Mass Discussion has a verbatim copy posted from Sept. 4) and The Daily Bellwether has discovered repeated uses of the retired law enforcement officer's text without any attribution or credit. Even punctuation marks were unchanged. Overall, it looks like an open and shut ethical relapse for Schmidt, who faced a plagiarism controversy last September. At that time, Schmidt was accused of filching her column for constituents from a press release issued by U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-15, who was seeking reelection in Columbus. Excerpts from Schmidt's latest column and the Highway Patrol chief can easily be compared.
Col. McClellan in 2005:
. . . reminds motorists that they are required to stop for stopped school buses that are displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop arm. Motorists approaching from either direction are required to stop at least 10 feet from a stopped school bus until the bus resumes motion. If a school bus is stopped on a road divided into four or more lanes, only traffic driving in the same direction as the bus must stop.
Schmidt, Sept. 4, 2007:
. . . reminds motorists that they are required to stop for stopped school buses that are displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop arm. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, motors approaching a stopped school bus from either direction should stop at least 10 feet away and wait until the bus resumes motion. If a school bus is stopped on a road divided into four or more lanes, only traffic driving in the same direction as the bus must stop.
Col. McClellan, in 2005:
While waiting for the bus, they should stand at least three giant steps away from the curb, and line up away from the street. Before stepping into the bus, children should wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver gives permission.
Schmidt, Sept. 4, 2007:
While waiting for the bus, they should stand at least three giant steps away from the curb, and line up away from the street. Before stepping into the bus, children should wait until the bus stops, the door opens and the driver gives permission.
Col. McClellan, in 2005:
Parents should encourage their children to sit quietly in their seat and follow the driver's instructions on school bus safety. When exiting the bus, care should be taken to check that clothing with drawstrings and book bags with straps do not get caught in the handrails or doors. Additionally, students should never go back for anything left on the bus, and never bend down near or under the bus to pick something up that has fallen.
Schmidt, Sept. 4, 2007"
While on the bus, children should be encouraged to sit quietly in their seat and follow the driver's instructions on school bus safety. When exiting the bus, care should be taken to check that clothing with drawstrings and book bags with straps do not get caught in the handrails or doors. Additionally, students should never go back for anything left on the bus, and never bend down near or under the bus to pick something up that has fallen.
There is more. But you've probably seen enough.
