Articles for June, 2010
Did GOP State Rep. Candidate Stefani Carter Plagiarize Obama?, Ctd.
Let’s hop in our time machine and go back to 2008, when, in the race for House District 101, charges of plagiarism were being bandied about. Back then, Republican incumbent Thomas Latham accused challenger Mike Anderson of stealing words that didn’t come from his own mind grapes. Latham said the words came Angie Chen Button, who was seeking the Republican nomination in House District 112. According to Latham, a mailer that Anderson sent out plagiarized a mailer that Button had sent out. You can read more about the dust-up here.
What you need to know, though, is that the guy accused of plagiarism, Mike Anderson, used a consulting firm out of Austin called Murphy Turner Associates. You can see Anderson’s finance report here. Murphy Turner put together Anderson’s mailer. If there was any plagiarizing going on, it was Murphy Turner doing it. (And you owe it to yourself to look at Murphy Turner’s site, because their angry-elephant logo is inspired.)
Now jump back in our time machine and return to present day. Did Stefani Carter plagiarize Barack Obama in her speech? I don’t know. But it seems the question ought to be directed to the consultants who helped her write that speech. That would be Murphy Turner Associates.
Leading Off (6/15/10): the Tardy Edition
1. Jorge Zamonsett Murillo will not, I assume, receive many awesome ties for Father’s Day, as cops caught him doing a Cheech and Chong routine in his car while his 3-year-old son strapped into a seat in back. According to the DMN’s story, officers “observed a thick cloud of white smoke inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle,” and they could smell weed.
2. Vince young says he’s sorry for that fracas he got into at Club Onyx. (You can check out the surveillance cam video if you’re so inclined.) Young also says he had prayed to God that NFL Commish Roger Goodell doesn’t come down too hard on him. That sound you hear is God laughing.
3. There’s a small chance you’ll get some rain this morning. If you don’t, though, that’s your last chance for a while.
Did GOP State Rep. Candidate Stefani Carter, Ctd.
As I said earlier, I shot an e-mail over to the Carter campaign about the Lone Star Project’s plagiarism assertions. And campaign representative Craig Murphy responded, but now I have more questions.
First, let’s jump for the response.
Did GOP State Rep. Candidate Stefani Carter Plagiarize Obama?
There’s an e-mail winging its way to the Carter campaign, but the Lone Star Project is alleging that Stefani Carter, Republican candidate for the District 102 state representative seat currently held by Democrat Carol Kent, not only plagiarized part of Barack Obama’s 2004 Democratic Convention keynote speech, but also padded her resume.
The Lone Star Project offers up a video it says proves she lifted lines from Obama’s speech, as well as a breakdown on the experience she cites. I’m a little meh about the group, though, primarily because it’s hard to insist you’re presenting fact when you’re only fact checking one party.
Robert Decherd Buys A. H. Belo Stock
Robert Decherd, #50 on the Dubious 500 Most Powerful list, displayed a little muscle on Thursday, buying 234,249 shares of his company’s stock at an average price of $6.75.
He’s not the only one showing confidence in the newspaper company. Wells Fargo announced on Friday that it owns 2.26 million shares, which gives it a huge 12.36% stake.
So I have to ask: Is someone about to make a takeover bid? Or are ad sales heating up again? Stay tuned.
Wick Allison Is the 340th Most Powerful Person in Dallas [Cough, Cough]
A mysterious outfit (Big Bob dug a little into their whereabouts) has come out with a ranking of the 500 most powerful people in Dallas. Our own beloved Wick Allison sits at No. 340 on the list. I see, though, that he’s ahead of: Gerald Turner, Patrick Sands, Craig Watkins, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Claude Albritton, Nelda Pickens, and Terrell Owens (!). And Jeremy Halbreich comes in at No. 462. So let’s just say the list is dubious, at best.
Getting Divorced? There’s an App For That
Above The Law points us to two new iPhone apps available from DivorceApps.com – Cost & Prep and Estate Divider. Dallas attorney Michelle May O’Neil is behind the company producing the two apps, which currently just allow you to research costs and such.
Accessory of the Week: Colin Duchin
Besides being dashing and debonair, Colin Duchin’s (pictured) pedigree is so New York Social Diary’s “The List” — grandson of the late Eddy Duchin, son of Peter “Eternally Suave” Duchin and NYC’s darling Cheray Zauderer Duchin Hodges and stepson of Brooke Hayward Thomas Hopper Duchin. In addition to having a family tree that the Trumps would envy, he’s way beyond charming. Loves fly fishing, is quite a musician in his own right (guitarist) and can handle any situation including a gallery full of Junior Leaguers. Thanks to D’Andra Simmons, he’s relocated to Dallas.
TAG Named Top High School in the Country
Others of local note that made the top 20 in Newsweek’s survey: School of Science and Engineering Magnet checked in at No. 4 and Irving’s North Hills Prep is No. 14. Peruse the entire list at your leisure here.
“All-White” in Highland Park?
Our buddy Alan Peppard surely meant something else when he wrote in his DMN column this morning that a Saturday-night party at literary agent Jan Rich’s place in Highland Park was “all-white.” Since Alan proceeded to name Oprah squeeze Stedman Graham–who’s African American–as one of the guests, we’re confident this was an editing glitch that referred to the decor or the evening’s dress code. (And, no tasteless outrageous cracks about starched white sheets, please.)
What To Do in Dallas Tonight: June 14, 2010
It’s Monday. Don’t get all bluesy on me. You can learn how to make sushi (while consuming plenty of sake) and see Erykah Badu tonight. See? Mondays rock after all.
The Sushi Sake Social at RA Sushi only happens twice a summer, so it’s worth firing up the Tolltag for. Here’s how it goes down: during the first hour, you get to drink a bunch of sake, and sample a few bites from the regular menu (think pork gyoza, beef teriyaki, grilled short ribs, and more). During the second hour, head chef Atusushi Koda (yes his real name) will give a demonstration on how to roll sushi. Guests will come up in groups and get one-on-one help from Koda as they attempt to make their very own California rolls. Don’t forget to make a reservation (469-467-7400).
The always amazing (and controversial) Erykah Badu is in her hometown tonight at the Verizon Theatre in support of her latest CD, New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh. But please don’t miss the opening acts. Janelle Monae wears tuxedos and sports a pompadour. Her new song, “Tightrope,” is getting tons of buzz. B.o.B. has a song on the radio right now, “Nothin On You,” and it’s a lot of fun.
Dan Branch Says Big 12 To Get Attention of State Lege
Now that probably every conceivable wild rumor about the breakup of the Big 12 and the figuring out of who go goes where has probably been posted on the Internet at least five times, Sports Illustrated tells us that Dallas State Rep. Dan Branch will haul the whole mess before the state house’s higher education committee on Wednesday.
Texas Tech and Texas are both slated to have their respective boards of regents vote Tuesday about where they’ll be headed, but Branch thinks that now they may wait until after Wednesday. Tech, Texas and A&M have accepted invites to appear before the committee.
Sewell Transitioning From Hummers to Subarus
Obviously that’s no Subaru behind this big new sign at Sewell Automotive’s Hummer dealership off Lemmon Avenue. But Hummer’s being retired as a new-vehicle brand, the victim of high gas prices and the recession in general. As a result this Sewell location will become Subaru’s Dallas point within the next few weeks, a spokesman says. Dallas had been without a Subaru dealership since 2009, when David Thomas merged his Lemmon Avenue Suby location into his Subaru of Plano operation and sold off the property to John Eagle. Sewell’s Subaru store will continue to service Hummers, the Sewell spokesman says.
D Magazine Cover Girl Elise Baughman Angles for New Oprah Show
Remember this great cover from 2004? Of course you do. The model we used for the shot is named Elise Baughman. Now she’s trying to win herself a shot at having a new talk show produced by Oprah. Have a look at her pitch, and vote for her if you’re so inclined.
Will a Perry-White Debate Happen?
Did you know it’s been 49 days since Rick Perry refused to debate Democratic challenger Bill White? The Burnt Orange Report says he’s scared, and quotes a former state GOP political director as saying as much.
But how long will Perry hold out, and what is preventing his campaign from committing?
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