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Ben Domenech Resigns
Washington Post ^ | March 24, 2006 | Jim Brady

Posted on 03/24/2006 10:47:49 AM PST by RWR8189

In the past 24 hours, we learned of allegations that Ben Domenech plagiarized material that appeared under his byline in various publications prior to washingtonpost.com contracting with him to write a blog that launched Tuesday.

An investigation into these allegations was ongoing, and in the interim, Domenech has resigned, effective immediately.

When we hired Domenech, we were not aware of any allegations that he had plagiarized any of his past writings. In any cases where allegations such as these are made, we will continue to investigate those charges thoroughly in order to maintain our journalistic integrity.

Plagiarism is perhaps the most serious offense that a writer can commit or be accused of. Washingtonpost.com will do everything in its power to verify that its news and opinion content is sourced completely and accurately at all times.

(Excerpt) Read more at blog.washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: domenech; resignation; weblogs; wp
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Comment #21 Removed by Moderator

To: RWR8189
I'm thankful that Domenech resigned immediately in order to avoid any more damage to all the ethical and original conservative bloggers out there. Plagiarism is completely wrong, independent of one's party affiliation. He did damage to the conservative movement with this deception.

Thankfully, this episode has proven once again that conservatives have principles. If a Leftie were caught in a similar crime, the libs would rally around him and make excuses. I'm figuring Red State will boot him very soon, and the Con Blogs have been brutal this morning. We police our own.

22 posted on 03/24/2006 11:58:52 AM PST by inkling
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To: D-Chivas

"Walter Duranty."


You don't mean the guy that totally fabricated stories in the 1930's about the heavenly bliss that was the USSR, and won a Pulitzer Prize for it?

The Prize the NY Times still keeps active and prominently displayed??


23 posted on 03/24/2006 12:00:07 PM PST by gobucks (Blissful Marriage: A result of a worldly husband's transformation into the Word's wife.)
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To: D-Chivas

I don't recall Duranty ever being accused of plagiarism. What he did was much worse: he was a stooge for Stalin and even won a Pulitzer (for what that's worth!) for distorting and covering up the Ukranian genocide during the dictator's infamous agrarian 'reforms.' The Times has a long record of liberal shamelessness.


24 posted on 03/24/2006 12:01:06 PM PST by Bernard Marx (Fools and fanatics are always certain of themselves, but the wise are full of doubts.)
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To: So Cal Rocket

NO, it says that plagarizers should run for president so we can have a lot of fun making fun of them.


25 posted on 03/24/2006 12:06:56 PM PST by tiki
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To: ex-snook
"Plagiarism is perhaps the most serious offense that a writer can commit or be accused of."

How about advocating violence or murder of political figures? This statement smacks loudly of elitism.

26 posted on 03/24/2006 12:09:10 PM PST by Hardastarboard (HEY - Billy Joe! You ARE an American Idiot!)
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To: CharlesWayneCT

I feel like Rip Van Winkle. Who is Ben Domanech?


27 posted on 03/24/2006 12:14:23 PM PST by churchillbuff
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To: CharlesWayneCT
there is no way to tell if Ben had permission to use the works without attribution

Without NOTED acknowledgement, what Ben did is plagiarism. Period.

If you quote, you must quote, and cite source. Right there, in the text. There is no such thing as "private" permission.

28 posted on 03/24/2006 12:22:08 PM PST by M. Thatcher
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To: RWR8189

I do some work with Ben, and have published some of his articles on the website I edit, Boundless.org

I'm planning to chat with him about it within a few days, and will post my findings here.

Let's try to assume that he's innocent until proven guilty.


29 posted on 03/24/2006 12:30:15 PM PST by Theo
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To: Bernard Marx
I don't recall Duranty ever being accused of plagiarism. What he did was much worse: he was a stooge for Stalin and even won a Pulitzer (for what that's worth!) for distorting and covering up the Ukranian genocide during the dictator's infamous agrarian 'reforms.' The Times has a long record of liberal shamelessness.

Yeah, that was my point. I quoted the WaPo piece that said plagiarism was the worst thing a writer could do. Then I cited Walter Duranty as something much worse than plagiarism.

30 posted on 03/24/2006 12:33:28 PM PST by D-Chivas
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To: summer

It's identical to the Salon site. And it is simply examples of where his writings were copies of other writings.

This isn't plagerism if he had permission. These weren't things he was REQUIRED to write in his own hand (as a thesis, for example).

Since I'm defending him I better say that I would hope to never do this without mentioning where I got the original from, or at least who the person was, even if I had permission. If I was required to keep anonymous, I would still say it wasn't my own words.

And I don't mind him resigning over this. I'm just saying we shouldn't accuse him of PLAGERISM until we know it's a plagerism case, rather than simply taking credit for stuff you didn't write.


31 posted on 03/24/2006 12:40:45 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
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To: r9etb
Perhaps I'm confused, but how is it "plagiarism" if you recycle your own stuff?

Well, that's an interesting question, but when you recycle PJ O Rourke's stuff, that's definitely plagiarism. Daily Kos and Atrios have accumulated scores of examples of his plagiarism. The only mystery is how he went undetected for so long.

Domenech is a creationist, BTW. I'm not shedding tears over his demise.

32 posted on 03/24/2006 12:43:40 PM PST by Right Wing Professor
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To: M. Thatcher

You are wrong, because simply writing something doesn't carry a contract that the words were written by the person whose name is on it.

As an obvious example, some "authors" have a ghost writer actually WRITE the books, and never disclose the fact. We don't like it, but it isn't plagerism to have thier name on the book.

Because, they had PRIVATE PERMISSION, and in fact paid money, to put their name on their ghost writer's words.


33 posted on 03/24/2006 12:45:08 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
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To: Right Wing Professor
Domenech is a creationist, BTW. I'm not shedding tears over his demise.

Hmmmm.... Makes one wonder if the WaPo hired him in order to fire him, eh?

34 posted on 03/24/2006 12:56:54 PM PST by r9etb
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To: So Cal Rocket

Cheats, liars, and plagiarists have no place in public or professional life. That's why I'm certain that the MSM will be demanding resignations from Joe Biden, Ted Kennedy, and a large number of other 'Rat frauds.


35 posted on 03/24/2006 1:00:38 PM PST by Enchante (Democrats: "We are ALL broken and worn out, our party & ideas, what else is new?")
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To: r9etb
Makes one wonder if the WaPo hired him in order to fire him, eh?

No. It's an embarrassment for the WaPo.

36 posted on 03/24/2006 1:01:38 PM PST by Right Wing Professor
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To: Right Wing Professor
No. It's an embarrassment for the WaPo.

And who are we to complain...? ;-)

37 posted on 03/24/2006 1:03:58 PM PST by r9etb
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To: inkling

Yes, while Dan Blather and Mary Mapes are STILL to this day treated as highly respected (gag) members of the MSM. Nothing wrong with what they did, huh, MSM?

I am glad that conservatives have once again shown we can emphasize principles over individuals and not defend the indefensible just because he is "one of us" or doing work for our cause(s). That's a fundamental difference between the vast majority of conservatives and the vast majority of spineless lying liberals.


38 posted on 03/24/2006 1:04:48 PM PST by Enchante (Democrats: "We are ALL broken and worn out, our party & ideas, what else is new?")
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To: r9etb

Well, every dark cloud has a silver lining!


39 posted on 03/24/2006 1:07:38 PM PST by Right Wing Professor
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To: RWR8189

Then should Senator Biden resign right now?


40 posted on 03/24/2006 1:14:13 PM PST by Paulus Invictus
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