Tea Party Candidate From Tennessee Plagiarizes Obama And Romney

Non-partisan plagiarism.

Brenda Lenard, a Republican candidate for Senate in Tennessee, appears to have plagiarized from a number of sources on her issues page including Senator John Boozman of Arkansas, former presidential candidate Mitt Romney, and even the official White House page.

Her page about the economy copies from Boozman

Here's Lenard:

American private sector job creation is essential to our nations economic growth and the revitalization of the American spirit. As the former CEO of a mid-size construction firm, I am committed to supporting legislation that will ensure that American businesses once again thrive. This begins with a broad range of market-based solutions that will help turn the economy around by encouraging private sector job creation and economic growth.

Entrepreneurs are the heart beat of our nation's economy, and we need to equip investors and entrepreneurs with the necessary resources that are required to ensure they make sound financial decisions. In order to make this a reality we must reduce regulatory burdens imposed by government agencies, reform our tax code, curb spending, increase exports by passing pending free trade agreements and create a new energy policy that permits America to utilize the resources already in place which will reduce our nation's dependency on foreign oil.

And here's Boozman:

American private sector job creation is needed and I am committed to supporting legislation that will help Arkansas businesses succeed. This begins with a broad range of market-based solutions that will help turn the economy around by encouraging private sector job creation and economic growth.

To encourage investment in small business, the heart of our nation's economy, we need to provide business owners and investors with the predictability they need to make sound investment decisions. In order to accomplish this we need to rein in spending, reform our tax code, reduce regulatory burdens imposed by government agencies, increase exports by passing pending free trade agreements and create a new energy policy that allows us to use American resources and make us less dependent on foreign oil.

Her education plan is remarkably to similar to that of Mitt Romney's in 2012.

Here is Lenard:

Our education system is crucial to the vibrancy of our society, the strength of our economy, and the future of our students. It is the single most powerful antidote to poverty, and the single most important determinant of our long-term international competitiveness. It produces not only skills for our economy, but also the foundation of knowledge for our democracy.

K-12 schools will operate in transparency by reporting their performance, teachers will be rewarded for theirs, and parents will have the choice to enroll their children in schools that are performing at a high level of excellence. High school graduates will have accessibility to an affordable post secondary education which prepares them for successful careers, and the federal government will help to ensure they can finance that investment. With innovation instead of regulation, results instead of rhetoric, and accountable spending instead of just more spending, we can restore America's promise by ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed......


However, a flood of federal dollars is driving up tuition and burdening far too many young Americans with substantial debt and too few opportunities. Meanwhile, other models of advanced skills training are becoming ever more important to success in the American economy, and new educational institutions will be required to fill those roles. My education reform plan spur the access, affordability, innovation, and transparency needed to address all of these challenges....

As your United States senator, I understand that leadership is required to create effective education reform for students, and my tenure spent in academia is proof that I am willing and able to make tough decisions and put our students first. My education reform plan includes increasing choice and transparency for parents, addresses the rising cost of higher education learning and the staggering amount of student loans, and presents a broader vision to ensure America's future economic growth and prosperity.

And Romney:

Our education system is crucial to the vibrancy of our society, the strength of our economy, and the future of our children. It is the single most powerful antidote to poverty, and the single most important determinant of our long-term international competitiveness. It produces not only skills for our economy, but also the foundation of knowledge for our democracy.

K-12 schools will transparently report their performance, teachers will be rewarded for theirs, and parents will have the choice to send their children to schools that are performing at a high level. High school graduates will have more varied and affordable choices for postsecondary education that prepares them for successful careers, and the federal government will help to ensure they can finance that investment. With innovation instead of regulation, results instead of rhetoric, and accountable spending instead of just more spending, we can restore America's promise by ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed......

However, a flood of federal dollars is driving up tuition and burdening too many young Americans with substantial debt and too few opportunities. Meanwhile, other models of advanced skills training are becoming ever more important to success in the American economy, and new educational institutions will be required to fill those roles. Romney's reforms spur the access, affordability, innovation, and transparency needed to address all of these challenges...

Governor Romney understands that leadership is required to create real change for students, and his time as governor is proof that he is willing and able to make tough decisions and put our kids first. The agenda set forth in this white paper focuses on increasing choice and transparency for parents, addresses the rising cost of college and the growing amount of student loans, and presents a broader vision to ensure our country's future prosperity. Governor Romney's plan gives all students the opportunity to succeed. I am confident that he is the right person to lead our country and put us back on a path to prosperity.

Lenard's page on defense looks a lot like the White House's page.

Here's Lenard:

Investing in a strong, agile, well-trained, and well-equipped United States military that can fight and win the nation's wars. United States Armed Forces must be able to prevail in current operations and the missions they are most likely to face, while developing capabilities to deter potential adversaries and provide a hedge against other risks and contingencies. My policies will incorporate lessons from our experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. First and foremost, we will ensure that our troops have the training, equipment and support that they need when they are deployed, and the care that they and their families need and deserve.

And the White House:

The Obama Administration is investing in a strong, agile, well-trained, and well-equipped U.S. military that can fight and win the nation's wars. U.S. Armed Forces must be able to prevail in current operations and the missions they are most likely to face, while developing capabilities to deter potential adversaries and provide a hedge against other risks and contingencies. Our policies will incorporate lessons from our experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. First and foremost, we will ensure that our troops have the training, equipment and support that they need when they are deployed, and the care that they and their families need and deserve.

And her immigration page looks like Boozman's as well

Here's Lenard:

Securing the borders requires that we allocate the resources, surveillance technology and manpower necessary to ensure that individuals crossing our borders are doing so legally. At a time when our nation continues to live under the threat of international terrorism, it is of the utmost importance that we establish border security. By starting here, we will prevent millions of illegal immigrants from infringing upon every legal citizen's right to pursue the American dream. Most importantly, no immigration reform policies we pass will be effective until we secure the border. Adding more rules to the books without enforcing the ones we have will do little good in the long run.

And Boozman:

Securing the borders requires that we allocate the resources, surveillance technology and manpower necessary to ensure that individuals crossing our borders are doing so legally. At a time when our nation continues to live under the threat of international terrorism, it is of the utmost importance that we establish border security. By starting here, we will prevent millions of illegal immigrants from infringing upon every legal citizen's right to pursue the American dream. Most importantly, no immigration reform policies we pass will be effective until we secure the border. Adding more rules to the books without enforcing the ones we have will do little good in the long run.

BuzzFeed has reached out to Lenard's campaign for comment.

Skip to footer