Posted on Jul 24, 2014
What Army Values did this retired Colonel allegedly violate and why?
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Discuss the implications of a past senior ranking officer who allegedly plagiarized his Masters' thesis while attending the Army War College. He is now a US Senator from Montana after recently being appointed to the position. Should this affect his current Senatorial seat? http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/24/us/politics/montana-senator-john-walsh-plagiarized-thesis.html?_r=0
Values
Morals
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 8
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Now he's saying PTSD made him do it......
Democratic senator cites PTSD in apparent thesis plagiarism
A Montana senator and Iraq War veteran who is running for re-election suggested Wednesday that medication he took for post-traumatic stress disorder may have been responsible for plagiarized passages in his thesis.
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MSG Wade Huffman
And we wonder why the general population has so much trouble understanding PTSD... *sigh*...
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LTC (Join to see)
LTC Paul Labrador isn't that lovely, Sir!?!! Another person who utilizes the age old "it's not my fault because..." clause. I certainly hope that he continues to make these contradictory statements so it stays in the news longer and gives everyone in his state the opportunity to see exactly what kind of person this guy is. Sounds like he had other issues when he was in the military as well so I'm sure more things will come trickling out soon.
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LTC (Join to see)
I believe he violated integrity obviously (he got none) and honor since he did not live by and carry out the Army values.
As a politician he fits right in with the rest of them so he probably won't face any hardship over this
I believe he violated integrity obviously (he got none) and honor since he did not live by and carry out the Army values.
As a politician he fits right in with the rest of them so he probably won't face any hardship over this
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What value did he violate? Integrity.
Should it affect his current seat? Not directly. But it should give voters pause in whether they should re-elect him.
Should it affect his current seat? Not directly. But it should give voters pause in whether they should re-elect him.
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LTC (Join to see)
LTC Paul Labrador Sir,
Thank you for your response. He doesn't believe that he did anything wrong. What would you say to him to convince him that he violated the Army Value of Integrity?
Thank you for your response. He doesn't believe that he did anything wrong. What would you say to him to convince him that he violated the Army Value of Integrity?
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MAJ (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) Here's a link showing the plagiarized sections. He literally copied entire pages directly. It's pretty blatant:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/23/us/politics/john-walsh-final-paper-plagiarism.html?_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/23/us/politics/john-walsh-final-paper-plagiarism.html?_r=0
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LTC (Join to see)
MAJ (Join to see) I posted the article that has the sections. I read it. I know it's blatant but this is a discussion forum so I'm trying to stimulate some discussion and delve a little bit deeper into how this applies to the Army Values. There also might be other areas of discussion that this could lead into that I'm hoping people will pick up on and expand upon
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LTC Paul Labrador
MAJ Todd, first I would show him the definition of plagiarism, then show him the schoolhouse regs regarding plagiarism, then show him his work and how it was blatantly plagiarized, THEN I would ask hiim if he still thinks he didn't do anything wrong.
If he is still being recitent about it, then you show him the definition of integrity per the Army values.
If he is still being recitent about it, then you show him the definition of integrity per the Army values.
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Sir,
I think it speaks poorly on his character and integrity. He'll have a wonderful career in politics, fitting in perfectly with his new peers.
I think it speaks poorly on his character and integrity. He'll have a wonderful career in politics, fitting in perfectly with his new peers.
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LTC (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) Thank you for your response. From the perspective of an NCO, how would you explain his alleged actions to your Soldiers and why this is a violation of Character and Integrity
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SFC (Join to see)
Sir,
His actions demonstrate a lack of integrity by stealing the intellectual property of another person. Had he properly cited the text and given credit to the author he would not be in trouble. His actions reflect poorly on his character twofold: a demonstrated lack of integrity, and general laziness.
His actions demonstrate a lack of integrity by stealing the intellectual property of another person. Had he properly cited the text and given credit to the author he would not be in trouble. His actions reflect poorly on his character twofold: a demonstrated lack of integrity, and general laziness.
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LTC (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) I agree. I also have to wonder why the AWC isn't doing routine plagiarism checks on Master's thesis...would seem that it might be important to consider it although I don't know the frequency of plagiarism issues there.
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On the same vein though, how can you expect to have good troops with people like this as a leader? Leaders are supposed to set the example and set the bar high. I think he has shown he cares nothing of the Army Values of which he was taught. He lacks integrity and now is using an excuse for his laziness and lack thereof. Sadly he will fit in fine here on the hill and that is what sickens me the most. We have far too many folks like this.
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Yes what this bozo did is wrong but at some point right or wrong, we have to let bygones, be bygones. I believe we all have skeletons in our closet that we are not proud of. Do we have to dig so deep and expose every misgiving every time a person is running for office or is in office? Look at what the Kennedys all got away with all those years. They let Bill Clinton remain in office after his indiscretion - talk about setting a bad example. I know that these are times of well needed political reform but are we going too far? If he plagiarized his masters thesis then his degree should be revoked. Did that degree get him elected, probably not.
We just had a Massachusetts school superintendent resign over plagiarizing a graduation speech and another fined for the same thing, Are they setting bad examples - especially when they penalize students for the same thing - yes. Sentence imposed now move on
We just had a Massachusetts school superintendent resign over plagiarizing a graduation speech and another fined for the same thing, Are they setting bad examples - especially when they penalize students for the same thing - yes. Sentence imposed now move on
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LTC (Join to see)
I think it does matter in his appointments to office since it speaks to credibility.....a mistake is a mistake but plagiarizing an entire Master's thesis then lying about it when called on it years later shows that he has a deep seated and continuing issue with the truth and integrity. But, I agree that once disciplined we should move one...the problem here is that he has not yet been disciplined
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Pro 13:5 The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.
King Solomon appears to have known long before there was an Army. As a sailor, can't speak for the Army, let's just be thankful he doesn't reside in Ohio, we have enough problems.
King Solomon appears to have known long before there was an Army. As a sailor, can't speak for the Army, let's just be thankful he doesn't reside in Ohio, we have enough problems.
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Pro 13:5 The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.
King Solomon appears to have known long before there was an Army. As a sailor, can't speak for the Army, let's just be thankful he doesn't reside in Ohio, we have enough problems.
King Solomon appears to have known long before there was an Army. As a sailor, can't speak for the Army, let's just be thankful he doesn't reside in Ohio, we have enough problems.
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