"ANOTHER NICE MESS" – AT 9:22 A.M. ET:  The phrase from Laurel and Hardy applies this morning.  We should have been talking about how wonderful Melania Trump was in her speech in Cleveland – gracious, elegant, warm, lovely.  Instead, journalists are talking about two passages from the speech last night that were lifted from Michelle Obama's address to the 2008 Democratic convention.

Make no mistake about it.  This is plagiarism.  As Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia said this morning, it is serious plagiarism.  We noted the similarities in our post last night about the Republican convention.  CNN ran a side-by-side videotape comparison of Michelle and Melania.  It is devastating.  No doubt about it.

As usual, the Trump campaign has committed an unforced error.  It has, thus far, handled it horribly – sending people out to say that Melania was using common language.  Come on, own up to it.  In all probability this was the work – accidentally or intentionally – of a staff member who helped Melania with her speech.  She's a highly intelligent woman who speaks several languages.  It's inconceivable that she'd approve of plagiarism.

What must be done:  Melania Trump must herself hold a news briefing and take responsibility for the error.  She should explain how it happened.  She must apologize.  If it was the work of a staff member, that staffer should be encouraged to offer his or her resignation.  This must be an example of how the Trump campaign handles a crisis.  If the campaign is open and forthcoming, it will blow over, especially if the truth turns out to be a simple transcription error, which can happen.

Joe Biden plagiarized in his 1988 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Barack Obama blatantly plagiarized from Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick in 2008, and admitted it.

Let's put this to bed properly.  The Trump people know that the press is largely against them and will milk this for everything it's worth.

July 19,  2016