Day 1 Of The Republican National Convention: Hits & Misses
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Trump campaign promised a "showbiz" convention in Cleveland. On the first night of the Republican National Convention, there was plenty showmanship and drama.
Donald Trump made a dramatic entrance to the convention stage to introduce his wife Melania.
Mrs. Trump's speech was well received among party members, but Twitter exploded with backlash and accusations that part of her speech was plagiarized from a speech first lady Michelle Obama made at the 2008 Democratic convention.
So far, Republican officials and Trump campaign representatives are denying that Melania Trump herself wrote a plagiarized section of the speech. In a statement issued early Tuesday morning, a campaign official mentioned "Melania's team of writers," and called her speech "a success."
The campaign has categorically denied accusations of plagiarism, but there are too many similarities with Michelle Obama's speech to conclude anything else:
Michelle Obama, 2008: "And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond, that you do what you say you're going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them."
Melania Trump, 2016: "From a young age, my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life. That your word is your bond. And you do what you say and keep your promise. That you treat people with respect. They thought and showed me values and morals in their daily life."Michelle Obama, 2008: "Because we want our children -- and all children in this nation -- to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work hard for them."
Melania Trump, 2016: "Because we want our children in this nation to know that the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them."
After Melania Trump's speech, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst took the stage. The timing of her speech seemed unusual -- Ernst was relegated to a late-night time slot, despite her reputation as an up-and-coming Republican leader. Most of the attendees in the convention hall shuffled out after Melania Trump's speech, leaving Ernst to speak to a sparse crowd.
Another highlight of the day was Patricia Smith. She's the mother of one of the men killed in the raid in Benghazi. There was nary a dry eye in the house after she was finished speaking.