Tennessee Democratic Senate Nominee Plagiarized Almost Everything Written On His Website

"I had no idea that this material was cut and pasted on my website from other sources."

Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Gordon Ball appears to have plagiarized nearly every word on his issues pages from a vast array of politicians including West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Ball, a practicing attorney, is taking on incumbent Republican Sen. Llamar Alexander in the heavily Republican state.

Ball has likewise used much of the plagiarized text in an interview.

Ball told BuzzFeed News that he agrees "with these views and approved the content."

The Senate candidate added, however, he was unaware the text had been taken from a number of different sources word for word.

"I had no idea that this material was cut and pasted on my website from other sources," he said.

The Tennessee Republican Party has called on Ball to with withdrawn from the race.

"Gordon Ball should quit wasting Tennesseans' time with this fraudulent campaign," Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney said in a press release. "He should do us all a service and withdraw from the race immediately."

According to the The Tennessean the Ball campaign blamed the text on an intern who is no longer with the campaign.

Ball's issues pages can be viewed here.

The many examples are below:

Here's a press release from Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia:

...introduced a constitutional amendment today that would require the federal government to balance its budget and restore fiscal discipline in Washington. The amendment would direct Congress to balance the federal budget each year and would require that federal spending not exceed revenues except in exceptional cases, such as when the nation is at war.

And here's Ball:

I'm for a constitutional amendment that would require the federal government to balance its budget and restore fiscal discipline in Washington. The amendment would direct Congress to balance the federal budget each year and would require that federal spending not exceed revenues except in exceptional cases, such as when the nation is at war.

Here's the press release:

Protects the Social Security Trust Fund by exempting it from the scope of the amendment.

And here's Ball:

It would also protect the Social Security Trust Fund by exempting it from the scope of the amendment.

Here's Sen. Elizabeth Warren:

By putting the big banks and big corporations ahead of small businesses, Washington makes it harder for our small businesses to succeed, thrive and grow.

And here's Ball:

By putting the big banks and big corporations ahead of small businesses, Washington has made it harder for those small businesses to succeed, thrive and grow.

Here's Sen. Elizabeth Warren:

We must start by putting Americans back to work. More Americans working means more customers for our small businesses, and more customers means more growth. That is why it is so important that we get people back to work right now.

And here's Ball:

We start by putting Americans back to work. More Americans working means more customers for our small businesses, which means more growth. That's why it is so important that we get people back to work right now.

Here's Sen. Elizabeth Warren:

We need to put people to work rebuilding our roads and bridges, upgrading our water systems, teaching our kids, and protecting our communities - earning paychecks and keeping Massachusetts growing.

And here's Ball:

That's why it is so important that we get people back to work right now, rebuilding our roads and bridges, upgrading our water systems, teaching our kids, and protecting our communities, earning paychecks and keeping Tennessee and America growing.

Here's Sherrod Brown on transportation and infrastructure:

Investing in our infrastructure creates jobs while ensuring safer roads, railways, and bridges; and upgrades to water, sewer, and broadband systems. It means expanding commerce across our state and creating jobs in our communities. I will continue to ensure Ohio receives targeted federal investments that improve our state's infrastructure and strengthen Ohio's economy.

And here's Ball:

Investing in our infrastructure creates jobs and ensures safer roads, railways, and bridges; and upgrades to water, sewer, and broadband systems. It means expanding commerce across Tennessee and creating new jobs in our communities. I will work to ensure Tennessee receives targeted federal investments that improve our state's infrastructure and strengthen Tennessee's economy.

Here's Sen. Elizabeth Warren:

To grow our economy, we need to sell our products to the rest of the world. But we have to have a level playing field - strong trade laws and strong enforcement.

And here's Ball:

To grow our economy, we need to sell our products to the rest of the world. But we have to have a level playing field, strong trade laws and strong enforcement.

Here's Sen. Sherrod Brown on trade:

Fair trade is vital to our nation's economic future. Trade can create new jobs in exporting industries, expand markets for our businesses, and ensure our workers and businesses are competing on a level playing field in the global marketplace. But for too long, our workers, small businesses, and manufacturers have paid a steep price for an outdated trade agenda. I will continue to fight wrong-headed trade policies that ship jobs overseas and shutter manufacturing facilities. That means fighting back against currency manipulation by trading partners, which the Senate did when it passed a bill that I introduced. We need a trade agenda that that promotes American workers and helps expand the Made in America label to markets around the world.

And here's Ball:

Fair trade is vital to our nation's economic future. Trade can create new jobs in exporting industries, expand markets for our businesses, and ensure our workers and businesses are competing on a level playing field in the global marketplace. But for too long, our workers, small businesses, and manufacturers have paid a steep price for an outdated trade agenda. I will fight wrong-headed trade policies that ship jobs overseas and shutter manufacturing facilities. That means fighting back against currency manipulation by trading partners. We need a trade agenda that promotes American workers and helps expand the "Made in America" label to markets around the world.

Here's Elizabeth Warren's biography, in her speech announcing her run for Senate:

The generation before me had the GI Bill, which drew thousands into colleges, universities, and advanced technical training. In the 1950s, when America found itself lagging behind the Soviets in space exploration, we passed the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) to help more kids go to college.

And here's Ball:

My parents' generation had the GI Bill, which helped power the economy for a generation. When their generation found itself lagging behind the Soviets in the space race in the 1950s, Congress passed the National Defense Education Act to steer more kids of my generation toward college. As a result, many Americans of my generation graduated from public universities with a lot of help from NDEA.

Here's Sen. Elizabeth Warren on energy:

The choice before us is simple. Will we continue to subsidize the dirty fossil fuels of the past, or will we transition to 21st century clean, renewable energy?

If we invest now in a 21st century energy system, over time we can lower the costs of production for all of our businesses. Right now, renewable energy competes with old energies that get lots of special breaks from Washington. We know that we can generate power with alternative energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower. We also know that we can make energy usage far more efficient. If we commit ourselves to clean energy and energy efficiency now, in the long run we can reduce price swings and lower our overall costs.

And here's Ball:

The choice is simple. Will we continue to subsidize dirty fossil fuels, or will we transition to 21st century clean, renewable energy?

If we invest now in a 21st century energy system, we can lower the costs of production for all of our businesses. We know that we can generate power with alternative energy sources—wind, solar, and hydro-power—
and that we can make energy usage far more efficient. We must commit ourselves to clean energy and energy efficiency now.

Here's Sen. Elizabeth Warren:

Investing in clean energy technology is investing in our health, our environmental security, our national security, and our economic security.

The decisions we make now will affect the world we leave to our children and grandchildren in ways that go beyond our physical survival.

And here's Ball:

Investing in clean energy technology is investing in our health, our environmental security, our national security, and our economic security. Decisions we make today will affect the world we leave to our children and grandchildren.

Here's Sen. Elizabeth Warren on health care:

We cannot let those who want repeal to succeed. Consider what health care reforms have accomplished:

Ending the practice of insurance companies denying people with preexisting conditions
Allowing young people to stay on their parents' insurance until age 26
Providing tax breaks for small businesses who provide health care
Preventing insurance discrimination against women
We should not roll back these gains - they are too important for families.

And here's Ball:

The Affordable Healthcare Act has a number of good provisions:

Ending the practice of insurance companies denying people with preexisting conditions
Allowing young people to stay on their parents' insurance until age 26
Providing tax breaks for small businesses who provide health care
Preventing insurance discrimination against women
We cannot roll back these and other necessary provisions, because they are too important for American families.

Here's Sen. Sherrod Brown on health care:

That's why I've fought to improve the nation's health care system to help millions of Ohioans receive the quality, affordable health care they need – from working families to senior citizens to small business owners to children. And I've fought to require insurance companies spend consumer's premium dollars on providing actual care, not overhead expenses and executive salaries. I will also continue to fight to protect Medicare for seniors and improve the affordability and accessibility of health care for all Ohioans. It's also critical to ensure the health and well-being of our nation's children. From reversing the disparity in medical research spending on pediatric diseases to ensuring access to comprehensive health care – including oral health care – our nation's children should be a priority.

And here's Ball:

I'll fight to improve the nations health care system to help millions of Tennesseans receive the quality, affordable health care they need, from working families to senior citizens to small business owners to small children. And I'll fight to require insurance companies to spend your premium dollars on providing actual care, not overhead expenses and executive salaries. I will also fight to protect Medicare for seniors and improve the affordability and accessibility of health care for all Tennesseans. It's also critical to ensure the health and well being of our nation's children. From reversing the disparity in medical research spending on pediatric diseases to ensuring access to comprehensive health care, including oral health care, our nation's children should be a priority.

Here's Sen. Elizabeth Warren on immigration:

We need common sense, comprehensive immigration reform. Any reform should have three components:

It must uphold existing laws, protecting our borders and enforcing our laws against recruiting, hiring, and exploiting undocumented workers.

It needs to be fair to all taxpayers and to legal immigrants. There should be a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, but one that would require them to pay taxes and go to the back of the line.

And here's Ball:

We need common sense immigration reform that will contain two basic components:

It must uphold existing laws, protecting our borders and enforcing our laws against recruiting, hiring, and exploiting undocumented workers.

It must be fair to all taxpayers and to legal immigrants. We must have a fair and just path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, one that would require them to pay taxes and be registered before their path to citizenship begins.

Here's Sen. Sherrod Brown on foreign policy:

Our nation's foreign policy should be focused on advancing peace and prosperity here at home and abroad. From advancing nuclear nonproliferation to eliminating the conditions that breed terrorism, to combating global public health challenges I will continue to advocate for policies that promote human rights and democratic policies that are the cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy.

And here is Ball:

America's foreign policy should be focused on advancing peace and prosperity here at home and abroad. From advancing nuclear non-proliferation to eliminating conditions that breed terrorism, to combating global public health challenges, I will continue to advocate for policies that promote human rights and democratic policies that are the cornerstone of American foreign policy. Let me be clear: I will never advocate nation-building by America.

Here's Sherrod Brown on the military:

Supporting our troops and their families is an imperative we all share. This means we must do what it takes to ensure our troops receive the support and resources they need to defend our freedom and security.

And here's Ball:

Supporting our troops and their families is an imperative we all share. This means we must do what it takes to ensure our troops receive the support and resources they need to defend our freedom and security.

Here's Brown again:

From providing top-of-the-line body armor and readily-equipped vehicles, ensuring fair pay for service members, and easing the transition to civilian life for returning service members, I will continue to fight for the benefits earned by Ohioans who serve in our Armed Forces.

And here's Ball:

From providing top-of-the-line body armor and readily-equipped vehicles, ensuring fair pay for service members, and easing the transition to civilian life for returning service members, I will fight for the benefits earned by Tennesseans who serve in our Armed Forces.

Here's Sen. Elizabeth Warren:

Our men and women in uniform do an incredible job. They are tough, smart, and resourceful, and they fight with courage and honor. Our military families show the same courage.

And here's Ball:

Our men and women in uniform do an incredible job. They are tough, smart, and resourceful, and they fight with courage and honor. Our military families show the same courage.

Here's Kay Hagan on veterans:

She supports fully funding the Veterans Administration, cutting red-tape to help make claims servicing easier and more streamlined, and improving the quality of life for veterans by increasing compensation and guaranteeing world-class heath care in state-of-the-art medical facilities.

And here's Ball:

I support fully funding the Veterans Administration, cutting red-tape to help make claims-servicing easier and more streamlined, and improving the quality of life for veterans by increasing compensation and guaranteeing world-class heath care in state-of-the-art medical facilities.

Here's Sen. Elizabeth Warren on national security:

For more than a decade, our country has been engaged in wars abroad - wars that stretched our military, our families, and our finances. We should always exhaust all other options before going to war, and we must never again put wars on a credit card for our grandchildren to pay for. If a war is unavoidable and in our national interest, then we should be willing to pay for it as we fight it. Either all of us go to war, or none of us go to war.

I believe it is time for our servicemembers to come home from Afghanistan. We need to get out as quickly as possible, consistent with the safety of our troops and with a transition to Afghan control. Ultimately, it is the Afghans who must take responsibility for their own future.

Around the world, the proliferation of nuclear weapons remains a critical challenge. Every additional finger on the nuclear button makes our world and our citizens less safe. Every new country with nuclear weapons creates the added risk of those weapons being lost or stolen. Every new nuclear power makes it more likely their neighbors will seek nuclear weapons as well.

In Asia, the recent leadership transition in North Korea and its failed missile launch in April 2012 are developments that require continued U.S. monitoring and attention, in addition to close cooperation with our allies and continued efforts with those in the region. If there is to be progress, North Korea must first take action to demonstrate good faith including suspending enrichment, halting missile tests, and allowing international inspectors into the country.

And here's Gordon Ball:

For more than a decade, our country has been engaged in wars abroad—wars that stretched our military, our families, and our finances. We should always exhaust all other options before going to war, and we must never again put the price of wars on a credit card for our grandchildren to pay for. Any war that is unavoidable and in our national interest should be paid for as it is being fought.

I also believe it is time for our service members to come home from Afghanistan. We need to get out as quickly as possible, in a manner consistent with the safety of our troops and with a transition to Afghan control. Ultimately, the Afghans must take responsibility for their own future.

In North Korea and Iran—to name only two—the proliferation of nuclear weapons remains a critical challenge. Every additional finger on the nuclear button makes Americans and the world less safe. Every new country with nuclear weapons creates the very real risk of those weapons being lost or stolen. And every new country with nuclear weapons makes it more likely that their neighbors will also seek to develop nuclear weapons.

In Asia, the leadership transition in North Korea and its failed missile launch in April 2012 are developments that require continued American monitoring and attention, in addition to continued close cooperation with our allies and continued efforts with other nations in the region. To have progress, North Korea must demonstrate good faith, including suspending enrichment, halting missile tests, and allowing international inspectors into the country.

Here's Warren again:

As a country, we have been fortunate to have avoided any devastating attacks since 9/11. It's a testament to the hard work of our intelligence, law enforcement, homeland security, and military personnel. As recently as May, these professionals disrupted an Al Qaeda plot to target civilian aircraft using an explosive designed in Yemen.

It has now been more than one year since the death of Osama bin Laden, and the President's assertive operations have eliminated many of Al Qaeda's senior leadership and weakened its affiliates. But the threat of terrorism remains, and we must remain vigilant. We must continue our political, military, economic, and diplomatic efforts against Al Qaeda and its affiliates, and we need to continue to support the efforts of our intelligence, law enforcement, homeland security, and military professionals.

And here's Ball:

America has been fortunate to have avoided any devastating attacks since 9/11. Unmistakably, that's a remarkable testament to the hard work of our intelligence, law enforcement, homeland security, and military personnel.

It's been a while since the death of Osama bin Laden, and America's operations have eliminated many of Al Qaeda's senior chain-of-command, and have also weakened its affiliates. However, the threat of attack still exists, and America must remain vigilant and continue all of our efforts—political, military, economic, and diplomatic—against Al Qaeda and its affiliates.

Here's Warren on Israel:

Since its founding more than 60 years ago, Israel and the United States have been steadfast, trusted, and reliable allies. I unequivocally support the right of a Jewish, democratic state of Israel to exist, and to be safe and secure. The U.S.-Israel relationship is rooted in shared values and common interests, based on a commitment to liberty, pluralism, and the rule of law. These values transcend time, and they are the basis of our unbreakable bond.

And here's Ball:

For more than 60 years, Israel and America have been steadfast, trusted, and reliable allies. I unequivocally support the right of a Jewish, democratic State of Israel to exist, and to be safe and secure. The American-Israel relationship is based upon shared values and common interests, and a commitment to liberty and the rule of law.

Here's Warren again:

The U.S. can and should play an active role in promoting a diplomatic resolution to the conflict that is agreed to by the parties, but I do not believe that a lasting peace can be imposed from the outside or that either party should take unilateral steps - such as the Palestinians' application for UN membership - that move the parties further away from negotiation.

And here's Ball:

America can and should play an active role in promoting a diplomatic resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that is agreed to by the parties, but I do not believe that a lasting peace can be imposed from the outside, or that either party should take unilateral steps that move the parties further away from negotiations.

Here's Elizabeth Warren on taxes:

We all know the tax code is unfair and far too complicated. The statutory corporate tax rate is 35%, but it seems like every few months there's a new report on big corporations working the system. One recent report showed that, of the big corporations in the S&P 500, 115 paid less than 20% in taxes. Another report claimed that, of 280 of the biggest corporations in the country, 78 paid nothing in taxes during one of the last three years.

And here's Ball:

We all know the tax code is unfair and far too complicated. The statutory corporate tax rate is 35%, but it seems like every few months there's a new report on big corporations working the system. One recent report showed that, of the big corporations in the S&P 500, 115 paid less than 20% in taxes. Another report claimed that, of 280 of the biggest corporations in the country, 78 (over 25%) paid nothing in taxes during one of the last three years.

Here's Warren again:

We need serious tax reform to make the tax code fairer and simpler. The most profitable corporations should have to pay their fair share. The tax code should not be designed to encourage companies and jobs to go overseas. And those who already have made it big have a responsibility to pay a little bit forward - so the next kid coming along has a chance to make it too.

And here's Ball:

We need serious tax reform to make the tax code fairer and simpler. The most profitable corporations should have to pay their fair share. The tax code should not be designed to encourage companies and jobs to go overseas. And those who already have made it big have a responsibility to pay a little bit more so that the next child coming along has a chance to make it too.

Here's Elizabeth Warren on Medicare:

For too long, politicians have proposed privatizing Medicare, turning it into a voucher program, or cutting it altogether. Of course, these cuts won't keep people from getting sick and needing care. Instead, these cuts are about shifting ever-growing health care costs onto seniors. This must stop. I will not support privatizing Medicare, turning it into a voucher program, or cutting benefits.

And here's Ball:

For too long, politicians have proposed privatizing Medicare, turning it into a voucher program, or cutting it altogether. Of course, these cuts won't keep people from getting sick and needing care. Instead, they're about shifting ever-growing health care costs onto our aging seniors. I will not support privatizing Medicare, turning it into a voucher program, or cutting benefits.

Here's Warren again:

The real issue here is the rising cost of health care that is squeezing working families all across our state - the same costs that contribute to half of all bankruptcies. The solution to our problems isn't to cut Medicare. What we really need to do is cut health care costs for people getting medicine or going to the doctor.

And here's Brown:

The real issue is the rising cost of health care that is pushing working families over the financial cliff, the same costs that contribute to half of all bankruptcies. The solution to our problems is not to cut Medicare, but to cut the costs of medical care, which could be done by allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. By bringing down costs through competition, we'll help make health care more affordable and control Medicare spending at the same time.

Here's Elizabeth Warren on Social Security:

Too many have been using scare tactics when it comes to Social Security. The problems in Social Security funding are serious, but they are fixable. Social Security is safe for at least the next 20 years and, if we act quickly, we can make modest changes that will keep the system solvent without cutting back on benefits. We need honesty and political will to move forward.

Social Security is a promise made to our seniors and it would be a breach of trust - and just plain poor economic policy - to jeopardize this program with unnecessary cuts or risky privatization schemes.

And here's Brown:

Too many politicians have been using scare tactics when it comes to Social Security. The problems in Social Security funding are serious, but they are fixable. Social Security is safe for at least the next 20 years, and if we act quickly, we can make modest changes that will keep the system solvent without cutting back on benefits. We need honesty and political will to move forward.

Social Security is a promise made to our seniors, and it would be a breach of trust not to mention poor economic policy to jeopardize this program with unnecessary cuts or risky privatization schemes.

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