Think Progress has become the latest victim of a juvenile faux news hoax. Think Progress ran a story about how Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann proposed “Americanization” labor camps for Central American unaccompanied children. It quickly spread from Think Progress to other liberal sites, precisely what the “source” KCTV 7 had hoped. KCTV 7 is one of a number of fake news sites run by adolescent tricksters who relish spreading false stories. I have previously written about these sites and the type of low-grade “gotcha” pranks that motivate such people. It hardly takes a genius to set up a site that looks like a real news outfit and run stories to trick anyone who stumbles by on the Internet. I don’t find these pranks funny or impressive. I cannot understand how companies like WordPress give them a platform for such hoaxes or why the creators have not faced personal liability over their false stories.
The story quoted Bachmann as saying “I’m calling on all of us, Obama and Congress and everyone, to chip in and build special new facilities . . . ‘Americanization facilities,’ if you will. And we’d send these kids to these facilities, in Arizona and Texas and wherever else. And we’d get private sector business leaders to locate to those facilities and give these children low-risk jobs to do. And they’d learn about the American way of life, earn their keep, and everyone wins in the end.”
Raw Story reported that “However, it turns out that interview, often sourced to KCTV7, was plagiarized from an openly satirical site, The National Report. The KCTV7 report lifted large passages of the Bachmann “interview” and accompanying text from The National Report website verbatim.” National Report is the fake news site that I previously criticized. I honestly do not understand why these people find such pranks to be funny or worth so much effort. They degrade both media and Internet users. It is the equivalent to graffiti on the Internet.
Think Progress issued the following statement:
The news site KCTV7 News is a parody. Rep. Bachmann (R-MN) never made the statement. We sincerely regret the error.
The editors of the site relish these juvenile pranks. The site states “KCTV7 is a Kansas City news site that reports local and world news, as well as American politics.”
I am astonished that WordPress tolerates such fraudulent sites or that these people have not been sued for false light or defamation. If a site tricks people into buying false items or harming themselves, WordPress would presumably terminate the site. Yet, here is a group of people who work hard to spread false stories to embarrass people — often attributing harmful stories to people like Bachmann. I am less judgmental toward Think Progress as I am toward these juveniles and, by extension, WordPress that gives them access to victims.
I am really grateful to the holder of this site who has
shared this impressive post at here.
Nick Spinelli: “They have told my very down to earth friend that Franken is arrogant, rude, and demanding. Consistent w/ Jay Mohr’s and other SNL people. What is fascinating to me is that this would be shocking to someone. That is his persona if you have any objectivity.”
I think I made clear I am not surprised he can come across as arrogant, rude, and demanding. But you haven’t given any specific examples, only hearsay that, maybe, someone got their fee-fees hurt. For all I know, one condo building employee messed up and caught hell for it and you heard about it through your friend who admittedly doesn’t like Franken to begin with. So, put up or shut up. Please.
SWM, LOL. This plays like an SNL skit. But, the choir loves it. You are an incorrigible Dem cultist. That’s what makes it fun and important to have you here. It reinforces all us independents who despise the duopoly. Although, there is plenty of other folks doing the same. There are 3 DEM Senate candidates running ads BLASTING Obama! Ouch.
Michele BakkyJuice once dressed up as Sarah Palin and went to a book
burningsigning (Book Politics Makes Strange Duplicities).Obviously Franken is a saint and uniquely qualified to represent the State of Minnesota. Now that the enlightened folks from my home state have spoken, all that matters is how well he’s honoring that oath of office.
Marc, I think he gets Mexican cartel money.
ringhals, The condo where Franken “lives” in Minneapolis is a high rise downtown. I put “lives” because part of the problem w/ virtually all politicians is once they are elected, they really live in DC. They become immersed in that deviant culture and lose touch w/ reality. But I digress.
I have given specific examples. Firstly, the Jay Mohr book. The condo building has employees, front desk guys, maintenance, etc. They have told my very down to earth friend that Franken is arrogant, rude, and demanding. Consistent w/ Jay Mohr’s and other SNL people. What is fascinating to me is that this would be shocking to someone. That is his persona if you have any objectivity. Although, I have come to see over my 6 plus decades how blind people can be. From the first time I saw Lance Armstrong I said to myself, “PHONY!” When the doping came up I said “LIAR.” It was so obvious to me. But hey ringhals, you don’t have to believe me. I know you see this as politically motivated, but it is not.
@Nick Spinelli: And to be clear: I don’t have a hard time imaging Franken being rude. He has a very caustic sense of humor that I only occasionally find funny, and judging by his Senate hearing appearances, doesn’t seem to suffer fools gladly. But I have a hard time believing he’d be an ass to someone who hadn’t crossed him.
@Nick Spinelli: “My sources say (Franken) treats “the little people” like crap. You know, when he’s not campaigning.”
Would you be willing to provide a few specific examples of Franken treating “the little people” like crap? Because if you can’t it’s really pretty crappy of you to be spreading such innuendo about.
Not sure but I’d bet my life Turley gets libertarian think tank money
Marc, Perfect! You are so perceptive and extremely clever. What’s on MSNBC tonight?
How much Koch money is Turley getting these days?
Crazy Eyes runner up. Here’s Nancy Pelosi speaking on class warfare…..What’s that thing around her neck?
Or, Mary Landrieu. NTTAWWT.