Saturday, February 11, 2017

In the news MD Lawmaker's Aide Fired for Creating Fake News Site: Christian Times Newspaper

We're all about educating people and destroying "Fake News"  - and here's an article where a man in Maryland who created "Christian Times Newspaper.com" used the site to create fake news and draw in Christians to believe his baloney. Fortunately, a Republican lawmaker in Maryland fired the guy who worked for him, that was creating the fake news. - >>One of the fake news stories he published was about ""tens of thousands" of pre-marked ballots casting votes for Hillary Clinton were found in a warehouse in Ohio" - and it got shared by MILLIONS of Republicans! This is the kind of crap that cost her the election because people believed it!!!  (fortunately, the Facebook page was shut down- although it's still up; -https://www.facebook.com/christiantimesnewspaper/)

Here's the article from Snopes.com 

 Maryland Lawmaker's Aide Fired for Creating Fake News Site


Cameron Harris reportedly made thousands of dollars by posting fabricated stories on his web site, ChristianTimesNewspaper.com.

Republican lawmaker in Maryland has sacked an aide after he was exposed as the person behind a fake news website. Del. David Vogt III (R-Frederick) said that he fired Cameron Harris "on the spot" on 18 January 2017, after the New York Times revealed that Harris was the creator of ChristianTimesNewspaper.com.

Vogt confirmed firing Harris in an interview with Snopes.com on 19 January 2017, saying that the discovery of his activities would spur changes to his vetting procedures for future hires. Constituents who have contacted him regarding Harris' posts, he said, were appalled that they could come from someone so "close to home":
The integrity of public service is the number one thing that we have to defend. We have to represent people who trust us to do that here. It is the disintegration of that integrity at its worst.
Harris admitted to fabricating a story claiming that "tens of thousands" of pre-marked ballots casting votes for Hillary Clinton were found in a warehouse in Ohio. According to the Times, the story was shared with six million people. We have also debunked several other posts Harris published on the site.
Harris, who reportedly made tens of thousands of dollars from his site overall, claimed that his motivation for propagating fake pro-conservative posts was financial, rather than political:
Given the severe distrust of the media among Trump supporters, anything that parroted Trump’s talking points people would click. Trump was saying ‘rigged election, rigged election.’ People were predisposed to believe Hillary Clinton could not win except by cheating.
Harris posted a statement on Twitter apologizing to people whom he had "disappointed" with his actions:
My wish is that I will be allowed to contribute my informed experience to a larger dialogue about how Americans approach the media, tough issues, and the manner in which we, collectively, will inform our decisions going forward.
We have contacted Harris seeking further comment.
Source: http://www.snopes.com/2017/01/19/maryland-lawmakers-aide-fired-creating-fake-news-site/?utm_source=bme&bt_alias=eyJ1c2VySWQiOiAiYjg2MTJmZjQtMmE3MC00YzVlLTliZjgtMzllOGQ0ZjZjODE0In0%3D&utm_campaign=wedsat&utm_medium=email

 

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I'm a simple guy who enjoys the simple things in life, especially our dogs. I volunteer for dog rescues, enjoy exercising, blogging, politics, helping friends and neighbors, participating in ghost investigations, coffee, weather, superheroes, comic books, mystery novels, traveling, 70s and 80s music, classic country music,writing books on ghosts and spirits, cooking simply and keeping in shape. You'll find tidbits of all of these things on this blog and more. EMAIL me at Rgutro@gmail.com - Rob

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