Duped: AP Falls for Hoax Press Release Claiming GE Will Repay Tax Refund
- Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:42am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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It‘s like April Fool’s, only two weeks later.
That Associated Press has had to retract a story on GE repaying all of its 2010 tax refund after it was determined the press release it based its story on was a hoax.
Here is the original story that the AP put out on the wire:
Facing criticism over the amount of taxes it pays, General Electric announced it will repay its entire $3.2 billion tax refund to the US Treasury on April 18.
GE uses a series of foreign tax havens that the company says are legal and that led to an enormous refund for the 2010 tax year.
The company earned $11 billion in 2010 on revenue of $150 billion.
The company, based in Fairfield, Conn., plans to phase out tax havens over 5 years and said it will create one job in the US for each new job it creates overseas.
Here is what has now replaced it:
The fake press release was titled, “GE Responds to Public Outcry – Will Donate Entire $3.2 Billion Tax Refund to Help Offset Cuts and Save American Jobs.” And while initially this looks really bad for the AP, Business Insider explains how it happened:
The fake press release [...] was posted at a site called http://www.genewscenters.com/. It’s a pretty sophisticated fake, since genewscenters.com is just one letter off from genewscenter.com, where GE actually hosts its news.
And it is. Here’s a copy of real GE press release:
And this is the fake:
Still, BI says the AP isn’t completely off the hook given that the fake “obviously” reads like a hoax, including “comments in there about new policies about creating one American job for every one created abroad.”
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Comments (72)
Islesfordian
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:35amGive the AP a break. That press release looked entirely legitimate and believeable to me. But then I believe that America doesn’t have a debt problem.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m late for my lunch with the Easter Bunny.
Report Post »miles from nowhere
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:22amSALAMANDER: I am with you GE needs to be put out of business and if it can be done through the public somehow I am all for it. Emmelt is a partner with evil and these birds are flocked together in there evil.
Report Post »Johnny1943
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:21amLook, not only is Jeff & Barry a$$ hole buddies, but repubs want to lower the corporate rate by 10% to 25%. In GE’s case with all their tax loop holes 25% of 0 =0.
Report Post »OkiePatriot
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:14amThats what ya get when you’re in bed with the Obama admin as GE is. I refuse to buy any GE products myself and that goes for GM & Chrysler products too!
Report Post »miles from nowhere
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:12amGE is married to Obama, the real story on all of this has yet to be written, I am sure that if we knew the details on Obama and GE it would be worthy of impeachment proceedings, but like so often the Senate will not take action on Obama because the Democrats control the Senate. If the public can vote them out of power we may get to find out the real story on how the public tax payers were fleesed by this out-of-control president and the democrat party.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:11amHow about a “SAVE THE EDISON LIGHT BULB” movement? Force GE to donate their closed facilities, know-how and employees! Set up a Not-for-profit to make Legacy-Lights, to be given to the ‘poor’ (i.e., ALL taxpayers; and, sold to the rich, i.e. ALL non-taxpayers)! We could employ the poor, the homeless, the downtrodden and PAY them to make light bulbs, to compete with the imported CFLs coming in from Germany and China!!!
Report Post »Chicago Ray
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:09amThey‘re now as guilty as they’ve always accused bloggers and freelancers of and that‘s joining the Google ad fools gold rush doing anything for hits and clicks and running with things they don’t even verify once, much less using multiple sources, which used to be the journalists’ holy grail.
The entire profession is a joke now and likely always will be thanks to their selling their souls to the devil to get Obozo elected, they blew their wad on this fraud and now thanks to Donald Trump‘s watermelon sized nads he’s finally being called out and hopefully fully exposed.
The job the MSM refused to do that bloggers and board commenters had to do for them
Report Post »AWM
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:09amPerhaps Glenn will create a “BLAZE-NOT“ where we could post our own ”news”, the news that “should/could” be reported.
Some of the posters here are incredibly talented, and I’m sure we would be amazed by what they would come up with.
Like that story about Donna Brazille admitting to racism/deception/manipulation in the Democratic Party, sponsored and covertly financed by the communists in the KGB, and the socialists in the UN, with money made off the international cocaine trade, Sadam’s old Oil for Food program funds, diverted US taxpayer money from the IMF, donations from Islamic fascist groups financed by the Saudis,and, well you get the point .
Report Post »BlazingBlaze
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:07amBest. Hoax. Ever!
Because now GE will look like heartless bastards when they have to tell the world that they are keeping their ill-gotten-but-legal taxpayer windfall courtesy of the Obama Administration. It is good to have low friends in high places.
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:06amWhy is every one always picking on the poor down trodden socialist’s ? They certainly mean well, and so what if they never get enough handed to them for nothing? Someone else always has more than they do and that’s not just, they must be equal so no one will want for anything. After all when the whole world is living in their mud dabble huts, sucking rain water from puddles, and eating those pesky buzzing flys when they can catch them, life will be equal, right?
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:06amAP is SUCH A PUTZ!
Report Post »stereojoe
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:06amYou can’t prevent this mega-giant companies, who are in bed with Obama, from skipping out on their taxes by just talking about it. Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk…where has that gotten us? Stop buying GE products!…almost impossible.
I really don’t know what our options are at this point.
Report Post »miles from nowhere
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:05amIt is proven that the AP is in bed with the democrat party, be careful about any news from the AP. We have a right to be critical of the news coming from them.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:05amHA, HA, HA, HA!!! Whoever created this is a genius! And to fool the Associated Press with this is even better.
You can bet your house, your car, and even your bottom dollar that GE will never, under any circumstances give the government any money that they hid in foreign tax havens. Furthermore, with Jeffrey Immelt, President and CEO of GE being one of BHO’s biggest cheerleaders and monetary supporters, the IRS will never investigate or demand the money be paid. But, if John Q investor uses a foreingn tax writeoff, the IRS swill come down on that individual like a fly on s***.
GE is not only guilty of “Legal” tax evasion, they have also cost over 26,000 Americans their jobs because they transferred those jobs overseas. That’s 26,000 fewer workers paying taxes to the Federal Government thereby adding, if only slightly, to the national debt. This doesn’t include lost revenues for state and local governments.
2012 is approaching and every voter who really cares about where all this is leading needs to work to clean out Washington – - – From the Oval Ofice down! Let’s take AMERICA back at the ballot box, not in the streets.
Report Post »ConservativeFeminist
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:05am&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
This is NOT a mistake – the AP is intentionally publishing this garbage to mislead Americans and put GE into a better “light” with the general public.
Q: What do GE and the AP have in common?
A: They are both tools for Soros & Obama
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Report Post »papabear27
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:03amIt is like the James Brothers – Jesse & Frank while robbing a train, Frank says, “Who’s robbing this train Jesse, me or you?”
Report Post »Just what perspective are you willing to believe from the AP – Aljazeera Press that Demonrats are so fond of promoting.
Charlie Justice
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:00amAP KNEW the story was a hoax and that a greater number of obamamites would believe it than would read the retraction. This is right of the State Constrolled Undermined Media S.O.P.
Report Post »TJexcite
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:59amThe ministry of truth at it’s finest.
Report Post »deebuzz
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:56amThis is hilarious –love it! Media gets duped again…
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:12amThe Media is ALWAYS duped! They NEVER get it right! Because, they RELY on SOURCES coming to them, rather than them going out and researching and identifying sources for themselves!
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:55amLiberals are “INSTRUCTED” on what they say, anyway. Can you say “EXTREME?” Why does nothing surprise me anymore?
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 5:35pmThe other side too EJ, google Bill Sammon memos, Frank Luntzisms, Karl Rovisms….
Report Post »vermindust
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:55amToo bad GE called it a hoax. Would have been nice let AP have the rope a bit longer, let the talk shows run with this. But GE and AP are part of the same Collective.
Report Post »rienheart
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:54amNice to know. GE keeping all their profits and Obama pats Emmelt on the back and appoints him Big Shot in Charge. Sweet Deal.
Report Post »BIGJAYINPA
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:46amIt is not AP’s fault. The press release looked exactly like the Democrat talking points that they recieve all the time to base their “News” stories on.
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:50amThe Associated Depressed didn’t check their facts before posting the news release. Isn’t that their job?
Report Post »Cincinnatus Dogood
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:12pmJust like FOX poor research, just like the BOR show on FOX.
Report Post »Obama Snake Oil Co
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:45amWhat do we expect from the AP? They are about as trustworthy as the New York Times….
Report Post »starman70
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:12amDon’t forget the Communist News Network, Nothing But Communism, Always Broadcasting Communism, Communist Broadcasting System and the crown jewel of the communist “News” outlets, More S*** from Nothing but Communism. Do you think Olberman got a tingle up his leg because the story DIDN’T mention BHO?
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:27amNo, I give AP credibility. It’s the liberal media that lacks credibility. AP has reported and stepped in where angels fear to tread, but in reverse. There are times where AP is the ONLY news outlet reporting an event, unless it’s Fox News!
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:44amThe fat checkers are hard at work over at Aljazeera Press. They’re making sure no facts actually get published.
Report Post »nacilbuper
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:53amThe ends justify…
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:55amI love this. Basically GE is now saying it WON’T donate its 3.2 billion in order to save American Jobs. That’s classic.
This might get interesting.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:55amFact checker, or lack thereof, must be public school educated (and no, I am not lumping all graduates with the incompetent ones). They believe anything they hear or read.
Report Post »SnapTie
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 10:58amThank you for that, i needed a good laugh.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:02amStupid does, as stupid is.
Report Post »Maybe they should publish the REAL public outcry over GE paying no income tax and visiting Obama weekly.
joe conservative
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:08amI said at the beginning of his term that GE would make Haliburton look like a lemonade stand by the end of his first term. Just look at the healthcare bill where GE was ready for electronic records, medical equipment. Look at all the green energy garbage, and cap and trade. How’s that hope and change working out? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68uzsXdMLS4
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:17amThe backstory, re: the YES MEN /US Uncut is out everywhere else.
Report Post »exdem
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:45amIts those damn rich white guys again!!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:46amShows the AP will bite at anything to be first with the story
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:59amWho would actually believe that GE is going to pay back its tax refund? I can’t believe that anyone who read the press release would believe it – companies don’t give back tax refunds!!!
Report Post »http://maboulette.wordpress.com
hauschild
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:03pmHow many times does this nonsense have to occur before the vast majority of Americans realize we’re in deep, here?
Unfortunately, it is probably going to take another Civil War to decide which side is going to be the face of America for the future.
Report Post »nacilbuper
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:30pmGE made 156 Billion in 2009 while laying off over 18,000 Americans They received stimulus grants, not loans, grants and now they are going to buy 25,00 GM Volts but here is the kicker. They will get a 2,000 dollar subsidy per GE Wattstation (the device that will be used nationwide to charge the cars) of your tax money.
What the hell is going on here?
One more thing that just came to mind, and I have searched but cannot find an answer. Where are these Wattstations made? If we (the tax payers) have to kick in 2000 bucks each, I sure hope they are made here in the USA, I have searched the internet and no hits, which tells me they are not.
Source:
The Obama administration gave corporate giant General Electric $24.9 million in grants from the $787-billion economic “stimulus” law President Barack Obama signed in February 2009, according to records posted by the administration at Recovery.gov,? reports CNS News. Despite getting $24.9 million from U.S. taxpayers, GE decreased its U.S.-based employees by 18,000 in 2009. According to Standard & Poors, GE took in $156 billion in revenue in 2009.?
The Detroit News reports this week that “General Electric will convert half its 30,000 worldwide fleet of vehicles to electrics, including purchasing 12,000 cars from GM beginning with the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. In all, the Fairfield, Conn.-based company, which makes charging stations, will purchase 25,000 plug-in electric cars by 2015.”
Yes, those charging stations – GE makes the GE Wattstation – are also subsidized by up to $2,000 of your tax money.
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:32pmTHE TYRANT’S CRONIES AND TAXES
All this outrage about GE paying no taxes, how naïve! Everyone knows that the Tyrant’s cronies pay little or no taxes. Discarded cronies are prosecuted for tax evasion.
Consider the implementations! http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:38pmThey fell for it because they a re desperate for it to be true to make their liberal buddies lQQk better. Just like Madcow’s gaffe a few months ago.
Report Post »Whirling Dervish
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:55pmIs it not a fact that big industury was in bed with the Nazi’s prior to ww2?
What is this??…..funny they call the tea party nazi.
Report Post »democratgirl
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 12:58pmThe man who occupies the Oval Office will take to the airwaves Wednesday night to ostensibly inform Americans about the budget process and what needs to be done to fix it. Ostensibly, because in reality he is launching his reelection campaign and he will very craftily try to get buy in from the citizenry on tax increases to help pay down these historic and record breaking budget deficits he and a misguided Congress have created. He will use terms like “investment” and try to shame the “wealthy” into paying their own fair share. These are all code words for tax increases, and even more insidious, words of class warfare. Class warfare, pitting the nebulous rich against the less fortunate is classic socialist strategy.
Gasoline prices have surpassed $4 a gallon in many places. Food prices are soaring at levels not seen in 30 years. The consequences of this government not living within its means and robbing America of her wealth are about to come home to roost. And this man’s plan is to raise taxes–in other words–rob America and Americans of more of their wealth. If the goal is to destroy capitalism and establish socialism, the fastest way to accomplish it is to bankrupt the country and make the people totally reliant on the government. The transfer of wealth from the people to the government is the linchpin in accomplishing the promised “Remaking of America.” Invoking class warfare–casting rich vs poor–will set the stage.
In showing Moses how to govern properly, his father-in-law Jethro came to him with words of wisdom from the Lord. He said in Exodus 18:21, “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.” This is the system after which the Founding Fathers of America modeled our Republic. The word “covetousness” in this passage means “plunder, unjust gain, lucre, profit, dishonest gain.” Americans rejected this wisdom and elected men and women who do not fear God, who covet our enterprise, and who will lie to take it.
The consequences of these very actions mean that Americans could lose their nation, along with it our liberty, our way of life, our ability to pursue our inspirations. These are consequences of turning our backs on God, electing those who chose humanism in governance, and trusting godless liars with our national well being and security. Titus 1:10, 11 says, “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.” God honors the hearts of his people. We must want our nation, our homes, more than the covetousness of the socialists and Islamists. Otherwise they will have them.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Report Post »Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
http://www.dailyjot.com
Bloody Sam
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 2:45pmWhy would any person or entity be inclined “repay” their tax refund. As the word “refund” indicates, the money belongs to the taxpayer. It’s their money. They were overcharged by the IRS and are issued a refund. One cannot repay a refund.
Report Post »And why didn’t the dolts at the AP catch that?
random357
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 9:46pmWe need more of this. Continue to make the media look like a bunch of fools.
Report Post »These people will report any thing true or not.