MSNBC Reports Fake Article as Real News…Again
- Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:47pm by
Becket Adams
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Whoops. It looks like MSNBC has fallen for a satirical article — again.
On Monday, the Huffington Post published a satirical piece written by Scott Wooledge, an activist who frequently posts on the left-leaning Daily Kos, titled “Microsoft, Apple Unite to Demand That the National Organization for Marriage Boycott Them.”
The article, which was published on the HuffPo’s comedy blog, joked that the two tech giants were begging the National Organization for Marriage to boycott them because, based on recent market bump Starbucks has enjoyed from NOM’s “Dump Starbucks” campaign, it’s good for business.
Watch MSNBC report on the supposed boycott plea (via Equality Matters):
“In the meantime, get this,” Roberts said. “Tech rivals Apple and Microsoft are marrying up and asking the National Organization for Marriage its supporters to boycott their companies. This follows the release of secret documents last week showing part of the organization’s strategy to quote ‘drive a wedge’ between blacks and gays on the issue of marriage equality.”
But there’s a problem: the “marriage” between Apple and Microsoft never happened.
To be fair, not everyone is immune from this sort of thing. Comedy blogs and websites have gotten better at disguising fake stories. So maybe it was a really convincing article and that’s why MSNBC fell for it, you might say.
Was it convincingly written? Judge for yourself.
In the Daily Kos article, Wooledge jokingly writes that a Microsoft spokesman said the following:
Amidst all the “Dump Starbucks” mania, it appears many have lost sight of the fact that Microsoft Corporation, just like Starbucks, stood proudly with Washington United for Marriage to support equal treatment for all loving couples in Washington State.
[…]
So what gives? The National Organization for Marriage singles out Starbucks, and those yuppie bean heads get all the attention? We have to read in the Seattle Stranger how “[t]here has been an incredible Facebook campaign of photos of people drinking coffee at Starbucks.” Where are all the photos of happy people tapping away on Windows machines knowing that they, too, are supporting equality for all? What about us? We’ve even got a rainbow in our logo. Boycott us, National Organization for Marriage! Now!
And he writes that an Apple spokesman added:
…we see that over 635,00 people have signed the “Thank you, Starbucks” card at Sum of Us. And then there‘s also MoveOn’s thank-you card, and Washington United for Marriage’s thank-you card.
What does Apple have to do to get our own thank-you card? It isn’t fair. Apple has a long history of standing up for marriage equality. Don’t forget that our first logo had a rainbow in it, too! Now we‘re reading in the news reports how Starbuck’s customers, like David Thompson of Pennsylvania, are saying things like, “It makes me more inclined to buy here, in spite of their high prices.” We want in on that action, too. We deserve it.
In fact, Wooledge even ends the article with this:
Maggie Gallagher and Brian Brown of National Organization for Marriage were far too busy plotting their next shameful, divisive, nefarious, race-baiting attack to make themselves available for comment for this report.
The article even had “NOTE: This piece is satirical. All quotations are fabrications for the purpose of satire” written at the bottom (although we’re unsure if that was added before or after MSNBC ran its story).
Oh, for the love of Pete…this wasn’t a giveaway?
“Lesson to MSNBC, don’t believe everything you read on the internet,” Wooledge wrote after MSNBC falsely reported the story.
As mentioned in the headline of this article, this isn’t the first time MSNBC has fallen for a fake story.
“Last December, Roberts relied on a blog post from the ‘progressive site’ Americablog to tie a campaign ad for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to the Ku Klux Klan. Roberts later apologized for the error,” Jeff Poor of the Daily Caller writes.
Rachel Maddow has also fallen for a fake story in the past, but she blamed it on Glenn Beck.
It should be noted that the MSNBC host tied up in this latest gaffe, Thomas Roberts, has jumped the gun before in attacking opponents to same-sex marriage and Republicans. Just last week he pulled an empty chair stunt similar to MSNBC cohort Lawrence O’Donnell, except the guest he chastised and mocked for not appearing in his segment did not skip out on facing him, but was rather directed to the wrong studio by MSNBC booking.
This past July, Roberts said then-Republican presidential candidate Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann would “extinguish” gay people. In September he said GOP candidates want to go back to a time when “slavery was cool.” This past December, Roberts reported that the Romney campaign was using the same slogan as the KKK did during the 1920s, a report that linked back to a mock political ad youtube video unaffiliated with the Romney campaign.
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Comments (124)
slvrserfr
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:07pmThey should try the Onion next time, there’s plenty of fake news on there they could broadcast as real.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:33pmMSNBPRAVDA puts it‘s foot in it’s big, fat, lefty mouth again.
Report Post »Ethereal
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 4:03pmMan, it‘s like we don’t even need to try anymore….msnbc well just do it to themselves lol.
Report Post »monster123
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 4:16pmWow how can they be that stupid.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 4:45pmThe Onion should buy MSNBC.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 4:46pmSomebody tell that to the Blaze:
“Russian Spy Anna Chapman Came Close to Ensnaring Obama Cabinet Official”
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/report-russian-spy-anna-chapman-came-close-to-ensnaring-a-member-of-obamas-cabinet/
Wasn’t Annay Champman, and the actual person never so much as met a Cabinet member, let alone being close to “ensnaring” one.
For a website that is little more than the National Enquirer for the right, this is incredibly ironic. And don’t get me started about FOX…
Report Post »Huguenot Descendant
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 5:03pm@JZS
And your sources are where?
Report Post »Banter
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 7:25pmHey JZS,
So, you are saying that all of your Blaze posts are really just National Enquirer fodder? In other words, you have lowered yourself to the same level you condemn. How ironic.
Sucks to be you mostly, huh?
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 7:50pmWhen I am poking around the net in search of information, I have learned to look for a story that is reported in more than one place or by more than one person. And even this is not infallible. This is the disadvantage of the net.
The advantage is that even ordinary people like myself have an immensely powerful, and easy to use, tool to seek out the truth. “Seek out” being the operative words.
I, personally, get a lot of satisfaction from it (though I wish I was better at it). I have been online for16 years now and my computer still feels like a new toy.
Report Post »Cavy from VA
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 8:52pmOh my God … I can’t breath … it’s too damn hard to type while rolling on the floor … pointing my finger … (P)MSNBC is finally good for something … I’m laughing sooooo hard!!! They gotta stop this or they are going to give ole TEA party dudes Heartattacks!!!
Report Post »Reagan_Patriot
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 1:01amThey should have kept Oberman. At least we knew crap when we saw it. Now it’s all crap… MSNBC who??
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 2:00amjzs
For someone so critical of this website, you spend A LOT of time here. I guess it‘s because we’re all so dumb, and the articles (which are primarily re-prints from the AP, HuffPo, Daily Caller, etc) are pure trash.
Whew, you caught us!….well, I suppose you caught yourself. Hypocrite much?
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 9:39amTheir first indication that the story was a fabrication was that it was posted at the DailyKos.
Just sayin’.
Report Post »Raider1
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 10:18amThis is what happens when journalistic integrity falls to the wayside and everyone recycles the same info from the same sources instead of doing the work themselves. At some point no one will know know what is real and what isn’t once people give up caring about the truth.
Report Post »pavnvet
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 10:31amIt seems that little by little MSLSD is becoming less and less relevant to all except the true wacked out leftists that are just looking for news(?) which will support their warped views. It sure as hell can’t be called journalism, it is more like storytelling to the mentally challenged.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 11:47amJaycen, I’m here to help you.
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 12:17pmJzs
There some white goo on the corner of your mouth…
If you have facts why ask questions? Dont depend on us to make your case you pathetic little occupier. Irrelevant.
Report Post »OhioRifleman
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 12:44pm@ JZS
Some forms of help we don’t need…
Your form of help, well, makes for good comedy.
You have my thanks.
Report Post »kneedeepinit
Posted on April 7, 2012 at 4:13pmTheir slogan, “Lean Forward” is very appropriate. Doesn’t everyone “lean forward” when they sit and strain on a toilet? The “end” result is the same. ;-)
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:06pm.
Report Post »MSNBC Reports Fake Boobs as Real News………….
fande3rls
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 7:05amYou mean Obama and biden . Two of the biggist boobs in history .
Report Post »wakeus_com
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:01pmThe thing is … the droolers out there will still sit in front of their TVs, eating processed foods and believing every single word that comes out of their mouths.
Report Post »Voice_ofFreedom
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:45pmI understand what you mean but what do processed foods have to do with anything?
Report Post »doomytram
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:56pmMSNBC is Sharpton, Olberman, Schultz, and leftist ridiculousness. The disastrous leftist liar Oblamer and Communist Valerie Jarrett just love the ridiculous MSNBC. The commie networks, thankfully I don’t have to watch that disinformation pack of lies.
Report Post »menticide
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:56pmWhy am I not surprised? NBC isn’t even a legitimate news source anymore…
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 5:32pmNBC=Nothing But Crap
OMG 2012
Report Post »RusHube
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:53pmMSNBC still exists? Huh!
Report Post »IndyGuy
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:45pmSo who’s the one guy that watches MSNBC to catch these false reports???…..Don’t be that guy…
Report Post »JayCee
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:41pmMSNBC……..
Report Post »Lean Forward……..
Fall on our face again!
keebs
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:40pmMSNBC Always good for a laugh.
Report Post »NeoKong
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:40pmThe real issue is not that they fell for a hoax.
Report Post »The real issue is that they were in a such an excited rush to put out a story that bashes the right they did not even read the whole article and then made no attempt to confirm any of it’s content.
Bigmouth-strikes-again
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 4:25pmyou are right…
Report Post »c.foster4722
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:39pmMSNBC reporters paid by George Soros,that explains why they can’t report the news,even if it is a lie! This just in! The White House gave the ok for MSNBC to report this story on the MSNBC network!!! Now where’s my cut of the action?
Report Post »smokey888x2
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:37pmLesson to MSNBC: Don’t believe everything you make up! And don‘t believe everything you’re told to say as the ‘government news’.
Someday soon, hope your lic. is yanked.
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:35pmAll news is fake. Some is just more fake than the rest…
Report Post »Dustoff
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 8:21pmLOL………. don’t leave your basement, and please. Stop watching all news. The weather too.
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:26pmWhen even the mainstream media can’t tell the satire from their own pablum, they’re basicly admitting how biased and unjournalistic they are. Throw in the towel on the MSM.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:32pmAgree … and once the story is OUT … how many of their viewers (both of them) will hear the retraction?
Report Post »TOMSERVO
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:14pmOh please, The Blaze was fooled by some stupid fake story just a couple weeks ago.
Report Post »Obama Snake Oil Co
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:23pmYou mean the one they expose later that would have remained hidden on NBC?
Report Post »Brizz
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:26pmThe point is to not believe everything you see or read. “Question with boldness” and “do your own homework” come to mind.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:30pmCan you give us a little more to go with than that? I‘m not saying you’re wrong, it would just be helpful to know which story you’re referring to. My oddest experience on this forum was posting a comment on a story critical of Santorum (by quoting his own words) that mysteriously vanished not long after it appeared on The Blaze.
Report Post »I generally ignore the Bigfoot and UFO stories… except to laugh at them. What was the subject of the article you’re alluding to?
biohazard23
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:31pm@TomServo, I think I hear Joel and Crow calling you. They said you missed your lunchtime meds again.
Report Post »SacredHonor1776
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:36pmIs TomServo referring to the “flying man”?
Report Post »TOMSERVO
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 5:19pmIt looks like The Blaze really scrubbed their records on this one, tough to find…but it was the “shocking video” which showed Bono caught in his tax-dodging ways.
Here is the current link:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/u2-singer-bono-grilled-on-camera-over-bands-move-to-avoid-taxes/
But The Blaze has pretty much scrubbed the most egregious parts of it. Basically, someone wrote a thousand words about how Bono is a hypocritical socialist commie liberal (muslim?) based on a video of someone who was most obviously not Bono.
Report Post »TOMSERVO
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 12:49pmSo what do you guys think?
Anyone? Hello?
Ah, I see….
Report Post »elosogrande
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:13pmDon’t even try to over estimate the stupidity of MSNBC and their gaggle of anchors. It can’t be done.
Report Post »westtitus
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 4:13pmThat is why their real name is “MSLSD” cuz the all are burned out LSD users that rode on the bus Timothy Leary was driving! Everyone knows this!
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:12pmThese people certainly don’t care what is true and what is not; whatever fits their narrative they‘ll run with and if they’re caught with their greasy fingers in the cookie jar, lying is acceptable because the ends justify the means.
If anybody wonders how people in Russia could fall for communism or those in Germany to what took place there, need look no farther than today’s democrat party, by and large.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:09pmFrom the network that gives the world Madcow, Special Ed Schultz, Chris “Tingles” Matthews, Dylan “Rat I AM’ Ratigan, Mika Brzezinski, etc…… Olbermann must be laughing in his Depends at this latest gaffe. It’s definitely Biden-worthy, you gotta admit.
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:08pmYou mean MSNBC isn’t a parody?
Report Post »eternal_vigilance
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:06pmMSLSD what would you do if you had to WORK for a living?
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:03pmI wonder when MSNBC will be saying they got the winning lottery ticket, but it is safely hidden up Chris Mathews leg.
Report Post »TheSoundOf Truth
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:14pmYou have the greatest handle on the internet
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:46pmTemba, arms open wide.
Report Post »fande3rls
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 7:10amI remmeber that episode on star trek nex t generation .
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:03pmProgressives can’t resist this type of “reporting.” Remember the whole Dan Rather/George W. Bush letter affair. One of the women connected to that story (can’t remember if it was Mapes) said words to the effect that the alleged story sounded like it could have happened. Good enough to run with.
Report Post »Oops.
This is what happens when you “think” with your heart.
Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:00pmThe ghost of Walter Cronkite just threw up a little…..
Report Post »johnjamison
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:59pmMSNBC is ran by effing idiots
Report Post »HKS
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:03pmTheir instructions come from the white house. Not a new organization more of a government information department.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:55pmTHEY WOULDN’T KNOW REAL NEWS IF IT BIT THEM ON THE BUTT! MSDNC strikes again. Another reason no one watches and if NOT for the BLAZE, we would not have known this either..
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