NJ Councilwoman Falls For 'Blue Waffle Disease' Scam (WARNING: Graphic Content)

An update has been made to this story to include a link to actual audio from the Councilwoman at the April 2nd meeting.

One of the fundamental tenets of good journalism suggests that you check the source of a story and independently verify it before going public with it. That is also a good idea for elected officials like Trenton, New Jersey, City Councilwoman-at-Large Kathy McBride.

Image: City of Trenton, NJ

Tuesday night, during a council meeting, Ms. McBride set herself up for considerable embarrassment when she wanted to know what the local government was doing to combat the outbreak of an STD known as "Blue Waffle Disease." (Graphic content warning -- do not Google that term unless you are prepared for shocking and very graphic images.)

NJ.com reports that McBride thought the disease (which does not exist) deserves the attention of the government. Acting on a call from a man who claimed to be a constituent, the councilwoman presented what she believed to be the shocking "facts" about the sexually transmitted disease;

"It's already claimed 85 lives and there's a case here in Trenton. It is a virus that is 10 times greater at this point than the AIDS virus."

There's just one problem here: Nothing about "Blue Waffle Disease" and what Kathy McBride was talking about is real. And the councilwoman could have learned that with a simple three-word Internet search.

New Jersey's Trentonian broke the story and on Wednesday, featured it on the paper's front page. Their coverage included actual audio of the Councilwoman-at-Large speaking in the meeting.

Early Thursday morning, TheBlaze spoke with a very exhausted Councilwoman McBride (her daughter delivered a baby last night and she was up very late).

When we asked if she had a comment or follow-up to Tuesday night's embarrassing "Blue Waffle Disease" question, Ms. McBride said, "a man called me and I was just trying to get an answer for him."

Calls to Trenton's Health & Human Services Director James Brownlee have not yet been returned.

(H/T: Trentonian)