Washington Post Fact Checker, Glenn Kessler: This is just the beginning of outrageous fakery that will appear in your social media feeds for the next two months
Following widespread condemnation of Minority Whip Steve Scalise deliberately altering and releasing video of activist Ady Barkan, DCCC Digital Rapid Response Director Ben Block released the following statement:
“Our elections are already under attack from many outside forces, and now House Republican Leadership is deliberately manipulating online content to spread disinformation and deceive voters too. Congressman Scalise’s video is dangerous, dishonest, and states plainly that Republicans will spread lies if they think it benefits them politically. Congressman Scalise should immediately delete his video and apologize to Ady Barkan and the voters for his actions.”
Since discovery of Scalise’s dishonest edit, Twitter has labeled his video “manipulated” media. Scalise has refused to delete the video despite several calls to do so.
In January, the NRCC was criticized by CNN host Jake Tapper for deceptively editing video to smear Vice President Biden. In the same month, Republican Rep. Paul Gosar was also widely criticized for disseminating a fake photo of President Obama shaking hands with Iran’s president and Rep. Elise Stefanik doctored a photo of Speaker Pelosi to raise money for her campaign. Per Glenn Kessler, “this is just the beginning.”
