November 7, 2018. The day the Venn diagram of the White House and right wing fringe conspiracy theory Twitter became a perfect circle.
In case you haven’t been following the disgraceful treatment of Jim Acosta, here’s the quick recap:
- During a rare POTUS press conference on Wednesday the CNN reporter asked some questions Donald Trump didn’t like.
- Trump called him a “rude, terrible person” and ordered an intern to take his microphone. Acosta continued to try to ask his question, not giving up the mic.
- Later Acosta’s WH credentials were revoked, and he was barred from the grounds.
- Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders claimed it was because he was “placing his hands on a young woman,” referring to the intern — clearly a lie as you can see in many different angles.
How obvious is it from the news footage he didn’t “overpower” her as bad faith right wingers on Twitter are saying?
Related: Trump Fires Jeff Sessions In First Step To Stopping Mueller Probe
Enough that Sanders couldn’t even use real footage as evidence. She instead used this:
We stand by our decision to revoke this individual’s hard pass. We will not tolerate the inappropriate behavior clearly documented in this video. pic.twitter.com/T8X1Ng912y
— Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) November 8, 2018
People were quick to point out the obvious editing tricks used in the clip. Not only is it put into slow motion, there are extra frames added at key points to attempt to make it look like Acosta is making a chopping motion.
Need further proof how B.S. the clip is?
Twitter detectives were able to ID the source — InfoWars.
Yep, InfoWars, Alex Jones‘ fringe conspiracy theory site whose lies were so egregious and harmful they were kicked off of YouTube.
Related: And Twitter… And Periscope…
If the White House knowingly sharing a doctored video in order to sell a lie scares the hell out of you, you aren’t alone. See what celebs and reporters are saying about this blatant overstep (below):
https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/1060401382782423040
https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/1060402542775951360
‘And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed—if all records told the same tale—then the lie passed into history and became truth.’ — George Orwell, 1984 https://t.co/SKTAnM3BNP
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 8, 2018
This should terrify everyone. https://t.co/JFHi3oAwcV
— Jordan Peele (@JordanPeele) November 8, 2018
You can see Jim Acosta did not “grab” this woman. He refused to let her take the mic, & was so polite as to say “excuse me ma’am,” when he pulled away from her attempted mic grab. The White House is pushing doctored footage from InfoWars to blatantly lie & slander Acosta. Insane. https://t.co/9MVgV8MFxb
— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) November 8, 2018
As someone who has had my press credentials denied by authoritarian China, I never thought I'd see this crap happen in the US. And this "most reporters are okay but @Acosta is aggressive" thing is the EXACT line Chinese propaganda printed about me. It's a tactic, people.
— Melissa Chan (@melissakchan) November 8, 2018
I watched what happened with @Acosta happen in real time yesterday, and that video is altered. Every reporter who has any shred of dignity should boycott covering the WH until you are all allowed in freely and equally. If you don’t stand up for one another, you will be next.
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) November 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_/status/1060499948045852673
Absolutely shameful, @PressSec. You released a doctored video – actual fake news. History will not be kind to you. https://t.co/v1w9Lj9TlK
— Matt Dornic (@mdornic) November 8, 2018
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