NBC News got an inside look at one of the message boards used by far-right conspiracy theorists to invent and refine their most ridiculous conspiracies, and it's a bad look for one site in specific, a rancid little ex-Breitbartian hoax site called Big League Politics that appears to primarily exist for the purpose of monetizing conservative stupidity.
It's also a look inside a movement that peddles theories of secret pedophile rings, like "PizzaGate," based on the completely invented brain-squeezings of internet trolls.
At writer Haley Kennington’s request, others in the group have posted maps of Voodoo Doughnut locations alongside the city’s plumbing system, local schools, public transit network, and airports, suggesting a possible method of smuggling children in or out of the sweets shop.
“Small submarines arent (sic) out of the realm of possibility,” offered one member.
Is that member serious, or are they trolling the trolls? We may never know.
What is more certain is that national Republicans have been using the hoax site and its user email list for their own fundraising, using the same fabricated stories that sent a gunman into a Washington-area pizza restaurant to gather pocket change for themselves. And while some of those Republicans were embarrassed enough to pull out of the deal after the national press began asking questions, other Republicans are clamming up about it.
When reached for comment, spokespeople for [House Majority Whip Steve Scalise] and [Texas stain on the nation Sen. Ted Cruz] said their campaigns would no longer work with Big League Politics and would return any money raised with the outlet.
The [Devin Nunes] campaign and the NRCC did not respond to a request for comment.
Nunes and the NRCC had an easy out on this one. Two weeks ago the Daily Beast revealed the extent of big-name Republican fundraising on the site, including the dodgy nature of the fundraisers themselves (one of Ted Cruz's fundraising asks didn't include the legally required "paid for" disclosure); the speculation was that the fundraising was being funneled through Targeted Victory, a prominent if apparently deeply scuzzy Republican political consultancy, and perhaps the Republicans themselves didn't know they were being associated with such efforts?
But it's been two weeks and, lo and behold, Devin Nunes and the NRCC both have been exposed as using the list and refuse to say they'll be stopping, so there you go. We can take that as confirmation that Devin Nunes isn't just happy to be associated with Pizzagate and Seth Rich conspiracy theories, but is specifically looking to the conspiracy theorists for cash.
You think Republicans can't get worse, but they always do. These conspiracies have led to gunshots inside a restaurant, an armed lunatic barricading himself beside the Hoover Dam, a man starting a major California wildfire, and the regular harassment of seemingly randomly-chosen businesses and individuals. You may see that as a danger to the republic, but the ever-odious Devin Nunes sees that as a fundraising opportunity.
After all, if you can believe in all those other tall tales, you're just the sort of person pro-Trump, pro-hoax Republicans need on their team.
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