Politics –
Alternative Facts Rule
Trump White House

The Trump White House has quickly obtained a reputation for presenting alternative facts — or what the rest of us would call outright lies. Now, it’s coming back to haunt them almost daily.

Politics
Donald Trump has a long history of believing his own version of the truth, however, that practice has since made its way to his White House staff.

Former Trump campaign chair and current White House adviser Kellyanne Conway was the first to coin the phrase “alternative facts,” when she said White House spokesman Sean Spicer “misspoke” on the number of attendees at the pitiful Trump inauguration.

“This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period,” Spicer said, likely at the insistence of “The Donald” who was reportedly embarrassed at the low-interest and turn out on his big day.

When NBC’s “Meet The Press” host Chuck Todd called Spicer out for flat-out lying, Conway rushed to cover for him.

“You’re saying it’s a falsehood. And they’re giving — Sean Spicer, our press secretary — gave alternative facts,” she said.

Todd responded: “Alternative facts aren’t facts, they are falsehoods.”

As Conway tried to pivot to policy points, Todd pressed her on why the White House would send Spicer out to make false claims about crowd size, asking: “What was the motive to have this ridiculous litigation of crowd size?”

“Your job is not to call things ridiculous that are said by our press secretary and our president. That’s not your job,” Conway said.

Todd followed up: “Can you please answer the question? Why did he do this? You have not answered it — it’s only one question.”

Conway said: “I’ll answer it this way: Think about what you just said to your viewers. That’s why we feel compelled to go out and clear the air and put alternative facts out there.”

Hmmm…

Apparently recognizing that “alternative facts” might work to the new administration’s advantage, Conway has since taken the practice to a new level.

During an interview last Thursday with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, Conway defended Trump’s travel ban of 7 Muslim countries by using the deadly “Bowling Green massacre” as a prime example of why such a ban was necessary.

“I bet it’s brand new information to people that President Obama had a six-month ban on the Iraqi refugee program after two Iraqis came here to this country, were radicalized and they were the masterminds behind the Bowling Green massacre,” Conway said. “Most people don’t know about that because it didn’t get covered.”

Um…Kellyanne… the Bowling Green Massacre didn’t get covered because it didn’t happen. There has never been a terrorist attack in Bowling Green, KY carried out by Iraqi refugees or anyone else for that matter.

By the time Kellyanne decided to fess up that her information was simply flat out wrong, social media had already begun to roast her profusely.

Facebook users residing in Bowling Green, KY hilariously marked themselves as “safe” so that loved ones would know they survived the attack that never happened.

Twitter users also had a field day with Conway’s alternative facts:

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We wouldn’t even know about the Bowling Green massacre if it weren’t for the amazing job Frederick Douglass did.

– Matt Ford (@fordm) February 3, 2017

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Kellyanne Conway’s comment about the #BowlingGreenMassacre was disrespectful to all who died that day, myself included.

– Peter Sullivan (@CitizenSullivan) February 3, 2017

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Finding these Bowling Green Massacre jokes to be a little too soon. Out of respect, we should wait until it takes place.

– Justin Shanes (@justinshanes) February 3, 2017

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Saddened and sickened by Frederick Douglass’ silence surrounding the Bowling Green Massacre.

– Natasha Rothwell (@natasharothwell) February 3, 2017

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RIP, 3-5 million illegal voters lost in the Bowling Green Massacre. #BowlingGreenMassacre

– Michael Beeman (@MichaelBeeman) February 3, 2017

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Thank you, @KellyannePolls for reminding us about the famous Bowling Green Massacre, which occurred on February 30th at 13:00.

– Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) February 3, 2017

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The rest of the internet joined in on the joke as well, setting up the web page: “The Bowling Green Massacre Victims Fund,” to assist all those affected by the horrible massacre (that never happened!). Interestingly, the donation page simply redirects to the American Civil Liberties donation form.

Politics
But, hold on — not so fast. The alternative facts didn’t end with just Kellyanne Conway.

African-American Pastor Darrell Scott, who bucked his own community by providing support to Trump, took his turn next at presenting the fake truth.

In a White House meeting where Donald Trump spoke of black history icon Frederick Douglass as if he were still alive, Pastor Scott didn’t want to be outdone and apparently had some pressing info on his heart.

Scott told Trump that Chicago’s “top gang thugs” wanted to help him stop violence in Chicago.

“They’re going to commit that if they lower the body count, we come and do some social programs. They want to work with this administration. THEY reached out. I didn’t reach out to them,” he boasted.

“They believe in this administration,” Scott said of the gang members. “They didn’t believe in the prior administration. They told me this out of their mouths, but they see hope with you.”

As it often goes with alternative facts, Scott had to walk back his bold statement a day later since it was an outright lie. It also didn’t help that the “top gang thugs” of Chicago didn’t appreciate being misrepresented and even went public with a huge WTF (What The F*ck) in denial of ever having any conversation with Scott whatsoever.

Scott was forced to apologize for his lie alternative fact, blaming his words on the lack of sleep that created a delirious state. He also took to Twitter to apologize to the “top gang thugs” for daring to call them out of their name.

NOT “Gang Thugs”, FORMER street guys that are now community activists. MY BAD! No harm or disrespect intended! (I’m a former street guy too)

— Dr. Darrell Scott (@PastorDScott) February 2, 2017

We’re only 2 weeks into the Trump presidency and already there are credibility issues regarding the truth. Will this strategy work in their favor, or will it create a “boy who cried wolf” distrust among Americans and the world?

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