Democrats say fake news posted on conservative website, shared by Republican Party, tainted Lewiston

[TexasTowelie]

Democrats say fake news posted on conservative website, shared by Republican Party, tainted Lewiston mayoral race

Ben Chin, a 32-year-old Democrat, ran away with the preliminary vote in November for mayor of Lewiston, the second-largest city in Maine. But he couldn’t avoid a runoff with City Councilor Shane Bouchard, a Republican backed by Gov. Paul LePage.

Shortly after the November election, an anonymous conservative website called the Maine Examiner began hammering Chin as a smug, leftist outsider in a long-struggling city where many residents had resisted an influx of Somali immigrants.

“Leaked Email: Ben Chin Says Lewiston Voters ‘Bunch of Racists,’ ” the secretive site posted on Dec. 3, kicking off a barrage of negative stories.

That quote was taken out of context. But nine days later, he lost the runoff by 145 votes – a narrow defeat he and his supporters blame in part on the website’s attacks, many of which were quickly recirculated on Facebook by the state Republican Party.

Read more: https://www.pressherald.com/2018/01/15/maine-republican-party-promoting-fake-news-sites-that-target-democrats/

[tonyt53]

1. But isn't it still the responsibility of a voter to know the real facts?

[TheDebbieDee]

3. The point is when they read this garbage on FB

They assume they're getting facts! These tactics have helped to sink John Kerry's campaign and smear Sec Clinton.

Young progressives running for office need to be forewarned about this...

[Phoenix61]

2. There is a lot to learn from this

Never, ever put anything in writing you wouldn't want put on a billboard. We have to teach people how to vet internet sites. The repubs have to cheat to win. Actually not new info, we already knew that.

[Jake Stern]

4. This gentleman has a lot to learn about the nasty world of politics.

Moral of the story, folks: if you want to talk shit about the people of the town you're running to become mayor of, do it the old fashioned way - by telephone. That way there's none of that pesky incriminating hardcopy to potentially sink your campaign.