Politics

MSNBC duped: Network runs satirical fake news from Daily Kos as a real story

Jeff Poor Media Reporter
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If you’ve ever tuned into to MSNBC weekdays between 11 a.m. and noon ET, you are likely to have seen at least one segment focused on a LGBT issue moderated by host Thomas Roberts. But sometimes, Roberts and company might be trying a little too hard to push these issues to the forefront.

On his Wednesday broadcast, Roberts reported that technology juggernauts Apple and Microsoft were “marrying up” and taking on same-sex marriage opponent the National Organization for Marriage.

“In the meantime, get this,” Roberts said. “Tech rivals Apple and Microsoft are marrying up and asking the National Organization for Marriage its supporters to boycott their companies. This follows the release of secret documents last week showing part of the organization’s strategy to quote ‘drive a wedge’ between blacks and gays on the issue of marriage equality.”

Only one problem: They’re not “marrying up,” at least for now.

The report was apparently based on a “satirical post” published on the Daily Kos on Monday by Scott Wooledge. The post was later republished by The Huffington Post’s comedy section and was presented as satire.

NOTE: This piece is satirical. All quotations are fabrications for the purpose of satire,” the piece read.

This isn’t the first time Roberts and the show’s staff have fallen victim to less-than-factual information put out in the liberal blogosphere. Last December, Roberts relied on a blog post from the “progressive site” Americablog to tie a campaign ad for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to the Ku Klux Klan. Roberts later apologized for the error.

(h/t The Daily Kos)

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