GOPe FAUX CONTROVERSY #705: CNN and Rubio Campaign spread rumors that Carson was dropping out

Renee Nal, writing at Trevor Loudon's site, offers a comprehensive timeline of the rumors that spread like wildfire during the Iowa Caucus votes that Ben Carson had dropped out.

The always erudite and reasoned intellect known as Donald J. Trump, who recently likened Carson to a child molester, immediately called Cruz a cheater and demanded that Iowa re-convene their cauci.

But the facts, as Nal documents, are very different than the reality distortion field that often surrounds Mr. Trump.

Evidently, a damaging “rumor” that Dr. Ben Carson was suspending his campaign started during a Monday broadcast on CNN at around 7:43 pm est, while the Iowa caucus was in full swing. The “rumor” led to Cruz campaign staffers informing their precinct captains that they should urge caucus-goers to vote for Ted Cruz.

The Cruz camp, along with many other media sources had the same impression...

...According to Carson’s communication director, Larry Ross, the statement cited “false media reports,” not overly ambitious Cruz campaign workers...

So, Ben Carson is going home to Florida, and #IowaCaucus just started? Puzzling news @CNN I can't wait to see what @DavidChalian has to say

— Kalee Kreider (@kaleekreider) February 2, 2016

Carson won't go to NH/SC, but instead will head home to Florida for some R&R. He'll be in DC Thursday for the National Prayer Breakfast.

— Chris Moody (@moody) February 2, 2016

Carson not going to NH says @CNN? Cruz no doubt wishing he'd already packed it in, putting his IA votes in play.

— Michael Smerconish (@smerconish) February 2, 2016

@CNN just reported that Dr. Ben Carson will be going home to Florida after tonight and not to NH or SC to rest before going to D.C.
Weird.

— Roh2D2 (@roachman61) February 2, 2016

...Assuming that Carson was indeed suspending his campaign, Rep. Steve King clearly meant no malice when he tweeted:

Carson looks like he is out. Iowans need to know before they vote. Most will go to Cruz, I hope. https://t.co/lW5Js50EMA

— Steve King (@SteveKingIA) February 2, 2016

...On Tuesday afternoon, Rep. Steve King tweeted...

I respect Ben Carson & regret any miscommunications. Perhaps @RealBenCarson supporters r unaware of this CNN story. https://t.co/RgrljodXl1

— Steve King (@SteveKingIA) February 2, 2016

...The following tweet pointed out by Rep. Steve King illustrates that CNN was giving a very real impression to viewers that Carson was on shaky grounds...

After the #IAcaucus, @RealBenCarson plans to take a break from campaigning https://t.co/2sMsS7rlRk https://t.co/dVGpik7gNN

— CNN (@CNN) February 2, 2016

and there was also this:

BREAKING: @moody has learned @realbencarson will return to FL following #IAcaucus, will not go to either NH or SC https://t.co/jl8NOY9KEx

— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) February 2, 2016

Interestingly, as Politistick captured before the evidence was sinkholed, Marco Rubio's campaign was directly involved in spreading the rumor about Carson:

What has not been said much throughout the day is that Florida Senator Marco Rubio's campaign worked actively to spread the message that Carson was leaving the presidential race. These actions were reported on Twitter by Conrad Close who, according to his Twitter profile, is the managing editor of Outset Magazine... Another interesting little tidbit about Close, that he shouts from the rooftops with his Twitter profile picture, is that he is Team Rubio with the statement below his picture, “I’m voting for Marco Rubio.”

...I went to Close’s Twitter feed, did a search for Marco Rubio, found the tweet, took a screen shot and sent it to a friend. That was at 7:29 pm Mountain time, just after Rubio slammed Cruz with the claim that you would never find him spreading lies about other candidates to get votes.

At 7:30 pm Mountain time, my friend clicked on the link to the tweet — and the tweet was gone...

...Why is one candidate, Cruz, being vehemently attacked from numerous angles and another, Rubio, left untouched? Why is Cruz being held personally responsible for the actions of one person on his campaign, but there Rubio is not?

I don’t know about you, but I smell a cover-up to protect FOX News’ and new GOP establishment golden boy, Marco Rubio.

Egggzactly.


Hat tip: BadBlue Real-Time News.