A massive Facebook Page called "I Love America" -- which has 1.1 million followers -- is actually run

[EleanorR]

is actually run by Ukrainians

Recently, the page has started pushing caustic pro-Trump propaganda

It's the tip of the iceberg

Link to tweet

Thread unrolled because there's lots of great info-

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1176104427020857344.html

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. This quote should give anyone the chills.

"Over the last 90 days, just the major pages in this network has as much reach on Facebook than the New York Times and Washington Post COMBINED."

[Brother Buzz]

2. The Ukrainian "I Love America" page is repurposing memes used by

The Ukrainian "I Love America" page is repurposing memes used by the Internet Research Agency, the Russian group highlighted in the Mueller report that interfered in the 2016 election.

Let that sink in a bit as you 'unroll' the link.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. *Pro-Moscow Ukrainians.

Most ordinary Ukrainians view Trump as a tool of Putin and have no desire whatsoever to help him.

There are a few wealthy Ukrainians oligarchs who get their money from Russia and that is what we are talking about here.

[mac56]

4. They couldn't find Americans willing to do the job,

so they hired foreigners. Ain't that somethin'.

[Monsieur_Grumpe]

5. I reported it as a fake web page

[Vinca]

6. Wonder how much they got paid for that.

[Karadeniz]

7. Why hasn't Facebook removed this?

[Hekate]

9. That is always the question. I guess Zuck really does not care where the $$$ comes from...

There's an old song about a whorehouse, the refrain of which is, "My God, how the money rolls in."

[soldierant]

13. Would that be this one

My father makes illegal whisky,
My mother makes illicit gin,
My sister sells sin on the corner,
My God how the money rolls in.

Chorus :

Rolls in, rolls in, my God how the money rolls in, rolls in,
Rolls in, rolls in, my God how the money rolls in.

My mother's a bawdy house keeper,
Every night when the evening grows dim,
She hangs out a little red lantern,
My God how the money rolls in.


Or maybe this one -

My father makes books on the corner.
My mother makes second-hand gin.
My sister makes love for a dollar.
My god, how the money rolls in!

Chorus
Rolls in, rolls in, my god how the money rolls in, rolls in!
Rolls in, rolls in, my god, how the money rolls in!

My grandma makes pink prophylactics
She punches the end with a pin.
My grandpa does bootleg abortions
My God, how the money rolls in!

Chorus

My brother's a poor missionary
He saves gorgeous women from sin
He'll save you a blonde for five dollars
My God, how the money rolls in!

Of course, both versions have many more verses.

[Hekate]

14. I was but an innocent child when I read it in a Robert Heinlein sf novel...

Ran into it again more recently in Gaiman's American Gods, quoted by that old con-artist Mr. Wednesday.

Pungent. Kinda sticks with ya, doesn't it.

[lunatica]

8. This goes a long way towards explaining the supposed 40% popularity rate

of Trump.

I submit that it simply doesn't exist. 40% of Americans are not that stupid. And the meme that his base never changes even as he destroys Latino families and throws children into cages and lets Puerto Rican’s die needlessly and that his own base is suffering is a lie. That his grotesque cruelty doesn’t register with his base can’t be true.

Don’t get me wrong. I do believe there are people just like him who follow him, and the rich love their tax cuts and think they’ll get even more of them by supporting him, but not that fucking many people, not 40% of Americans are like that. They just aren’t.

[liberal N proud]

10. I wish I could say I was surprised

One thing that suckered simple people every time is the love America meme.

Every single time

[FakeNoose]

11. Facebook is just a cesspool, completely unregulated

Anybody who goes on Facebook is asking for lies and misleading news stories.

[Fla Dem]

12. I would love to know the American demographics of FB users.

I may be mistaken, bit thought I read that Facebook is used more by older folks (grandparents) to stay in touch with their grandchildren. Which could explain the skewed older demographic supporting Trump. BTW I am in that demographic, the older demo, not the Trump supporter demo.

This should be exposed.

[Hekate]

15. I think the grandmas and the family albums give FB an air of innocence. There are plenty of younger

...users, afaict, including people hoping to get health info from groups. That's where Russian bots and trolls can peddle disinformation about vaccines in mommie groups -- tailor-made wedge issue.

Zuck could rein this in if he cared ... but all indications are that he does't give a shit.

[Ligyron]

16. I guess the typical American is even stupider than I had imagined.

Depressing...

I mean, look at that crap. And the numbers! OMFG!!

So cornball and sophomoric that one would think it's some kind of joke and that they certainly couldn't be serious. Could they? Yup, and it's popular too.

What's particularly scary is all the "gawd bless" nonsense and especially the numbers that one page generated. When you have the approval of a god you can be made to do anything you think your being called to do. But we knew that.

Well, maybe we need to start up countermeasures on FB, as distasteful as we may find it? You'd like to convince others to vote for their own interests using logic and evidence but even studies quoted here on DU indicate otherwise.

Unfortunately.

I'll add edit: that is a great site BTW

[garybeck]

17. Facebook has removed the page.

According to

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Facebook-removes-pro-Trump-I-Love-America-page-14462326.php?fbclid=IwAR2ab_OUB58wlCsxh3MEH_1hoUGlunbwZ4rNgSNy3a7twjMaBoxMbP_WHKw

[EleanorR]

19. Fantastic news

Thank you for the wonderful update.

[garybeck]

20. lots of people complaining does make a difference

this is our way to push back and it should be a regular thing when a bad page/site is found.

[NCLefty]

18. "A typical post is a celebration of the U.S. military and patriotism."

I know there's tens of millions of clueless flag-wavers in America but I swear you can tell the fake Facebook accounts just by the excessive flag waving.

"Don't Tread On Me" = 50% chance of Russian troll :p