Senate Minority Leader Fooled by Report in Military Version of The Onion

[Purveyor]

The best parody contains elements of truth. Which might explain how the military’s answer to The Onion suckered the Senate’s Republican leader.

Meet The Duffel Blog, if you haven’t already. A must-read for national-security nerds — and anyone who enjoys humor, really — it provides pitch-perfect military parody online, such as this piece about Syria hosting Iraq War reenactors (bylined by “G-Had”) or this one about a Google Street View Prius getting blown up in Kandahar. The Duffel Blog, as dutiful readers know, is America’s oldest online source for fake military news, founded in 1797 in a moment of farsightedness. It often gives more real talk than most legit journalistic institutions, but there is no way you can confuse it with the real news.

Unless you are a senior member of the United States Senate.

On November 14, 2012, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) wrote to Elizabeth King, the Pentagon’s congressional liaison, with a an unusually credulous query. “I am writing on behalf of a constituent who has contacted me regarding Guantanamo Bay prisoners receiving Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits,” McConnell wrote in a letter acquired by Danger Room. “I would appreciate your review and response to my constituent’s concerns.”

Um, Guantanamo detainees getting GI Bill benefits? Yes, that’s from the Duffel Blog, as McConnell’s constituent clearly states, complete with the reference URL. Said constituent even notes that he or she can’t find any information about the alleged government payouts to suspected insurgents and terrorists.

MORE...

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/02/mcconnell-duffel-blog/

[colsohlibgal]

1. Right Wingers Are Mostly Iron-y Deficient

Some cracker state legislator, only a year or so ago, introduced legislation to stop an "Abortion Megaplex" from opening in his state - another legislator, likely a democrat, had to tell him it was not real, it was satire from "The Onion".

Stephanie Miller, this morning, spoke of some right wing lady who ridiculed the need for "Deer Crossing" highway signs because deer cannot read. You can't make this stuff up.

[OldDem2012]

2. The Stupid is strong with that one. nt.

[Blue Owl]

3. He's been McConned

n/t

[Separation]

4. I love The Duffle Blog!

Sometimes the comments from those "not in the know" are more hilarious than that of the article itself. My favorite article was one that stated that military wives were to get ranks. Those in the military know and have to deal with wives who think they wear their husband's rank. Needless to say the uproar was hilarious. Then there was the article that was picked up by mainstream media about the female equal rights advocate demanding more female deaths in combat. There have been two or three articles that have been picked up and re-reported as truth. I believe the Iranian news even picked up one of the articles.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. Remember,...these idiots invited Colbet thinking he was one of them.

[BainsBane]

6. can't wait to see him beat

Hopefully by a Dem.