Fake "Log Cabin Republicans" Group Fake-Endorses Mike Flynn

So a group calling itself the "Central Illinois Log Cabin Republicans" suddenly endorsed Mike Flynn -- and said that the Boehner Bitch Darin LaHood's brand of Obama-light politics was "too socially conservative."

Doesn't the below sound like it's really endorsing Darin LaHood, in the guise of "endorsing" Mike Flynn?

Today, founder and president of the Central Illinois Log Cabin Republicans announced his group’s endorsement of Mike Flynn for the United States Congress for the 18th District in Illinois.

“Illinois and the United States are facing huge problems and it is clear that we need fresh leadership to tackle the massive fiscal problems our nation faces. Mike Flynn is that independent voice we so desperately need who will tackle fiscal issues and not get distracted by divisive social issues,” said Mr. Allcuzzi. “Fiscal conservatism and social moderate politics is the key to reaching out to independent voters we will need to win elections. Darin LaHood's strong social conservative record, quite frankly, is very alienating."

Bear in mind, Illinois 18 is a very Republican district -- something like +11 R. So this sort of endorsement actually hurts Mike Flynn, and helps Darin LaHood. It's not that Mike Flynn is anti-gay -- he's not. But this is claiming that he's like so pro-gay he hates social conservatives.

By the way: I doubt very much that this squish LaHood has a strong record in any sort of conservatism.

How strong a conservative can he be? He's backed by the Mainstreet Partnership -- the PAC that knocked out all the Tea Party candidates last go-round -- and his dad was Obama's turncoat Transportation Secretary.

I'm not buying that his Conservative Bones are thick and strong.

This story got planted on social media -- in the comments of a local newspaper, on the Flynn for Congress FaceBook page.

Problem? There simply isn't any "Central Illinois Log Cabin Republicans" group. It's a fiction, and a fictitious story, made up by some of his opponents.

Rich:

It has been brought to my attention that you have run a story about an endorsement of Mike Flynn by our organization. This is false. The press release is fraudulent. There is no formally recognized Chapter of “Log Cabin Republicans of Central Illinois,” and the gentleman who issued the press release is not even a member of our organization. Additionally, per our by-laws, local LCR Chapter Leaders cannot issue endorsements in federal races.

Log Cabin Republicans National has not had formal contact with the Flynn campaign as of the writing of this email. We would welcome it, though. In the meantime, please remove the story from your website.

If you could also provide contact information for Mr. Allcuzzi, I would appreciate it.

Happy to chat more by phone if you’d like additional comment.

Gregory T. Angelo
Executive Director
Log Cabin Republicans

I reached out to Mr. Angelo yesterday to confirm this (and confirm he actually wrote that email -- once you see one fake, planted dirty trick, you fear them everywhere).

He wrote back:

There is no Central Illinois Chapter of Log Cabin Republicans. No one has filed anything with LCR National to form a Chapter in Central Illinois. There is no one by the last name "Allcuzzi" in our database of members in all 50 states. The email used to file the fraudulent press release is also not in our database. More so, per our by-laws, local LCR Chapters are prohibited from endorsing in federal races, and prohibited from endorsing in primaries. This whole thing is a hoax.

Dark arts politics is nothing new. This is the first time in my two-and-a-half years as the National Executive Director of Log Cabin Republicans that I've seen someone try to use a false declaration of LCR support as a means of advancing a campaign. The joke is on whoever is perpetuating this fraud, though -- I'm pleased to say that during my tenure as Executive Director, the majority of Republicans LCR has endorsed have won election!

More than anything, media who ran this should be ashamed of themselves. A quick trip to the LCR website reveals that there is no such thing as a "Log Cabin Republicans of Central Illinois Chapter." I also make no secret of how to contact me, and thankfully more vigilant members of the press called to get the truth direct from LCR. This story should never have run in the first place.

Make no mistake, however: If LCR National discovers where this misuse of our brand originated, we will drag that campaign through the mud. I welcome any and all leads: angelo@logcabin.org.

I don't know that "media" actually ran with this story, though: I saw it on one blog, and posted in the comments of a newspaper. But that last is obviously not "the media" posting it.

Incidentally, the name that these stories were posted under, "B. Allcuzzi," turns out to be an attempt at (moderate content warning) frathouse wit.

So, the first campaign I'm peripherally involved in, and I get to see my first dirty trick, the first Dark Arts attempt at a viral lie.

By the way, I hear that Flynn demolished LaHood at the candidate forum last night (a candidate forum, and they weren't even in the same room at the same time, because LaHood, the "super strong social conservative," is scared shitless to appear on stage with him).

posted by Ace at 06:24 PM

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