Time to Snoop on Snopes

Snopes.com – the ‘famous’ fact checking service (previously known for debunking myths and urban legends) commissioned by Facebook (FB) to crack down on “fake news” following last year’s presidential election – is in major financial trouble … according to a new report.  David Mikkelson, the owner of Snopes, recently created a GoFundMe internet campaign to try to raise money to keep his business afloat.  This is despite the lucrative partnership with FB and his ability to give himself a base salary of $720,000 with extravagant benefits.  Mikkelson has been accused of embezzling company funds to pay for his divorce and his lavish vacations with his second wife – a former Las Vegas escort and porn actress.

But finances isn’t Snopes only problem.  Snopes also has a poor accuracy record, as 2nd Vote reported in March.  Several times, Snopes reported a debunked Left-wing talking point as fact … including rating Live Action’s undercover investigation into Planned Parenthood’s practices as “mostly false” despite the fact that Live Action proved just what they were looking to prove.  Snopes has demonstrated a consistent bias to essentially police conservative speech on the social network.

The problem with the FB/Snopes partnership is that Snopes has a history of distorting facts when it comes to fact-checking stories.  Here are some of the most flagrant examples of Snopes distorting facts:

• Snopes lied about visible American flags at the 2016 Democratic Convention and used images from different days as “proof.”
• Snopes determined that Omar Mateen, the Orlando nightclub shooter, had an “unknown” political affiliation despite being registered to vote as a Democrat in the State of Florida.
• Snopes tried to explain Target’s devastating drop in stock price earlier this year claiming it wasn’t due to its nearly year-old transgender bathroom policy, and that #AnywhereButTARGET had absolutely no effect on “lower than expected” earnings … using Target’s own talking points as “proof.”

While FB hopefully will now begin to see the problems with favoring one viewpoint over another, it already has an extensive history of support for liberal causes.  Among the liberal organizations FB funds is the Center for American Progress … which has earns a ‘1’ on every liberal issue that 2nd Vote tracks (i.e., banning lawful ownership of weapons, supports climate tax, backs same-sex marriage, pro-abortion, supports common core education, advocates for sanctuary cities, opposes religious liberty for businesses exercising their 1st amendment protection).

It does cause me to wonder if FB is partnering with Snopes, just like it has with Soros-backed organizations, because of FB’s own positions.  Just say’in … ya know!?

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel