Report Shows Harris Campaign Is Manipulating News Story Headlines
By Mick Farthing|August 14, 2024
Report Shows Harris Campaign Is Manipulating News Story Headlines

For years, Democrats have been accusing Trump and Republicans of spreading “fake news.” Their favorite term these days has been “misinformation.” They have used this term to justify censorship, trampling Americans’ free speech rights. Despite pushback, Democrats continue to accuse conservatives of spreading misinformation.

Even Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz, used misinformation as a reason to violate the First Amendment.

But it doesn’t seem as if Democrats have a problem spreading misinformation and “fake news.” The left has been spreading slander against Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, even though the claim has been long debunked. That’s on top of that endless fake news they spread against Trump himself. But it’s not just limited to slander. As it turns out, the Harris campaign was just caught spreading manipulated news stories through Google ads.

From Fox News:
The Harris campaign has reportedly bought Google ads featuring manipulated news stories featuring a pro-Kamala spin in the headline and description.

Axios reported Tuesday that the Harris campaign has edited articles from several news organizations, including CNN, NPR, Reuters, the Associated Press, CBS News, The Guardian and Time Magazine with the intent of boosting both Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

In a move that’s sure to raise eyebrows, the Harris campaign has been caught engaging in what some might call a “digital deception.” The campaign has reportedly purchased Google ads featuring manipulated news stories designed to cast Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, in a flattering light. The shocking part? These ads were created by editing headlines and descriptions from well-known news organizations.

Manipulating the Message

According to a report from Axios, the Harris campaign has altered the headlines and descriptions of articles from several MSM outlets—including CNN, NPR, Reuters, and the Associated Press—in Google ads. This isn’t just some minor tweak, either. The changes appear to be crafted to promote Harris and Walz’s campaign while disguising the ads as legitimate news stories.

Take, for instance, a manipulated headline from The Guardian that reads, “VP Harris Fights Abortion Bans – Harris Defends Repro Freedom.” The description underneath proclaims, “VP Harris is a champion for reproductive freedom and will stop Trump’s abortion bans.”

Another ad, pulled from an NPR article, boldly states, “Harris Will Lower Health Costs,” with a description promising that “Kamala Harris will lower the cost of high-quality, affordable health care.” Reuters wasn’t spared either, with an altered headline declaring, “Inflation Is Down,” followed by the reassuring message that “Under the Biden-Harris administration, ‘The U.S. is winning the inflation fight.’”

News Outlets Blindsided

News organizations were caught off guard by this manipulation. Many confirmed to Fox News Digital that they had no idea their articles were being used in this way. A spokesperson for The Guardian told Axios, “While we understand why an organization might wish to align itself with the Guardian’s trusted brand, we need to ensure it is being used appropriately and with our permission. We’ll be reaching out to Google for more information about this practice.”

This revelation is fueling skepticism toward Google’s ad policies. While the tech giant insists that these ads are labeled as “Sponsored” and thus easily distinguishable from genuine search results, the reality might not be so clear-cut to the average user. The Harris campaign’s tactics highlight a growing concern over how political campaigns are using digital platforms to shape public perception, often blurring the line between news and propaganda.

Masters of Fake News

This is a pretty pathetic move by the Harris campaign. Kamala knows she doesn’t have a single accomplishment to her name. And much of what the Biden administration has done has crashed and burned. So, Harris is trying to rewrite history by pushing false news stories to make her look good.

This is what Democrats have been accusing outlets like ours of doing for years, yet the real culprits have been Democrats all along. Google is also complicit, willing to let the Harris campaign—which knows it is in big trouble come November—twist the truth to manipulate voters.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Harris campaign has manipulated news headlines in Google ads to boost its image.
  • Multiple news organizations were unaware that their articles were used in this manner.
  • This comes after Democrats accused conservatives of spreading “fake news” for years.

Source: Fox News

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Mick Farthing
Mick is a freelance writer, cartoonist, and graphic designer. He is a regular contributor for the Patriot Journal.
Mick is a freelance writer, cartoonist, and graphic designer. He is a regular contributor for the Patriot Journal.