If you read Twitchy you’re probably familiar with Carpe Donktum — he’s one of those guys who “doctors” content online, much to our amusement. If you ask us, this might be his finest work:
Utterly Terrifying. pic.twitter.com/ugDuBkdSbT
— Carpe Donktum? (@CarpeDonktum) June 26, 2019
It’s memes like that one that got him noticed by President Trump, and the Washington Post took an interest and got in touch for a two-hour interview. On Tuesday, he shared the three-paragraph result as well as some other observations on the mainstream media:
What to expect when you give the MSM a chance, a quick thread.
I spoke to @michaelscherer and @amybwang from the @washingtonpost for approximately 2 hours total. They were both courteous and respectful, as was I.
This is how it turned out. pic.twitter.com/XAxT51J6rk
— Carpe Donktum? (@CarpeDonktum) July 9, 2019
Well, the certainly played up the very slight InfoWars connection, noting that the conspiracy theory website has been banned from most social media platforms. Oh, and Jim Acosta getting “shot” — it is a dangerous time to tell the truth in America, after all.
Not a single quote from my conversation is included in this article.
There is a clear attempt to conflate my own personal views with that of Infowars. I appear as a guest to state MY OPINIONS not to echo theirs.
I create funny memes, I don't make fake or doctored videos.
— Carpe Donktum? (@CarpeDonktum) July 9, 2019
When describing my "complaining"(as if it is unwarranted) they claim that Jim Acosta was shot at, when clearly Acosta tries to shoot Trump in the back and is disarmed by a well placed bullet.
This is a small point but I made it very clear to them that TWITTER found no violations
— Carpe Donktum? (@CarpeDonktum) July 9, 2019
I fully expected that this would be the end result, but I truly hoped that it wouldn't be.
Perhaps, I am an optimist to a fault, and I always hope that I can bring out the best in people.
I am not mad, just disappointed. In the end it was a giant waste of time.
Lesson Learned.
— Carpe Donktum? (@CarpeDonktum) July 9, 2019
Rules for dealing with the MSM:
1. Assume malice.
2. Do not talk to them.
3. Have one central point/quote if you do talk to them.
4. Your quote will be taken out of context.
5. Understand that they are not objective.
6. Record everything. Put it in writing. Take notes.
7. See #1 https://t.co/EwLTc8ybip— Melissa Mackenzie ? (@MelissaTweets) July 9, 2019
1. There's no such thing as "off the record".
2. Any information you tell them gives them a lead to others, including your enemies.
3. Their only loyalty is to getting a headline and clicks.
— Tom (@BoreGuru) July 9, 2019
ALWAYS record interviews with the media. ALWAYS.
— Gwilym McGrew (@GwilymMcGrew) July 9, 2019
This is standard practice. When I was running for office, after over an hour of respectful dialog with a panel of conservative candidates, SacBee reporters asked a “fun” question about our response to an alien invasion. That was the sole focus of the following days article.
— Elizabeth Emken (@ElizabethEmken) July 9, 2019
Lesson learned. Never talk to media. If they ask for your time, laugh at and mock them then tell them to go to hell.
And then laugh at and mock them some more.
— Obi_1_D_AllKnowing ?? (@obiopiah) July 10, 2019
— AnotherTListener (@listener_t) July 10, 2019
Rush Limbaugh often talks about making the same mistake early in his career. You live and learn.
— DRC (@DRC74499959) July 10, 2019
Both Michael and Amy are known for their utterly dishonest hackery. The fact that they burned you doesn't surprise me. You made the mistake of trusting someone who worked for the WaPo.
Live and learn Carpe. Don't trust the WaPo, especially those two detestable hacks, again.
— Constantly Pondering (@ConstantPonder) July 10, 2019
I wouldn’t say it’s courteous or respectful to take 2 hours of your time for an interview and then not quote you at all, in an article about you (at least in part).
Hacks gonna hack, and shills gonna shill. Anyone working for the @washingtonpost these days is bound to be both.
— Lord John Whorfin (@DimensionC) July 10, 2019
They wrote this before they “interviewed” you. Sad, but not surprising.
— Boy Oh Boy (@BueyOBuey) July 10, 2019
First and foremost, the MSM is lazy. The article was probably written before they ever talked to you, and they probably only talked to you so they could say they did. Lazy and biased.
— Clearly Cleary (@cleary_clearly) July 10, 2019
They already knew what they were gonna say. They probably just spent 2 hours aiming for a “gotcha” quote. My perspective anyways
— BlewideScorpio (@BlewideScorpio_) July 9, 2019
Then again …
If the stable genius is calling you a genius, and it’s been quoted, that’s a win. Take the W. Congratulations!???
— Kate (@freckledK8) July 9, 2019
And if CNN isn’t trying to dox you, that’s a win too! Now we’re gonna check Snopes and see if they’ve done a fact-check about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez crying at the sight of a garbage disposal.
Related:
Ratio in progress! AP fact checkers help get to the bottom of a Carpe Donktum video about Joe Biden https://t.co/Mlf1pRLeii
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) June 14, 2019
Join the conversation as a VIP Member