Salon baits readers with George Zimmerman conspiracy theories

Salon has been repeatedly enticing its Twitter following today to click through to the site to read how the “bizarro” story of George Zimmerman heroically helping rescue a family of four from an overturned SUV just days after his acquittal is “falling apart.”

Looks like the bizarro story of George Zimmerman rescuing people from a car crash is falling apart. http://t.co/zr9bVm2m4v

— Salon (@Salon) July 27, 2013

Fact-checking the story about George Zimmerman's heroic car-crash rescue — and it doesn't seem to add up. http://t.co/znZy2iFVSG

— Salon (@Salon) July 27, 2013

There are growing holes in George Zimmerman's car-crash/hero story — and lots of people asking questions. http://t.co/ebxRZOlcWl

— Salon (@Salon) July 27, 2013

Is George Zimmerman's heroic car crash rescue just another lie? Lots of people are puncturing holes in his story. http://t.co/rbOlvzQA27

— Salon (@Salon) July 27, 2013

OK, we’ll click! Salon must have some pretty damning evidence proving that the whole thing was set up to help rehabilitate Zimmerman’s image. Maybe it’s this bit:

One blog advancing the conspiracy narrative that went viral posted screen shots of what appears to be the Facebook page of the officer who responded to the crash, which shows that he posted numerous photos and messages supporting Zimmerman days before and after the accident.

…

That conspiracy blog even claims that it has a source, whom it does not identify, who saw phone records showing that the officer alerted Zimmerman about the crash before authorities arrived so Zimmerman could end up in the police report and look like a hero. We asked the unnamed blogger for more info about his or source, but the blogger didn’t respond.

Quite a bombshell! To be fair, we doubt reporter Alex Seitz-Wald was responsible for the tweets promoting his story, which also notes that the family that Zimmerman allegedly assisted, by choosing not to speak to the press, has only “helped fuel the conspiracy narrative.” As a friend of the family explained to the Daily Mail, however, the family is afraid to come forward for fear of being targeted by mobs. “There are a lot of crazies out there. If they say anything in support of him it could backfire,” she noted.

Speaking of backfiring, Salon’s bait-and-switch hasn’t gone unnoticed.

So is @Salon part of the Zimmerman truther crowd? They don't think he rescued a family?!?!? -> http://t.co/DGihGwNhW9

— Mary #FlyTheW (@mchastain81) July 27, 2013

Not what the story says MT @Salon bizarro story of George Zimmerman rescuing people from car crash is falling aparthttp://t.co/nxTiTuoad0

— John Flowers (@MrJohnFlowers) July 27, 2013

https://twitter.com/Closetrighty/status/361154792514535426

Is George Zimmerman an alien bounty hunter? Without proof, the answer is unequivocally "YES". @Salon

— Dr. Kankokage (@kankokage) July 27, 2013

https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/361143140293419009

MT @Salon: Is George Zimmerman's heroic car crash rescue just another lie that was setup by the same people who faked the moon landing?

— Lefty Bollocks (@LeftyBollocks) July 27, 2013