The anti-Trump organization the Lincoln Project became the subject of intense criticism after it coordinated a hoax show of support by ostensible white nationalists for Republican Virginia gubernatorial frontrunner Glenn Youngkin.
In the viral incident, a group sporting khaki pants, baseball hats, and tiki torches lined in up in front of a Youngkin campaign bus to declare their endorsement of the candidate in a way that was presumably supposed to mimic the white nationalist “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017.
“We’re all in for Glenn,” the activists proclaimed.
After rumors circulated that the stunt was launched by Youngkin’s political adversaries, the Lincoln Project claimed responsibility. It was later revealed that the demonstrators were paid by the non-profit to position themselves as white supremacists affiliated with Youngkin as part of a disinformation campaign against him.
“The Lincoln Project has run advertisements highlighting the hate unleashed in Charlottesville as well as Glenn Youngkin’s continued failure to denounce Donald Trump’s ‘very fine people on both sides.’ We will continue to draw this contrast in broadcast videos, on our social media platforms, and at Youngkin rallies,” the Lincoln Project wrote in a press release. “Today’s demonstration was our way of reminding Virginians what happened in Charlottesville four years ago, the Republican party’s embrace of those values, and Glenn Youngkin’s failure to condemn it.”
Journalists erupted in outrage, calling it hypocritical that mainstream and social-media platforms would shield the Lincoln Project from accountability when their tactics would likely earn cancellation if orchestrated by a conservative group against the Democratic opponent.
“I do not think it’s out of realm of possibility that Lincoln Project is taking blame, because they have no shame and their reputation really can’t get any worse,” Washington Free Beacon executive editor Brent Scher tweeted.
“Needless to say, right-wing groups that perpetrated a fraud like this — causing media figures and campaign operatives to spend all day swamping Twitter with an outright racist lie — would be instantly banned from social media,” Substack journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted.
Republican lawmakers also slammed the episode, suggesting that Virginia Democrats are resorting to desperate measures ahead of the November 2 gubernatorial election, which appears to have recently turned in Youngkin’s favor. A recent Fox News poll projected him 8 points ahead of McAuliffe.
“This is disgusting,” Republican Senator Ted Cruz (Texas) wrote on Twitter.
“How much more proof do we need that the Lincoln Project is nothing but a bunch of deranged hacks?,” Republican representative Dan Crenshaw (Texas) tweeted Friday.
The thing is Youngkin isn’t even running as a supporter of President Trump or a supporter of the MAGA agenda. Youngkin is running as essentially a classic establishment Republican. So for the Lincoln Project people, which are just disgruntled former Bush folks still upset over the way the 2016 election played out, they have clearly lost what few brain cells they may have had left.
I would have thought the leaders of the Lincoln Project group would have seen nothing wrong with Youngkin considering his background and general political stances to date. It seems that the Lincoln Project is now simply out to try and damage any Republican that isn’t one of them. Which means 99.9 percent of registered Republicans would be on their hit list.
The Lincoln project has no ideas that would win the votes in the arena of ideas they lose and they know it
Speaking as a progressive, I do not want these idiots’ “help” and never have. They were all die-hard Republicans up until very recently, and now they think there’s more money to be had by opposing Republicans. They have no values. If this is what makes them go away forever, then so be it. Maybe George Conway can quit this sham business and spend a little more time preventing his daughter from being abused by Kellyann.
Why cant they wear KKK hoods & black faces OK make authentic
The Lincoln project is a stain on our political system. A gang of would be earth hakers composed of at least one leader who is awell proven pervert.
People must understand that America and those conservative values that built America….are under attack, and have been since 1960.
We are literally in a war for our survival. One where Traitors infiltrate the American side to destroy.
It’s about time this behavior is being called out for what it is (almost).
Lincoln project crashing a burning even after all that money from liberal celebs.
KELLYANNE: WHEN are you gonna DITCH that triple-chinned, fat, ANTI-American so-call husband of yours ? GET THE HECK OUT ! ! ! ! ! !
“Lincoln” Project is actually better-named as STALIN Project! Founded by a child molester, staging phony protests, funded by globalist, anti-American billionaires. Yet, still on FB and Twitter while conservative patriots are banned! SICK!
The “Lincoln Project” should rename itself the “Anti-Lincoln Project”! This stunt clearly represents the vile un-American hate and venom spewed by the radical left. I think I am beginning to see some of the moderate liberals move further toward the middle to distance themselves from the radical left idiots.
This article says the Lincoln Project claims responsible for the showing, so who is the person who
said that and who is backing these people & what do they want???? Are you saying they act like White Nationalists but are really against it??? What do they want for America…..
These PUKE’S that are part of the Lincoln Project are scum-sucking trash, the most un-American group, they are Commie slimeballs, I wonder if puffy-eyed George Soros is funding them too, he has funded every other bunch of wirdos in the country, these goofballs would be his cup of tea. To take the great name of Lincoln and his image is a disgrace and for that the people should turn their backs on them.
They should be called the Karl Marx Project!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So true the Lincoln Project can not get any worse; they are that BAD.
Poor excuse for Americans.
It’s time for Lincoln Project to take a flying leap. They are sick, disgusting, arrogant, pieces of dog doo.