Thank you to an anonymous grad student idiot from the right with a blog called Campaign Fix for making the rightosphere look like the idiots they are. This unemployed anonymous dude created a fake Google+ account under Paul Krugman’s name and posted something so ridiculous only the gullible right would believe it, stating as Krugman if only the earthquake had done more damage, the economy would have gotten a boost.
Remember, we’re not talking about a couple of rogue blogs picking up the story; dozens of the biggest rightblogs screamed Campaign Fix’s headline.
I love it now as the rightblogs correct their errors belatedly after rushing all day to push the fake narrative, without questioning the source. What’s not so funny is that they are not apologizing (of course not) but justifying their stupidity by writing that it’s OK they made the mistake “because it could be true”. Hilarious.
UPDATE: One wag asked me if the hoax was not so unfair, because Krugman has analyzed the possible economic impact of other disasters and speculated about the impact of fantasy disasters. Yes. The hoax is unfair. Krugman didn’t say this, for one, and there’s an obvious difference between speculating about a fantasy disaster and what happened here.
Krugman laughs it off with insight the anonymous unemployed dude could only wish he possessed:
Actually, this thing ties in with what I just wrote about anti-Keynesian switcheroos: the hoaxer was trying to make my (correct) assertions in the past that even useless spending can be expansionary sound as if I revel in disaster. Those who can’t argue rationally, resort to fakery.
Also, the gullibility on display was impressive. All these right-wing hacks knew it must be a genuine quote, because they all knew that I’m a terrible person — based on past distortions!
And I’d be willing to bet that this fake quote will continue to pop up on right-wing blogs and talk radio for years to come.
Krugman also reviews the history of stealing his name in the name of conservatism:
This is the third incident I’m aware of — there may well be more — in which people are claiming to be me. There was also my nonexistent connection with academia.edu, and at least one web opinion piece by someone claiming to be me (and sounding not at all like me).
This is really cute, not. Apparently some people can’t find enough things to attack in what I actually say, so they’re busy creating fake quotes. And I have enough on my plate without trying to chase all this stuff down.
So if you see me quoted as saying something really stupid or outrageous, and it didn’t come from the Times or some other verifiable site, you should probably assume it was a fake.
Not that Krugman’s words will stop the masquerading “because it could be true”!
