I've seen this happen before. a few years ago, a reporter called a gop senator or congressman and spoke to the aide, asking something along the lines of "what would be the (let's say) senator's reaction if a candidate was found to have donated money to a shady foreign entity?" the aide didn't understand the question, so the reporter said, "for example [and i am making up a name here, not the name the reporter did, but i can't emember; it was equally silly] if someone donated money to 'muslims for sharia law in america' how would your boss react?" the aide couldn't respond, but told the senator about the conversation and then the senator went out and made a public statement blasting "muslims for sharia law in america" (which doesn't exist) and then breitbart and drudge picked it up and reported it as if this group existed.... damn, i wish i could remember the name the reporter made up. he wasn't trying to fool the aide. he was just trying to give an example that was clearly something to which the senator might object. the aide hadn't a clue and the senator was equally clueless, and you can't expect drudge and breitbart to look stuff up before they yell, can you?
g
He listens to Faux News (Fox). He gets misinformation from their idiot commentators and guests.
even when he gets (by some miracle) good info, he doesn't understand it and gets it wrong.
g
He does it, so he suspects others do the same.
[azcentral.com]