Hoax e-mails claim Senators dying
posted at 10:30 pm on July 6, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
Update: This could be a hoax:
For the second time in two days, an email has been sent out saying a Democratic senator has died. And both times, the emails appeared to have come from the senator’s offices.
WTOP was one of the news organizations that received an email that said Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) had died Tuesday of liver cancer. David Carle, a spokesperson for Leahy, tells WTOP the email was a “spoof.”
Consider this very uncertain until we get more word. I had not heard about the previous instances, so this looks very, very fishy. Hopefully, Lautenberg is in good health tonight. Like the other instances, the e-mail came from a Senate e-mail address.
Update II: My apologies. This looks like a confirmed hoax. I don’t delete posts, but I have changed the headline and will offer this as an apology for not getting independent confirmation. My wife asked why anyone would want to do that, but I imagine someone’s getting a sick chuckle over this.
Anyway, best of health to you, Senator Lautenberg (and Leahy and Feinstein and …)
Original post follows:
=====
According to a press release I just received from his Senate office, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) died about an hour ago at his home in New Jersey. Senator Lautenberg was 86 years old. Here is the statement from his spokesman and chief of staff, Dan Katz:
United States Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), who built a reputation as an independent voice in the Senate and for working with both Democrats and Republicans to find common-sense solutions to the problems facing New Jersey and Washington, passed away of cancer at age 86 on Tuesday, July 6 at 10:59PM EST at his home in Newark. The Democratic Senator from New Jersey, known best for his homeland security and environmental initiatives in the Senate, will be missed by all Americans regardless of their political colors or creed.
Our prayers are with the Lautenberg family, friends, and staff. I will have more tomorrow on the implications of this, but for now we should just offer our condolences.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
My sympathies for his family but how does this come out of the blue? Was it public knowledge about his cancer?
Rocks on July 6, 2010 at 11:48 PM
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/39423.html
No.
Mark1971 on July 6, 2010 at 11:48 PM
God bless his family, friends and staff, so sorry for their loss.
Cindy Munford on July 6, 2010 at 11:49 PM
My condolences to his family, friends, and constituents.
NebCon on July 6, 2010 at 11:49 PM
I pray that he knew Our Lord and Savior as his own and that he is now at peace.
Theophile on July 6, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Allahpundit isn’t here. I must insert a Hmmmmmm.
jimmy the notable on July 6, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Nothing personal about Lautenberg, but are there any Democrats who are not at death’s door? This from the party who convinced everyone that McCain must be senile because of his age.
munseym on July 6, 2010 at 11:50 PM
Not on his website yet, as of this time…
http://lautenberg.senate.gov/
Edouard on July 6, 2010 at 11:51 PM
Hoax?
Rocks on July 6, 2010 at 11:51 PM
Hoax.
KSgop on July 6, 2010 at 11:51 PM
Not familiar with the name, but RIP just for being another human being.
Narutoboy on July 6, 2010 at 11:51 PM
Seems like he got in by some crazy rule changes, now that they have a Republican Gov, will they change the rules again?
WoosterOh on July 6, 2010 at 11:52 PM
Rocks on July 6, 2010 at 11:52 PM
Definite hoax.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/06/notices-of-senators-deaths-are-hoaxes/
SnarkVader on July 6, 2010 at 11:52 PM
Fixed that for you.
roy_batty on July 6, 2010 at 11:53 PM
OK, it is a hoax.
WoosterOh on July 6, 2010 at 11:54 PM
New York Times blog says hoax: “Notices of Senators’ Deaths Are Hoaxes”
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/06/notices-of-senators-deaths-are-hoaxes/
Edouard on July 6, 2010 at 11:55 PM
Prayers to Sen. Lautenberg’s family and friends.
Being that he was-If I recall correctly-Jewish I’ll ‘think’ the Mourner’s Kaddish(Jewish prayer for the Dead) for him.
annoyinglittletwerp on July 6, 2010 at 11:55 PM
Well that’s not funny.
Cindy Munford on July 6, 2010 at 11:55 PM
Frank Lautenberg is not dead.
Thunderdome on July 6, 2010 at 11:55 PM
I’m pretty sure this is a hoax… come on Ed, is anyone else reporting this…
ninjapirate on July 6, 2010 at 11:56 PM
In that case, since he’s 86, I hope he’s resting in peace in bed or something. You know, because we all need good sleep.
/jokes are okay if they’re not actually dead.
jimmy the notable on July 6, 2010 at 11:56 PM
Okay, so what do we do with this thread now?
Mark1971 on July 6, 2010 at 11:57 PM
Wow,prayers to his family and friends,its been a rough
month for Democrats!!
canopfor on July 6, 2010 at 11:58 PM
On June 26 Lautenburg’s office said he was cancer free.
It's Vintage, Duh on July 6, 2010 at 11:58 PM
Mark1971 on July 6, 2010 at 11:57 PM
Discuss who could possibly be behind the fake emails?
ssa_in_az on July 6, 2010 at 11:58 PM
Dang hoaxers. When I heard Rick Moranis “died,” I nearly cried.
Narutoboy on July 6, 2010 at 11:59 PM
Drudge doesn’t have it so I don’t believe it.
echosyst on July 6, 2010 at 11:59 PM
New York Times lists all of the death notices as a hoax. Looks like you got punked, Ed.
GoldenEagle4444 on July 6, 2010 at 11:59 PM
Hey ed, I have some funds tied up in a nigerian bank account. Care to help a fellow out?
schmitty on July 6, 2010 at 11:59 PM
Come on guys….we’re better than falling for this kind of crap.
csdeven on July 6, 2010 at 11:59 PM
Let’s see….a fold here, smooth the edge there, tuck this part under, fold this across, turn it inside out and…..a Godzilla finger puppet!
cthulhu on July 6, 2010 at 11:59 PM
How about another link to the NYT? Does anybody ever read the comments before posting?
Rocks on July 7, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Okay, so what do we do with this thread now?
Mark1971 on July 6, 2010 at 11:57 PM
Mark1971: What does this mean,politically!?:)
canopfor on July 7, 2010 at 12:00 AM
A set up?
Wonder if this will be just one more bogus reason to justify control of the internet.
I put nothing past this admin.
katy on July 7, 2010 at 12:01 AM
This looks like fun!
csdeven on July 7, 2010 at 12:01 AM
It’s past Drudge’s bed time, so he won’t be reporting on this until morning.
Could be a hoax, but Ed was saying it was a fresh (1 hour old) press release.
Hopefully it is not true though. Prayers go out to his family.
kerrhome on July 7, 2010 at 12:03 AM
Hey Mr. Morrissey, call/twitter Ace they still had it as the real deal a few seconds ago.
Cindy Munford on July 7, 2010 at 12:03 AM
Captain, kudos for keeping the original post visible and not just airbrushing the site like most sites would.
Chickyraptor on July 7, 2010 at 12:05 AM
Hey…maybe they just meant that Leahy and Lautenberg are brain-dead. That’s incontrovertible.
Jaibones on July 7, 2010 at 12:05 AM
So did he die? or no?
upinak on July 7, 2010 at 12:08 AM
Every Nigerian prince joke you shoot at me will be well deserved. Lesson learned — painfully.
Ed Morrissey on July 7, 2010 at 12:08 AM
Is the hoax trying to stir up sympathy for the dems in the next election cycle? If so, it shows the dems have very little else to fall back upon.
AZfederalist on July 7, 2010 at 12:10 AM
Ding! Ding! Ding!
SouthernGent on July 7, 2010 at 12:10 AM
Where’s my pair of pliers and a blowtorch?
steveegg on July 7, 2010 at 12:11 AM
Yes. Unless a headline is red and is below a siren, I won’t believe it either.
YYZ on July 7, 2010 at 12:11 AM
I don’t really get why the subjects are all Democrats. I don’t see this benefiting anyone, except people who like to play practical jokes.
Ed Morrissey on July 7, 2010 at 12:12 AM
Ed, okay I am tired. did Senator Lautenberg die or was that a hoax too?
upinak on July 7, 2010 at 12:13 AM
Are you telling me I shouldn’t have given Prince Olatunde my bank account and routing numbers? But he’s a billionaire!
Good Solid B-Plus on July 7, 2010 at 12:13 AM
Every Nigerian prince joke you shoot at me will be well deserved. Lesson learned — painfully.
Ed Morrissey on July 7, 2010 at 12:08 AM
Ed Morrissey:I watched the movie,with Depp, Alice in
Wonderland tonight,and I log onto H/A!
Me thinks,there is,strange forces tonight
in our midst,running amuck!!:)
canopfor on July 7, 2010 at 12:13 AM
ugh, sorry Ed, nevermind…. duh as orginal post as follows. need more coffee.
upinak on July 7, 2010 at 12:14 AM
Hold a mirror under his nose!
Mr. Wednesday Night on July 7, 2010 at 12:15 AM
A set up?
Wonder if this will be just one more bogus reason to justify control of the internet.
I put nothing past this admin.
katy on July 7, 2010 at 12:01 AM
katy: Thats Pure Crazy Talk!!(i kid):)
canopfor on July 7, 2010 at 12:15 AM
I have a deep hope that all Democratic Senators have sufficient good health to enjoy their unemployment benefits for many years after this November.
cthulhu on July 7, 2010 at 12:16 AM
That’s just plain terrible. I hope there is some law the hoaxers broke and that they are prosecuted for it.
FireDrake on July 7, 2010 at 12:19 AM
The hoaxer was trying to see how long it would take us to gleefully note that the shiny new Republican governor of New Jersey would appoint a Republican replacement. I bet they were disappointed.
Cindy Munford on July 7, 2010 at 12:20 AM
It takes a sick mf’er to perpetuate a hoax such as this.
Southernblogger on July 7, 2010 at 12:21 AM
This was probably a Mis-Information Internet Mission,
by the Czar of MisInformational Ministry of Deciet,lies
and BullSh*t Propaganda Division!
canopfor on July 7, 2010 at 12:21 AM
It takes a sick mf’er to perpetuate a hoax such as this.
Southernblogger on July 7, 2010 at 12:21 AM
Southernblogger:Yup,I second that!!
canopfor on July 7, 2010 at 12:22 AM
If lying online was illegal, crr6 would be in Sing-Sing.
Good Solid B-Plus on July 7, 2010 at 12:22 AM
You’re a class act Ed. That is why we come here.
csdeven on July 7, 2010 at 12:25 AM
Someone must be jackin the .gov emails.
upinak on July 7, 2010 at 12:26 AM
I think because it is sure to generate speculation on the right and hopefully make the right look eager for people to die and cause embarassment.
Rocks on July 7, 2010 at 12:26 AM
For all you Simpsons fans:
YYZ on July 7, 2010 at 12:28 AM
Looks like Ed needs the vaca more than AP or it could be sleep deprivation. Nitey nite.
HellCat on July 7, 2010 at 12:30 AM
Exactly. Isn’t everything they’re doing? The narrative will be the evil republicans are at it again. It’s all about the aggressor and the victims.
katy on July 7, 2010 at 12:33 AM
I’ll take door #2 – Ed’s usually zonked by 9.
steveegg on July 7, 2010 at 12:34 AM
These spoofsters are sick. RIP Sen.
joeindc44 on July 7, 2010 at 12:57 AM
Oh, looks like I need to call secure credit because I also fell for the Nigerian prince thing. I thought the thread was dead. hoax. dead after all. Not hoax, all clear.
joeindc44 on July 7, 2010 at 1:00 AM
Another example of the “rip, riptide of lies” (WARNING: funny but PG-13 rated so NSFW) — skip to :57)
inviolet on July 7, 2010 at 1:00 AM
No, he won’t. This should have been a good indication that this is a hoax.
Sorry to the family for all the mischief, but that bolded statement is smirk-inducing.
Schadenfreude on July 7, 2010 at 1:03 AM
Well, the hoax was purported to be a press release from his office.
YYZ on July 7, 2010 at 1:06 AM
Oh, I preferred the show where Marge becomes a cop and Homer steals her yellow police control tape which he wraps around Flander’s house and he walks up to what he thinks is a crime scene…
“Ha Ha Flanders! You thought you family was dead! But they’re not! But you thought they were! But they’re not! But you thought they were!……….But they’re not!”
Marcus on July 7, 2010 at 1:07 AM
canopfor on July 7, 2010 at 12:15 AM
===============================
Exactly. Isn’t everything they’re doing? The narrative will be the evil republicans are at it again. It’s all about the aggressor and the victims.
katy on July 7, 2010 at 12:33 AM
katy:Yup,Hope and Change,er,I mean,
Mad and Madness!!!!:)
canopfor on July 7, 2010 at 1:37 AM
Looks to me like a rather transparent attempt to discredit certain media….
…and we know who wants certain media silenced.
Just sayin’…
landlines on July 7, 2010 at 1:46 AM
Seriously
Who the crap is that sick to post fake death notices from “the Senator’s office”, looks like the jerkwad who hacked Palin’s emails 2 years ago is back on the streets.
Nah just kidding about that dude, but honestly they need to have some serious IT checks (and Ed check the headers next time you get an email like that and post them please).
SgtSVJones on July 7, 2010 at 2:24 AM
Joe, falling for an email from a Nigerian Prince?! C’mon. It’s a well known fact that large sums of cash can only be transferred, under Nigerian law, by a BARRISTER!
Now. I’ve got to get down to the post office to send my Barrister another advance on the Fifteen MILLION dollars that were left by my unknown uncle.
TugboatPhil on July 7, 2010 at 7:40 AM
damn, tugboat, some guys have all the luck. Enjoy your new riches.
joeindc44 on July 7, 2010 at 9:42 AM