Fake Gig Harbor Campaign Page Says 'Barbecue' The Incumbent

"A bogus Facebook page posing as Gig Harbor barbecue owner and state Senate candidate Gary Parker lit up local feeds over the weekend, tossing out inflammatory posts that included one urging voters to elect Parker "so we can barbecue Deborah Krishnadasan." The fake account splashed Parker's headshot across its posts, linked to his campaign website and asked for donations, drawing fast outrage from commenters and injecting fresh toxicity into an already competitive legislative race."

"The impostor account used the profile name "Parker Gary" and a URL ending in "NotTheRealGaryParker." It featured a pinned donation post and had about 55 followers, according to The News Tribune. The outlet reported that several posts on the page hurled derogatory comments at Democrats and transgender people while displaying Parker's official campaign headshot and a link to his site."

"Incumbent Sen. Deborah Krishnadasan did not mince words. In an emailed statement, she condemned the post, saying, "Violence, threats of violence, and defamation have no place in our politics or our communities." Parker, for his part, told The News Tribune that "The Facebook account in question is not affiliated with my campaign or me in any way" and said his campaign set up an official Facebook page after supporters flagged the impersonation."

"Washington's campaign-disclosure rules are built to follow the money: who is paying for political advertising and how it is reported. They are not designed to police the content of posts, even when that content is misleading, cruel or flat-out fake. That leaves state regulators with limited tools when the probl"

A bogus Facebook account used Gary Parker’s headshot and linked to his campaign website and donation portal while urging voters to support him. The profile name and URL indicated it was not the real account, yet it circulated posts that included inflammatory and derogatory remarks aimed at Democrats and transgender people. The page also pinned a donation post and directed followers to a registered committee and donation portal listed on Parker’s site. Incumbent Sen. Deborah Krishnadasan condemned the posts, citing violence, threats, and defamation as unacceptable. Parker denied affiliation and said an official page was created after supporters reported the impersonation. Washington campaign-disclosure rules focus on reporting money rather than policing misleading or fake content.

Read at Hoodline