Another Qanon candidate makes it to the General

Born on the dark fringes of the internet, QAnon is now infiltrating mainstream American life and politics

www.cnn.com/2020/07/03/us/what-is-qanon-trnd/index.html

"Since its origin three years ago, QAnon has festered in the darker corners of the internet. Now the group's followers, who call themselves "believers," have found a niche on social media and within the Republican Party.

QAnon began as a single conspiracy theory. But its followers now act more like a virtual cult, largely adoring and believing whatever disinformation the conspiracy community spins up...

Followers make unfounded claims and then amplify them with doctored or out-of-context evidence posted on social media to support the allegations. "

"When Jo Rae Perkins walked over to greet us for the very first time, she did not introduce herself or ask our names, the first thing she did was move her hand across her face and say, "What are these things on your faces?"
I couldn't hear her, so I walked closer. Perkins, who is running for the US Senate after winning the Oregon Republican primary, made clear in the first minute of our meeting that she does not believe in the science behind wearing masks in the middle of the deadliest pandemic the world has seen in 100 years.
"What did you say?" I asked her.
"What are these things?" Perkins repeated circling her mouth with her hand.

"What are what things? What are you asking?" I responded
"Those things covering your faces, I can't see you guys?"
"Oh, masks?" I said
"Oh, thank you," she said.
"Do you not believe in wearing masks?" I responded.
"Do you see one?" Perkins replied.
"I do not. But what's your answer?" I said.
"No," Perkins said
"Why not?" I replied.
"They do absolutely nothing to protect you," she said confidently.
So I asked, "How do you know that? Are you a scientist?"
"No, I don't need to be a scientist. I've done tons of reading," Perkins retorted.
"Oh. Are you a doctor?" I asked.
"I don't need to be a doctor either. I know how to read," she said with a chuckle.
At the time we talked, America had lost nearly 170,000 lives to Covid-19, and the nation's top scientists continue to say masks help stop its spread. Top economists say a nationwide mandate could curtail economic pain. Perkins is convinced otherwise. She scoffs at advice given by America's top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, and she believes that the Covid-19 death toll is being manipulated.
"I totally believe that that the numbers are doctored," Perkins said. "Because they can destroy the economy. They can blame it on President (Donald) Trump, that the economy is not doing good. Look at how phenomenal the economy was doing."
She is convinced of this because of who she talks to and what she reads, which she says is varied. Her reading also includes missives from an anonymous poster on message boards called "Q.""

www.cnn.com/2020/08/22/politics/jo-rae-perkins-qanon-oregon-senate-race/index.html

Like a cancer, conspiracy theory grows and spreads.

Qanon supporting incoming Congressional Rep Greene lies.

Again.

It's as if she thinks we live in a world w/o the internet for easy fact checking.