Dark money group spending millions to influence Hispanic voters in New Mexico, similar states, through right-wing radio
The group Citizens For Sanity announced last month that it would begin airing millions of dollars in ads in Hispanic states to advance dangerous right-wing conspiracy theories in the run up to Congressional midterm elections in November, but they say the ads are not political because they do not invoke the name of candidates or call to vote. That, say extremism watchers, is exactly the problem.
The ad “War on Children” calls for listeners to “stop the woke war on our children,” which they claim is forcing young children to be sterilized against their will and “removing healthy genitals and breasts” and somehow “hiding it from parents.” The claims are built on false QAnon beliefs, exercised under a “save the children” agenda, that Democrats seek to maintain power to protect a secret child sex trafficking ring. Allegations that transgender transitioning support from licensed medical doctors equates to forced sterilization has been repeatedly disproven, but anti-trans rhetoric has led to real-life consequences, including increased rates of suicide by teens.
According to Politico, a national political news outlet, one consultant behind the ads, Ian Prior, is a Republican operative who worked to make assaults against critical race theory a central theme in last year’s Virginia governor’s election, even though most schools do not even teach the subject. Nonetheless, Republicans, aided by right-wing talk radio and conservative news outlets, used the issue to help MAGA Republican Glenn Youngkin win that election.
“Cloaked message of violence”
Right-wing messages to “stop” a perceived (imaginary) war on democracy by liberals have inspired violence and increasing calls for violence by right-wing groups and individuals, inspired by conspiracy theories.