President Barack Obama isn’t the most popular figure in American politics right now. Both liberals and conservatives have criticized Obama for his alleged lack of action during some of the most distressing events in recent United States history, including last month’s Ebola panic and the current riots ravaging throughout Ferguson , Missouri.
One state was reportedly ready to take its dismay over President Obama to the next level. According to stories circulating the internet, North Dakota governor Jack Dalrymple is allegedly poised to sign a measure naming the state’s largest landfill — the 17th largest in the U.S. — after the 44th POTUS, apparently as a commentary on the president’s performance during the past few months.
People — especially critics — were quick to scatter the stories on social media sites, garnering enough attention from netizens to prompt Snopes to do some fact-digging. They have discovered that the story originated from the Daily Currant , a satirical news website. Snopes has branded the President Obama landfill story as “false,” noting that the story, similar to all Currant articles, are works of fiction.
Quotes allegedly from the politicians involved were included in some of the posts on social media. Governor Dalrymple allegedly commented on the decision, “We originally planned on naming it after a nearby mountain. But then someone jokingly suggested we name it after President Obama. I never thought and idea like that would actually pass. But I was pleasantly surprised.”
“We wanted to do something to honor the president. And I think a pile of garbage is a fitting tribute to Obama’s presidency,” one state senator allegedly said.
The Daily Currant clarifies that their stories, including the presidential landfill article, are purely fictional and satirical, although they add that the stories they publish sometimes serve as commentary on real-life events. On their About page, the website answers frequently asked questions about their articles, including whether the stories they publish are true or not.
“No. Our stories are purely fictional. However they are meant to address real-world issues through satire and often refer and link to real events happening in the world”
It is true, however, that President Obama is slightly unpopular in North Dakota. According to the New York Times, the state has voted Republican since 1964, giving President Obama’s first run for office a decent 45 percent of the votes against John McCain.
[Image from U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers /Flickr]
