Hoax GM release meant to embarrass president

Mike Hughlett of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune writes Saturday that the fake General Mills’ news release sent out earlier this week was intended to embarrass the president, not to use the business media to influence the company’s stock price.

Hughlett writes, “On Friday, the Star Tribune received an e-mail from someone who said he could shed light on the hoax and gave the same phone number as in the phony announcement.

“The person who answered the phone identified himself as Matt Reed and criticized a Thursday Star Tribune article that suggested financial gain as a possible motive for the prank. Phony press releases are often tied to schemes that create sudden swings in a company’s stock.

“‘It’s not to manipulate stock prices, but to serve to discredit Obama,’ the man said. ‘General Mills was not targeted specifically for any particular reason. They were just used as a vehicle for the press release.’

“Asked about his beef with Obama, Reed said: ‘It’s my personal opinion he’s unfit to lead the country.'”

Read more here.