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Trump-Loving Congressman Called Out for Posting Photoshopped Pic of Obama and Iranian President, and Now He's Trying to Defend It
06 January 2020
Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images; Zahim Mohd/NurPhoto via Getty Images
As backlash continues to come at the White House over President Donald Trump's choice to assassinate a foreign leader, his supporters in his administration and Congress scramble to create excuses and false equivalencies.
Among those congressional supporters is Arizona Republican Representative Paul Gosar.
<p>On Monday afternoon, Gosar—a dentist who identifies himself of Dr. Paul Gosar on Twitter—posted a bit of creative artwork on Twitter. The problem was the Arizona Republican tried to pass off his manipulated photo as fact.</p><p><div id="insticator-container" class="embedid-ee1b1245-7f34-4d5c-8a70-c8be74fe7696"><div id="div-insticator-ad-1"></div><div id="insticator-embed"></div><div id="div-insticator-ad-2"></div><script data-cfasync="false" type="text/javascript">Insticator.ad.loadAd("div-insticator-ad-1");Insticator.ad.loadAd("div-insticator-ad-2");Insticator.load("em",{id : "ee1b1245-7f34-4d5c-8a70-c8be74fe7696"})</script></div></p><p>Gosar posted this on Twitter:</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjQ4Njc3My9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3MzEyMDU4M30.e1AK8kj9rGizx_Hsofu1rTj79iPZXLwXLX98B5jyF0Y/img.png?width=980" id="a9cd1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7a1c721f5bc07e1c1217dcc6f925d989" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">@DrPaulGosar/Twitter</small></p><p>The image is supposed to be a photo of former President Barack Obama and current Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.</p><p>The issues are multiple with this post.</p><p>First, President Rouhani is the current President of Iran. Either Gosar thought the person photoshopped next to Obama is deceased General Qasem Soleimani or he is unaware of who the President of Iran is.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">also doesn't even make sense since rouhani is ... still in office<br>— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) <a href="https://twitter.com/oliverdarcy/status/1214282247907545089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="eb4d1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="JRYF8T1578360934"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214289207272857606" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@oliverdarcy @KFILE Doubt Trumpsters will know this.</div> — Tux nyc (@Tux nyc)<a href="https://twitter.com/tux_nyc/statuses/1214289207272857606">1578344082.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="2ace6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="PN8VHQ1578360934"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214300910668656640" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@tux_nyc @oliverdarcy @KFILE That’s the problem!!!</div> — kelly gorman-forrest (@kelly gorman-forrest)<a href="https://twitter.com/gorman_forrest/statuses/1214300910668656640">1578346872.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>Second is the photo manipulation itself. <br></p><p><div data-conversation-spotlight=""></div></p><p>The original photo was of President Obama meeting with India's former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. <br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="556b5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="GHK6YW1578360934"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214281536817782785" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">U.S. congressman sharing a fake photo. This photoshopped from Obama meeting India's prime minister.… https://t.co/SLDlRv8NNk</div> — andrew kaczynski🤔 (@andrew kaczynski🤔)<a href="https://twitter.com/KFILE/statuses/1214281536817782785">1578342253.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>President Rouhani and President Obama never met.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="ff3ee" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="W84D4T1578360934"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214285040290586624" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">GOP Rep. Paul Gosar tweeted a photoshopped image of Obama with Rouhani, apparently believing Rouhani is actually So… https://t.co/7g3Ma9C2JB</div> — Aaron Blake (@Aaron Blake)<a href="https://twitter.com/AaronBlake/statuses/1214285040290586624">1578343088.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>The move by a sitting Congressman was considered disrespectful to India as well as the United States.</p><p>His choice to share the badly manipulated photo did little to help the reputation and public trust for the GOP.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">This is the kind of meme stuff Russia was doing on FB. Boggles the mind that after what we've been thru, the investigations of the last 3 years, this insanity would be perpetrated by a US elected official.<br>— Ty Sparks, Recovering Absurdist (@TySparks8) <a href="https://twitter.com/TySparks8/status/1214288289856929792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="c8bd3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9BZF7A1578360934"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214297769558642688" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@TySparks8 @KFILE @KevinMKruse Of course it is, I think they know about it and utilize the Russian propaganda.</div> — Robyn A (@Robyn A)<a href="https://twitter.com/rockinrob7970/statuses/1214297769558642688">1578346123.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="f1a9b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="DQSF151578360934"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214298260313165826" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@rockinrob7970 @KFILE @KevinMKruse This should be a scandal. May have been pre-Tea Party... Oh how far we've fallen</div> — Ty Sparks, Recovering Absurdist (@Ty Sparks, Recovering Absurdist)<a href="https://twitter.com/TySparks8/statuses/1214298260313165826">1578346240.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="9d0d7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="Z2GPVQ1578360934"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214298840796450823" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@TySparks8 @KFILE @KevinMKruse When so many are corrupt, it's hard to get accountability - that's how I see it anyway.</div> — Robyn A (@Robyn A)<a href="https://twitter.com/rockinrob7970/statuses/1214298840796450823">1578346378.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="62a65" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="LW2VMO1578360934"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214300342600421377" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@rockinrob7970 @TySparks8 @KFILE @KevinMKruse Yep. Impossible to enforce the laws when those responsible for enforc… https://t.co/ACo5yL1YD0</div> — scribblegurl (@scribblegurl)<a href="https://twitter.com/scribblegurl/statuses/1214300342600421377">1578346736.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>Gosar accused the press of being dimwitted in response to the backlash he received for not knowing Rouhani is still President and for sharing a fake photo. <br></p><p>In his response he tweeted:</p><blockquote><em><span></span>"1. To the dim witted reporters like @dmedin11: no one said this wasn't photoshopped. No one said the president of Iran was dead. No one said Obama met with Rouhani in person. The tweet says: 'the world is a better place without either of them in power'."</em></blockquote><blockquote><em></em><em>"2. The point remains to all but the dimmest: Obama coddled, appeased, nurtured and protected the worlds No. 1 sponsor of terror. The world is better without Obama as president. The world will be better off without Rouhani."</em></blockquote><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="8b6d4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4UQ0J91578360935"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214286573669359618" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">1. To the dim witted reporters like @dmedin11: no one said this wasn’t photoshopped. No one said the president of… https://t.co/sGz6UiPo10</div> — Paul Gosar (@Paul Gosar)<a href="https://twitter.com/DrPaulGosar/statuses/1214286573669359618">1578343454.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="28d1b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="KJWI361578360935"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214286578077634561" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">2. The point remains to all but the dimmest: Obama coddled, appeased, nurtured and protected the worlds No. 1 spon… https://t.co/ePAbd8MLOJ</div> — Paul Gosar (@Paul Gosar)<a href="https://twitter.com/DrPaulGosar/statuses/1214286578077634561">1578343455.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>Despite his claim that his sharing a faked photo and inaccurate information was justified, the tweet was deleted. Whether Gosar, a member of his staff or Twitter deleted the faked and erroneous information is unclear.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="4a7a1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="IXTY5I1578360935"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214293818230681600" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@PauletteParis1 @KFILE @RepGosar @Twitter I reported it. Hope others will too.</div> — irisheyes (@irisheyes)<a href="https://twitter.com/Irish4evermore/statuses/1214293818230681600">1578345181.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="9878c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="G1FNRT1578360935"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214291347512926213" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@hilaryluros Me too but I couldn't find the "A member of Congress is posting a photoshopped image to spread propaganda" button.</div> — Jeff Stenehjem (@Jeff Stenehjem)<a href="https://twitter.com/JeffStenehjem/statuses/1214291347512926213">1578344592.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>Although the deletion may be best for Gosar.</p><p> Neither the original post or his response to the backlash went over well.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="fe1a2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="RZHHWN1578360935"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214309416117272576" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DrPaulGosar The reporter isn’t dim witted
The only dim witted person is the elected member of Congress who is sha… https://t.co/ky1qvk7YuG</div> — Edward Hardy (@Edward Hardy)<a href="https://twitter.com/EdwardTHardy/statuses/1214309416117272576">1578348900.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">.<a href="https://twitter.com/DrPaulGosar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrPaulGosar</a> is one of the most dishonest of all Congr. Republicans —and that's saying a lot.<br><br>He lies so much you'd think he's in a competition with Trump to win the award for “The World's Biggest Liar." <br><br>No wonder his siblings endorsed his opponent!<a href="https://t.co/1BjgaBnOdG">https://t.co/1BjgaBnOdG</a><br>— 💐Chateau de Resistance💐 (@BorgJardin) <a href="https://twitter.com/BorgJardin/status/1214318753661562880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">How do <a href="https://twitter.com/DrPaulGosar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrPaulGosar</a> constituents feel about having a lying cheat as a representative. Do they not care to hold him accountable. It's appalling.<br>— Allie's Mama (@PlanellasChris) <a href="https://twitter.com/PlanellasChris/status/1214284408984756224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image image-crop-custom">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjQ4Njg1OS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MTgyNzg2N30._mgOiSZ5OfGGJBCtIvrXZzdNOBtFdPfbTQjkDbwYIcs/img.png?width=1134&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0&height=544" id="9badc" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="12896249a8caa35c8374e97288f2bd32" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">@4everNeverTrump/Twitter</small></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="95ffd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="DFQLD11578360935"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214285688465608704" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@PlanellasChris @KFILE @NatashaBertrand @DrPaulGosar We feel like voting for @delina4az</div> — ek turley (@ek turley)<a href="https://twitter.com/eturleye/statuses/1214285688465608704">1578343243.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>This is not Gosar's first time in the spotlight. <br></p><p>During House hearings in June 2018, Gosar was mocked for his "<a href="https://secondnexus.com/news/raskin-republican-criticisms-trump-conspiracy" target="_blank">I'm a dentist</a> so I know..." speech. In 2018, his six siblings all <a href="https://secondnexus.com/news/paul-gosar-siblings-campaign-ad-response" target="_blank">endorsed his opponent</a> in his reelection bid. </p><p>In January of 2019, he took flack for <a href="https://secondnexus.com/news/gosar-pelosi-shutdown-deleted-tweet" target="_blank">tweeting lies</a> about the government shutdown.</p><p>In November, Gosar added a <a href="Republican%20Congressman%20Hides%20Conspiracy%20Theory%20About%20Jeffrey%20Epstein%20in%20Twitter%20Feed" target="_blank">conspiracy theory</a> to an unrelated Twitter thread. And just in time for the holidays, Gosar tweeted a photo <a href="https://secondnexus.com/paul-gosar-hillary-clinton-light-christmas" target="_blank">celebrating violence</a> against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.</p><p>Gosar is up for reelection in 2020. He faces Democratic challenger <a href="https://www.delinadisanto.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Delina DiSanto</strong></a>. </p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="8528f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7CAGKD1578360935"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214317528459202561" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Make sure to follow and donate to Gosar's opponent, @delina4az. https://t.co/4hxPMEanTV</div> — Thor Benson (@Thor Benson)<a href="https://twitter.com/thor_benson/statuses/1214317528459202561">1578350834.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="5ce7c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="48J5891578360935"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214318319215374336" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Thank you so much, Thor.
We’re all ready to see him go.
Help me unseat him: https://t.co/nxXGYWjdHQ https://t.co/Nk10ecX5Uu</div> — Delina DiSanto (@Delina DiSanto)<a href="https://twitter.com/delina4az/statuses/1214318319215374336">1578351022.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">The kind of rat-effery we'd expect from a Republican. <a href="https://twitter.com/DrPaulGosar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrPaulGosar</a>, you deserve a time-out. I'd say, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VoteHimOut?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VoteHimOut</a> is the right amount of time.<br>— Tom Shafer (@TomShafShafer) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomShafShafer/status/1214290519725133824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">For the love of god Arizona, stop paying this man $174,000/year to tweet bullshit and follow, support and elect <a href="https://twitter.com/delina4az?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@delina4az</a> for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/az04?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#az04</a><br>— Sarah Cooper (@sarahcpr) <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahcpr/status/1214299516536532992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="9dc77" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="RYLW491578360936"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214314961951838209" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Thank you, Sarah! I appreciate the shoutout so much.
Gosar has got to go.
Help me unseat him.… https://t.co/tkWeMvCNQ2</div> — Delina DiSanto (@Delina DiSanto)<a href="https://twitter.com/delina4az/statuses/1214314961951838209">1578350222.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><br></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">The Dentist has a Democratic opponent. It will be tough. Huge gerrymandered district but Arizona and the U.S. deserve better.<a href="https://twitter.com/delina4az?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@delina4az</a><br>— 🐄 BeezIn🐄 🤺 (@MaggGran) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaggGran/status/1214290682493333504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="424b1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="QL832V1578360936"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1214312530387988480" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">It’s tough, but I’m tougher.
AZ04 has better days ahead.
Thank you for your support! https://t.co/hYsFFAstn0</div> — Delina DiSanto (@Delina DiSanto)<a href="https://twitter.com/delina4az/statuses/1214312530387988480">1578349642.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>Gosar—who has been in office since 2011—also faces at least one GOP primary challenger, Anne Marie Ward. Both women hope to remove Dr. Gosar from his seat in Congress.<br></p><p>This <em><strong><a href="https://amzn.to/37Rtgk3" target="_blank">shirt</a></strong></em>, promoting voting out people like Gosar, is available <em><strong><a href="https://amzn.to/37Rtgk3" target="_blank">here</a></strong></em>.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjQ4Njg2NC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2Nzk4NTMzOX0.NQxNdwQyVw-csWMguvWQhs1T3z_1SRSMJ4CHeXnAT9g/img.png?width=980" id="b5cef" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="51440c81476c02336f6d32e529a5bd7d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Amazon</small></p>
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