# Anonymous outs pols as KKK members **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 2, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447 "2015-11-02T18:23:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/21 "2015-11-02T20:26:38Z")
Does the KKK have an online presence? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/22 "2015-11-02T20:27:55Z")
So now for all we know this was some kind of False Confederate Flag attack. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/23 "2015-11-02T20:32:28Z")
Just what do you think “anonymous” means? If it’s some random guy on the Internet, and nobody knows who that random guy is, then they’re anonymous. Capitalize the word if you like, but the meaning is still the same. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/24 "2015-11-02T20:34:12Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > If it weren’t for “Anonymous” having some (small) level of credibility built up from previous adventures, you’d be right. This is a little more than “some guy on the internet”, even if not by much. The accusations are not coming from Anonymous. They’re coming from a hacker called “Amped Attacks,” who claims no involvement with Anonymous. It seems Anonymous is running an attack on the KKK in parallel, and may have released a list of names that did not include political figures. > **[Coats calls anonymous claim 'baseless Internet garbage'](https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/behind-closed-doors/2015/11/02/dan-coats-linked-without-evidence-kkk/75047570/)** > > No evidence was given for the anonymous claim. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/25 "2015-11-02T21:24:41Z")
Amped Attacks is not affiliated with Anonymous. Anonymous plans to release 1000 names of Ku Klux Klan members this Thursday, November 5. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/26 "2015-11-02T21:30:20Z")
Thanks for the clarification. See you in a few days. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/27 "2015-11-02T21:35:43Z")
Sounds like the most boring clickbait ever. NINE POLITICIANS WHO ARE SECRET MEMBERS OF THE KKK (Number 4 will totally blow your mind!) ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/28 "2015-11-02T21:37:35Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Just what do you think “anonymous” means? If it’s some random guy on the Internet, and nobody knows who that random guy is, then they’re anonymous. Capitalize the word if you like, but the meaning is still the same. It’s been implied by others, but there is the word “anonymous” which means “without giving a name” and their is a group “Anonymous”, which is a hacker group based out of 4chan. The capitalization is important to distinguish that it’s a proper noun. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/29 "2015-11-02T21:41:29Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > The Knoxville mayor ha offered a [flat denial](http://www.wbir.com/story/news/2015/11/02/mayor-rogero-scoffs-claims-kkk-ties-calls-them-defamatory/75040018/) saying the claims are ridiculous, and with bio that seems most likely - kind of doubt someone with that background would be accepted in the KKK. Yeah, she’s pretty liberal for east Tennessee, and even had a bridge in Knoxville lit up in rainbow colors to celebrate the Supreme Court’s decision on same sex marriage. Worst Klansman ever… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/30 "2015-11-02T21:49:41Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > Yeah, she’s pretty liberal for east Tennessee, and even had a bridge in Knoxville lit up in rainbow colors to celebrate the Supreme Court’s decision on same sex marriage. Worst Klansman ever… Wow, that’s _deep_ cover. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/31 "2015-11-02T21:49:49Z")
Snopes has new entry on this: [Anonymous OpKKK | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/anonymous-opkkk/) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/32 "2015-11-02T21:58:27Z")
However, I’ll bet there will be some nasty surprises come 11/5. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/33 "2015-11-02T22:36:36Z")
Nothing but hearsay. Here’s the Google cache of the now deleted Daily Kos thread: [http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/02/1443420/-Several-Republican-Senators-outed-as-members-of-the-KKK-by-Anonymous](http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/02/1443420/-Several-Republican-Senators-outed-as-members-of-the-KKK-by-Anonymous) And here’s the pastebin post: > **[Political Figures Involved with the KKK - Pastebin.com](https://pastebin.com/Yh2muT9r)** > > Pastebin.com is the number one paste tool since 2002. Pastebin is a website where you can store text online for a set period of time. I see no reason to attribute even a crumb of credibility to this, and I’m no defender of Republicans. Unfortunately, there’s already a graphic about it making the rounds on Facebook. I saw it posted by someone who should know better. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/34 "2015-11-02T23:04:14Z")
And now it’s all over FB, with links to a number of different sources. Presumably, all of those sources got their info, either directly or indirectly, from that one questionable pastebin page. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/35 "2015-11-03T00:17:15Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Chatter on Daily Kos says this isn’t even from Anonymous, but rather some other random internet dude They’re all random internet dudes, because anyone can call themselves Anonymous. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/36 "2015-11-03T00:43:01Z")
> [@Raygun99](#): > > The Knoxville mayor ha offered a [flat denial](http://www.wbir.com/story/news/2015/11/02/mayor-rogero-scoffs-claims-kkk-ties-calls-them-defamatory/75040018/) saying the claims are ridiculous, and with bio that seems most likely - kind of doubt someone with that background would be accepted in the KKK. [As did the mayor of Lexington](http://www.kentucky.com/2015/11/02/4118245/lexington-mayor-strongly-denies.html), “no known wife/spouse” because he is openly gay, and has been for 10 years (also a Democrat). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/37 "2015-11-03T01:09:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **yellowjacketcoder** : > > It’s been implied by others, but there is the word “anonymous” which means “without giving a name” and their is a group “Anonymous”, which is a hacker group based out of 4chan. The capitalization is important to distinguish that it’s a proper noun. There is no meaningful sense in which they can be called a “group”, since the only thing the “members” have in common is that they’re, well, lower-case anonymous. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/38 "2015-11-04T04:06:39Z")
@sgtbilko420? Who’s that, a scrounger who thinks up elaborate scams but then can’t be bothered to carry them out because he’s been smoking too much of his own merchandise? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Smitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Smitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smitty)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/39 "2015-11-05T23:46:22Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > No, all the old racist Democrats switched parties in the 60s and 70s. Do try to keep up. > > I hope it’s true but not holding my breath for proof of it. I think the effect will be minimal, people who vote Republican are less likely to be bothered by a politician’s racism. Robert Byrd (D), former Klan recruiter, was a Senator until he died in 2010. Do try to keep up. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447/40 "2015-11-05T23:56:23Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > This could backfire if it’s not credible. As it is the GOP tends to ignore anything but their official news sources (FOX, Limbaugh, etc.). Give them a false report and they’ll run with it forever. I’m not going to turn to FOX to find out, but I’ll bet they’re all over it right now. If Fox covers it, you can be sure that US Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Cornyn (R-Tx.), Dan Coats (R-In.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) will all have a (D) after their names. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anonymous-outs-pols-as-kkk-members/736447.md?page=3)