'Pregnant' anti -abortion blogger's hoax angers readers - anti abortion readers feel exploited

[Liberal_in_LA]

Pregnant' blogger's hoax angers readers

Illinois social worker Beccah Beushausen’s blog had a vast, loyal following, largely from fellow antiabortion advocates who offered prayers, gifts and other support.

An Illinois woman's online story about giving birth to a child diagnosed in the womb as terminally ill turns out to be untrue. Many of her antiabortion readers say they feel emotionally exploited.

By Kim Janssen
June 14, 2009

Reporting from Chicago -- The woman's story about giving birth to a child diagnosed while in the womb as terminally ill hit a nerve.

Every night for the last two months, thousands of abortion foes from across the nation logged onto a blog run by the woman who said she was unmarried, pregnant and identified herself only as "B" or "April's Mom." People said they prayed that God would save her pregnancy. They e-mailed her photos of their children, shared tales of heartache and redemption and sent letters of support and gifts to an Oak Lawn, Ill., post office box.

As more people were drawn to the blog -- which included biblical quotes, antiabortion messages and a soundtrack of inspirational Christian pop songs -- advertisers were queuing up. By the evening of June 7, when the woman blogged that April Rose had survived a home birth only to die hours later, her website had nearly 1 million hits.

There was only one problem with the unfolding tragedy: None of it was true.

The baby in the photos, swaddled in white blankets, was a doll.

"I have that exact doll in my house," said Elizabeth Russell, a doll maker from Buffalo, N.Y., who had been following the blog. "As soon as I saw that picture, I knew it was a scam."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=389

Sensing that people were close to establishing her identity, "April's Mom" raced to delete her website and Twitter and Facebook accounts. But the online community already had identified her: Beccah Beushausen, a 26-year-old social worker from Mokena, Ill.

[uppityperson]

1. have you another link than "post message"? Thanks

[OmahaBlueDog]

3. Try this

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-na-baby-hoax14-2009jun14,0,5517784.story

[uppityperson]

4. Thanks. Better than "post reply".

[Liberal_in_LA]

14. ooops. Thanks for fixing

[Born_A_Truman]

2. For some reason the link in your post went to DU

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-na-baby-hoax14-2009jun14,0,5517784.story

[madeline_con]

5. Check out some of the fake babies (dolls) here

http://www.bountifulbaby.com/

[OmahaBlueDog]

6. Fascinating and disturbing

The detail is amazing, but I have to ask "why"?

[Stephanie]

22. Reborning?? What is that?

Why?

[uppityperson]

7. Here is a picture of her "baby"/ doll...

[uppityperson]

8. I like baby Bindi, others are very od

[johnaries]

9. I hope she doesn't get shot. nt

[sarcasmo]

17. I agree with you, hope she doesn't get shot.

[rebecca_herman]

10. Messed up

There's got to be something psychologically wrong with someone who would make up something like this.

[grantcart]

11. Ah that would be the rare Muchausen from Beushausen case

[snake in the grass]

12. Sounds like she was setting herself up for...

...an Anthony Godby Johnson-like scam. Unfortunately for her, she was incredible stupid to use a doll for the photo. These people are proof of devolution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Godby_Johnson

[baldguy]

13. Anti-choice morans feel "exploited" by this disturbed young woman.

Maybe they should look at their anti-choice politicians.

[jpak]

15. More like the disturbed disturbing the disturbed

:D

[baldguy]

18. That's disturbing.

[Stevenmarc]

16. They all deserve each other

[Vogon_Glory]

19. What Serial Liars Haven't Learned About the Internet

What serial liars haven't learned about the Internet is that while it may be a grand place to disseminate more lies more quickly and more widely, it is also a place where lies can be more swiftly discovered and debunked, thanks to investigative sites and critical, analytical viewers.

Small wonder why right-wing wack jobs and also corporate cheerleaders like Steve Forbes want to put an end to net neutrality.

[surrealAmerican]

20. She probably figured there was no chance she would be found out.

When you set out to con a group of people, it helps if you choose a particularly gullible group. Hopefully, this could lead those who were deceived to be a little more wary, but it probably won't.

[skooooo]

21. The poor things feel exploited!

:eyes:

[McCamy Taylor]

23. It's buyer beware on the internet.