Despite President Donald Trump's frequent use of racist dog whistles and veiled calls to violence, the Trump campaign frequently claims the President fully supports marginalized groups, such as Black Americans and LGBTQ Americans.
Nevertheless, it's looking more and more like one of Trump's supporters on Twitter tried to shore up Trump's support among marginalized people himself...by pretending to be one.
Dean Browning was the commissioner of Lehigh County commissioner in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania, who describes himself as:
"A proud pro-life & pro-2A Christian conservative dedicated to enacting common sense solutions to Keep America Great."
On Tuesday afternoon, Browning sent this tweet.
What Trump built in 4 years, Biden will destroy in 4 months.
— Dean Browning (@DeanBrowningPA) November 8, 2020
One of his critics disagreed.
You mean what Obama built in 8 years , Trump trying to take credit for the first 3 years. Trump destroyed in 3 months with help from the "Trump virus" ! Biden now has to rid the country of the "Trump virus" ! Stay away from Drugs Dean! You're clearly high!
— Dunks5 (@ADunks5) November 10, 2020
That's when Browning sent this questionable—and since deleted—tweet.
Browning wrote:
"I'm a black gay guy and I can personally say that Obama did nothing for me, my life only changed a little bit and it was for the worse. Everything is so much better under Trump though. I feel respected - which I never do when democrats are involved."
Browning is neither gay nor Black, which led people to think Browning was posing as a gay Black Trump supporter on another account, which he forgot to switch to before replying to the critic.
Browning claimed that he was quoting what someone messaged him privately, despite the absence of quotation marks.
Regarding the tweet that is going viral from my account — I was quoting a message that I received earlier this week from a follower.
Sorry if context was not clear.
Trump received record minority votes & record LGBTQ votes.
Many people won't say it vocally, but do in private.
— Dean Browning (@DeanBrowningPA) November 10, 2020
But soon, Washington Post reporter Philip Bump found a Twitter account under the name "Dan Purdy," who frequently says similar things in Browning's replies.
You know who replies to Dean Browning a lot? "Dan Purdy," a gay black Trump supporter who joined Twitter in October. @DanPurdy322 pic.twitter.com/Gbpjg1ESUZ
— Philip Bump (@pbump) November 10, 2020
Twitter soon began roasting Browning.
Yikes...you forgot to change accounts, Dean! https://t.co/JJWwH4nYFY
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) November 10, 2020
When chickens come home to roost AND crows caw. Lord help. https://t.co/cRoF8FDwnh
— Talk to that 55% (@angela_rye) November 10, 2020
When you forget to switch to your sock puppet account. https://t.co/0ZEVcirB9a
— Sam Freedman (@Samfr) November 10, 2020
As an indigenous Antarctican and interstellar astronaut, I too have at times posted from the wrong Twitter account. https://t.co/EYmAP0bRHf
— Greg Greene (@ggreeneva) November 10, 2020
Then, an even stranger development happened.
Browning retweeted a video from Purdy's account, in which a man identifying himself as Purdy came to Browning's defense.
Here is a message from Dan Purdy, who has decided to responded to the controversy.
I wish the media would pay attention to the voter irregularities in the state of Pennsylvania as much as they have this Twitter story. https://t.co/8UUpC0Y8UH
— Dean Browning (@DeanBrowningPA) November 10, 2020
The man claiming to be Purdy said:
"The message that you saw on Dean's Twitter was posted—I don't actually know how it was posted—but I did send it to him because i had a problem with how people of my race and sexual persuasion were treating Donald Trump."
Some people weren't convinced.
Hope that check clears!
— roxane gay (@rgay) November 10, 2020
So YOU ARE SAYING you communicate privately with @DeanBrowningPA Is HE your friend? Screenshot that you messaged him. Screenshot some evidence that your name is Dan Purdy. Prove it.
— Mister Pooh (@mistahhpoohh) November 10, 2020
Do a live stream and show the conversation you had with him. We will all sit here and wait pic.twitter.com/CSycpDX1bb
— Deepak Okra (@EasyStreetKeys) November 10, 2020
The saga still wasn't over.
The man claiming to be Purdy was soon identified as William Byl Holte, a self-described anti-feminist tv critic, landscaper, and, apparently, the nephew of legendary musician Patti LaBelle.
Ummm pic.twitter.com/zGa8HXF9hx
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) November 10, 2020
this is Byl holte, from pennsylvania https://t.co/GOBEHzJyMP pic.twitter.com/zlzOfPNpks
— (CLOSED.) (@chribbyy) November 10, 2020
BRUHHHH pic.twitter.com/fBiEY9TlSq
— (CLOSED.) (@chribbyy) November 10, 2020
so from googling it would appear @deanbrowningpa's black guy identity "Dan Purdy" was also once used on the suspended account @soulcookie322. but before that account became Dan Purdy, it was a white guy named "Pat Riarchy" and "White Goodman". dean is really something else pic.twitter.com/gFkUPkNDPV
— food truck drove away with my debit card (@fart) November 10, 2020
The saga is still ongoing.