The presidential election of 2016 has been provoking some of the most interesting discussions, news articles, and controversies over the past few months as the general election grows nearer. This fascination with the 2016 presidential bid can be partially attributed to the questionable roster that both the Democrats and the Republicans are putting forth as well as the rumors that come with these candidates. It’s no surprise that candidates and their supporters will make an effort to slow the opposition, but many of the conspiracy theories that have been born in the wake of political competition deserve a double take. The theories that have been conjectured about certain political candidates have reached an all-time high of ridiculousness.
Among the most popular conspiracy theories is that Ted Cruz is the Zodiac Killer.
Although it is true that Ted Cruz and the Zodiac Killer have yet to be seen in the same room together, this tale seems a little farfetched. Despite the fact that Cruz was a baby for most of the killings, the evidence that Cruz is in fact the Zodiac still captivates a large portion of Americans. Cruz vaguely resembles the Zodiac Killer, which is in and of itself enough to convince some people, but also is well-known for being a repulsive person. In addition, his plans and policies for the United States are so maniacal and evil—even to Republicans such as Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who stated that “if you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you”—that he could easily be mistaken for a serial killer. Not surprisingly, this conspiracy gave birth to a new generation of internet jokes and memes, which actually proved to be a convincing argument to the untrained political minds of many Americans. According to a poll taken by the PPP (Public Policy Polling), 38 percent of Florida’s electorate think that Cruz is most likely the Killer, 10 percent are fully convinced he is, and another 28 percent say they are just not sure yet. Without a doubt, the fact that this conspiracy theory was actually able to gain traction on the route to influencing the outcome of an election is enough to consider it a successful ploy to hinder Cruz. While this conspiracy theory might take the cake for most absurd, Cruz was not alone in taking the heat from a suspicious voting body.
Most of the outrageous things that the media reports about Trump are not actually conspiracy theories, but things he really said, so it’s sometimes hard to separate fact from fiction when dealing with the guy. However, one of the rumors that started without Trump’s involvement was one that accused him of being in cahoots with Hillary Clinton. The theory argues that Trump’s entire campaign to the White House was a premeditated effort to propel Clinton to the presidency. Trump is hated by the Republican politicians currently in office, and he does not follow the model of any Republican politician before him. He has a loose mouth and is not afraid to speak his mind, as seen in his quotes: “If I were to run, I’d run as a Republican. They’re the dumbest group of voters in the country. They believe anything on Fox News. I could lie and they’d still eat it up. I bet my numbers would be terrific.” Finally, polls suggest that Hillary would crush Trump in the general election. The rumors speak for themselves; Trump might have been with Hillary all along.
Finally, Ben Carson: the soft-spoken, brilliant, African-American neurosurgeon who was wiped out early in the presidential bid still has his fair share of explaining to do. Conspiracy theories such as that Ben Carson thinks that being gay is a choice, Obamacare is worse than slavery, and climate change is a myth still stain the Internet with their absurdity. The fact of the matter, however, is that these were not actually conspiracy theories at all, but serious statements made by Carson that only seemed to fit in naturally with the ridiculous aforementioned allegations. These are only a select few statements representative of the crazy things Carson managed to say in his short-lived effort to become president, but they provide deep insight into the caliber of the political expertise he possesses. Carson didn’t survive the first months of the campaign trail, but his word-barf and nonsensical quotes will most likely be immortalized in the heaven of inane political hiccups right next to “Ted Cruz is the Zodiac Killer.” The election of 2016 has yet to be over, but the list of wacky conspiracy theories may never end.