Fox News contributor Scott Brown was forced to end his financial relationship with Newsmax after he sent a sponsored email to his list touting dubious Alzheimer's disease cures from huckster Dr. Russell Blaylock. Brown is one of several conservative media outlets and personalities -- including his Fox News colleague Mike Huckabee and conservative magazine National Review -- that have helped sell out their followers to Blaylock in recent years.
Brown sent an email today to his list stating: “Dear Patriot, I thought you might be interested in the offer below from our sponsor Newsmax Health. Thank you, Senator Scott Brown.” Brown's email (subject line: “5 Signs You'll Get Alzheimer's Disease”) contained a pitch claiming that Blaylock found “Simple strategies and natural therapies to prevent, treat, and reverse memory loss, Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative disorders.”
Blaylock has pushed numerous dubious claims on a wide range of medical subjects. He is a repeat guest on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' radio show, where videos of his appearances feature such headlines as “Dr. Russell Blaylock Exposes Obama's Nazi Healthcare System,” “Obamacare is Mandated Social Engineering,” and “Fluoride's Deadly Secret.”
In recent years, several prominent conservative outlets and personalities have sent emails to their followers touting Blaylock and his dubious medicine:
National Review. The conservative magazine sent an April 20, 2013, email from Newsmax / Blaylock with the subject line: “These 7 Things Activate Alzheimer's in Your Brain.” (Last week, National Review told Think Progress that it was investigating emails it had sent out touting a separate shady sponsor. According to the magazine's publisher, “National Review takes all complaints seriously.”)
Dick Morris. On January 18, the newsletter of former Fox News contributor Dick Morris sent a message to its readers stating: “Please find a special message from our paid sponsor, Newsmax Health. Sponsorships like this help to allow us to continue to send you Dick's commentary free of charge. We appreciate your support. DickMorris.com.” DickMorris.com then enclosed Blaylock's “5 Signs You'll Get Alzheimer's Disease” pitch.
DickMorris.com also sent an email offer from Newsmax / Blaylock on October 30, 2013, with the subject line: “These 7 Things Activate Alzheimer's in Your Brain.”
Christian Broadcasting Network. Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network sent an email with the subject line “5 Signs You Could Get Alzheimer's Disease” on January 9 to its email list. It contained the disclaimer: “This Select Advertising Offer is sent to you by the Christian Broadcasting Network as a paid advertisement and is not necessarily endorsed by CBN.”
CBN also sent an email offer from Newsmax / Blaylock on October 17, 2013, with the subject line: “These 7 Things Activate Alzheimer's in Your Brain.”
Mike Huckabee. The Fox News host sent the “5 Signs You'll Get Alzheimer's Disease” email to his list on January 16.* He wrote: “Please find a special message from our paid sponsor, Newsmax Health. They have important information to share with you. Sponsorships like this help to allow us to continue to send you my commentary free of charge but do not necessarily reflect my views.”
Huckabee also sent an email offer from Newsmax / Blaylock on September 10, 2013, with the subject line: “These 7 Things Activate Alzheimer's in Your Brain.”
Herman Cain. Cain's CainTV sent the “5 Signs You'll Get Alzheimer's Disease” to its list on November 1, 2012, along with a disclaimer stating it is from its “sponsor partner Newsmax.com - the sort of thing that helps us pay the bills here at CainTV. It carries no endorsement from us, but we appreciate your willingness to receive these messages.”
CainTV also sent an email offer from Newsmax / Blaylock on October 19, 2013, with the subject line: “These 7 Things Activate Alzheimer's in Your Brain.”
*Email date corrected.