For those of you who joined us during the commercial break: An anonymous source in the McCain campaign claimed to FOX’s Carl Cameron that Sarah Palin was unaware that Africa was a continent. Carl Cameron repeated the charge on-air. Palin denounced the anonymous leaker as a liar, and dared him to come forward and reveal himself. He did, saying his name was Martin Eisenstadt, and he was a consultant for the campaign.

One problem: Martin Eisenhadt doesn’t exist.

Yeah. Turns out that his think tank is just a phony website, too. And yet, MSNBC cited this guy as a legit source (see above).

So there are a few possibilities here:

1.) The same guy who concocted the Eisenstadt thing invented this bullshit Palin/Africa story.

2.) An actual McCain staffer leaked the story, and it’s true. The prankster just kind of jumped on it.

3.) An actual McCain staffer leaked the story, and it’s bullshit.

4.) Carl Cameron made the whole thing up. He sort of has a history with that kind of thing.

(Video via Politico)