Found recently in a different context which mentioned Frank Luntz, a consultant to the Republican party.

Luntz's technique was pioneered by the tobacco companies and the creationists: teach the controversy. In other words, insist that the question of whether cigarettes cause lung cancer, natural selection drives evolution, or burning fossil fuels causes climate change, is still wide open, and that both sides of the "controversy" should be taught in schools and thrashed out in the media.

As John P said it a while ago -

Iona and Pete have demonstrated that rational discussion with them is a waste of time. But they have actually won the debate, if you take being taken seriously as a victory. Attempts to engage them on this topic just makes them feel relevant. The first step for a lie (or for willful ignorance), always, is to be taken seriously.

You are all giving Iona and Pete exactly what they want, attention.