a libelous statement is a statement of fact that is untrue- the fella that stated a public figure can’t sue soemoen liek NE is correct- they are NOT stating their article as fact- even if it does harm- they are very careful NOT to state it as fact unlike those who state things as fact that are known to be false in the effort to harm an individual-
The way that your post was written it gave the impression that someone could make false written statements here on Free Republic about a person in the public eye with no fear of being sued.