[NutCrackerBoy]

R E P R E H E N S I B L E

[Congressman Billybob]

Whatever is spoken on the floor of the House or Senate is absolutely privileged under the Speech and Debate Clause. This has long since been tested and established in the US SCt. And in this instance, the Court ruling matches the language of the Constitution.

Hoever, if Durbin is dumb enough to repeat such comments outside the Senate, or if staff members repeat these comments on his/her own rather than as a staffer, then and only then privilege may not apply.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column: "Gitmo In, GitmoOut?"

[blau993]

Putting aside the issue of privilege, in order for Durbin's remarks to be actionable as slander, they would have to be directed toward an individual -- either someone mentioned by name or described in such a particular way that a reasonable person could identify the individual. Accusing "soldiers" of running a gulag probably wouldn't meet the standard.