Posted on 07/04/2009 8:41:24 PM PDT by Al B.
Ratcheting up her offensive against the news media, Gov. Sarah Palin’s attorney threatened Saturday to sue mainstream news organizations if they publish “defamatory” stories relating to whether Palin is under federal investigation.
In an extraordinary four-page letter, Alaska-based attorney Thomas Van Flein warns of severe consequences should speculation that until now has largely been confined to blogs about whether Palin embezzled funds in the construction of a Wasilla, Alaska, sports arena find its way into print.
“This is to provide notice to Ms. Moore, and those who re-publish the defamation, such as Huffington Post, MSNBC, the New York Times and The Washington Post, that the Palins will not allow them to propagate defamatory material without answering to this in a court of law,” Van Flein warned, citing Alaska liberal blogger Shannyn Moore.
Much like Palin did in her Facebook statement Saturday, Van Flein savages the news media in his letter.
“Just as power abhors a vacuum, modern journalism apparently abhors any type of due diligence and fact checking before scurrilous allegations are repeated as fact,” the Anchorage attorney wrote.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
I wonder if it may have been more productive to start this as soon as the first few investigations and charges started flying. It may have reduced the number of suits by 10 to 12.
Ping.
She will always be a public figure. That never ends. It's very much like un-ringing a bell. Even if she retreats into total and absolute seclusion (which of course is ridiculous), she will still be a public figure.
The First Amendment makes it virtually impossible for her, or her attorney to stop media outlets from speculating about any reasons for her departure, regardless of how outrageous the speculation is.
But, she does have some limited ability to fight back. Unfortunately, it's very limited.
Kick a**. Take names.
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Why bother ? Just make stuff up. If it’s good enough for the PDS psychotics... (and hey, it probably won’t be nearly as bad as the reality).
She is this disgusting, vomit-inducing pig getting paid under the table by the DNC to try and bring down Palin. No, I'm not posting her pic, which will probably result in the Blue Screen of Death for my computer.
I believe legally she will remain a ‘public figure’ for the rest of her life.
In a prime example of words meaning different things to different people, Moore calls herself a Patriot. Constitutionalist. Lover of Freedom.
http://www.bing.com/search?q=Shannyn+Moore&FORM=MSNH11
Isn't this pretty much the case? She's a public figure. The can say antyhing they want, there is no recourde in law.
The Trig stuff, though, may be another question. I'd love to see Sullivan sued on that.
Thanks for the info. People are keeping score. I passed this along.
I sure hope they try to do something stupid....
Will her family, also?
Good for Governor Palin.
Character assassins are despicable.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 4, 2009
On July 3rd, 2009, Governor Sarah Palin announced her intent to resign her gubernatorial duties
and transfer the powers of Governor to Lt. Governor Sean Parnell.
Almost immediately afterwards, several unscrupulous people have asserted false and defamatory
allegations that the “real” reasons for Governor Palin’s resignation stem from an alleged
criminal investigation pertaining to the construction of the Wasilla Sports Complex. This
canard was first floated by Democrat operatives in September 2008 during the national
campaign and followed up by sympathetic Democratic writers.1 It was easily rebutted then as
one of many fabrications about Sarah Palin. Just as power abhors a vacuum, modern journalism
apparently abhors any type of due diligence and fact checking before scurrilous allegations are
repeated as fact.
The history of the Wasilla Sports Complex is publicly known. Contrary to the insinuation that
as Mayor of Wasilla, Sarah Palin “personally” oversaw bidding, construction, funding and
accounting for the project (and thus, the allegation goes, “embezzled” from the project), the
truth is far more mundane, and publicly available:
Curtis D. Menard was instrumental in spearheading the effort from conception to
realization of the Wasilla Sports Complex. He directed the steering committee
that was responsible for placing the issue before the voters of Wasilla and
1
Wayne Barrett, a writer for the left wing Village Voice, published these insinuations, on October 7, 2008 in a
story entitled “The Book of Sarah” available at http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-10-08/news/the-book-of-sarah.
This was written in the style of one pretending to be amazed that so many people in a small town like Wasilla
appear to know one another, support one another, and take on big projects together. Apparently that is uncommon
in New York. Rather than recognize that leaders of a community often mobilize to accomplish projects, the
writer offered this up as an unusual and questionable association of special interests.
I remeber when Carol Burnett sued the National Enquirer for calling her a drunk and won. So, there are some limits to waht they can say but it is pretty broad. Isn’t it funny that the Enquirer almost seems like a reputable rag compared to the media of today?
I refuse to go to kos but apparently they are admitting they know damn well there is no indictment coming but they want the other media outlets to run with this anyway.
It's a little more serious than a tabloid claiming Madonna had plastic surgery.
bump for later
Just bringing about a lawsuit against these idiots will have a lasting affect. Bottom line it will cost them money and time and serve notice upon them.
I thought it was Linda Kellen Biegle, and Andree McLeod.
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