The Journolist debacle really shows what disgusting pigs these people are. I am amazed Sarah Palin has stood up to the viscous attacks so well. She never quits. She goes directly to the American people the way Reagan did but using today's high tech tools.
But, I wonder what laws, if any, have been broken. I sure don't want to see the news media turned over to Gov't regulators of any political stripe.
Defamation is the issuance of a false statement about another person, which causes that person to suffer harm.
Slander involves the making of defamatory statements by a transitory (non-fixed) representation, usually an oral (spoken) representation.
Libel involves the making of defamatory statements in a fixed or medium, such as a magazine or newspaper.
The typical elements of a cause of action for defamation are:
A false and defamatory statement concerning another;
The unprivileged publication of the statement to a third party;
If the defamatory matter is of public concern, fault amounting at least to negligence on the part of the publisher; and
Damage to the plaintiff.
Within the context of defamation law, a statement is considered to have been “published” when it is made to a third party, meaning somebody other than the plaintiff in the malpractice action. The reference to “publication” refers to this communication to a third party, regardless of the means of communication, and does not mean that the defamatory statement has to be in print.
Damages in defamation actions are typically to the reputation of the plaintiff. Depending upon the laws of the jurisdiction, a plaintiff may be able to sustain a defamation action on the basis of mental anguish, even in the absence of any other claim of harm or damage.
Freedom of speech and assembly does not give you right to conspire against any one person.