Posted on 02/27/2016 10:02:24 AM PST by dschapin
Donald Trump said on Friday he plans to change libel laws in the United States so that he can have an easier time suing news organizations.
During a rally in Fort Worth, Texas, Trump began his usual tirade against newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, saying they're "losing money" and are "dishonest." The Republican presidential candidate then took a different turn, suggesting that when he's president they'll "have problems."
"One of the things I'm going to do if I win, and I hope we do and we're certainly leading. I'm going to open up our libel laws so when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money. We're going to open up those libel laws. So when The New York Times writes a hit piece which is a total disgrace or when The Washington Post, which is there for other reasons, writes a hit piece, we can sue them and win money instead of having no chance of winning because they're totally protected," Trump said.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/02/donald-trump-libel-laws-219866#ixzz41OOQy1Ch
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Very well said.
Like I said, I agree in principle that something should be done. They get away with malice all the time and everyone knows it, but without mind readers it is hard to prove - a hard nut to crack. Forums, twitter, and other Internet opinions posted by individuals, the little guys, should not be touched.
From what I understand, libel suits against any one deemed to be a "public figure" almost impossible to win and exceedingly expensive to pursue.
Maybe they shouldn't be opened up I don't know, my point was that the 1st does not protect it.
The problem with living in our society is that now matter how good a law is there is a scumbag attorney out there who will pervert it for money. They know the can get settlements most time because its cheaper to settle in the long run.
I don't have the answer FRiend, again my issue was statements here Trump is going to attempt to take away 1st Amendment rights.
Damn right, you started out with the numbskull remark.
As for the rest of your post, I got over playing in the schoolyard sandbox 50 yeas ago.
See ya.
You are asking for lessing freedoms and censorship via the government .
Think about that.
Completely against the freedoms we have in this nation.
Do you approve of the same things if Hillary was asking for them?
Just did, as the poster noted, these problems exist right now already, what's your point?
The left has already gutted the constitution.
Strengthening libel laws is not gutting the constitution. Indeed, the press has NOTHING to fear as long as they tell the truth.
Furthermore, looking back at the farce that was Watergate, if Richard Nixon had had recourse against the press for all of their terrible lies, Vietnam might never have fallen. Jimmy Carter might never have been elected (Reagan would likely have been elected after Nixon.) I do not think because you are a public figure, anyone should be able to tell deliberate lies, in an effort to overthrow the duly elected govt, and ultimately throw out the constitution. What makes you think, as the media empowers the left, they will respect the first amendment? When has a communist govt permitted free speech? Are we to do nothing, in the name of free speech, to stop the destruction of this country by the lying hard-left media?
It is interesting, how any proposed effort to stop the damage that has been done to our country by the traitorous dishonest left is met with cries of “unconstitutional.” And since you do the same, refusing to address the terrible problems we are facing, and the fact that so many of them are created/compounded by the lying media, I wonder just who you are and what your politics really are.
That’s just it, they posted and discussed a news article from a man source.
Like what we do.
The laws at hand are sufficient.
Not really, but probably the best we can do.
I do remember the kerfuffle with Las Vegas Review Journal and a few other sources but IIRC they were copy write cases and they lost?
Are these the same?
Considering that any change to existing law would be used by the left, it is a terrible idea to even give them the opportunity.
Heck, they put out studies stating that conservatives are “terrorists”, even had West Point in on that act.
I guess with a pen and a phone Trump wants to neuter free speech. And his FR fanboys cheer him on. Never thought I’d see that day.
Yep, wrong is wrong no matter who is POTUS, or running for it.
Yes. I think you might have meant to say that the standard for libeling a “public figure” are much harder to meet than, say, you or me.
You and I can sue someone for knowingly and maliciously making false claims about us that have caused us harm.
Even that is a pretty high bar to get over; and add to it that you and I would have to be rich OR find a lawyer willing to work on contingency.
The standards for Mr. Trump, or Hillary Clinton, to sue somebody for libel are almost impossible to meet, because they are “public figures”; in other words they have put themselves in the public arena, and must expect to be assailed, even untruthfully, in the rough-and-tumble public marketplace.
What bugs me is that someone like George Zimmerman or Joe the Plumber can also be torn to shreds by the media, even though they were dragged into the public eye.
But in cases like theirs CNN and others can usually escape punishment by claiming that their misstatements were errors, not intentional slander.
Probably more than you cared to read lol...
This was actually Canada specific.
Free Dominion was our Canadian sister site.
The left used the “open” libel law there to shut down the discussion board.
The news sites they were discussing?
Nope.
With a name of FreedomStar, your post doesn’t match your name.
So I take it you supported the “Fairness Doctrine?”
Do you not see the ramifications what Trump is suggesting here? Both short and long term
Its really sad and terrifying.
“Seriously some of you Trump supporters don’t seem to care if you kill not the Republican Party but America and our freedoms.”
Kill!? You saying Trump supporters will kill people!!?? Careful there, next thing you know the FBI will be forcing FR to hand over your name and email and you’ll be getting a knock on the door by the FCC, SWAT, and ATF.
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