Posted on 06/18/2020 2:00:01 PM PDT by Lurking Libertarian
Law360, New York (June 17, 2020, 10:47 PM EDT) -- Fox News told a Manhattan federal judge on Wednesday that its star Tucker Carlson did not slander an ex-Playboy model as an extortionist who targeted President Donald Trump, because no reasonable viewer would believe Carlson was stating facts, just opinions.
Seeking to dismiss the defamation case, counsel for the news network told U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil that a segment airing on "Tucker Carlson Tonight" could not have slandered Karen McDougal, who claims President Trump paid to silence her about an affair, because Carlson is a commentator, not a straight news reporter and he was using rhetorical flourishes, not actually accusing her of extortion.
"Would a reasonable viewer be coming here and thinking this is where I'm going to be hearing the news of the day?" said Erin E. Murphy of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, representing Fox News Network LLC, whose filing calls Carlson's words "hyperbolic opinion commentary" not "sober factual reporting."
Last week, Carlson's was the most-viewed cable news show in the country, with 4 million viewers, according to media reports citing Nielsen ratings.
"In terms of the forum, it's not the front page of The New York Times. It's 'Tucker Carlson Tonight.' It is a commentary show," Murphy said. "Where you're going to hear opinion and spirited debate."
(Excerpt) Read more at law360.com ...
Hey, it worked for Rachel Maddow.
Can’t Tucker declare he is a Google and be immune from lawsuits?
Tucker does not belong to Fox News news division. If he did, he would not be allowed to say what he says. He would have to be like the Ed and Sandra morning gig and be a Trump hater.
Section 230 doesn’t apply to TV news.
Problem is regular news no longer does sober factual reporting, as opinion has crept into everything they do, so a real opinion show today looks/appears more like a news show.
Its not that opinion shows have changed, its the news shows that have changed and look closer to opinion shows.
Another scorned woman. I glad I’m not rich.
Interesting tactic. I gave up the msm 5 years ago. But I watched Tucker all last week on YT)
This past week Tucker has been absolutely hysterical, I have laughed so hard tears were coming down my face his commentary over CHAZ / CHOP has been SO FUNNY!! The reporter reporting on CHAZ / CHOP is funny also the two of them together are GREAT!!!
That was a great episode !! We all needed that laugh
And Tucker regularly states plainly that his show is opinion, not news. He makes no claims to be a “news caster,” unlike Don LaMon.
Mark
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.