Thank you for your letter of May, 2007. In your letter you state that FreeRepublic has repeated a knowingly false statement made by a Mr. Quinn regarding a conversation between Howard Dean and the Governor of Kansas. You further state “The statement was made by Mr Quinn, repeated on FreeRepublic, is demonstrably, unequivocally and absolutely false.” Finally, you demand that FreeRepublic cease and desist from repeating these statements.
As you are well aware, repeating a statement, even if false is not necessarily a defamatory action. In fact, it can be easily argued that the allegedly defamatory statement you refer to was repeated on FreeRepublic merely for the purpose of reporting that it was made. Thus, no defamatory action was taken by FreeRepublic. In addition, FreeRepublic is not responsible for the opinions expressed on its forums by its members, although FreeRepublic does try to maintain a certain level of decorum on its forums.
Putting aside the above, however, you are well aware that Mr. Dean and the Governor of Kansas are both public figures. Moreover, the Governor’s handling of the terrible and tragic events in Kansas are a matter of public concern. Thus, you must show or allege that the statement made by Mr. Quinn, for which FreeRepublic is not responsible, was made with actual malice. Your letter fails to set forth the facts that would indicate or show such malice.
In the future, I suggest you bring your complaints directly to the source of the statements and desist from attempts to impinge upon the constitutional rights, of which you are well aware, of FreeRepublic.
Very truly yours,
FlipWilson
Didn’t the Gov. admit to senator Brownback in a phone conversation that the conversation with Dean did in fact happen and she used the talking points he gave her?
What a nice way to say
“go pound sand”
or even better
“go pee up up rope”
Well done! (clap clap clap)