re: #222 Greengolem64

So, by definition…being a very public person allows MSM and bloggers (of either side) to write patently false and defamatory statements about people (of either side)? Wow….

Senator blah-de-blah was reportedly seen engaging in (fill in the blank) with (fill in the blank)…published by (fill in the blank) with full knowledge that the statement was FALSE and DEFAMATORY…only to cause political and potentially personal ‘damage’ to said Senator…

I am all for free speech…but what happened to decency?

Blogger, TV personality, or MSM venue…that should NOT be an exception or defense for writing the garbage that has been printed about politicians and public individuals over the past xx decades…or whenever this decline in decency in the press started.

I really wonder if ‘real time’ media outlets such as blogging, twittering, or youtube are not more of a detriment to society. No longer is there the ‘take a deep breath’ time involved with writing and reporting…we have individuals writing stream of consciousnesses and real time tweet’s while others are happily (or not) attacking… People get lost in the heat of the moment…things get said that can’t be taken back thanks to the internet.

Just sayin’…

GG

Lowering the bar for proving defamation against politicians would have a chilling effect on criticism of politicians. If the bar was lowered and politicians could do this, many people would not criticize politicians on account of the expense of defending lawsuits, even if they thought they would ulitimately win.