tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176044.post5270195036656774346..comments2023-11-05T02:14:35.689-07:00Comments on Internet Freedom Trail: Obama Threatens to Sue TV Stations That Play NRA AdsDan Karipideshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14346900707595963677noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176044.post-85209901002477244132008-09-27T07:27:00.000-06:002008-09-27T07:27:00.000-06:00In a case of slander (which Obama would ostensibly...In a case of slander (which Obama would ostensibly be suing under) he would have to prove: <BR/><BR/>1)that the statements were untrue<BR/><BR/>2)Actual malicious intent<BR/><BR/>and on top of all of that he would have a much harder case of proof given that he is a public figure and public figures have a much higher burden of proof.<BR/><BR/>While there well could be a case for actual malice under normal circumstances, in an election I suspect a judge would say 'all is fair in politics'. If someone put out an ad that stated outright falsehoods about Obama, i.e. he had a lovechild somewhere, he would probably win that case. <BR/><BR/>But an ad with the NRA skewing facts is just par for the course during campaign season. Is it ethical? No. Of course not, but did anyone really expect ethics during a campaign?<BR/><BR/>What I think is MORE dangerous about this, is Obama threatening to sue the TV stations. Does he really want to go down that slippery slope with the media? Suing entities protected under Constitutional freedoms? That is a can of worms I would not particularly wish to open...Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04862421960160126725noreply@blogger.com