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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
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 Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:01 am Post subject: Gingrich: Palin could sue "SNL" for slander |
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Maybe they need some kind of Human Rights Commission to jump on this?:
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During an appearance on Fox News Wednesday night, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was up in arms over what he sees as the media's poor treatment of Sarah Palin. In fact, he said, some of what has been done to her and her family is so bad that it's worthy of taking to court.
"I think the elite media's attack on Governor Palin again and again has been factually wrong, intellectually dishonest, totally biased, worthy of the Polish state news media attacking Lech Walesa back in the 1980s," Gingrich told host Greta Van Susteren. "I mean, this is a kind of deliberate, vicious, dishonest, total distortion of who Governor Palin is, including, by the way, the 'Saturday Night Live' skits, some of which I think were slander and were worthy of a lawsuit."
It's always comforting to know that a man who once ran the House of Representatives has such a firm grasp of the law, isn't it? Because in, fact, if Palin did sue "SNL" over the skits, she couldn't prevail.
There's a rather famous case about this, actually, stemming from the Rev. Jerry Falwell's lawsuit against Hustler Magazine over a parody the magazine printed, a fictional advertisement in which "Falwell" talked about having sex with his mother in an outhouse. In Hustler Magazine v. Falwell, the Supreme Court ruled 8-0 against the evangelical leader, saying that such parodies of public figures are protected speech under the First Amendment. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:05 am Post subject: |
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"I think the elite media's attack on Governor Palin again and again has been factually wrong, intellectually dishonest, totally biased, worthy of the Polish state news media attacking Lech Walesa back in the 1980s," Gingrich told host Greta Van Susteren. "I mean, this is a kind of deliberate, vicious, dishonest, total distortion of who Governor Palin is, including, by the way, the 'Saturday Night Live' skits, some of which I think were slander and were worthy of a lawsuit."
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The fact that Sarah Palin later appeared on SNL herself would probably stand against her in any such lawsuit. |
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Gopher
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:08 am Post subject: |
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There is not going to be any law-suit.
They do not refer to this as "the silly season" for nothing. We should stop acting the political virgin and taking such stories at face-value, then. Remember, "truth" as a defense wins such civil litigation -- and in at least one case, SNL simply repeated/mocked S. Palin's words. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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| I dunno, guys. Newt has gone through 84 ethics charges. He may well know whereof he speaks. The number 84 tells me he has spent a lot of time talking to lawyers about the issue of ethics. On the other hand, total cluelessness about the law could account for 84 charges. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Politicians are public figures. Making fun of them is a well established form of protected speech. |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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| In this case Gingrich is way off. The burden of proof would be so strong that such a case would get laughed out of court. Not to mention it would boost SNL's ratings. There's nothing like giving free publicity. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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Gingrich said that.
One of the few things I've always respected of Republicans is they are generally anti-lawyer and hate the concept of suing people for all kinds of random things.
Now Newt is suggesting lawsuits and such...it is political suicide for one, and then the hypocrisy of it being from that party that condones it! |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 12:56 am Post subject: |
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TB,
Good point about Republicans and lawyers, it certainly doesn't make sense he'd suggest that. Then again, he's a commentator, so maybe he's just making sure he earns his keep. |
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