[MNDude]

I kind of thought he was being dumb getting interviewed. I guess he is a democrat after all...

[Tench_Coxe]

I would look at the network’s reporting prior to the Hannity appearance. The damage was done *prior* to any public figure argument IMHO.

[RIghtwardHo]

Absolutely! As a Prosecutor of 25 years, I was stunned his atty let him do it (unless client insisted.) There is no upside to it.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

He’s a public figure in large part because of the publicity the NBC libelous “news” program generated. If that lets NBC off the hook, the law really is an ass.

[SeminoleCounty]

Considering NBC already admitted publicly that they altered the tape and fired people involved....NBC is already on shaky ground.

And the WaPo is racist anyway...their comments are alwaya pro No Limit N-——

[Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America]

I think the 'fair game public figure' viewpoint doesn't take into consideration a pending trial. Not all public figures are awaiting trial. When NBC willfully characterized Zimmerman as a racist (public figure or not), they also prejudiced/tainted a jury. Zimm should sue NBC for jury tampering as well.

For the NBC's despicable act (tape edit), they should pay $$$ MILLIONS $$$ for INTENTIONALLY portraying Zimmerman a racist. Only an idiot would believe the tape edit was an accident.

[Bogey78O]

Despite what NBC wants people to believe. It is possible to libel or slander a public figure.

They should know this as they were at the center of one of the largest slander cases involving their editing a test to make GM trucks appear unsafe.

[Mamzelle]

Huh? Lawyers can be so stupid. Was Zimmerman a public figure before NBC made up lies about him? I guess he’s a public figure by now!

[Old Sarge]

Will George Zimmerman regret Hannity interview?

[Vendome]

Idiotic premise that seeks to ignore relevant facts, giving context to the case:

They did, in fact, alter the recordings.

The alteration gives the impression Zimm said one thing when he said something entirely different.
NBC did fire someone for journalistic fraud.

That fraud did malign Zimm and resulted in being a very hated man who committed this act out racism and an insane desire pretending to be a policeman.

Get out yer checkbook ...

[Uncle Chip]

James Beasley, Zimmerman’s attorney in the case, argues that Zimmerman “didn’t thrust himself into the public light,” thus preserving his status as a private citizen. “Defendants [media outlets] try to make everyone a public figure…The press can’t create a monster and then say because this person’s now out, he’s a public figure.”

I think that about answers it.

[piytar]

Being labeled a public figure raises the bar for defamation, but public figures can and have been found to be defamed.

[piytar]

Being labeled a public figure raises the bar for defamation, but public figures can and have been found to be defamed.

[tired&retired]

One could argue that he became a public figure as a result of their illegal actions. At the time, he was unknown.

[Kevmo]

NBC Universal is all but certain to mount a familiar argument. Zimmerman, it will likely contend, is a “public figure”
***He certainly wasn’t a public figure beforehand and he doesn’t seem to have pursued being a public figure.

[wolficatZ]

Sue ABC too! Sue 'em all!

[EDINVA]

He wasn’t a public figure when NBC published fraudulently edited excerpts of his 911 call. THEY (Sharpton and the MSM) made him a ‘public figure.’

[Kenny Bunk]

With Hair-do Hannity and Zimmerman on the air together, there were nearly 100 total IQ points on display.

Note to Zimmerman: speak after your case is thrown out, or you are acquitted. Stop the "victim" nonsense. Try this, "Sorry, the kid screwed up, just my bad luck to have to be the guy who stopped him."