Note that, although it is more difficult to libel a public figure than it is a private citizen or corporate "person," it is not impossible. It's conceivable that the defamatory statements that were leveled against public figures at my.barackobama.com stepped over the line.
Do any attorneys here want to weigh in on the implications of Stratton Oakmont, Inc. v. Prodigy Services Co. and http://www.lctjournal.washington.edu/Vol3/a014Horowitz.html
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA) offers broad protection for providers and users of interactive computer services against liability for defamation and other content-based claims when a third-party provides the information. Although providers and users of interactive computer services (ICSs) are permitted to exercise some editorial control while still avoiding legal liability, at some point, such editing may transform the provider or user of the ICS into an information content provider and deprive them of § 230 immunity. The key issue is where the threshold between permissible and impermissible editorial control lies.
ROFL
This is idiocracy in action. There’s a politician who went after FRee Republic for the same reason...remember that?
We were all called racist hate mongers and FR would have been shut down if idiots like this fool had their way.