20-Year-Old Republican Website Owner Sued by Former Democrat Senator

Talon News / GOP USA ^ | July 31, 2003 | Jeff Gannon

[Jeff Gannon]

Free Speech Foundation to Aid 20 year-old Website Owner Defend Against $5 Million Libel Lawsuit

Washington, DC - The Free Speech Foundation, a Washington, DC-based First Amendment watchdog group announced Thursday that it would assist a Pennsylvania website owner hit with a libel lawsuit. Michael Marino, a 20 year-old website designer who owns ProBush.com is being sued by former Democratic South Dakota Senator James Abourezk for $5 million.

Abourezk’s lawsuit claims that his reputation has been damaged by his inclusion on the site’s parody list of “traitors”. The list is made up of Hollywood celebrities, musicians, writers, reporters and politicians who have been critical of President George W. Bush or the war in Iraq. Similarly, a roster of “Patriots” also appears on the website, composed of public figures who are outspoken in favor of the President and the U. S. -led war in Iraq.

Marino maintains the First Amendment protects the free speech rights of ProBush.com and that the list was not to be taken seriously, as a disclaimer on the website suggests. Facing the threat of a multi-million dollar judgment against him by the former U. S. Senator, Marino has been forced to retain a law firm in South Dakota to defend him.

Marino is scheduled to begin night school in the fall, but those plans are now in jeopardy due to the lawsuit. A legal fund has been established by the Free Speech Foundation to assist with the legal costs of a trial that could last for several months.

The outcome of the case could have a significant impact on Internet speech, which has become the most important medium for individual expression. A victory by Abourezk would undoubtedly have a chilling effect on the bourgeoning "blogosphere".

[Mannaggia l'America]

What the heck is wrong with the voters in South Dakota? First they gave us this guy and now Daschole!

[fieldmarshaldj]

In the early '70s, the state was trending towards the 'Rats (namely because of an old and complacent GOP). They replaced elderly Republicans with people like Abourezk, et al. There was a bit of a backlash and the state went back the other direction again by the end of the decade, but thanks to the looming presence of Wild Bill Janklow who couldn't stand sharing the spotlight with other Republicans, he helped bring about a 'Rat Renaissance in the state, sabotaging the Republicans that vanquished these nutty 'Rats in the '80s.