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Donald Trump: We're going to 'open up' libel laws
Politico ^ | 2/26/2016 | Hadas Gold

Posted on 02/27/2016 10:02:24 AM PST by dschapin

Donald Trump said on Friday he plans to change libel laws in the United States so that he can have an easier time suing news organizations.

During a rally in Fort Worth, Texas, Trump began his usual tirade against newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, saying they're "losing money" and are "dishonest." The Republican presidential candidate then took a different turn, suggesting that when he's president they'll "have problems."

"One of the things I'm going to do if I win, and I hope we do and we're certainly leading. I'm going to open up our libel laws so when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money. We're going to open up those libel laws. So when The New York Times writes a hit piece which is a total disgrace or when The Washington Post, which is there for other reasons, writes a hit piece, we can sue them and win money instead of having no chance of winning because they're totally protected," Trump said.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/02/donald-trump-libel-laws-219866#ixzz41OOQy1Ch

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 1984; 2016issues; censorship; firstamendment; freedominion; freedomofspeech; freespeech; ignoranceisstrength; lawsuit; libel; ministryoftruth; seditionact; trump; trumpelthinskin
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To: erlayman
I believe the plaintiff also has to show that they have been damaged by the false statements

Damaged ego doesn't count. For Trump that is an issue.

41 posted on 02/27/2016 10:21:11 AM PST by gov_bean_ counter (Trump to McCain - "Pass the strawberries".)
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To: dschapin

Keep talking Donny, people will see though your Schick...


42 posted on 02/27/2016 10:21:14 AM PST by Popman
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To: Admin Moderator

This thread needs to go back up on the breaking news bar. It is reporting very newsworthy comments by the leading Republican Candidate that he made yesterday that could affect every news organization in America and have a devastating effect on Free Speech. If anything is breaking news then this is.


43 posted on 02/27/2016 10:21:39 AM PST by dschapin
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To: dschapin
He's already demonstrated how he would use this when he sent a Cease & Desist letter to Cruz just because Cruz played a video of Trump talking. That's the kind of speech Trump wants to suppress: anything that he said that he doesn't want you know about.
44 posted on 02/27/2016 10:21:48 AM PST by Johnny B. (Trump is, at heart, a facist.)
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To: dschapin

He’ll have to get it through Congress...nothing to worry about - except if you’re the media and are planning to side with the Dems to SMEAR Trump.

Sorry, but I like someone that FIGHTS BACK. I’m sick of this ‘new tone’ crap.


45 posted on 02/27/2016 10:22:00 AM PST by BobL (This is no longer a Policy Wonk election, it is a MOVEMENT. Vote for the hat!)
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To: DrewsMum

How is that an attack on the first amendment.
They can say anything they want.
They just can’t lie knowingly without financial consequences, which right now they can.

He’s not proposing a criminal element or a government suppression.


46 posted on 02/27/2016 10:22:22 AM PST by BlueNgold (May I suggest a very nice 1788 Article V with your supper...)
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To: Jim 0216

I submit to you that Fox News has revealed oceans of malice against Trump. That news organization has worked tirelessly to torpedo his political campaign, because they hate him.

Is that OK? I say No.

Could Trump succeed in court and win damages from Fox? I doubt it.

This is a broken situation. The media is damaging society because they have no accountability.


47 posted on 02/27/2016 10:23:21 AM PST by ClearCase_guy
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To: dschapin

Reason # 6,324 to oppose that ass.


48 posted on 02/27/2016 10:24:10 AM PST by Poison Pill
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To: pleasenotcalifornia

If we have a press that is afraid to attack the rich and powerful due to laws that make it easy for them to be sued if they attack the wrong people that will have a massively chilling effect on Free Speech. Plus, this could effect every single conservative blogger and maybe even comments and vanities on Free Republic.

Attacking our enemies in the media is no reason to blow up the Constitution and our freedoms.


49 posted on 02/27/2016 10:24:15 AM PST by dschapin
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To: ClearCase_guy; ConservativeMind

One thing you DON’T want is a damper on criticizing politicians. They need all the criticism they can get.

The current law makes sense - a news source may actually publish an inadvertent misrepresentation in good faith about a public figure. OR maybe jokingly like in a political cartoon. So the malice requirement makes sense - you purposely and recklessly intended to damage that person’s and his career.


50 posted on 02/27/2016 10:24:27 AM PST by Jim W N
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To: Cicero
The news media have different laws from the rest of us. They can get away with blatant, deliberate lies and not be sued for libel. And they do it, constantly. Against decent people and in support of their communist principles.

What specific laws are you talking about?

51 posted on 02/27/2016 10:24:39 AM PST by FreeReign
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To: mquinn

I guess you don’t know that we have special laws that give the MSM special rights to tell lies that aren’t available to the rest of us.

The news media don’t have to worry about the libel laws, because the gubbermint has written special laws stating that they are different from everyone else, so they can lie their heads off and it’s almost impossible to stop them.


52 posted on 02/27/2016 10:25:01 AM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: dschapin

So he can tie you up in court if you criticize him.


53 posted on 02/27/2016 10:25:16 AM PST by TBP (0bama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: Charles Henrickson
Can you believe the remarks posted here? They agree with Trump on this and would give up their right to critize anthing or anybody. I think they call it hate speech right now.

Well, guess a little bit of that law wouldn't be to bad, surely??

Wonder if Trump could then sue himself...he's got BILLIONS and he could get richer.

54 posted on 02/27/2016 10:25:55 AM PST by annieokie
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To: ClearCase_guy

No, if malice can be proven, Trump wins his case. Simple. No need to “open up” the libel laws that I can see.


55 posted on 02/27/2016 10:26:06 AM PST by Jim W N
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To: Cicero

They can be sued if it can be proven that they knowing printed lies to hurt someone.


56 posted on 02/27/2016 10:26:51 AM PST by dschapin
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To: dschapin

Slippery slope here.And when the Dems get in office they will sue conservative news organizations under Donald’s libel laws. Trial lawyers will love Donald’s new libel laws.


57 posted on 02/27/2016 10:26:56 AM PST by chuckee
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To: dschapin

Unfortunately, because of a case many years ago involving libel committed by the New York Times, the Supreme Court ruled you can defame a public figure and they don’t have recourse. New York Times v. Sullivan


58 posted on 02/27/2016 10:27:37 AM PST by kaehurowing
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To: TBP

That’s exactly what Trump wants and it is something we have not seen in America since the Alien and Sedition laws were rejected.


59 posted on 02/27/2016 10:27:49 AM PST by dschapin
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To: kaehurowing

Not True. Here is the finding of Sullivan which is exactly what we have been saying the current law is.

Held: A State cannot, under the First and Fourteenth Amendments, award damages to a public official for defamatory falsehood relating to his official conduct unless he proves “actual malice” — that the statement was made with knowledge of its falsity or with reckless disregard of whether it was true or false. Pp. 265-292. https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/376/254


60 posted on 02/27/2016 10:29:11 AM PST by dschapin
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