Posted on 02/27/2016 1:57:52 PM PST by dschapin
In his remarks today at a rally in Fort Worth, Tex., Donald Trump knew he’d make news. “I’ve never said this before,” he declared.
We’ll await the word of the Washington Post Fact Checker on the integrity of the statement, but Trump did appear to be veering into a new talking point. A media-law talking point, that is:
One of the things I’m going to do, and this is going to make it tougher for me…but one of the things I’m going to do if I win…is 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 that 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.
An attack on media law is a logical extension of Trump’s rhetoric, not to mention a threat to American democracy. After all, he has displayed a highly undemocratic annoyance with the idea that the media is independent. For months he has been attempting to get the cameras at his rallies to properly pan around the thronged arenas, the better to capture his out-of-control popularity, even when the camera operators’ job is to stay on him. He has ridiculed reporter after reporter for reporting the facts of Trump’s march through the GOP primaries. Whenever he has been busted out by investigative journalism, he has attacked the institutions that have compiled it.
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(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Not only that, there are times when you should yell fire in a crowded theater.
Well,there is that lol.
That’s not true at all - if something is published that is deliberately false they can in fact be sued by a public figure.
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Not quite. A public figure has to take it a step farther and prove malicious intent which is extremely difficult to do.
It’s true that history repeats itself, but only the first is in earnest. The repeat is in jest. We’re in the jester phase.
In democracy, the strong man is given power when the people as a whole have no appetite for the demands of self-government.
As it should be. Yet this is not to say I think the law is perfect. Perhaps one could change the threshold to proving "malice" to, "They were shown evidence that the libel was false and kept doing it without retraction," or some such. I also think retractions should be required to be as prominent as the libel itself. If it was a false headline for example, the retraction itself should be of similar emphasis.
Whaddya think?
Can’t wait until Trump disappoints his flock and they start turning against him.
He’ll be suing a lot of people on here.
Can go both ways, going full liberal with the Hollywood faint on site second coming of the Trump. Blessed be his name in not sharing details beyond vague campaign slogans and liberal leanings.
Hopey changey 2.0 is in full swing
Jim Jones would do well in this century
The standard has always included ‘reckless disregard of the truth or falsity’ and the more general principle of ‘due diligence’. Even relaxing ‘actual malice’ won’t help Trump. What he wants is to control his image, and that ain’t happenin’ (in a legal sense).
Yes. I think so. If a byline, should be published by the author. If a talking head, the talking head should deliver the retraction.
I’m beginning to think a lot of Trump’s supporters really are fascists. And before anyone brings it up, I’ll state Godwin’s Law is a cop out.
I’m NOT a “liberal” and have been here far longer than YOU.
You are the “EXTREMIST”; not to mention, blind, deaf, and a liar.
Yea, he wants the govt. to pay for every Americans healthcare. He said it exactly in those words.
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He said no such thing.
is that all you got from my post? I’m pointing out blatant bigotry and bias being promoted towards a certain European political refugee group, that lazy, history-handicapped journalists (and Cuban political refugee amnesty politicians) have zero understanding of, in an era of ‘multicultural sensitivity,’ and that is all you have to say? alrighty then
Soviet Poles united for Trump!
I can’t say what I think either, but I do own a backhoe and I am quite good on it. ;>)
~~Go Trump Go~~~~Go Trump Go~~~~Go Trump Go~~
He can’t change the law. Libel law is a state matter.
Reckless or knowing disregard for the truth is already actionable.
Once again, he has no idea of what he is talking about.
The American press is allied with communists, greedy corporations, marxist politicians, baby killers, laywers, foreign enemies, illegal aliens, black supremacists and homosexuals to deprive REAL AMERICANS of their INALIENABLE and GOD GIVEN rights.
ITS HIGH TIME TO TAKE MATTERS IN HAND.
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