Title: Trump Promises Harsh Media Criticism of Him Will Be ILLEGAL If He’s President (TITLE IS FALSE HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY SAY THAT) Source:
Counter Current News URL Source:http://countercurrentnews.com/2016/ ... legal-if-he-becomes-president/ Published:Feb 27, 2016 Author:M. David Post Date:2016-02-27 11:46:16 by Deckard Keywords:None Views:14339 Comments:68
Have you ever made fun of Donald Trump? Have you ever read an editorial that really lays into him with criticisms of his proposed policies, or even his hair?
Well if Trump becomes president, he promises that things will change, and these sorts of critiques will no longer be legal.
It almost sounds like satire, but during a speech in Texas on Friday morning, the Republican candidate and frontrunner, Donald Trump said he wants to sue news outlets if they negative stories about him.
He acknowledged that currently the First Amendment of the Constitution protects a free press, and thus shields journalists from suits like this.
But Trump said on Friday that he would limit the press using litigation that would be permitted due to “opening up” libel laws and allowing them to include things like criticism and critiques that he doesn’t like.
“I think the media is among the most dishonest groups of people I’ve ever met,” Trump stated. “They’re terrible.”
So Trump promised to change things through legislating what he considers “honest reporting.”
“One of the things I’m gonna do, and this is only gonna make it tougher for me, and I’ve never said this before, but one of the things I’m gonna do if I win… is I’m gonna 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 gonna open up those libel laws.”
He went even further and made it clear what he meant, saying, “We’re gonna open up those libel laws, folks, and we’re gonna have people sue you like you never get sued before.”
The 1st Amendment (written to restrict Congressional legislation only) didn't created a preferred class for purposes of libel and slander. The New York Times has no greater 1st Amendment rights in that regard than Joe Sixpack.
"Trump suing the press for criticizing his hair is "constitutional"?
Is that whhat he said? Let me check. No. He didn't say that. There's a transcript (AND a video if you cant read):
He said, "... but one of the things Im gonna do if I win is Im gonna 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."
That's the way it was in our country for 200 years. An activist court in 1967 changed that by excluding "public figures" from protection against libel and slander.
Does freedom of the press include them intentionally telling lies about someone -- to promote some hidden agenda -- without facing any consequences for their action?
but one of the things Im gonna do if I win is Im gonna 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."
And here I thought misterwhite was opposed to frivolous lawsuits.
You Trump cultists are the Bush Bots of the new milenium.
Does freedom of the press include them intentionally telling lies about someone -- to promote some hidden agenda.
Maybe you should ask Hannity, O'Reilly, Kelley and Limbaugh.
As far as I know, there is no "fair and balanced" clause in the First amendment.
"And here I thought misterwhite was opposed to frivolous lawsuits."
I expect the truth from any organization given special protection under the first amendment. The first amendment exists in order to protect the dissemination of the truth to the public.
I don't see the benefit in protecting the ability of news organizations to tell me lies. I think if a protected news organization intentionally tells me lies they should be held responsible under our civil tort laws.
The second amendment protects your right to keep and bear arms. Does that mean you can use those arms to violate the law?