General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsShould Dems explore criminalizing manufactured scandals meant to sway elections?
The GOP's baseless bullshit against Hunter Biden.
The GOP's baseless swiftboating of John Kerry.
The GOP's baseless Benghazi of Hillary.
Whitewater.
The Trump and GOP-led extremely racist Obama birth certificate so-called scandal.
I could go on and on with these bullshit, made-up, fake scandals.
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All of those scandals produced nothing. NO indictments. No credible evidence of any wrong-doing or any law-breaking.
The GOP has wasted billions creating fake political scandals and then investigating them, only to end with zero results. No indictments, no evidence of law-breaking.
Pure bullshit meant to sway elections in favor of GOP candidates and assassinate the character of Dem candidates.
It is a pure attempt to sway elections and is a twisted tactic that wanders into the territory of voter tampering.
GOP fake scandals are voter tampering.
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I admit, I'm not a legal mind. Would this legislation survive court challenges? Is it worth pursuing?
Fake scandals that produce nothing when it is clear that the outcome is meant to damage a political rival should be viewed as a blatant attempt at voter tampering.
And thus, criminalized with SEVERE penalties.
I'm 49 years old and that's my opinion based on a lifetime of watching the GOP pull this bullshit relentlessly ever since Nixon then Ray-gun, Bush, Mccain, Romney, and now Trump.
Attempting to sway the vote through voter tampering should be a federal high crime.
I will fight for this until the day I fucking die.
Remember, the GOP investigated these so-called scandals down to the bare bones. They've wasted billions of taxpayer dollars and produced nothing in return.
Lock them up.
JI7
(89,241 posts)are not as effective anymore.
Amishman
(5,554 posts)Society moves left over time, and the political center moves with it. What was center left becomes center right, and the Republicans won't go away.
This is a significant part of the Pubs voter registration gains in PA over the last few years, as we lose the blue dogs and some of the old moderates.
This trend has always played out, which is why regardless of the moment in time, the elderly trend conservative.
Back to the subject at hand, direct censorship probably isn't the right answer, but civil liability (with major damages awarded) for running false news stories and what turn out to be fake scandals. The media is in it for the ratings, which translate into profits. Hurt their wallet hard enough and they'll police themselves.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)I think that this suggestion might be pushing the envelope too far and other means might better serve the electorate in providing clear information.
flor-de-jasmim
(2,125 posts)JHB
(37,157 posts)...his administration's success in stonewalling investigations would have been further rewarded by putting penalties on those trying to investigate.
Because that was Reagan's stance, that Democrats were "politicizing foreign policy."
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,309 posts)Codeine
(25,586 posts)Nothing could possibly go wrong there.
Chainfire
(17,474 posts)brooklynite
(94,376 posts)You cannot prohibit this kind of speech; even if absolutely false.