Does "Freedom of Speech" Protect Your Right to Lie????

[CO Liberal]

Morons like Sean Hannity and Michael Savage are bitching and moaning about how the Swift Boat assholes are being denied their "Freedom of Speech".

But do they have a right to lie??? Just because they're veterans???

:shrug:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. Yes.

There is no law against lying. I think there are laws against filing a false affadavit though...

[GiovanniC]

3. Well.... There ARE Slander and Libel Laws

But they're hard to enforce when you're talking about public figures. Hard, but not impossible.

[GiovanniC]

2. Who Is Denying Them?

Seems like they're still polluting the airwaves.

[Karenina]

4. Now THAT is the question isn't it.

Should America go to war based on LIES???? Been done several times. Nothing good has ever come of it. :shrug:

[mumon]

5. Well...

If no damages are caused, yes, they have every right to lie.

But if there's damage to someone's reputation - especially if financial harm can be shown or other such things, then, indeed such action is wrongful- although might not be criminal.

IOW, the people on Kerry's boat should be able to sue for slander, libel and/or defamation.

[MrMonk]

6. They're NOT being denied their freedom.

Their "facts" are being challenged.

Hannity and Savage-Weiner know the difference.
They just don't care.

[Gothmog]

7. This is not a First Amendment issue at all

These idiots are not being denied their right to speak, it is just that the media is not buying their lies and the truth is coming out.

The cure for bad speech is more speech. These idiots can talk all they want and it is the press and the Kerry Campaign's first amendment right to prove that the swifties are liars.

[EST]

8. I'm not at all sure I can agree with you.

Imo, we need to tighten up libel laws. I am tired of and angry with being lied to.
Slander should also have a higher standard. Plus, I think the penalties should be more strict, particularly that the loser pays all legal fees as well as compensation for loss. It wouldn't piss me off to have this slop over into product advertisement. With all the crap in the world and the population explosion and its concomitant stress and competition, a higher standard of public truth is necessary.