Editorials & Other Articles

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts) Wed Apr 16, 2014, 03:47 PM Apr 2014

Can You Lie in Politics? Supreme Court Will Decide

Groups at both ends of the ideological spectrum are challenging an Ohio law, on the books since the 1970s, that forbids candidates, issue groups or anyone else from knowingly or recklessly making false statements about someone on the ballot — whether the untruths are intended to help elect or defeat the candidate. Fifteen other states similarly criminalize “false” political statements, briefs in the case say, but this is the first constitutional challenge against one of those laws that’s made it to the Supreme Court.

Read the whole entry at: http://blogs.rollcall.com/hawkings/chabot-driehaus-lying-supreme-court-ohio-case/

7 replies

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Can You Lie in Politics? Supreme Court Will Decide (Original Post) PoliticAverse Apr 2014 OP

IMO they should have to tell the truth Politicalboi Apr 2014 #1

Unfortunately the 5 gangsters in the sumpreme court could rule it's ok to lie kimbutgar Apr 2014 #2

I suspect they will find it unConstitutional as abridgment of free speech. Shrike47 Apr 2014 #3

I thought that there was a federal law rock Apr 2014 #4

If politicians can't lie.... awoke_in_2003 Apr 2014 #5

From BOTH Parties. blkmusclmachine Apr 2014 #7

How can you prove Sarah Palin is knowingly lying when she's proven she doesn't know anything. RickFromMN Apr 2014 #6

Politicalboi

(15,189 posts)

1. IMO they should have to tell the truth

Reply to PoliticAverse (Original post)

Wed Apr 16, 2014, 03:59 PM

Apr 2014

There's too many stupid people who believe the lies like "You didn't build your business" Obama NEVER said that, but they went on to make a commercial as if he did. Faux Noise would have to make a lot of changes to interview candidates who can't spread lies "knowingly".

kimbutgar

(21,155 posts)

2. Unfortunately the 5 gangsters in the sumpreme court could rule it's ok to lie

Reply to PoliticAverse (Original post)

Wed Apr 16, 2014, 04:13 PM

Apr 2014

What kind of message would that send to our children or society in general that lying is permissible? The 5 right wing justice cretins would be getting their sweet money wired to them to their offshore accounts would get a big payments from the Koch's if they ruled lying is ok. ( I'm not saying they get money wired is truth but I would bet these 5 have secret kickback accounts) some good investigative reporter could be the great American hero if that came out.

Shrike47

(6,913 posts)

3. I suspect they will find it unConstitutional as abridgment of free speech.

Reply to PoliticAverse (Original post)

Wed Apr 16, 2014, 04:31 PM

Apr 2014

rock

(13,218 posts)

4. I thought that there was a federal law

Reply to PoliticAverse (Original post)

Wed Apr 16, 2014, 05:18 PM

Apr 2014

that protected(!) political ads. I.e. Political ads can be nothing but lies (and usually are). Have I got this wrong?

awoke_in_2003

(34,582 posts)

5. If politicians can't lie....

Reply to PoliticAverse (Original post)

Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:09 PM

Apr 2014

things are about to get real quiet.

blkmusclmachine

(16,149 posts)

7. From BOTH Parties.

Reply to awoke_in_2003 (Reply #5)

Thu Apr 17, 2014, 06:59 AM

Apr 2014

"Change!" (snort..)

RickFromMN

(478 posts)

6. How can you prove Sarah Palin is knowingly lying when she's proven she doesn't know anything.

Reply to PoliticAverse (Original post)

Wed Apr 16, 2014, 10:06 PM

Apr 2014

The same can be asked of several Republicans.

I believe Michele Bachmann believes what she is saying.

Karl Rove convinced himself Ohio would go for Mitt Romney and had a meltdown on FOX TV 2012 election night.

I believe Paul Ryan believes what he is saying. Doesn't matter if he's crazy. He believes it.

It is sad when politicians lie.

It is equally sad when politicians believe the lie and believe they are telling the truth.

We can find them guilty of ignorance and stupidity.

It's a lot harder finding them guilty of knowingly lying.

The Republican politicians are the symptom of the problem.

The Republican politicians must be defeated because the lies they believe lead them to enact crazy policies.

The source of the problem is another matter.

I believe the wealthy and the large corporations who benefit from Republican policies, actually know the truth.

With the latest Supreme Court rulings the wealthy and large corporations have the biggest megaphones and will brainwash the politicians and large numbers of voters.

It's very sad.

The wealthy and large corporations can shout down the opposition, not with reasoned debate, but with sheer volume.

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