Regarding Ann Coulter: Does freedom of speech give license to slander??

Question

Her recent comment towards John Edwards brings to mind this question. Opinions?

Answer 1

Yup, heard that before. People use Freedom of Speech as an excuse to either slander others, offend, cause hostility.

Answer 2

Freedom of speech does NOT give the right to slander. If I understand correctly, you cannot slander if you can prove that what you say is true. But I don't think that what she said was true. But I also think that what she said was malicious. And John Edwards is the one who should decide that.

ANyway, I don't feel that what she said was slander! It was a joke, no matter how bad. It was distasteful and it was wrong, but not really slander.

Answer 3

No freedom of speech does NOT give license to slander, because one person's rights end where another person's begin. Equality rights guarantee equal citizenship, equality before the law and NONDISCRIMINATION. That's something people who breed hate need to learn. The beginning of the United States Declaration of Independence says "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." Notice the end, "Dedicated to the proposition that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL." Therfore equality rights apply to all men or in essence all members of the human race.

Also, Slander is a CRIME. Slander is a spoken defamation. Defamation or "defamation of character," is spoken or written words that falsely and negatively reflect on a living person's reputation. For most of the history of the United States, constitutional protections of freedom of speech were considered fully compatible with state defamation law. This changed with the landmark 1964 case of New York Times v. Sullivan, in which the Supreme Court of the United States announced constitutional restrictions to state defamation law. The court held that where a public official was defamed, the plaintiff had to prove not just that an untruthful statement was made, but also that it was made with "actual malice" - that is, with knowledge of falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth. The "actual malice" standard was subsequently extended to public figures in general, and even to private figure plaintiffs seeking punitive or presumptive damages.

So again I'll reiterate, you have to be careful with your right to freedom of speech because your rights end where someone else's begin. Coulter could very easily be held liable for slander because many of her statements are opinions therefore they hold no basis in truth. Using the John Edwards comment as an example, she knows full well that there is no way there is any truth to that comment, so ultimately she is guilty of Defamation or Slander, because her whole goal was to lower the public's opinion of him.

Answer 4

You, and in step with threat I, do not basically like the language although that's freedom of speech. If this is going to be banned, who selects what's banned? who's the censor? And what are the obstacles? that's extra user-friendly to introduce censorship than to regulate it as quickly as that's in place. that's effortless to pick that freedom of speech basically covers what you have self assurance and something you do not consider could be censored. yet while it stops your point of view being positioned forward is censorship nevertheless suitable?

Answer 5

Well, the left, and others, have slandered the VP and Sec of State and nary a word has been uttered by MSM or left leaning sheeple.

Coulter is a humorist. Bill Mahr recently stated he wished the VP had been murdered. Where is the outrage???!!!

Let's lighten up people!

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Answer 6

Yes it does but how free is speech when anybody in the limelight says something offensive they are beaten down into the ground for it.I may or may not agree with everything people say but I would'nt take their rights away neither.People want freedom of speech but only until somebody says something that offends them they cant handle it.

Answer 7

Yes it does. She is a very smart woman, If it's not in the realms of personal defamation of character, it is Freedom of Speech baby.
deal.

Answer 8

you still have the right to commit slander, but the individual reserves the right to pursue legal action...

Answer 9

No it does not. Don't worry, she will get what she has coming to her sooner or later.

Answer 10

maybe she thinks shes being funny but i know a whole lotta people who did NOT