Supreme Court to address whether campaign lies are a crime

[Geee]

Washington Examiner:

The Supreme Court is set to address whether the age-old act of political mudslinging and false accusations are a crime, with the fate -- or at least the tone -- of campaign attack ads at stake.

 

The case brings into conflict two deeply held constitutional values: the right of wide open and unlimited speech, particularly in a political realm, and the notion of protecting the truth — especially when a person's charter character is maligned.

 

The high court on Tuesday is scheduled to hear oral arguments for Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus, which centers on a dispute between former Rep. Steve Driehaus and the anti-abortion group, which waged an aggressive attack on the Ohio Democrat's failed re-election bid in 2010.

[Geee]

Well this is a conundrum. The Supreme Court would not want to rule in favor of lies - but if they don't we all have one massive suit against Obama!!!!!

[Valin]

 

Well this is a conundrum. The Supreme Court would not want to rule in favor of lies:o - but if they don't we all have one massive suit against Obama every politician that ever walked the earth!!!!!

There fixed it.

[Draggingtree]

In ‘Right To Lie’ Case, SBA List Told Truth On Abortion Funding

 

By Casey Mattox JUNE 16, 2014

 

The unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision in Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus is an important victory for free speech. The court held that SBA List could bring a First Amendment challenge to an Ohio law that prohibits making “false statements” in an election campaign—a law that Rep. Steve Driehaus used to prevent SBA List from speaking out against his vote for Obamacare as authorizing taxpayer funds for abortion.

 

Predictably, leftwing commentators claim that the unanimous decision is about whether the pro-life group has a “right to lie” about Obamacare resulting in taxpayer funding of abortion. Other “mainstream” sources feed that narrative with the implication that “experts” say it isn’t true.

 

http://thefederalist.com/2014/06/16/in-right-to-lie-case-sba-list-told-truth-on-abortion-funding/

[Draggingtree]

Opinion analysis: False politicking law open to challenge

By Lyle Denniston on Jun 16, 2014 at 3:24 pm

Analysis

If a state makes it a crime to issue false statements during an election campaign, as sixteen states now do, such a law is open to a constitutional challenge by a group once accused of violating it and at significant risk of being accused again, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Monday.

The decision appeared to break little new ground on the right to test in court a law that is claimed to interfere with rights of free speech under the First Amendment. The decision inSusan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus, however, said nothing about whether such a test should or would succeed in nullifying the law.

Justice Thomas announces opinion in Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus (Art Lien)

Continue reading »http://www.scotusblog.com/2014/06/opinion-analysis-false-politicking-law-open-to-challenge/#more-213516