Comments on: Press Conference: Latta says “stay away from my wife”

By: neighborhood concerns

neighborhood concerns — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:26:10 +0000

Thanks for the link! Great story.

What I find amusing is this: “As a result of the court’s ruling Thursday, she said, political campaigns are in danger of morphing into “contests of the best stratagems of lies and deceit, to the end that honest discourse and honest candidates are lost in the maelstrom.”

And this is news to the justice?

By: Lily White

Lily White — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:13:21 +0000

This candidate went through the appropriate “tribunal” and then got shot down by the courts who undid the “repercussions” — making it okay to knowingly lie about the opposition:

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=11817

By: neighborhood concerns

neighborhood concerns — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 12:59:39 +0000

“Do we really see swift-boating with impunity as worthy of a Constitutional protection? Is that what the authors intended?”

Well my time ship is out of fuel at the moment but the framers did set up tribunals to settle disputes and what is the alternative?

Government approved speech?

To tell or tell a lie is a personal choice/decision and there are repercussions set forth by the framers.

By: neighborhood concerns

neighborhood concerns — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 12:57:37 +0000

“I do not see why telling deliberate lies is considered free speech. A lie is not an opinion.”

There first has to be a statement. The statement has to be contested. There has to be an arbitor to settle the matter.

Reflect for a moment, and as an example only, Clinton said that he did not have sex with that woman, right.

Lie or not?

His comment is an example of free speech.

I can also call someone a dumb ass and they do not deserve to breath the same air as me.

Lie or free speech?

By: Lily White

Lily White — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 12:52:51 +0000

Even if public people had an easier time suing for slander or libel, candidates can’t be running off to court in the midst of a campaign to clear up deliberate lies. They can ignore them or deny them. If they ignore them, the lie is out there uncontested. If they deny them, that gives the opponent control of the candidate’s message. I do not see why telling deliberate lies is considered free speech. A lie is not an opinion. Do we really see swift-boating with impunity as worthy of a Constitutional protection? Is that what the authors intended?

By: neighborhood concerns

neighborhood concerns — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 11:42:09 +0000

“…did you see that recent court ruling that it’s okay to lie about your opponent because that’s free speech. That one leaves me scratching my head.”

Well it is protected to say what we want and there is no fact checker on what we say, per se, the other person is. And the other person chooses to file the claim and go to court or not. Libel, slander and all that are already in place.

By: Lily White

Lily White — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 04:43:17 +0000

Mark, did you see that recent court ruling that it’s okay to lie about your opponent because that’s free speech. That one leaves me scratching my head.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 03:11:24 +0000

Haven’t Latta and Buehrer been friendly colleagues in the GOP led Ohio legislature? Their attacks on one another is just another example of ambition overwhelming integrity as both of these gentlemen attempt to crawl up the political ladder.

Having run for office and having been the object of an opponent’s unbridled ambition, I would like to see the electorate reject this type of inflammatory politics of hatred and despair.

Unfortunately, until the voters soundly reject this type of political discourse, we’ll likely see it get worse and more dirty in this election and others to come.

I don’t reside in this district, but I’d like to see more positive messages which outline how these candidates would legislate on issues of importance to Ohioans. Don’t tell me what’s wrong with the other guy, I can figure that out for myself.

What a shame! But maybe it’s shame on us if we keep letting them get away with it time and time again.

By: Scott Pullins

Scott Pullins — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:13:14 +0000

I’m doing legal work for the Latta campaign, which includes research on Steve Buehrer. I don’t even know Steve’s wife’s name, let alone have any interest in researching anything about her.

By: neighborhood concerns

neighborhood concerns — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 22:38:08 +0000

“Why can’t these polititians focus on their jobs (or what they plan on doing if they get the job) instead of digging dirt?”

Because doing the job is not as exciting and headline grabbing as body slamming an opponent even if the allegations are not true.