FREEDOM OF SPEECH
Hey Webmaster and/or owner of site,
I heard through the grapevine (Sgt. Breeden) that he and the Chief are looking at possibly filing a lawsuit against you for the information that is posted on this website. Man, is his attorney milking their money. See an excerpt below from another website that handles situations such as these. Maybe they should refer their attorney to these court decisions!
Article from the website: Black Velvet Bruce Lee
Freedom of Speech
(Click above link to read the full article.)
By RHarrison | 3 August 2006 | Blogs | 11 Comments
I first became involved with BVBL over attacks on the original owner of this site’s right to criticize a political candidate. This site is now being attacked by friends of another political candidate for making fun of her using a photograph. Neither of these claims have any merit under the law. Moreover, they are direct attacks on basic first amendment rights that form the foundation of our democracy.
The most important and fundamental right all citizens must enjoy to have a functioning democracy is the right to criticize their political leaders and those who wish to be political leaders.
It does not matter if the speech being used is mean, irreverent, satirical, harsh or even, in all but the most extreme cases, wrong. American citizens get to criticize people running for and holding political office.
Why is that so hard for people to understand?
This basic premise is well established in constitutional law, something I would think the lawyers who regularly post to this site would know.
To quote the great Justice Felix Frankfurter in Baumgartner v. United States, 322 U.S. 665, 673-674 (1944), “[o]ne of the prerogatives of American citizenship is the right to criticize public men and measures.” In Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell (No. 86-1278), the court (specifically, Rehnquist) cited Frankfurter specifically to make the point that public officials and candidates must expose themselves to criticism, even if such criticism is unfair.
From MONITOR PATRIOT CO. v. ROY, 401 U.S. 265 (1971): “[T]he candidate who vaunts his spotless record and sterling integrity cannot convincingly cry “Foul!” when an opponent or an industrious reporter attempts [p52] to demonstrate the contrary.”
Click here to read the rest of the article: Freedom of Speech
Basically, it boils down to this. If you don't want people talking about you or pointing out all your mistakes, misjudgments, illegal activities, etc. - DON'T BE A PUBLIC OFFICIAL!
Hint - Hint
