So it seems obvious that McCain's campaign is lying about Obama. Their statements are demonstrably false. The media is starting to describe it in those terms and even a few, with the opportunity are asking McCain about this to his face. He just says they are not lies and goes on. Sure, politicians have always exaggerated and so many campaign promises gounfulfilled; but this goes further, just deliberate misstatement of existing facts. What is supposed to prevent this? Sure the press is supposed to call this out but McCain doesn't seem to care.
Well we have laws against libel and slander for written and spoken lies causing defamation. What if Obama sued?
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Apparently political officials and candidates are less protected against libel because of their "fame" according to this book about negative political ads. I went looking for it under the assumption that there must be some reason Kerry didn't sue the hell out of the swiftboat liars for deception, or whatever the hell they called themselves. http://books.google.com/books?id=hSl_Mbb0ay4C&pg=PA255&lpg=PA255&dq=libel+political+ad&source=web&ots=4yKtci-IA8&sig=vyUSJ9y5Kitk7Ex4JmVvy6W6Kj0&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result
That's a good find. Seems it's still possible but they'd have to prove malice. They describe that as a large hurdle but it seems obvious in this case to me.
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