More Sewage from Palin. Is it even legal to make these irresponsible accusations?

[Mike 03]

I heard a clip from a Palin rally during which it sounded like she is now accusing Obama/Biden of "voter fraud."

It's getting pretty filthy now. Is that legal, to now begin to throw around unsubstantiated charges of criminal activity? You can accuse your opponent of committing a felony without any consequence??? I think we should sue the shit out of these assholes the moment this is over. Not just for "voter fraud" contentions, which are nonsense, but the "palling around with
terrorists."

These accusations are absurd, yes, but they go beyond the pale. Or am I way off base? I understand these are all public figures and that you can say a lot about each other, but this is so far out, and so libelous (or do I mean slanderous?).

EDITED for clarification. I was pissed when I wrote it.

[hobbit709]

1. When a repuke makes accusations, they're projecting.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Yeah, like this........

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Triana]

7. That's what I've always said - they're projecting again. n/t

[progressivebydesign]

2. I have no idea of the legality, but it blows me away that they can do that to active Senators.

Does that seem right to you?? Seems like there are some ethics rules by which an active Senator like McCain, must adhere to. Beyond common decency, you would THINK that they'd have some sort of rules about being such deceitful assholes.

[EFerrari]

3. First you'd have to explain to Barbie what "ethics" means. n/t

[Mike 03]

5. Excellent Point

These are not mere candidates but working Senators.

I don't think it's right to accuse anyone of committing these sorts of felonies, and when you get around to insinuating that someone is a "friend of terrorists" and so forth, that is no joke. We live in the post-9-11 world where you just can't say stuff like that. It's just wrong. It should be criminal to say that (knowingly lie) about a person.

[Mike 03]

6. One other point

I'm fairly certain that a broker or investor can sue someone who accuses him/her of something like "insider trading." It goes to the heart of what one does for a living. So to accuse sitting senators of having committed felonies or consorting with terrorists seems like it crosses the line.

[kestrel91316]

8. She better never try to get within arm's reach of me. I'll slap her silly.

Hypothetically speaking, of course.

[longship]

9. Sorry, Mike

It's called the First Amendment. It's the price we all pay for free speech.

People can say things in a political context--even lies and near libel/slander--and there's next to nothing you can do about it. The same law that protects the Nazi Party's right to march in Skokie, IL protects all of us to tell the truth. That's the way it is.

Nota bene: I am opposed to Kay Hagan's libel law suit against Libby Dole (filed today). As egregious as Dole's ad was I cannot support Hagan's law suit as a point of law. I *do* support it as a political ploy to bring the issue to the fore, however. Also, as an atheist, I take *great* exception to demonizing atheists in any way. If I were Kay Hagan I would have read Libby Dole the Constitutional verbiage that states that there will be no religious test for office.

[Mike 03]

10. Thanks, this is definitely food for thought

I understand the right to free speech, and I value it. It was unknown to me that you accuse someone of having committed a criminal act. What if I accused my neighbor of molesting children?

Anyway, I appreciate what you are saying. Maybe you are correct. I just got so damned mad...