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The left fakes the hate at GWU

By Michelle Malkin  •  October 9, 2007 10:58 PM

fakeflyer.jpg
This fake flyer attributed to the Young America’s Foundation chapter at GWU was manufactured by left-wing punks.

If you’ve followed my work on fake hate crimes, then this will come as absolutely no surprise.

Update: Charles Johnson’s been on the story all day. See much more here.

You think the hate crimes fraudsters will get anything more than a slap on the wrist?

Don’t make me snort.

***
Here’s the confession letter.

As Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week draws closer, expect more of this unhingedness from the campus apologists for jihad and sharia.

***

More on the IVAW tie-in at LGF.

David Horowitz
blasts the hoaxers:

In a stratagem typical of the deceitful smear campaigns the left seems to favor, an obviously fake hate flyer has been posted all over the George Washington University campus with the intention of sabotaging Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week (October 22-26), and smearing its sponsors the David Horowitz Freedom Center and the Young America’s Foundation.

The flyer, which is headlined “Hate Muslims? So Do We” and masquerades as a publication by GW students now organizing Islamo Fascism Awareness Week activities, is itself a hate crime as well as a forgery. Its authors, cowering behind anonymity, are part of what has become a national movement to attack Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week.

This movement is the work of the Revolutionary Communist Party, the Socialist Workers Party and the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee. It has one unvarying, malicious theme: that we are anti-Muslim. The Socialist Workers’ Party has mobilized its cadre with the charge that IFAW will “demonize Arabs and Muslims.” The Revolutionary Communist Party, which has threatened violent disruptions of this event, claims that we are committed to “the vilification of immigrants from the Middle East and Muslims of all countries.”

As we have observed in a previous statement (“Why Islamo-Fascism”) responding to these attacks, this is a version of The Big Lie that would do Joseph Goebbels proud.

The term “Islamo-Fascism” was coined by Muslims in Algeria who were attacked by religious fanatics who now call themselves the al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb. They slaughtered nearly 200,000 Muslims in the years 1990-2002. In fact, Islamo-fascists have killed more Muslims than any other group. (See.

Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week is an effort to give moderate Muslims support against the forces that have hijacked their religion. It is also an effort to defend Christians, Jews, Hindus, gays, and other groups now under attack by Islamic fundamentalists. We are particularly concerned about the oppression of women under fundamentalist Islamic regimes such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, and about the silence of the Women’s Studies Departments on this campus in the face of that oppression.

Why are the authors of the phony flyer afraid of the having these issues discussed by the George Washington University community during Islamo Fascism Awareness Week? Is it because they are themselves filled with a hatred they have projected onto us? Listen to what they say in their disgraceful flyer: “Your typical Muslim has: laser eyes, venom at the mouth,…peg-leg for smuggling children and heroin.” Who in his right mind would believe this garbage? This is obviously a lame attempt at satire by people who are willing to lie to the public in order to discredit their political opponents.

***

Previous:

Hate crime hoax at Ole Miss
Colleges perfect milieu for hate crime hoaxes
Unhinged: The Mugshot Collection [scroll down to Kerri Dunn]
Another hate crime hoax
Crimes of the phantoms
Tawana Brawley goes to college
Muslim “hate crimes”
Myth of the Muslim hate crime epidemic

See what others have said

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Trackbacks

  1. Bill's Bites
  2. Stop The ACLU » Blog Archive » Leftist Put Up Fake Hate Flyers at GWU
  3. Freedoms Zone
  4. If this doesn’t make you cynical towards the powers that be nothing will « Full Metal Cynic
  5. This ain’t Hell, but you can see it from here » So who hung those posters at GWU?
  6. Michelle Malkin » GWU’s leftist hoax crime update: What will the administration do?
  7. Confederate Yankee
  8. Michelle Malkin » Why won’t Columbia University release the noose security video?
  9. ConservativeINC » Blog Archive » Anti-Semitism at Columbia and it Wasn’t Ahmadinejad
  10. Michelle Malkin » Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week kicks off
  11. The People's Republic of Seabrook
  12. Michelle Malkin » GWU student journalist admits hate crime hoax
  13. Michelle Malkin » Fertile ground for fake hate

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Comments

  1. #1
    On October 9th, 2007 at 11:03 pm, corona said:

    No snort here - I remember these happening at colleges before, and they usually result in more “senstivity” training, as if there was a real incident!

  2. #2
    On October 9th, 2007 at 11:24 pm, PowWow said:

    The usual suspects must be so disappointed. They probably already had the media assault planned out.

  3. #3
    On October 9th, 2007 at 11:51 pm, 29Victor said:

    Charles at LGF has more on it here and here.

  4. #4
    On October 10th, 2007 at 12:40 am, hunkahillbilly said:

    Isn’t there a lawsuit there somewhere?

  5. #5
    On October 10th, 2007 at 1:27 am, Defector01 said:

    Don’t you worry, the YAF will still be forced to swallow an ‘apology for intolerance’. Most of those fool administrators think that the document is really what YAF and republicans think about Arabs. So they will take that ‘hoax’ as “PROTECTED FREE SPEECH” or “just kids playing a game” or something and sweep it under the rug.

  6. #6
    On October 10th, 2007 at 2:04 am, MrArchieBunker said:

    This is standard fare for the radical left, agit-prop is their stock in trade, as Michelle richly documents. David Horowitz (who is a national treasure) is already all over it….”This movement is the work of the Revolutionary Communist Party, the Socialist Workers Party and the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee. It has one unvarying, malicious theme: that we are anti-Muslim.”

  7. #7
    On October 10th, 2007 at 2:19 am, T J Green said:

    Son of a camel… this is just like a little child falsely telling on a sibling. Only in this case, “Dad” is brain dead and the Admin reacts without thinking a single rational thought.

    Will someone please educate these idiot leftist students that Islam is not a race?

  8. #8
    On October 10th, 2007 at 2:21 am, SpeakEasy said:

    Wow. Goebells must be giggling in Hell.

    It shouldn’t come as a surprise that GW students would be honing thier creative misinformation (lying) skills being in the shadow of the Capitol.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the future of the Democratic Party!

  9. #9
    On October 10th, 2007 at 6:52 am, gunslingerpatriot said:

    I think it can finally and officially said that our nations colleges are no longer institutions of higher learning, but de facto education camps without the barb wire and attack dogs (at my college we already have the guard towers!)

    GSP

  10. #10
    On October 10th, 2007 at 7:01 am, englishqueen01 said:

    The question that comes to my mind - whenever I see leftist denial of terrorism and radical Islam - is how well they’d fare in Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.

    All their favorite “rights”:

    Abortion
    Same sex marriage
    Promiscuous sex
    Etc.

    would be haram under shari’a law.

    I still believe this is a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend. The left hates GWB, conservatives, and Christians so much they’re willing to pretend if they’re nice to the terrorists, they won’t get blown up, beheaded, or oppressed.

    I never want shari’a law, but deep down, I have a deep desire to see these loons suffer for a day under the horrid theocracy of radical Islam…

  11. #11
    On October 10th, 2007 at 7:20 am, TMoney said:

    I’m rusty on what the law says, but it looks like a libel suit is in here somewhere.
    This kind of unhinged lie is exactly the kind of advertisement that bin Laden and the Islamofacists love.

  12. #12
    On October 10th, 2007 at 7:34 am, On-my-soap-box said:

    Don’t make me snort

    Oh, just snort and get it over with.

    Gone
    Wholy
    Unhinged

  13. #13
    On October 10th, 2007 at 7:39 am, zorro said:

    The students - Adam Kokesh, freshman Yong Kwon, senior Brian Tierney, freshman Ned Goodwin, Maxine Nwigwe, Lara Masri and Amal Rammah - said their motives were misinterpreted.

    Graduate students? Haaaa! Stupid, bed wetters more likely. I’m sure we will see their names again… as democrapic staffers.

  14. #14
    On October 10th, 2007 at 7:53 am, 509th Bob said:

    There is more than merely a libel suit available here, assuming that a GWU student who is also a YAF member really wants to send GWU faculty to sensitivity training (of a sort).

    Under 18 USC 241, it is illegal to conspire to “injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person” who is engaging in the “free exercise or enjoyment of any right” (say, like maybe the First Amendment) “secured to him by the Constitution….”

    Thus, not that they did, but even if YAF had put up the flyers, it would be an exercise of their First Amendment freedom of expression.

    What GWU is currently doing, however, is to falsely accuse YAF members in order to intimidate them from exercising their First Amendment rights. Don’t just sit there and complain, go to the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, and demand that a criminal investigation be initiated against the GWU faculty who appear to be conspiring to violate your Constitutional rights. Although they tend to think it, the Civil Rights laws of the United States don’t just “belong” to liberals. They are enforceable even against liberals.

  15. #15
    On October 10th, 2007 at 8:10 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

    It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt…

    anonymity more like cowards.

    Godless
    Whores
    University

    Is there a liberal manual floating around somewhere that tells you how to stoop to a new low and just when you think you couldn’t go any lower…all you need to do is turn the page?

  16. #16
    On October 10th, 2007 at 8:29 am, pubscout said:

    According to their confession, they wanted to expose “Islamophobic racism.”

    I’m having difficulty pairing those words. Islam is a religion, right? Not a race, right? So how can one have a racist attitude toward a religion?

    You say these are college kids at a prestigious college? Whoever’s paying their tab is getting beat.

    Just goes to show how the left believes that trotting out the “R” word justifies whatever nonsense they want to promote.

  17. #17
    On October 10th, 2007 at 8:52 am, Gabe said:

    This movement is the work of the Revolutionary Communist Party, the Socialist Workers Party and the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee.

    The Left adores Islam because Muslims want to destroy the Western heritage, which is their goal as well. Therefore, Islamo-facism Awareness Week is highly offensive to them, and they are trying to sabotage it.

    It cracks me up because those who vote for the Left and who are so intrigued by Islam–gays, liberal Hollywood actors and actresses, atheist college professors, liberals–would be the first to be executed in an Islamic dictatorship they are helping to form. They are such fools.

  18. #18
    On October 10th, 2007 at 8:56 am, blues said:

    You guys are being way too hard on these dear children.After all they “take responsibilty” for their stupidity…after the fact,of course.And after their idiotic hoax was discovered.It’s o.k. for Liberals to do anything that there minisule brains can come up with,no matter what the harm,as long as they say”I’m sorry”.
    The Libs still can’t understand that responsibility (or lack of it) only applies before the problem is created.Kind of like buying health insurance for your children.

  19. #19
    On October 10th, 2007 at 9:05 am, Gabe said:

    I’m having difficulty pairing those words. Islam is a religion, right? Not a race, right? So how can one have a racist attitude toward a religion?

    That is so true, Pubscout. In fact, Adam Kokesh, the Korean commi Yong Kwon, and the others in the apology letter are showing THEIR racism by picturing all Middle Easterners as Muslim in claiming that Islamo-Facism Awareness Week is “racist.” What a racist stereotype they have. There are many Middle Easterners in the U.S. who are Roman Catholic, evangelical, Maronite Catholic, Protestant, etc. Yet the Left-wingers picture them all as Muslim.

  20. #20
    On October 10th, 2007 at 9:13 am, gunslingerpatriot said:

    I sense that the all the liberal groups that espouse any thing that is anti-Western civilization really know what will happen, but believe that the Patriots will always be there to defend America because thats what we do.

    But the problem is; Who will step up to defend them when the voices they attempted to silence can’t speak from the grave anymore?

    Don’t be mistaken, the conservatives that post on MM, TH, and other conservative blogs will be the first to go because we are perceived to be the greatest threat to islamic terrorism in that we value: Freedom, education, a strong sense of national patriotism, defense of our family (and our neighbors too) and maintain a strong desire for rugged indivdualism that has withstood the test of time for over 222 years.

    If you feel that you are being persucuted in this country for your beliefs-take a look around and ask if you meet any of the following categories:
    a) Christian or hold a Judeo-Christian worldview.
    b) Beleive that the family is the bedrock of American society.
    c) Support a persons right to defend themselves and their families with a firearm.
    d) Are against tyranny in any form ranging from islam to communism?
    e) Are a white-heterosexual-male open to tolerance of other ethnic groups without conditions being applied?
    f) Believe that the a government that governs the least governs the best?
    g) Accept affirmative action in its orignal concept prior to 1970, and its use currently when there is clear cut discrimination being used to keep out an equally qualified person without minimising the academic standards for acheivement.
    h) Beleive that marriage is between one man and one woman, and not any other variation thereof.
    g) Have been publically humiliated for your Christian or conservative beliefs at work or school?

    If you answered yes to more than 4 of these, then you have a reason to be concerned.

    Just my thoughts before going to school this morning…GSP ;)

  21. #21
    On October 10th, 2007 at 9:28 am, chow said:

    It is interesting that as the left finds itself increasingly aligned with radical islam, they dont seem to have a clue what the snake will do to them once there numbers in the leftist den are too numerous to control. Then they will rely on those of us whom they despise (conservatives) to protect them from the den of vipers they made their beds with.

  22. #22
    On October 10th, 2007 at 9:30 am, ajmontana said:

    I’m not standing by this flyer at all it’s hate pure and simple but, what if it said “We Love Muslims” coming out of our colleges? with Religion of peace as it’s mantra and Sharia Law? If I had to choose one or the other it would be this one.

  23. #23
    On October 10th, 2007 at 9:30 am, Jaded said:

    The minute I saw it on the news I knew it wasn’t the conservative group that plastered it across the campus….I am rarely surprised anymore….shame really.

  24. #24
    On October 10th, 2007 at 9:30 am, max said:

    I noticed that the self-described, ahem, “creative” flier includes a note at the bottom encouraging readers to google “The Power of Nightmares”…

    here it is..

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_of_Nightmares

    a BBC screed equating Islamofascims with neoconservatism looks like…

    sheesh

  25. #25
    On October 10th, 2007 at 9:32 am, JHSII said:

    Anyone want to bet that the American Criminal Liberties Union gets in on this on the side of the people committing the hoax?

    I’m not surprised in the slightest though. A surprise would be if the 7 students were expelled from the university and charged with crimes. It should happen - but it won’t.

    They’re not white lacrosse players.

  26. #26
    On October 10th, 2007 at 9:52 am, Rusty said:

    Satire does not equal a “hoax.” This speech is clearly protected by the First Amendment (Hustler v. Falwell).

    The people who did created this could maybe get in trouble for using the GW logo. That’s probably it.

  27. #27
    On October 10th, 2007 at 10:16 am, publiuswarmac9999 said:

    Conservatives are not stupid enought to do something like this. The only possible source of this kind of idiocy is the left.

  28. #28
    On October 10th, 2007 at 10:22 am, englishqueen01 said:

    The people who did created this could maybe get in trouble for using the GW logo. That’s probably it.

    What about using YAF’s name and logo? They are posing as YAF, distributing a flyer that - if actually distributed by YAF - would send liberals into orbit for being bigoted and islamophobic.

    How would YOU feel if someone created a flyer with your name on it, packed it full of lies, and distributed it to smear your reputation?

    Methinks you wouldn’t be so blasé about that.

    There is a line between parody and libel, and it’s clearly been crossed here.

    And if the First Amendment doens’t protect Rush Limbaugh from calling phony soldiers what they are - PHONY SOLDIERS - why the hell would these lefties be protected for smearing YAF’s good name?

    Oh, wait…I answered my own question. Because they’re lefties. The people who are always above reproach and have moral authority over everyone else whlist simultaneously claiming morals are relative.

  29. #29
    On October 10th, 2007 at 10:38 am, chep said:

    Propaganda.

  30. #30
    On October 10th, 2007 at 10:41 am, Rusty said:

    How would YOU feel if someone created a flyer with your name on it, packed it full of lies, and distributed it to smear your reputation?

    I would hate it. And Jerry Falwell hated it when Hustler printed a fake ad saying that he lost his virginity to his mother in an outhouse.

    But since the poster was clearly a joke (that “lasers shooting out of their eyes” line makes the poster clearly satirical), there’s no way that YAF has a case.

  31. #31
    On October 10th, 2007 at 10:54 am, JHSII said:

    Sorry Rusty, the poster clearly wasn’t a joke, although I do admit that those on thye left probably find it hysterically funny.

    The double standard lives.

  32. #32
    On October 10th, 2007 at 10:55 am, englishqueen01 said:

    But since the poster was clearly a joke (that “lasers shooting out of their eyes” line makes the poster clearly satirical), there’s no way that YAF has a case.

    Oh, so long as it was a “joke”, it’s okay.

    Rusty - answer me this. What if YAF had actually released this poster, as a “joke”? What would the reaction be?

    (Here’s a hint: think riots, think expulsions, think hysteria on the politically-correct left).

    The left does something, it’s a joke. The right does something, it’s a federal felony.

    Got it, Rusty. Your double standards are both alarming and sad.

  33. #33
    On October 10th, 2007 at 10:57 am, Eric_CharlotteNC said:

    Rusty is probably right. I’m sure they had Hillary’s as well as MoveOn’s lawyers look it over first!

  34. #34
    On October 10th, 2007 at 10:58 am, On-my-soap-box said:

    So, Rusty, why are they fighting so hard to keep Pastors from saying that homosexuality is a sin and an abomination? It IS what the Bible teaches but saying it will get the book thrown at you as a hate crime.

    More double standard by the left. When the case is clearly hate speech by the left, the left espouses “1st amendment right!”. When a conservative (and GOD forbid a Christian conservative) says something controversial against homosexuals the left screams out “HATE CRIME”?

  35. #35
    On October 10th, 2007 at 11:02 am, englishqueen01 said:

    When a conservative (and GOD forbid a Christian conservative) says something controversial against homosexuals the left screams out “HATE CRIME”?

    You forgot to add the following to the list of verboten things conservatives cannot talk about:

    Families on SCHIP
    African Americans (especially in regards to crime)
    Abortion (if you’re pro-life)
    Illegal immigration (if you’re for border control)
    Folsom Street Fair and the like
    Radical Islam, or Islam in general
    Feminist issues
    Phony soldiers
    Liberal “patriotism”

    …and I could list more.

    What’s that saying? “Free speech for me, but not for thee”? Yeah. That’s the new motto of the American left.

  36. #36
    On October 10th, 2007 at 11:08 am, bipartisancomplainer said:

    Interestingly the person who signed the confession letter admitting to doing this is a known nutroot who is in the process of having his honorable discharge changed to a dishonorable one. Adam Kokesh. He has a wikipedia entry.

  37. #37
    On October 10th, 2007 at 11:16 am, Rusty said:

    Wait, what? I only speak for myself, not the “American Left.” But it’s obvious to anyone with a brain and at least one working eye that this ad is a shot at the YAF, not at Muslims.

    When a conservative (and GOD forbid a Christian conservative) says something controversial against homosexuals the left screams out “HATE CRIME”?

    It’s not a hate crime. It’s bigoted and silly, but a hate crime? No. It’s a hate crime when some poor kid gets assaulted outside of a gay bar while the assailants yell “fag!” If you want to say “homosexuality is an abomination and gays are going to Hell,” that is obviously well within your First Amendment rights.

    Rusty - answer me this. What if YAF had actually released this poster, as a “joke”? What would the reaction be?

    The campus would be way more infuriated. It’s not difficult to understand why. Jokes about someone’s political beliefs are way more “in bounds” than jokes based on religious stereotypes. Of course, their “joke” would also fall into the realm of free speech.

    YAF should be infuriated. They have every right to be. But that doesn’t mean the First Amendment doesn’t apply. There are no liberal double standards here other than the double standard that attacks on a religion are far more verboten than satirical attacks on political beliefs.

  38. #38
    On October 10th, 2007 at 11:20 am, Rusty said:

    Adam Kokesh was the Marine who was counting every time Alberto Gonzales said “I don’t recall” or “I don’t remember.” He is being dishonorably discharged because he wore his uniform to a protest. He has the support of the VFW in that case.

    I double dog dare someone to call him a “phony soldier.”

  39. #39
    On October 10th, 2007 at 11:21 am, englishqueen01 said:

    Okay, Rusty. Then I’m going to create a poster with a woman, entitled “How to spot a liberal”, and list a whole bunch of stereotypes, such as “Hairy armpits show commitment to ‘natural’ lifestyle and lack of sense of smell.”

    Would that be considered a joke?

    Doubtful. Even though it’s about POLITICS and not religion, you can bet there’d be people who attacked me, who sued me, etc. etc.

    I’m sorry you can’t see the double standard, or how misrepresenting YAF in this flyer is libelous.

  40. #40
    On October 10th, 2007 at 11:28 am, Rusty said:

    Okay, Rusty. Then I’m going to create a poster with a woman, entitled “How to spot a liberal”, and list a whole bunch of stereotypes, such as “Hairy armpits show commitment to ‘natural’ lifestyle and lack of sense of smell.”

    Would that be considered a joke?

    Yes. I would consider it a joke anyways. And women would be pissed. And yeah, people would attack the poster as being hateful. Which is exactly what’s happening with the satirical Arab poster.

    As for lawsuits, if anyone sued you, they would lose. I’ve never said anything on this thread whether I found the poster in good taste or not. I’m just saying it’s legal. And if someone sues, Hell yeah the ACLU will be helping these guys out.

  41. #41
    On October 10th, 2007 at 11:37 am, bipartisancomplainer said:

    Rusty said: Adam Kokesh was the Marine who was counting every time Alberto Gonzales said “I don’t recall” or “I don’t remember.” He is being dishonorably discharged because he wore his uniform to a protest.

    As well as trying to illegally smuggle into the country a weapon he purchased in Iraq and responding to an officer with profanities. Not exactly conduct befitting a soldier regardless of political position.

  42. #42
    On October 10th, 2007 at 11:38 am, SnowyOwl said:

    But it’s obvious to anyone with a brain and at least one working eye that this ad is a shot at the YAF, not at Muslims.

    So, are you calling the GWU administration blind and stupid, given their response documented at LGF?

  43. #43
    On October 10th, 2007 at 11:54 am, Rusty said:

    He was demoted for those. Still honorably discharged until the protests though.

  44. #44
    On October 10th, 2007 at 11:56 am, Rusty said:

    But, no, obviously not the cleanest record. And this poster stunt wasn’t particularly well thought out either.

  45. #45
    On October 10th, 2007 at 12:07 pm, josetheguerilla said:

    I’m sorry you can’t see the double standard, or how misrepresenting YAF in this flyer is libelous.

    I agree. Why is it only hate crimes are for libbs. If this paper sparked a beat down, that should be a crime. right?

  46. #46
    On October 10th, 2007 at 12:12 pm, Rusty said:

    If someone physcially attacks a YAF member, or any conservative, because of his political beliefs, that is a hate crime in Washington, DC.

  47. #47
    On October 10th, 2007 at 12:13 pm, JHSII said:

    We should all remember that to the left being a conservative is a hate crime.

  48. #48
    On October 10th, 2007 at 12:20 pm, Rusty said:

    I’ll make sure to inform my conservative friends and family of that.

    Seriously, JHSII, bravo. Excellent point.

  49. #49
    On October 10th, 2007 at 12:44 pm, Regulus said:

    YAF should be infuriated. They have every right to be. But that doesn’t mean the First Amendment doesn’t apply.

    Actually, the First Amendment doesn’t apply. It only becomes an issue if the government tries to interfere with freedom of expression.

    If YAF wanted to consider any kind of civil law recourse, they might start with defamation; but Rusty is probably right that it wouldn’t be likely to succeed. “Public figures” - and YAF likely qualifies as such - have to prove not only harm but actual malice, which is an extremely difficult burden of proof.

    The other possibility would be misappropriation of a business or trade name, a species of business tort. But this would probably go nowhere. Civil law remedies are ordinarily measured in money damages: YAF would have to demonstrate some kind of compensable harm (hard to do in this instance), and hope that the people behind the bogus flyer had the money to pay for causing that harm (not likely).

    Otherwise, YAF could ask for a form of prospective injunctive relief, but it’d be dicey whether a court would go along with that absent a showing of some kind of compensable or irremediable harm.

    In short, other than confusing this for a First Amendment issue, Rusty raises a valid point about the dour prospects for any kind of YAF legal recourse.

    Realistically speaking, the best that YAF can do, or have done on its behalf, is just what Michelle and others are doing: show who the real haters, the real losers and the real proto-fascists are, and let the audience decide for theselves who’s who.

  50. #50
    On October 10th, 2007 at 12:51 pm, Rusty said:

    I agree with you except for the First Amendment semantics bit.

    In Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46 (1988), the United States Supreme Court held, voting 8-0, that the First Amendment’s free-speech guarantee prohibits awarding damages to public figures to compensate for emotional distress intentionally inflicted upon them unless they can show that the statements that gave rise to the distress were false and that the person that made those statements knew they were false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth in making the statements.

    Emphasis mine. The First Amendment does apply to civil law.

    The burden of proof for YAF is exceedingly high, and that’s the way it should be. If people making political points are subject to lawsuits, that limits the marketplace of ideas and the nation weakens as a result.

  51. #51
    On October 10th, 2007 at 1:35 pm, Regulus said:

    Your point is well taken; mine is that if this matter were the subject of civil litigation, the focus of inquiry wouldn’t be on the Constitution but rather on issues like proving harm and the meeting the requisite level of intent in light of YAF’s public figure status, neither of which would likely meet with success.

  52. #52
    On October 10th, 2007 at 1:42 pm, Rusty said:

    Yes, agree 100% there.

  53. #53
    On October 10th, 2007 at 1:51 pm, RetFireman said:

    Wait…you mean they don’t have laser-beam vision?

  54. #54
    On October 10th, 2007 at 6:37 pm, meatpieandtatters said:

    Liberals aren’t funny and when they try to be, they end up just being pathetic, mean and just plain old suck.

  55. #55
    On October 10th, 2007 at 6:38 pm, meatpieandtatters said:

    I force myself to listen to AirAmerica on occasion just to see if they’ve changed their tact. Same thing every time: unfunny, mean and they suck.

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What’s the matter with Spanish athletes?

August 15, 2008 11:32 AM by Michelle Malkin

96 Comments | 3 Trackbacks

Eye sore.

Your MSM racial bean-counting contest

August 12, 2008 06:06 PM by Michelle Malkin

111 Comments | 5 Trackbacks

Idiocy in black and white.

Stupid athletes of the day

August 11, 2008 07:00 PM by Michelle Malkin

138 Comments | 5 Trackbacks

Slanted.

Calif. court allows parents to homeschool without credential requirement

August 8, 2008 03:24 PM by Michelle Malkin

45 Comments | 6 Trackbacks

A victory, for now.

SF Chron columnist: Obama’s the first “Asian-American” president

July 30, 2008 06:43 PM by Michelle Malkin

108 Comments | 3 Trackbacks

Rorschach test.

Letter of the day: “You hate yourself.”

July 29, 2008 06:15 PM by Michelle Malkin

185 Comments | 2 Trackbacks

Mail call.


Categories: Education, Race relations


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