Political Satire Shields Anti-Birther Blog Post

[douglas9]

Two leaders of the birther movement cannot sue Esquire Magazine for publishing a satirical article announcing plans to recall and pulp their new book, the D.C. Circuit ruled.
Three weeks after President Barack Obama released his long-form birth certificate showing that he was born in Hawaii, the editor-in-chief of the conservative website WorldNetDaily published a book titled "Where's the Birth Certificate? The Case that Barak Obama Is not Eligible to Be President," written by Jerome Corsi.
WorldNetDaily announced: "It's out! The book that proves Obama's ineligible: Today's the day Corsi is unleashed to tell all about that 'birth certificate.'"
In response, journalist Mark Warren published a parody article on Esquire Magazine's politics blog. Its headline read "BREAKING: Jerome Corsi's Birth Book Pulled from Shelves!"

snip>

Warren's reference to Corsi as an "execrable piece of shit," is clearly his personal opinion as it "does not appear to convey any factual assertion, but is rather 'the sort of loose, figurative or hyperbolic language which would negate the impression' that a factual statement was being made," Brown wrote

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/12/02/63344.htm

[Warren DeMontague]

1. WARZ TEH BARF KARTRIPRIKITTT? SERIOS THIS TIME ITS HUGH

Corsi. Guy is always good for a few laughs.

Hard to believe the media took him so seriously in 2004, on the subject of John Kerry, isn't it?

Or, maybe not so much.

[Enthusiast]

8. That was good!

[MADem]

2. OMG, that sounds rather factual to meeeeeee!!!!

There were also a number of unprofessional attributions and humorous quotations, such as "we don't want to look like fucking idiots, you know?" that signaled the satirical nature of the article to readers.
Likewise, Esquire's update and Warren's statements to the Daily Caller are protected.
"The 'update' and Warren's comments used strong rhetoric and salty language, but were nonetheless public statements on an issue of national concern; such speech lies at the heart of the First Amendment," the 23-page opinion states.

But Corsi? He really IS an "execrable piece of shit!"

[mdbl]

3. Sounds that way to me too

The problem is, and Repugs don't see it, is their entire existence lends itself to satire because that's how they function, in the fringe of society and too self-centered to notice how strange they really are. So all the news about them sounds like satire as well. Now if we could just stop the money flow to these idiots, they would exist where they belong, in the trash barrel.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

4. What would he rather be?

The mission for a five gallon bucket of Metamucil or a calonic with a fire hose? A turd is a turd!

[BlueJazz]

5. Popular stupid people that have no idea they're not that smart.

The GOP is infested with them.

[Berlum]

6. "Smirk" - John Kerry (D - War Hero)

[Gothmog]

7. Satire is protected speech

These idiots were stupid to sue on this

[jmowreader]

9. I can just see the depositions in that case

"Mr. Corsi, examine these five photos and identify the ones depicting your ass and a hole in the ground."