Court critical of Ohio law punishing campaign lies

[alp227]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court appears to be highly skeptical of laws that try to police false statements during political campaigns, raising doubts about the viability of such laws in more than 15 states.

Justices expressed those concerns early and often Tuesday during arguments in a case challenging an Ohio law that bars people from recklessly making false statements about candidates seeking elective office.

...

The case began during the 2010 election when a national anti-abortion group, the Susan B. Anthony List, planned to put up billboards accusing then-Rep. Steve Driehaus of supporting taxpayer-funded abortion because he voted for President Barack Obama's new health care law. Driehaus, a Democrat who opposes abortion, claimed the group's billboard ads distorted the truth and therefore violated the false speech law.

Driehaus filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission, an action which prompted the billboard owner to decline posting the ads. The commission found probable cause that the ads violated the law, but Driehaus later withdrew his complaint after losing his re-election campaign.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/court-critical-ohio-law-punishing-campaign-lies

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Cincinnati Enquirer article; Cleveland Plain Dealer; Columbus Dispatch

[Swede Atlanta]

1. What a great country we live in........

There are laws against defaming and slandering a person with certain carve-outs for "public figures".

But when it comes to the integrity of our democracy those with the deepest pockets and loudest voices can lie, lie, lie to their heart's content to pervert our country?

To those who would ask "who would be the arbiter as to what was truth and falsehood" I say, a jury. We do this all the time.

Why shouldn't we hold parties who wish to engage in public debate be held to some standard of good faith and integrity?

[Festivito]

8. I think our media forgot that juries exist. eom.

[Bonhomme Richard]

2. Of course. It is only fair. If Republicans couldn't lie......

they wouldn't be elected.

[NYC Liberal]

3. Good. Strike it down. What a horrific idea.

[blm]

4. Fascist Supreme Court Justices NEED professional liars pushing the pro-fascist policies

that will keep this nation on the fast-track to replace citizen government with corporate empires....... that's the real NWO.

[yallerdawg]

5. I always thought Roberts...

had an agenda signing off on the Affordable Care Act (except for insuring poor black people with required expansion of Medicaid).

If you give the folks a bone, you might not be so outraged when this court dismantles any semblance of a level playing field in the election process. The Robert's court is working hard to keep an elitist minority party in power.

When we all finally wake up, this should be the last gasp, and the Republican Party will be "gone with the wind."

But we need to wake up now.

[broadcaster75201]

6. Hell, even I have a problem with that statute.

Was a criminal defense atty and Prosecutor for over 25 years and have argued my fair share of Constitutional issues before Appelate Courts and SCOTUS. Legislating "lies" is just a real problem. How much of a lie does it need to be? What if it is based on a lie but you think it true?

I just don't like it. If the voters are too damn stupid to do the research, then they deserve the TeaBag government they get.

[farmbo]

7. This perverted Court will now allow unlimited, anonymous contributions to fund...Lies.

Government of the Oligarchs, by the Oligarchs, and for the Oligarchs.