Libel, anyone?
There are liberal elements to the mainstream press that agitate conservatives. The New York Times is a conservative byword for evil in many cases. Newspapers with a liberal Democratic editorial line are always going to be a part of our national discussion because partisan newspapers have been a part of our political heritage since the founding of the republic. Papers like the Times and the Boston Globe are entitled to their editorial line.There is another kind of publication with editorial bias, and it isn't a real newspaper. This kind of publication delights in the libel of political opponents. The Memphis Flyer is such a piece of printed toilet paper, and they attempted to ruin the career of a conservative Knoxville State Representative with a doctored photo. A couple of years ago, Tennessee State Representative Stacey Campfield shadowed Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen at the annual barbecue hosted by Congressman Jimmy Duncan and held up this bumper sticker:
This was the picture the Flyer published:
Because the folks at the Flyer don't like Stacey's political views, they chose to publish a doctored picture that might ruin his political career. Rather than conduct themselves honorably, the liberal editors of the Flyer chose to smear a political figure they didn't like. Over the last couple of days, I joined several of Stacey's friends in advising him to do something that I would not be likely to advise someone to do: Sue the Flyer and own the paper. I don't think people ought to delight in lawsuits, but the courts do exist for a reason.
Apparently The Memphis Flyer got the message-they apologized for the offending photograph-though it was a very poor apology.
Labels: Local politics, Tennessee politics
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 3:30 PM
5 Comments:
David,
What's wrong with Confederate Values? Aren't they part of Southern Heritige?
SteveMule
To have a case you have to prove damages, what are the damages Stacey received? Some would argue that the doctored photo may be helpful to his career. Obviously getting arrested by assaulting the Governor's staff didn't hurt him, why would this. No damages no case. I do think as an adult Stacey should show some reserve from these antics. After all conservatives don't protest, we leavee that up to the hippies.
Anon 2;
The biggest problem with your comment is that Stacey was never arrested-I suspect you know that.
I remember the story as him being arrested, my bad. He was in the least detained and handcuffed, so he did have some constitutional protections afforded to someone arrested. Let me clarify my intent. I like Stacey and his ideology, however, his antics are sometimes childish and has resulted in him being very ineffective as a legislature. If we are going to win the conservative war on liberalism we have to do it in the arena of ideas. People do not take actions like this as coming from someone serious. If Stacey started suing critics then his credibility will continue to slip. -anon2
David,
Actually, technically, speaking he was arrested. However, no charges were filed, so no trip downtown so to speak. Arrested as in wearing handcuffs, obnoxious behavior curtailed arrested? Yes. Arrested as in booked, fingerprinted, orange jumpsuited, behind bars incarcerational arrested? No. Regardless of the definition used Stacy's behavior was unacceptable. I think he knows that now.
Stacy does, whether deservedly or not, have a credibility problem outside of his small circle of like-thinkers.
Anon2 has a good point. Spliting hairs over trivial details takes away form that point.
SteveMule
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