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Opening Arguments

Go ahead and lie

It almost got lost in all the buzz over Obamacare, but the Supreme Court today also released its opinion in the Stolen Valor Act, a 6-3 voted to repeal:

Though few might find respondent’s statements anything but contemptible, his right to make those statements is protected by the Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of speech and expression. The Stolen Valor Act infringes upon speech protected by the First Amendment,” Kennedy said.

I think that's right, and the ruling is in line with a lot of other recent ones sending a strong signal of support for free speech. If the First Amendment doesn't protect contemptible speech, what's it good for? And making lying a crime is very risky business.

Comments

tim zank
Thu, 06/28/2012 - 8:00pm

"And making lying a crime is very risky business."

Very salient point. If that were the case The Anointed Won would be in jail instead of the White House.

Christopher Swing
Thu, 06/28/2012 - 11:18pm

Actually, we'd just be more like Canada, where laws against lying on the news effectively outlaw Fox News.

 

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