Obama Czar Cass Sunstein Wants Fox News, Right-Wing Websites Censured For “False Rumors”
We’re all against lies and “false rumors,” of course. Ostensibly, we’re all in favor of the truth (or at least a version of the truth that best fits in with our pre-conceived notions). But my problem with this is, who gets to decide what is and is not the truth?
The government?
Websites should be obliged to remove “false rumors” while libel laws should be altered to make it easier to sue for spreading such “rumors,” argued Cass Sunstein, Obama’s regulatory czar.
In his recently released book, “On Rumors,” Sunstein specifically cited as a primary example of “absurd” and “hateful” remarks, reports by “right-wing websites” alleging an association between President Obama and Weatherman terrorist Bill Ayers.
He also singled out radio talker Sean Hannity for “attacking” Obama regarding the president’s “alleged associations.”
Ayers became a name in last year’s presidential campaign when it was disclosed the radical worked closely with Obama for years. Obama also was said to have launched his political career at a 1995 fundraiser in Ayers’ apartment.
Let’s use an example. Right now the White House and Democrats are claiming that the health care bill reduces the deficit. Of course, any honest observer can see that’s an accounting trick and that eventually the health care bill would be another massive entitlement along the lines of Medicare and Social Security that would be a drag on our national debt.
So, who gets to decide what is and is not the truth?
Sunstein is calling for law changes to make it easier to sue those who lie or spread false rumors. But I suspect his intent is less about getting to the truth than it is about silencing dissent. After all, how many people would speak up on a blog or call in to a talk radio show if they were afraid that they’d have to respond to an expensive legal challenge?
It seems to me that our existing slander and libel laws are sufficient. And I certainly don’t think that the politicians need to be empowered any more, in any way, to silence their critics.
