Political name-calling at stake in lawsuit

[Judi Lynn]

Published: March 3, 2007 at 5:51 PM
Political name-calling at stake in lawsuit

SAN DIEGO, March 3 (UPI) -- A libel lawsuit over a sign calling a San Diego-area politician a "whore" has been allowed to proceed despite freedom-of-speech arguments.

Legal and political analysts are watching the case to see what effect it has on name-calling in politics and campaigns, The San Diego Union-Tribune said Saturday.

San Diego County Superior Court Judge Tom Nugent ruled Friday that the suit over the sign overlooking a major freeway in Encinitas last year could go to court, and rejected the owner's contention that when he said "whore" he was referring to City Councilwoman Maggie Houlihan's close relationship with area developers.

Judge Nugent, however, ruled the word stood on its own as a libelous term regardless of its intent, the Union-Tribune said.
(snip/...)

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/20070303-033635-7257r/

[Cerridwen]

1. More background at the link here

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20070303-9999-7m3libel.html

-snip-

Yesterday, Superior Court Judge Thomas Nugent tentatively struck down an attempt by Bowman to have Houlihan's libel suit dismissed. Bowman argued that his sign, which read, “Houlihan is a whore,” was political speech protected by the First Amendment.

-snip-

According to Houlihan's court documents, one week after she filed suit, Bowman sent a series of hand-drawn faxes to her husband's office, calling her similar names.

-snip-

As for the word “whore,” Ramey explained in court that his client was criticizing Houlihan for selling out to special interests because she tried to quash his attempt to build low-cost housing on his property.

-snip-

Nugent asked his court reporter to find a dictionary to define those words.

“Venal and unscrupulous, open to corruption, receptive to bribery. They have clearly shown libel per se,” he said.

Yeah, because everyone knows when you call a woman a whore you really mean she's a sellout and unscrupulous.

:crazy:

[TankLV]

2. Maybe it's because she was being reduntant - calling a repuke a whore...

[Cerridwen]

3. Erm, I'm going to be gentle about this -- I hope.

I don't play the double-standard of calling my opposition that which I abhor being called. I happen to think that would make me a hypocrite.

Secondly, it was a 'he' calling her a whore. Not a corporate-whore; a whore. I don't like corporate-whore, either; but I can grit my teeth and move past it.

Thirdly, I hope this hasn't been too harsh, cuz, you see, I'm a native of Las Vegas so I have a warm spot for those who live there. Las Vegas is where I learned what it was to be called a whore because I ran cocktails, because I advocated for women's rights, because I didn't "put out" for someone who thought he "had it coming" and "just because they could."

I hope I was fairly reasonable about this and not too knee-jerky.

:)

[robcon]

4. I agree - let a jury sort it out.

Like most words, whore has several meanings. Let a jury figure out whether, and how much, the person was libeled.