slkshock7 said
Quote:Actually "weapon of misdirection" was the phrase. I'm curious how you would interpret that if not as lying? Did Clinton just "misdirect" when he said "I did not have sex with that woman"? Did Scooter Libby or Abramoff just "misdirect" when they gave their testimony to the Grand Jury?
"Misdirection" doesn't have to mean lying (as in a magic show) but it can imply or refer to lying. In the case of WOMD held by Iraq, I consider that what the Bush administration was guilty of, and still is on a continuing basis, as lying. I consider that that same term also applies to Clinton's statement you reference. Libby appears to have lied as well, but I'll leave that to Fitzgerald and the courts.
Quote:I've never implied that Lowery or anyone else was not entitled to free speech. In fact, what I've said...twice now....is that voicing political positions at a funeral is OK.
I have problems with people who feel slander or defamation is appropriate in a funeral setting. So I take it you agree that slanderous statements is OK at somone's funeral? Is there any speech not appropriate at the funeral? For example, if one were to slander MLK at the funeral would that have been OK, in your opinion?
"Slander" entails, by definition, some falsehood. "Libel" as well. Per what I wrote above, neither term would apply.
I don't know what we could establish, concretely or absolutely, might constitute forbidden speech at a funeral particularly given the range of social customs that exist. Take a funeral for a dead soldier for example. One could speak of the glorious cause or of the total crap cause for which the young person died. It would depend on what that family and that community in attendance considered appropriate.
I've never implied that Lowery or anyone else was not entitled to free speech. In fact, what I've said...twice now....is that voicing political positions at a funeral is OK.