Rick Lazio: "Imam is terrorist sympathizer"

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Friday August 20, 2010 · 4:27 PM PDT

2010/08/20 · 16:27

http://www.cbsnews.com/...

"New Yorkers have been through enough," Lazio says in the spot. "Now a terrorist-sympathizing imam wants to build a $100 million mosque near ground zero. Where is this money coming from? Who's really behind it?"

This is beyond any reasonable discourse.

Lazio should be sued for defamation of character, political ad or not.
This Imam is not a candidate for public office.

How is it possible that such scurrilous and unfounded attacks are allowed to go unpunished? I think Lazio is just of many politicians who should be facing civil lawsuits, and obviously dozens of radio and TV bobbleheads.

As a point of reference, keep in mind that the Vitter campaign in LA is threatening radio stations that air attacks from Republican rivals on Vitter [based upon factual information] for defamation of character.

Meanwhile, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the man whom the George W Bush administration sent twice overseas as a goodwill ambassador continues on his current itinerary, as he again visits the Mid-East. While he's not speaking about the community center - his spokespeople are saying they will stay the course.

http://www.google.com/...

"This issue of extremism is something that has been a national security issue — not only for the United States but also for many countries and nations in the Muslim world," Rauf said. "This is why this particular trip has a great importance."

If he's talking about American extremism, I tend to agree.

Here's a little primer on suing for defamation of character.

Generally, to make a successful defamation of character claim, you must show that there was a false statement of fact, this statement was conveyed to a third party and the statement is understood to be about you and tending to harm your reputation. In the case of a public figure, actual malice must also be proved.

Read more: How to Sue for Defamation of Character | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/...

I don't think there's much doubt about the malice.

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