Conservative media like Fox News, One America News (OAN) and Newsmax are finding themselves in a bind. Since they are competing for the support of the Trump cult, they need to feed them the red meat about how the election was stolen. This requires them to bring on their shows the loonies who are propagating outlandish conspiracy theories.
But now that the two companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic are unlashing massive lawsuits against those who they claim are defaming them, these media outlets have to take defensive actions. What they have chosen to do is to give detailed disclaimers before they put on these people, saying that these are not their opinions but purely those of the speaker.
OAN’s disclaimer before they aired the ‘documentary’ by Mike Lindell, the CEO of the MyPillow company, where he claimed to show 100% proof that the election was stolen, is truly epic.
MyPillow guy Mike Lindell’s big lie special on OAN begins with an epic disclaimer pic.twitter.com/3nsoAznOUU
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 5, 2021
Whether this will be a successful legal shield for these company companies remains to be seen. Can you give someone three hours of air time four consecutive times for a total of twelve hours and then wash your hands of the contents, even if that time is bought?
Meanwhile, Dominion says that Lindell is also in their cross hairs and seems to be begging to be sued by them.
It would seem to me that the fact they have had no guests supporting the other side would blow a hole in their disclaimer. If all of your guests are supporting the same conspiracy theory it pretty much says you, too, support that conspiracy theory.
I would guess that they are operating under the assumption that if Facebook and Twitter can get away with hosting any content under the guise of we are just a platform, why cant they ?
Because Communications Decency Act, § 230? But what the hell, that’s only the law or something.
@Crip Dyke
I can’t make out if you are serious or joking -- sure I am aware of the totally useless and inconsistently applied act.
>But what the hell, that’s only the law or something.
What next -- that the various ethics and emoulments clauses will be enforced? Or the bribery will be banned ?(defined as lobbying in this country)