Drake campaign takes on TV affiliates over attack ad

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=106018&ran=190623

Drake campaign takes on TV affiliates over attack ad

Despite the threat of a defamation lawsuit by U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, all three Hampton Roads network TV affiliates have refused to drop a controversial political ad attacking her.

That contrasts sharply with the actions of Cox Communications, which permanently pulled the ad from its cable TV channels after receiving Drake’s threat.

All three local network affiliates – WVEC, WAVY and WTKR – received a letter from a local lawyer representing Drake’s campaign, demanding that they drop the ad or face a possible defamation lawsuit.

After obtaining legal advice, all three general managers said they believe the ad by the liberal group MoveOn.org meets the legal standards for broadcast and they have no immediate plan to drop it.

Asked whether he feared a lawsuit, WAVY general manager Doug Davis said, “No. We take it seriously, but we are comfortable with our decision.”

continued

You can view the ad here:

https://political.moveon.org/donate/redhandedDD-QT.html

Because they are used to such attacks MoveOn.org has a fact sheet posted for the ad giving the support evidence:

http://political.moveon.org/content/pdfs/Drake_Sub_EPv3.pdf

Good that MoveOn.org has a strategy for defending its ads. They needed one.

instead of rolling over and acting like battered women when they actually get defamed?

I can think of dozens of instances where a Dems could easily make out the elements of a libel case. Yet they don't. It's almost like they invite it....

Drudge put up an item that said Blumenthal beat his wife, and Blumenthal sued Drudge. Drudge, backed by the very deep pockets of the likes of Richard Mellon Scaife, bled Blumenthal's attorneys white and the litigation petered out. Blumenthal recounts the story in his book "The Clinton Wars."

They are terrorized. I agree with your political point, but not the analogy.

though I think the analogy itself is apt enough.

It takes assertiveness and self-effacacy to leave an abusive relationship- and many Dems seem to lack that when they're under attack.

:woohoo: