Why You Shouldn't Read the Huffington Post

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A recent article in the HuffPo is entitled "Palin Lawyer Threatens To Serve Libel Papers At Kindergarten". Shocking, right? How malicious can one woman be that she would have her lawyer threaten to emotionally scar little children? The comments from the usual suspects go on and on about how Palin doesn't believe in First Amendment rights, because her lawyer is planning a libel suit against the blogger who wrote that she is getting a divorce. But is this really an accurate story? Of course not, it's the Huffington Post. Seriously, you expected anything but slanted reporting? The actual letter from Palin's attorney enumerates the many lies that the blogger published along with his statement that "nothing written above should be considered rumor". That statement is his assurance to his reader that all his information is the truth. Except, it isn't. At least not according to Palin. Let me quote the letter from her attorney: "Although it is likely you knew your statements were false when you published them, you are certainly on notice as of 1:00 pm AST that your alleged facts are false and hereafter constitute malice. By 3:00 pm today AST please post a retraction of your story with an apology for printing false and defamatory statements. In the event you refuse to do so, please give me the contact information for your attorney. If you do not have an attorney, please let me know if you want to be served with the summons and complaint at the kindergarten where you assist or at your residence." The letter really says: * it's possible you didn't know these statements were false but you do now, so from here on these statements constitute malice - but if you... * print a retraction, we won't sue you * give me the name of your attorney - in other words, I will contact him instead of you, which is standard practice * if you don't have an attorney, do you want to be served at home or at work? None of that part of the letter was quoted in the Huffington Post, just the phrase "if you want to be served with the summons and complaint at the kindergarten where you assist". Well, that does sound like a threat if you don't actually put it in context. Contrary to the HuffPo's commenter's postings, free speech doesn't include defamation. Now, if you print something that is obvious opinion or is true, it can't be libel even if defamatory. The point is, you can't believe everything you read, you must do the research. Taking the opinion of a blogger, or the Huffington Post or any other opinion outlet without checking facts is allowing yourself to be used by that outlet for the purposes of propaganda.