Re: POTUS 45:55: Wow, @CNN RATINGS HAVE CRASHED. LOST ALL CREDIBILITY!
There really are two questions here.
Question #1 is whether writing that the tweet or the person is "racist" is a statement of opinion or a statement of fact. I happen to think it's a statement of opinion, and personally I'd like it to remain that way. You can be sued for statements of fact you make, unless you can prove they are true. Statements of opinion are protected. I can pretty much guarantee that every person who has ever been sued for calling someone a racist has used the defense that the statement was not fact, it was opinion.
Question #2 is, assuming it's a statement of opinion, should it be included in regular news stories, or should it be left to opinion commentary. I'm no journalist, and maybe it's a matter of personal preference, but I'd prefer that statements of opinion be reserved for the opinion columns and that a reporter give us "just the facts."
Yes. That's my answer to Hovey, and his reasoned, centrist, both-sidesism too.
I'm sure he has no problem with the news characterizing Democrat positions as radical left or socialism.
There really are two questions here.
Question #1 is whether writing that the tweet or the person is "racist" is a statement of opinion or a statement of fact. I happen to think it's a statement of opinion, and personally I'd like it to remain that way. You can be sued for statements of fact you make, unless you can prove they are true. Statements of opinion are protected. I can pretty much guarantee that every person who has ever been sued for calling someone a racist has used the defense that the statement was not fact, it was opinion.
Question #2 is, assuming it's a statement of opinion, should it be included in regular news stories, or should it be left to opinion commentary. I'm no journalist, and maybe it's a matter of personal preference, but I'd prefer that statements of opinion be reserved for the opinion columns and that a reporter give us "just the facts."