Judge rules that defamation suit against Glenn Beck can proceed. Is it Christmas already?

Courtesy of Salon:

A federal judge on Tuesday denied Glenn Beck’s request to dismiss a libel lawsuit that accuses the conservative talking head of defaming a Saudi man Beck falsely accused of funding the Boston Marathon bombing last year. 

As Josh Gerstein explains, Beck sought to have the lawsuit tossed out on the grounds that Abdulrahman Alharbi, the man who brought the suit, was a public figure because of his presence near the finish line of the marathon, where two bombs exploded, killing three people. As a public figure, Alharbi would have had to clear a difficult hurdle in order for the lawsuit to proceed, proving that Beck intentionally lied or acted with malice in making the accusations. 

But in ruling that the lawsuit could move forward, U.S. District Judge Patti Saris rejected the argument that the mere act of attending the event made Alharbi a public figure. 

“Choosing to attend a sporting event as one of thousands of spectators is not the kind of conduct that a reasonable person would expect to result in publicity,” she wrote. “Quite to the contrary, a spectator at an event like the Boston Marathon would reasonably expect to disappear into the throngs of others, never attracting notice by the press. Because he did not ‘assume the risk of publicity,’ Alharbi does not meet the definition of an involuntary public figure.”

Of course the argument could also be made that Beck essentially MADE Alharbi a public figure when he plucked him from obscurity and essentially blamed him for the terrorist attack.

For those who may not remember Beck claimed to have information from a government source and proceeded to completely manufacture a relationship between the innocent bystander and the Tsarnaev brothers: 

The broadcaster eventually called Alharbi an al-Qaeda “control agent” and the “money man” behind the attacks. “You know who the Saudi is?” Beck asked. “He’s the money man. He’s the guy who paid for it.” 

“Is this speculation or are you reporting something?” a co-host asked. 

Beck ignored the question. “He’s the money man.”

I hope this Alharbi guy takes Beck for millions. 

The dangers of social media and why we should all be sad to see the end of HBO's "The Newsroom."

Click image to play video

I remember when this happened, and when I recoiled in horror at what these amateur sleuths had done in response to that terrible Boston Marathon bombing.

If you remember there was misinformation coming from all directions, much of it driven by the Right Wing mistrust of the government and their absolute certainty that the Obama administration was covering an attack by a known terrorist group.

Hell Glenn Beck was even sued for defamation after making up some insane conspiracy theories.

The Newsroom does something quite unique, and in my opinion quite necessary.

It not only holds puts the media on notice for its cowardice in reporting uncomfortable facts, or for cowering in the face of the conservative forces. It also holds up a mirror so that the public can see themselves revealed for their willingness to be poorly served by our politicians and our media, and how easily we allow ourselves to be manipulated by fear mongering or directed by our prejudices.

I for one will greatly miss what The Newsroom brings to the debate.

Glenn Beck fears for Carol Costello's humanity, after she mocks Bristol Palin's lies to police. Seriously?

Courtesy of Mediaite:

Arguably the biggest media story in the last few days has been CNN anchor Carol Costello‘s inappropriately lighthearted tease of audio about that now-infamous fight involving the Palins. Glenn Beck today expressed his disgust with how Costello was “reveling in the abuse” of Bristol Palin. 

Beck found it striking that CNN and Costello “took such pride” in scolding the NFL over domestic abuse and yet she presented this case of a woman being assaulted an in unserious manner. 

Beck called it “really despicable” and said rather than pressuring Costello to resign, he just wants to appeal to her humanity. Beck said that Costello’s clearly “become so politicized” when it comes to the Palins, “she’s lost the humanity of this family.”

At one point Beck says that she was "dragged by the feet across the law, with her dress coming off of her." No, no she wasn't ever dragged by the homeowner.

She was carried away, in a full nelson, by her father's good friend Mark McKenna, who admits to that fact on the audio. (Go to "Police interview the Palin family and Mark McKenna" and fast forward to 18:30 on the audio.)

Now according to McKenna Bristol was knocked down by "some girls" who were coming to Korey Kingenmeyer's aid. But that was totally appropriate in response to Bristol's drunken, assaultive behavior.

So if Glenn Beck wants to waste his time worrying about anybody's "humanity" then he needs to direct his concerns to this white trash family, and their inherent need to constantly play the victim and attempt to destroy anybody who dares to defy them in any way.