Kurtz: Berger has no case that ABC is libel

[BurtWorm]

I asked him these two questions (the first before he started getting a series of questions). It seems like a stretch to say that ABC, after being forced to add the disclaimer, can cite the disclaimer as its defense:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/09/05/DI2006090500697.html

New York, N.Y.: Odd that there are no questions or comments about ABC's "Path to 9/11" today. Are you not getting questioned about it, or are you not taking questions about it?

If you are, I'm wondering if you know whether ABC is libel for presenting as "the official story" outright lies about the Clinton administration. Can Sandy Berger sue, and if so, can he win?

Howard Kurtz: Haven't gotten that many. I do not expect Sandy Berger to sue, and I doubt he'd have much of a legal case because of the disclaimer at the beginning of the film saying that some scenes were fictionalized. The court of public opinion, however, is a different story.

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New York, N.Y.: ABC tells the whole world that Sandy Berger is personally responsible for 9/11 and he doesn't have a case?

Howard Kurtz: He has a case that he has been unfairly maligned. But if he brings a libel suit, ABC's legal defense is that it told viewers that part of the movie was fiction.

[Justitia]

1. You mean Howie Kurtz whose wife worked for the Bush campaign?

That Howie Kurtz?

Mr. Zero Credibility.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

2. For different opinions, see the cross-post of a GD thread at dailykos (URL

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/11/113522/984 ).

The GD thread is at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2106814 .

[Hugin]

3. No, they told viewers there was 'fiction' in the crapumentary...

Not which specific parts of the filth were fiction.

(From the last response)

[trotsky]

4. Man, that's bullshit.

If I made a movie showing Chimpy sodomizing goats, eating babies, and killing puppies, but also signing the PATRIOT Act into law, as long as I put a disclaimer saying "PARTS of this movie are fiction", I'd be OK?

[Benhurst]

5. You would be with me.

:rofl:

[Hugin]

6. Cool! I'd see that!

[Scooter24]

8. lol

:rofl:

[northernsoul]

7. Is Kurtz a lawyer?

I don't recall issuing a disclaimer as being a defense against a libel charge. My guess is that, if anything, it creates a fact question for a jury to decide.

If I'm ever in jail at 2 a.m., remind me not to waste my one phone call on Howie Kurtz.