Q&A: Juicy, dripping-with-fat slander about a politician. Permitted?
Juicy, dripping-with-fat slander about a politician. Permitted?
Question
He has put himself up for election and public scrutiny, on that understanding that people will dig into him. Is it permitted to speak negatively about him? [Not with the aim of smearing him, but so that people will be careful not to rely on someone with such a questionable character, and the like.] Do I need to have seen the wrongdoing myself? [Usually I haven’t.] Do I need to rebuke him first? And all the usual conditions? Or once he has made himself subject to public scrutiny, has he waived that?
Answer
In my opinion, it’s impossible to prohibit criticism of a politician; otherwise you’ve emptied democracy of all content (how can you choose someone without relevant negative information?). When you say something about him, make sure to state what your source is and how certain you are. And make sure it is for a constructive purpose and not just for its own sake. First of all, verify as much as you can that this really is the situation. Usually this kind of information is already publicly known among several people, unless you know him personally, in which case the problem is less severe. If you have the option of rebuking him, that’s excellent, but usually that isn’t the case.
Discussion on Answer
Why would it be permitted? Judges aren’t elected, and in this case he’s already retired.
And regarding retired judges, is it permitted?