# Libel, Slander, and Political Muckraking

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libel-slander-and-political-muckraking/640379>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [November 8, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libel-slander-and-political-muckraking/640379 "2012-11-08T17:28:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libel-slander-and-political-muckraking/640379/1 "2012-11-08T17:28:20Z")

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One of the things foreign nationals notice different about the US is the amount of muckraking going on during campaigning: each candidate points out what a lousy individual the other guy is.

This guy voted to cut your benefits while giving himself a raise,  
That guy vows to uphold the interests of the NOW or the NRA…then flip-flops,  
She will raise taxes,  
He will do this, that, and the other thing…etc.

Surely, all these accusations are not verifyibly true…how does laws regarding libel and slander enter the situation?

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libel-slander-and-political-muckraking/640379/2 "2012-11-08T17:34:13Z")

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[Very recent thread on the same subject.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=661381)

Just FYI-- not sure there was a definitive answer, but there is a lot of discussion.