Website for Council Members, Can I get into trouble?

[cags]

Ok I want to make a website for the up coming city elections in my town. We are currently working on a recall of four members who are not up for re election because of Wal-Mart. One council member who can't be included because of a 90 day rule in our city charter is up for re-election. He also got two of his buddies to run against the 2 council members who voted against Wal-Mart.

Ok so I want to make a website, kind of like the O-reilly sucks one or the Sean Hannity one where you can punch him in the face. I think I want to put thier heads on a Wal-Mart jack-in-box or something and have a place where residents can post comments and stuff.

Can I get in trouble for something like that. Does anyone know the rules regarding this.

[CornField]

1. Why not do it legitimately?

Make a site about the upcoming elections... list the folks running, short bios, etc. Maybe link to a guestbook-type back-end that allows the public to leave comments about the candidates?

I'm not sure about the legalities of doing a parody/humor site. I would worry that the person(s) could prove malice because the overt aim would be to affect the outcome of the election. ??? I'm no attorney - LOL!

[cags]

2. I'm wondering if it can legally be a critical site

Does it have to be unbiased. I don't know

[LeighAnn]

3. A little parody never hurt anyone

I'd be leery of the comments section, though, you might have to babysit it all the time and take off things people post which might actually be construed as libelous. I should think a good disclaimer would protect you. You certainly have a right to parody public figures, though, and personally I encourage it. I'd recommend you watch "The People vs Larry Flynt".

[quaoar]

4. The day public officials can suppress criticism in the courts

is the day that democracy dies.

Public figures can only sue for libel when they can prove that the defendant knew the information was false and published it anyway with malicious intent. It is a very difficult standard of proof and is meant to be difficult.