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This Oct. 8, 2010 file photo shows the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court at the Supreme Court in Washington. Seated from left are Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, and Antonin Scalia, Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justices Anthony M. Kennedy and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Standing, from left are Associate Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer, Samuel Alito Jr., and Elena Kagan. The Supreme Court on Thursday, June 28, 2012, upheld the individual insurance requirement at the heart of President Barack Obama's historic health care overhaul.
PHOTO:AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File

Supreme Court Strikes Down 'Stolen Valor' Law

By AP

WASHINGTON, DC - The Supreme Court has struck down a federal law making it a crime to lie about having received the Medal of Honor and other prized military awards.

The court voted 6-3 Thursday in favor of Xavier Alvarez, a former local elected official in California who falsely claimed he was a decorated war veteran.

Alvarez had pleaded guilty to violating a 2006 law that was adopted with the nation at war in Afghanistan and Iraq and aimed at people making phony claims of heroism in battle. The court, in a judgment written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, ordered that his conviction be thrown out.

Published 09:54 PM, Thursday Jun. 28, 2012
Updated 09:56 PM, Thursday Jun. 28, 2012

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- Name: Independent T.
  
  7/3/2012 7:56:53 PM
  
  Well, we know that bribes for politicians (campaign finance dollars) is called "free speech" for benefactor politicians such as uncle Mitch and that now Politicians lying about their military records is yet another version of free speech. I guess it is only those who dare criticize politicians of errrr...one particular party that are free game to those who now punish free speech. You know, entities like republican talk radio stations, republican country music stations, certain night clubs, Fox News, and so-called other "conservative" employers. Oh America! What have you become?
  
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  Name: PawPaw x.
  
  7/3/2012 1:45:54 PM
  
  Well said WJ. For those critical of the Court striking down the Stolen Valor Act, I never heard a peep out of any of you during the Supreme Court's 2010 term when the justices upheld the "free speech" right of Fred Phelps and his dower band of Westboro vipers to publicly mock and ridicule the USA and our military during soldier funerals. Read "Snyder v. Phelps" at http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-751.pdf.
  
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  Name: W J.
  
  7/2/2012 11:11:01 PM
  
  I suppose “Honest Politician” could logically be viewed as a contradiction in terms. But until such time as an infallible lie detector is made available to us; I guess it is something we will just have to live with. But, bless their hearts, they should not have to bear all the blame. Because we, the voters, if we are honest with ourselves, would have to admit that in many cases we demand that they tell us what we want to hear not what they actually believe or what is closes to being factual or true. On a more serious note; I do believe the Supreme Court got it right in this case. As a career military person I tend to get rather emotional when I compare the actions of Mr. Alvarez to those of the members of the United States Military who have been formally recognized for their actual acts of valor and ultimately awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. But from my perspective as a citizen and a very strong supporter of the First Amendment I find myself in agreement with the opinion of Justice Kennedy. Especially the following excerpts; “Only a weak society needs government protection or intervention before it pursues its resolve to preserve the truth. Truth needs neither handcuffs nor a badge for its vindication” “The Nation well knows that one of the costs of the First Amendment is that it protects the speech we detest as well as the speech we embrace. Though few might find respondent’s statements anything but contemptible, his right to make those statements is protected by the Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of speech and expression. The Stolen Valor Act infringes upon speech protected by the First Amendment. The judgment of the Court of Appeals is affirmed.”
  
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  Name: Kyle W.
  
  7/2/2012 9:36:16 PM
  
  I think you are to something PBT.
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  7/2/2012 9:35:31 PM
  
  No liar like a politican around a bunch of veterans. Politicians are going to love this supreme court ruling.
  
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  Name: PBT D.
  
  7/2/2012 8:43:32 PM
  
  It is time in November to clean house of the career politicians in Washington. Vote them all out. Term limits. Two terms in ANY office and your flipping burgers at MickyD'S. What about unpaid house and senate seats?
  
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  Name: eddy a.
  
  7/2/2012 7:55:19 AM
  
  When politians tell a lie is when they open their mouth.They tell the people what they want to hear but that is not their ture motive.All the promises that they want keep for it happens all the time.They are running for special interest not for the people.
  
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  Name: Judy T.
  
  7/2/2012 7:13:19 AM
  
  Politiians never have to tell the truth on anything else....why should this be different.
  
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  Name: PawPaw x.
  
  6/30/2012 9:40:06 PM
  
  Chuck, almost forgot . . . read the opinion.
  
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  Name: PawPaw x.
  
  6/30/2012 9:38:33 PM
  
  Don't see where I said that, Chuck. But it's up to the taxpayer to keep his money and ferret out those public servants without moral standards. It's a tall task.
  
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  Name: Chuck W.
  
  6/29/2012 8:58:26 AM
  
  Then I guess what you are saying is that it is now official, you do not have to have any moral standard to be a public servant and put taxpayers money in your pocket. Well then, that explains much.
  
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  Name: PawPaw x.
  
  6/29/2012 8:02:16 AM
  
  The M. - "Guess you can tell anything and get by with it." Well, not quite. Perjury, incitement, obscenity, defamation, speech integral to criminal conduct, so-called “fighting words,” child pornography, fraud, true threats, and speech presenting some grave and imminent threat the Government are some categories of "speech" that can be criminalized. Of course, there are some folks who can claim to recognize alcoholism just by seeing a person's photograph. That's stupid speech, but not criminal either.
  
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  Name: PawPaw x.
  
  6/29/2012 6:16:46 AM
  
  No. It means it's not a criminal offense to lie about one's military service.
  
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  Name: Chuck W.
  
  6/28/2012 10:28:16 PM
  
  So, does this mean that honor, honesty, and personal integrity are not relevant to taking public office anymore???
  
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