US Republican Party threatens to sue the INQUIRER

OUR PERSONAL ASSISTANT tells us that while we were out at a bash with Creative last night, the office phone went and some chap told her he insisted on speaking to Adamson Rust. She explained to the geezer that it was 9.15 PM, the office was closed, and she just couldn't help.

Just as well we removed that SPAM washing software from our PC, because we trained it to recognise and kill any letter we got that has CAPITAL LETTERS IN IT.

The email we almost auto-deleted was headed CEASE AND DESIST - we publish it below.

Some lawyer at the Republican Party seems to think that if we write about an article published on another web site, in this case the Indian Business Standard, we are somehow liable in law for it. We note the Business Standard article, linked to below, is still up on its web site. We look forward to what we reckon will be a somewhat unique law case. µ

See Also
US Republican Party denies it's outsourcing to India
US Republican Party outsources fund raising to India
Republican Party blanket-emailed newspaper editors

Mr. Mike Magee
Editor
The Inquirer
Via E-mail: mike.magee@theinquirer.net

Dear Mr. Magee:

It has come to the attention of the Republican National Committee ("RNC") that you have posted on your website an editorial entitled "US Republican Party outsources fund raising to India Whole world's gone batty - official" with the byline "Adamson Rust: Wednesday 27 August 2003, 08:49"

That editorial contains false information that is defamatory to the RNC, and we hereby demand that you remove it from your website and cease and desist from publishing this false information. Specifically, the article states:

"THE REPUBLICAN PARTY is using call centres in Gurgaon and Noida in India to raise funds for itself and for its chieftain, George W. Bush. Young people at the call centres are helping robots to phone American citizens to enlist their support and money for the political party, with plans to extend the scheme if they whip up enough donations."

The term "The Republican Party" can only be interpreted as referring to the RNC, and the RNC has never contracted with the referenced companies. In fact, all vendors for the RNC are contractually obligated to have their phone calls originate from the United States. If the author of the editorial had bothered to check with the RNC, we would have been happy to confirm this for him or her.

Although the Business Standard article referenced in the editorial is now out of date and discredited, the unfortunate fact is that individuals in the United States are continuing to cite to it in an attempt to make cheap political attacks against the RNC and President Bush.

Through this letter The Inquirer and you personally are now on notice that you are publishing false information. The RNC takes these matters very seriously and we trust that you will do the right thing and immediately pull the editorial from your website. If this false publication does not immediately cease, the RNC will pursue all available legal remedies. Please call me at (202) 863-8638 if you have any questions regarding this matter.

Cordially,

Charles R. Spies
Election Law Counsel
Republican National Committee

CC: Adamson Rust
Via E-mail: newsdesk@theinquirer.net