A conservative advocacy group, the American Tradition Institute, filed the initial request for documents, and the University was apparently inclined to agree to much of the request until Mann, the American Association of University Professors, and other groups urged them not to.
So, yes, ATI is "right-wing" and the University of Virginia isn't. Yet the latter didn't have a problem with the former's freedom-of-information request until Dr Mann shoved his hockey stick into the case and demanded they say no. Who else has muscled their way in? Well, The Washington Post, National Public Radio and a bunch of other impeccably non-right-wing media organizations filed amici briefs - against Mann:
On the other side, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has joined 17 media organizations in arguing that the records-request exemption being sought by [Dr Mann and] the university is so broad that it would effectively gut the law at issue, the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, hindering journalists' ability to cover public institutions.
So, if Mann prevails, he would "gut" freedom of information in Virginia. (You can read the full brief here.)
What else would he gut? Well, in his case against me and National Review, amici briefs were filed by, again, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, The Los Angeles Times, NBC et al, and the American Civil Liberties Union. And they also weighed in against Mann:
Twenty-four hours later, the ACLU also filed an amicus brief in support of NR and our fellow defendants and against what they call "the intimidating effect such lawsuits can have on free speech." And they're very strong on a couple of key points — that what they call "the value protecting of free speech on issues of public interest" is paramount, and that in suits like these the litigant's goal is not to win or lose but "to intimidate the advocate 'into silence.'"
So, if Mann prevails in the NR case, he would "gut" freedom of speech. The only "denialist" here is Dr Michael E Mann. |
