Libel is defined as damaging the reputation of someone by making false statements  Ironically, strong laws against libel can make it impossible for anyone in the public eye to have a good reputation
For the result of strong libel laws is that, for fear of lawsuits, no one will say anything bad about public figures
If one makes statements that one sincerely believes, then those statements should not be considered libelous even if they are in fact false and damaging to the reputation of a public figure.