The attacks on Edward Snowden have increased today. CNN’s Jeff Toobin who previously denounced Snowden as a “clown” has added that he is a “a grandiose narcissist who deserves to be in prison”. In the meantime, Senator Dianne Feinstein and House Speaker John Boehner have denounced Snowden as a “traitor.” Other media organizations have barred their reporters from referring to him as a “whistleblower” in what has become a deluge of negative stereotyping of Snowden -even before we know the whole story. Indeed, the attacks began with folks like Toobin almost immediately after he came forward.
Once again, I am not saying that Snowden does not have to answer for any crimes, but the effort to portray him as a craven traitor is a bit too much too early in this story.
In Toobin’s case, it is worth noting that he has also belittled the objections to the massive surveillance program — the same position taken by Democrats and the White House. He has explained his view of those programs, which I disagree with but respect. However, for Toobin to call a man a “grandiose narcissist” is bizarre. As noted yesterday, this is a man who threw his life away to reveal what he believed to be an abusive surveillance program (as to many other citizens). This is one of the most narcissistic towns on Earth and its leading denizens in politics and the media often seem uncomfortable with people who are willing to throw away their lives on principle. It is the type of self-sacrifice that they would never consider in their own lives. We have many principled and honest people living in this town. However this is also a town with an abnormally high number of sycophants, self-promoters, adulterers and the rest. In other words, narcissists. It is not surprising that so many would find an individual like Snowden hard to understand or dangerous.
The labeling of Snowden as a traitor will only increase the likelihood that he will flee to another country. This individual and story is clearly more complex than dismissing him as a “clown” or “traitor.” He insists that he revealed this information protect the public and privacy. That is not the motivation of a traitor.
As for the refusal to call him a whistleblower, it seems part of the full court press to demonize Snowden or prevent favorable references to him. [It brings to mind the successful effort to convince media to call waterboarding “enhanced interrogation” in the media rather than “torture” as it has long been defined by courts] Snowden is a whistleblower in my mind. It is true that the Administration can argue that these programs were lawful to the Supreme Court’s precedent stripping pen registers of full constitutional protection in Smith v. Maryland, 442 U.S. 735 (1979). Many of us disagree with that ruling, but this is a new application of the precedent. While the government has long sought the information for individuals, the Administration is essentially issuing a national security letter against the entire population. Moreover, it does appear that violations have occurred in these programs.
Putting aside the legality issue, whistleblowers are defined more probably by public interest organizations. For example, The Government Accountability Project, a leading nonprofit handling whistleblowers, defines the term as “an employee who discloses information that s/he reasonably believes is evidence of illegality, gross waste or fraud, mismanagement, abuse of power, general wrongdoing, or a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety. Typically, whistleblowers speak out to parties that can influence and rectify the situation. These parties include the media, organizational managers, hotlines, or Congressional members/staff, to name a few.”
Snowden clearly fits that more common definition of whistleblower, even if the government contests the application of statutory protections. Many can legitimately question Snowden’s chosen means for objecting to this program. However, the hostile and dismissive treatment by the establishment reflects an obvious fear of the implications of this scandal. Even US Sen. Al Franken (D, Minn.) has tried to stamp out the outcry by insisting that he was aware of the program and “I can assure you, this is not about spying on the American people.” Democrats are scrambling to deal with the latest betrayal of civil liberties without their knowledge and consent. Franken knows that the issue is not how it has been used (though abuses are being reported) but its potential for abuse. It is a databank allowing transparency of every citizens calls and associations. Nevertheless, the establishment is joined together in mutual interest to deaden the reaction of citizens, as I discussed in a column this week.
The effort to discredit Snowden is an impressive effort and could well succeed. There is less discussion of the loss of privacy as the focus has shifted to the price of hotel rooms and annual salaries for Snowden. We are being told again, by people like Franken, to trust us and go back to sleep. Franken added “There are certain things that are appropriate for me to know that is not appropriate for the bad guys to know.” Of course, it was not just the bad guys who were not allowed to know. Citizens were also not supposed to know, but Snowden blew the plan. Now people are actually demanding answers and accountability – something secrecy was supposed to prevent.
Before we repeat the growing effort to label Snowden as a traitor, perhaps we should ask about the betrayal of our privacy and constitutional values by others pushing these labels.
Thanks S.T. I missed that one.
Brooks’ new material is much funnier than Frankin.
I am still holding my sides and gasping for breath after reading ‘they will inevitably revert to the older, more intrusive eavesdropping methods. ‘.
What, Dave – you mean the older, more intrusive …methods like getting a warrant and listening where there is real suspicion???
Who knew? All these years we though Dave was an old stick in the mud and now he reveals himself as a master of parody.
Lets give Dave an internship at the Onion – he has definitely earned it.
This whole thing is most likely some kind of multi-purposed intelligence
operation
This is why we need Cardinal Nation on the West Bank. We need a nation which will give refuge to guys like Snowden. Poor sumitchBay had to go all the way to China to seek refuge. BarkinDog is about to come out with his BarkinDog Doctrine. It is very interesting and pertains to Pirate Territories and failed nation states like the U.S. which have lost their moral compass.
Say Toobin: Which way is North? No, not Ollie North. No, not Claribell. Toobin, You are the Clown– the Clown Prince of CNN. Ya gotta learn to talk fast like that John King guy Toobin, then they will make you an anchor.
Ya got your Brownie Points with the Koch Brothers this week Toobin.
I would like to get Gilda Radner back. She could mock Al Franken and the likes of Jeffrey Toobin. “JEFFREY!”
The republicans swore that they would make President Obama a failure. They have succeeded. He has become one of them.
“There are dread secrets that none may know and have peace. More, secrets that render whosoever knoweth them an alien unto the tribe he belongs to, that cause him to walk alone on earth, for he who takes, pays.”
~ E. Hoffmann Price (Am. Author 1898-1988)
The dogpac tried to email Al Franklin a message and it will not go through. Everyone should “EMail Al”. He has all the looks of a snake in the grass. He had better do an About Face Al or we will have to impeach him. As for CNN and its moonshine men like Toobin, it is time to boycott CNN.
The Second Amendment seems more important this week than last week.
I hope that you continue this fight for our freedom and continue to write about how these programs are a violation of our 4th amendment rights. Likewise I will continue to let people know what I think.
Don’t let the real story die as the media tries to sell us stories about what Snowden had for lunch or who he dated in high school.
Snowden seems a hero to me, but then I’m just an average American, not one privileged to live in the Washington, D.C. environs and come under the spell of being a “very important person” inside the Beltway. There are few who having attained the spotlight in D.C., who don’t get suckered into believing the self serving experts representing the National Security/Military/Industrial/Corporate Complex. I’m sad to see Al Franken has joined their ranks, but then I don’t know what behind the scenes threats and pressures the VIP’s are subjected to.
My vote is abstain – until I may verify more facts.
That being said, the fact that the guy comes from Carlyle funded group;
is highly specious to begin with.
HOWEVER;
It also goes without saying that, when main stream goes upon the ad hominem personal attack mode – I tend to be on the accused side!
S.T.,
That was an excellent take down analysis. Thank you.
Philosophically, these attacks are considered intellectual fallacies. A personal attack does not address the truth claim that an individual is making. Should we grant the horrible nature of the monster Snowden and the purity of Obama, this does not say anything about the truth of either person’s statements. Those statements must be evaluated on their merits.
It is precisely because the ideas have merit that personal attacks are the only way these people can go. It is horrifying to see how many people are on board with jettisoning the rule of law and what lengths they will go to protect the lawless powerful.
In the WAPO Neil Irvin writes:
‘ The people (up to and including the president) who know what Prism and similar programs are truly capable of argue that disclosing those details would make it too easy for bad guys to evade government monitoring.’
The problem with that view is that since the 1980’s it has been widely acknowledged that NSA has the capability to intercept decrypt and monitor essentially any electronic communication anywhere in the world.
Current revelations only update that understanding to the internet age.
The only individuals surprised by current revelations, including those by Snowden, are the some members of the American public. certain federal judges, Jeffrey Toobin and maybe Al Frankin.
Our adversaries and anyone who bothers to read the NYT, the WAPO and numerous popular books already knows of the capability of NSA and many or the details supposedly newly revealed.
Irwin would not be making such outlandish statements, at least not in print, if he bothered to read some of the special series published in his own newspaper.
BTW, this is one of the least funny and least entertaining performances by Frankin in months. As an intelligence analyst Frankin was much more persuasive on SNL.
Diane Feinstein has more Chins than the Shanghai phonebook and is an errand girl for the prez. Man, does California have 2 losers for Senators!
Al Franken was one of the worst writers and even worse performer on SNL. He was detested by the cast and crew. Incredibly, he’s a even worse Senator
Toobin couldn’t shine Turley’s shoes.
I have watched that interview of Snowden twice now. I was paid good money to read people. He is NOT a narcissist, although the person calling him that indeed is, along w/ being a philanderer.
Did I cover everyone?
Laser,
Not sure what you’re aiming at… Please explain which comment you’re directing yours to, please and thank you….
There is less discussion of the loss of privacy as the focus has shifted to the price of hotel rooms and annual salaries for Snowden.
= = =
More so, there is even far less discussion about the LIES told to Congress in March.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=few6E0pEXlI
Diane… Paging Miss Feinstein. Comein… Diane?
Has she left the house again?
I don’t get it.
The Government uses the Foreign Intelligence Survailence Court to have National Security Letters approved to spy on Americans.
Since when are Americans considered Foreign?
Any democracy’s definition of patriot must include the possibility of someone uniquely positioned to see that the government is deceiving the electorate and sufficiently courageous to risk everything for principle. I’m not saying that every whistleblower is necessarily in the right, but neither is every whistleblower necessarily a traitor. And absent evidence of self-interest, even those in the wrong should be prosecuted regretfully rather than gleefully.
Anon yours;
That’s a obfuscating question!
Our Constitution is to be protected by due diligence. If that requires whistleblowing – then I’m all for it.
However, that being said, accepting “msm” take on things is a fool’s folly.
We need to know why a 29-year old was making $200+ K at this private contractor.
Had he been directly employed by the NSA or CIA, he wouldn’t have been earning nearly as much.
If Edward Snowden can be called a traitor so can our president and those in congress who blindly support him.