The degree of pressure on reporters and politicians from the White House and Democratic leadership in the Snowden controversy was in full and embarrassing view yesterday when Rep. John Lewis walked back from an interview that he gave to the Guardian praising Snowden. He appears not to have gotten the memo: Snowden is not to be praised in the media or by members of Congress. Various reporters and new organizations have held the line in mocking Snowden or refusing to call him a “whistleblower” rather than a “leaker.” After all, the fear seems to be that Snowden has to be a traitor or Obama would look like a tyrant.
Lewis is quoted as comparing Snowden to those who engaged in civil disobedience in the the civil rights movement and said that Snowden may have felt that he had to follow a “higher law.” Many of course believe Snowden was defending the Constitution and view him as a hero.
Lewis noted that “[s]ome people say criminality or treason or whatever. He could say he was acting because he was appealing to a higher law. Many of us have some real, real, problems with how the government has been spying on people.” He is quoted as comparing Snowden to figures like Gandhi. However, such views are not supposed to be uttered, particularly by a Democrat.
Lewis seem to be frog marched back before cameras within 24 hours and denied everything short of his name, rank, and serial number: “News reports about my interview with The Guardian are misleading, and they do not reflect my complete opinion. Let me be clear. I do not agree with what Mr. Snowden did. He has damaged American international relations and compromised our national security. He leaked classified information and may have jeopardized human lives. That must be condemned.”
Whew, that was close. Snowden is back being a traitor and Lewis is back on script.
By the way, as some of our commentators have noted, Happy Whistleblower Day. While the Senate passed the resolution below, I expect that they view the day as referring to a dog whistle that only they can hear:
By a unanimous resolution the U.S. Senate declared July 30, 2013 as “National Whistleblower Appreciation Day.” The National Whistleblowers Center strongly supports the Senate’s historic action and calls on every American reflect upon the tremendous contributions whistleblowers have made to American democracy, as well as the struggles and sacrifices they have endured By a unanimous resolution the U.S. Senate declared July 30, 2013 as “National Whistleblower Appreciation Day.” The National Whistleblowers Center strongly supports the Senate’s historic action and calls on every American reflect upon the tremendous contributions whistleblowers have made to American democracy, as well as the struggles and sacrifices they have endured.
I’m on record saying for the last 10 years or so that while John Lewis has a great history back in the 60’s/70’s, his legacy has diminished since then. He was one of the black Congressmen who supported Hilary until his constituents finally get his mind right. The administration got his mind right here.
“Shakin’ the bush boss..shakin’ the bush!” Cool Hand Luke
Thank you Dredd for sharing that WIKILEAKS video! Go whistleblowers! Protect the humans.
I am deeply saddened that Representative Lewis retracted his praise of Snowden. Courage it appears is in short supply in Washington.
A little blackmail from his new best friend nsa? Sad
Benji 1, August 8, 2013 at 11:52 am
Yep
Oh my…. The party line was misquoted….. And speaking of party lines…. It used to be considered rude to listen into private conversations….. Now it’s a daily happening…… And paid for with US Dollars…..
Kind of makes me wonder if NSA didn’t just do a little backwards search into Lewis’ communications and find something they could use to make him change his tune. Everyone has something embarrassing that could be dug up, and from NSA’s perspective it would be one of the major advantages of having programs like this.
There you go, ap.
Signed,
The Anti-Pinochet
Eric,
True, true. It may not have been leverage that made him change so quickly. It is wise to never underestimate greed in a class of people – politicians – who are so prone to whorish behavior in the first place. It’s the kind of people our graft riddled pay to play campaign finance and lobbying structures encourage to run for public offices.
Last comment “disappeared”. 😉
“150 human rights, digital rights and media rights NGOs call on Obama to end prosecution of Snowden”
http://www.article19.org/resources.php/resource/37195/en/150-human-rights,-digital-rights-and-media-rights-ngos-call-on-obama-to-end-prosecution-of-snowden
“Letters: US should leave Edward Snowden alone”
“Dr Agnes Callamard, Executive director, Article 19, on behalf of more than 150 global organisations”
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/06/united-states-leave-edward-snowden-alone
Rep. Lewis got it right in the Guardian interview; too bad he had to go through re-education.
“After all, the fear seems to be that Snowden has to be a traitor or Obama would look like a tyrant.”
Good point.
Let’s not forget that tyranny is a form of dementia in action.
It can never reach a healthy mental viewpoint.
Coward!
Nothing had changed in the past 24 hours with regard to the information about Mr. Snowden so how could his view reverse itself so completely? If he truly believed his opinion of Mr. Snowden or his actions he should have man’ed up and stood by words. It was not as if he made a mistake or it was later revealed his statement was based upon facts that were later proven to be incorrect. These were core values he expressed. But in the end he bowed down and caved in to his bosses whoever they are.
If he was a real man he would have said “After I made a statement to the Guardian Newspaper concerning whistleblower Edward Snowden, Jane Doe, and Joe Blow, one from the democratic party leadership and the other someone representing the administration, told me that if I didn’t change my statement X would happen to me. My view of Mr. Snowden has not changed, but my respect for this administration has for the worse.”
If Representative Lewis said that he would be worthy of honor and great respect doubly above and beyond the rest of congress combined. But now, it seems he is just a cog in the machine that is running over our civil rights, the nail that stands up always gets hammered down.
Re Obama’s meeting with Putin:
Beware the excessive dose of sensationalism, making the public skeptical and thus ultimately cynical and unresponsive. (A form of wiley propaganda)
The canceling of Obama’s meeting with Putin is just sensationalism that is part of the Administration’s modus operandi. The meeting between Secretary of State Kerry and Secretary of Defense Hagel and their Russian counterparts is still on. It is in that meeting that the real diplomatic progress will be made.
Re: Rep. John Lewis, whatever it was “they” said or did to get that fine man to, in essence, renounce every damn thing he’s stood for all his life sickens me to my very soul.
Jeff Beard – its not cowardice. He’s a whore. You pay him and he does what you say – that’s how he got is seat. That’w how they all get up there and stay there. Someone just reminded him of that.
Some whore’s are paid really well and live quite nicely. So nicely in fact, they can forget what they are – when you are a whore, no matter how well paid, you need to dance when they tell you too. Its part of the deal.
Just think what could have happened if Lewis wasn’t a representative and a public figure.
How long until someone is “disappeared” Pinochet style for not towing the shadow government line?
How long until we’d notice?
What kind of leverage do you think was applied to make Lewis do such an abrupt about face?
Where did that leverage come from?
Couldn’t be from domestic spying now, could it?
Something that could have say . . . threatened his career as a pol?
Cowardice coming from someone like Rep. Lewis is a real shame.
Reblogged this on Politics Starts Here.
Reblogged this on Brittius.com.