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.
oops… disrespect
America is dead.
Agree, ap and blouise. One can be critical of what is going on without showing undue disrespect to a great civil rights leader.
Swarthmore Mom – So, respect is due “your team” – no matter what they do? Your comments are allways about as partisan as those of Bill O’reilly. He’s right, your left but neither is open to any other point of view. That is why there is no “middle” anymore.
Eric, This has nothing to do with blue or red. It has to do with respect for Congressman Lewis.
Swarthmore Mom – Try taking those ideological robes off for just a few minutes to see things for how they really are – not how you see them through your blue tinted glasses.
Until hyper-partisan folks like you start to measure “your team” with the same yard stick you use for others, we will never progress in this country because each party has “its team”.
Darren Smith – thanks for that blast from the past ! I watched many episodes of Electric Company in my early days.
anonymously posted
1, August 8, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Swarthmore mom 1, August 8, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Calling John Lewis, one of the greatest civil rights leaders, a “coward” and a “whore” or “Whorecoward” exceeds the bounds of decency.
Agreed.
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These are truly dangerous times and many people are justifiably afraid. If John Lewis can be cowed, well…, draw your own conclusions.
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Exactly
As to Darren’s whorecoward comment, I simply consider the source and move on. I’ve known Mr. Lewis for many, many years and I well remember when he called the OJ Simpson murder verdict racist. That upset a lot of people too.
Swarthmore mom 1, August 8, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Calling John Lewis, one of the greatest civil rights leaders, a “coward” and a “whore” or “Whorecoward” exceeds the bounds of decency.
Agreed.
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These are truly dangerous times and many people are justifiably afraid. If John Lewis can be cowed, well…, draw your own conclusions.
AP, The press release should be dated, “1984”
Press Release (for the record):
http://johnlewis.house.gov/press-release/rep-john-lewis-no-praise-snowden
Rep. John Lewis: No Praise for Snowden
Aug 8, 2013
“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.
“ I never praised Mr. Snowden or said his actions rise to those of Mohandas Gandhi or other civil rights leaders. In fact, The Guardian itself agreed to retract the word “praise” from its headline.
“At the end of an interview about the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, I was asked what I thought about Mr. Snowden’s actions. I said he has a right as an individual to act according to the dictates of his conscience, but he must be prepared to pay the price for taking that action. In the movement, we were arrested, we went to jail, we were prepared to pay the price, even lose our lives if necessary. I cannot say and I did not say that what Mr. Snowden did is right. Others will be the judge of that.”
You can call a white man a who’re coward Darren…. But please show diversity…. It matters not what you think but what you say….. But, I’m in agreement with you……
By action of the Continental Congress in 1778:
(JOURNALS OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, 1774-1789).
SWM, When a great and honorable athlete, who at one point in his career, decides to cheat by taking performance enhancing drugs, and lies about it, what should he/she be called? Now, “whore” may be a bit over the top, but “coward” is spot on. The man was great and honorable, he hasn’t been for some time now. Does being a former civil rights leader give one a get out of jail free card? It’s racist and paternalistic to say a black civil rights leader can’t be called a coward if indeed he is one. Jesse Jackson has been called much worse and deservedly so. Are some more former, noble civil rights leaders more equal than others?
His actions brought it on. How can he be called a civil rights leader when he calls for the concemnation of a man who risked everything to reveal to the public that the public’s civil rights were being violated? And, after he publicly declares this person previously to be a hero and a civil rights leader akin to someone engaging in civil disobedience to protect civil rights.
But later he bows down to voice the condemnation of this civil rights leader due to pressures from politicians and others.
What would you swarthmore mom say about a politician who at first praises Dr. King for being a civil rights leader who engages in civil disobediance and then 24 hours later says that Dr. King puts lives in danger for what he did and should be condemed? Would you call that exceeding the bounds of decency or is it “too hypothetical for you to comment”?
. Calling John Lewis, one of the greatest civil rights leaders, a “coward” and a “whore” or “Whorecoward” exceeds the bounds of decency.
Now hear this:
(National Whistleblowers Center). Wiggy. Leaks.
Eric :
“its not cowardice. He’s a whore.”
~+~
Whore . . . . . . . . . . . . Coward
Whore . . . . .Coward
Whorecoward
Darren is waxing quixotic this morning. I’ll be Sancho Panza.
Thanks, Gene H. That’s the thing about “ap” — one can go so many different ways with it. 😉 (Can’t muster a full smile…)
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The following scene from “In the Valley of Elah” comes to mind this morning:
http://youtu.be/FEwYM7SUESQ
We’re in a whole world of trouble.