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.
and whorecoward was Darren’s … not Gene or nick … let’s be real clear on that one too.
Interested in how John Lewis actually voted on the Patriot Act stuff:
Voted NO on extending the PATRIOT Act’s roving wiretaps. (Feb 2011)
Voted YES on requiring FISA warrants for wiretaps in US, but not abroad. (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on Veto override: Congressional oversight of CIA interrogations. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
Voted NO on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight. (Apr 2006)
I didn’t accuse him of being a whore, Elaine. I only stipulated that it might be a possibility in explaining his actions. “Whore” was Eric’s word choice and he’s already explained he meant no offense by it. I would have saved such a word choice for a more appropriate episode myself. Like when it was revealed that the recent close vote on rescinding parts of the Patriot Act were revealed to break along lines clearly traceable to “campaign contributions” from the defense industry: Those Congresspersons were whores. But word choice is an individual thing. The underlying idea – to compromise one’s principles for personal gain – is still sound speculation absent proof to the contrary even though I personally think it less probable than some form of coercion.
Gene,
“However, we are still not addressing that most interesting question in this matter: why did Lewis recant?
“Based on his past actions regarding civil rights, such a retraction seems out of character and highly suspicious.
“So much so that it may be beyond simple partisanship.”
*****
Then, I’d say, we shouldn’t be so quick to call a man who braved so much in the fight for civil rights a whore.
I think it’s sad that Lewis may have been forced to backtrack on what he said about Edward Snowden. Still, I have enough respect for the man and what he endured in his lifetime not to accuse him of being a whore.
Oscar Wilde once said that “patriotism is the virtue of the vicious.” Now Congressman Lewis can join President Obama in their mutual, virtuous patriotism. Kick down, kiss up. Yes, I think that about explains President Obama and Congressman Lewis.
I think the administration is taking J. Edgar Hoovers playbook to heart.
On the subject of whistleblowers, the subject of Michael Hastings comes up in the book, This Town. I know I’ve brought it up several times, but I’ll be brief. Hastings was not part of The Club. Almost all journalists are part of The Club or are hoping to be. When Hastings wrote the Rolling Stone piece on McChrystal he was brutalized by journalists. The Club has certain rules regarding imbeds reporting on the military. Lara Logan, an imbed reporter[She was raped in the Egypt uprising], wrote a scathing piece on how you don’t use info from when you’re out drinking w/ the guys. Much of what Hastings got that was scandalous was when McChrystal and his aides were getting drunk. When MikeS wrote his piece on Hastings a few weeks back I wondered why his fellow journalists didn’t jump on the story. Well, now I know. He didn’t follow “the code.” Hell, even Dexter follows “the code.” Finally, I read in the LA Times[they’ve had a few stories] that Hasting’s widow was on CNN this week and said she didn’t think his death was suspicious. I know, she could be blackmailed, bought off. But, that’s what she said.
I’ve got your “breaking the law” thing right here, Representative Lewis. Pass it along to your hero, our current President, whom history will soon refer to as “body count” Obama or “peeping tom” Obama — or perhaps both. Hence, one for his legacy:
Felonious Military Age Muslims
You’ve reached the age of sixteen years
Or maybe thirty-five
This makes of you a “militant”
So why are you alive?
Our president can kill you now
His list contains your name.
Intended, or if by mistake,
He’ll kill you just the same
The bomb will kill the one it hits,
As well as those nearby
Who had no business being born
Unless it was to die.
A free-fire-zone we called this dodge,
All over Vietnam,
Which meant to shoot just anywhere.
Who gives a bloody damn?
Obama’s body counts reveal
Upon his magic map
Some “progress” after decades spent
Repeating this same crap.
But Democrats now think him “tough”
And cheer at each new kill.
Republicans, of course, do not,
And never ever will.
And so the country lurches right
As scapegoat Muslims fall,
And fascist brownshirts thrill to see
Obama “standing tall.”
Michael Murry, “The Misfortune Teller,” Copyright 2012
Folks, That was just a fly by the seat of my pants hypothetical. I was going to the other hypothetical of them offering him some dough for his district. I know it can get nasty and tough, but for a transgression like Lewis’s, more likely a go along to get along; “we need you on this and we got some cash for your afterschool program.”
Blouise, I’m not trying to vilify Lewis. But, making this guy eat sh!t sucks. His eating it, not saying, “F@ck You,” sucks even more. I respect you know him and I certainly remember and admire the young Mr. Lewis. And I respect your having his back. No b@llshit. I guess after the disappointment and anger, it’s really just sad.
nick,
He is 74 years old so maybe there’s something there but his wife of 45 years just died (New Years Eve) so I doubt there’s much they can threaten him with that he hasn’t already experienced … but then, who knows … dangerous times, dangerous people and you know how whorecowards are.
nick,
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org – The Center for Responsive Politics, Lewis’s net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $8,009 and $121,000. That averages to $64,504, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic Representatives in 2011 of $5,107,874. His average net worth decreased by 10.42% from 2010.
His net worth is $64,000 compared to the average net worth of Democratic Representatives which is $5,107,874 … guess Darren’s whorecoward has been giving it away free.
As to your dream scenario about a threatened district challenge … Lewis has served since 1987 and in the last 4 elections he received 99.95%, 99.95%, 73%, and 84% of the votes cast and the last two were considered strong contenders.
Keep trying.
nick spinelli 1, August 8, 2013 at 8:16 pm
Folks, Blackmail and strong arming isn’t how it works w/ The Club.
…
=================================
A spokesman for “the Club.”
Scared Nick?
Everybody tries to clean it up because it is scary.
Who wants to live in a country like what we have to accept if this is military coup NSA spying thingy is true?
Fight and die for them some more?
Or be a nobody?
Some are going to make a political party struggle out of it cause we can fix this at the next ballot box like we did last time and the time before that.
It is so much worse than what normal people can imagine that the cultural amygdala utterly rejects it.
Otherwise, it will do nasty stuff to your spirit, emotions, and other reality effected realms.
Like the little girl who is told that her daddy has another girl besides her mommie, or that her mommie has a boyfriend besides her daddy.
Shit happens and it has happened here folks.
Don’t put icing on the turds, put it on the cake.
This turmoil is what happens When Indoctrination Is Enlightenment for too long.
We have been indoctrinated, Nick, if we think this whole world turned upside down blah blah thingy is that blasé.
This is not a golf club, this is a mass-murdering lying psychotic machine that is far more dangerous than you allow yourself to contemplate.
Time to not be like Family Guy down at the local pub buying a few drinks to cheer up the crowd when catastrphe is approaching.
Also, blackmail is a standard tool in the intelligence community toolbox.
nick,
Leverage has a fulcrum. At Lewis’ age, the threat of not supporting him over a challenger not only lacks enough power to serve as a fulcrum, it’s one I’m sure he’s heard more than once at this point. If he were a younger man in a more vulnerable seat? Maybe. But I have to doubt it was something so slender as that here. And I hope you don’t think pols aren’t above a little blackmail and strong arm tactics. I’ve seen stuff in Louisiana (and in Kansas) that would make your hair stand straight up. DC has got to be worse.
Folks, Blackmail and strong arming isn’t how it works w/ The Club. Oh, Lewis may have gotten a call from maybe someone like the WH Chief of Staff like, “John, you’re killing us w/ the NSA piece. What the f@ck were you thinking?
Lewis: “Well, I was thinking back to my days fighting the powers to be and I had some empathy for Snowden’s plight.
WH: “John, you know we deeply respect your fights back then and your continuing fight for people of color and all the oppressed. That’s not the point. We need to stick together on this Snowden thing, John. This guy is dangerous and a renegade. He was having weekly psychiatric appointments before he went rogue. Now, you can’t repeat any of this but we have solid information Snowden is a borderline personality and quite dangerous. I also hear from a source he is now trying to sell information. Now, he may sell it to a person he thinks is trustworthy, but f@ck, John, what if it ends up in some Al Qaeda groups hands. We need to rein this guy in and let people know he’s not a patriot, he’s a traitor.”
Lewis: “I never heard about him trying to sell this information or about the psych stuff.”
WH: “John, that’s FOR YOUR EARS ONLY. We trust you and we need you to retract that story.”
Lewis: How?? I said it, the reporter recorded the interview, I…”
WH: JOHN, you just say your wording was bad. Keep it simple. Now, John, I know this is tough. But, we really need you on this. Listen, we know you may have a primary challenge next..”
Lewis: “A primary challenge, where the f@ck did you hear that?”
WH: “I can’t reveal my source but there’s some young female attorney who works as a USA..”
Lewis: “Yeah, I know who you mean. Hell, she’s only about 30..32 @ the most.”
WH: “That’s right, but she’s putting out feelers. She’s bright, attractive and eloquent. The economy has been sh!t and we hear she’s going to play that and the fact that you’re entrenched and too old and tired.”
Lewis: “Why the hell have I not heard this?”
WH: “John, this is something we got from your district just a week or so ago. We were going to give you a heads up but mofo, it’s been crazy around here. But, here’s the deal. If she challenges you we will give you our full support. POTUS will make appearances and you’ll have all the money you need. We just need you on this, John.”
Lewis: “Damnnnn!” OK. I’ll put out a statement this morning.”
WH: “John, we won’t forget this..I mean it.”
Lewis: “Yeah, yeah.”
Gene H. 1, August 8, 2013 at 7:16 pm
Some people may still have principles, but you what has none? A machine.
Only slightly OT . . .
NSA Chief: Solution To Stopping The Next Snowden Is Replacing His Former Job With A Machine
Now at least we know who’ll be responsible for Skynet.
This is such a bad idea, I don’t even know where to begin . . .
============================================
I was torn between posting “Maggie’s Farm” )Rage Against The Machine), or “Sympathy For The Devil” (Stones).
Thanks for the help (BTW Maggies Farm is the military NSA realm):
Oh bull. He didn’t walk it back, he was conned and his comments taken out of context. That’s pretty clear from his press release, if you bother to read it.
Max-1 1, August 8, 2013 at 6:52 pm
Dredd,
If its political blackmail, illegal as it is, why would Mr. Lewis cover for his blackmailers? Questioning minds want to know…
==========================
We all have our breaking point.
One segment of the military NSA is to work with CIA, FBI, et al. to pinpoint that spot.
Then use it to get the target back on message.
Or else.
Just think about what you could not handle for a moment, then realize that they know it too.
And will use it.
ONLY if you become a threat to them.
Remember the BORG series on Star Trek?
The captain, Data, et al. penetrated the shield with the “beam me up Scotty” device, and went into the Borg ship.
Once there the drones of the Borg (3 of 12, 6 of nine, etc.) utterly ignored them.
Perplexed the captain asked Data why they were not being attacked by the Borg.
Data informed him “Captain, we are not a threat to them.”
That is real.
Once you become a threat to them, your statement “Questioning minds want to know…” will become clear to you quickly.
Then you will be in Rep. Lewis’ shoes. Alone in a crowd.
Some people may still have principles, but you what has none? A machine.
Only slightly OT . . .
NSA Chief: Solution To Stopping The Next Snowden Is Replacing His Former Job With A Machine
Now at least we know who’ll be responsible for Skynet.
This is such a bad idea, I don’t even know where to begin . . .
Some people still have principles:
Edward Snowden’s favorite email service gives up the ghost ather than hand over data to the US government:
http://www.itworld.com/it-management/368435/edward-snowden-s-favorite-email-service-gives-ghost?page=0,1
rafflaw 1, August 8, 2013 at 6:33 pm
The more I think about this evolving and growing NSA scandal, it seems that this is not a political problem, but a problem with who really controls the government. The NSA and the intelligence community may be pulling a lot more strings that we are willing to acknowledge. Almost, every government official, at every level has some secrets that they may be willing to bend over to make sure the secret does not get disclosed. Spooky.
– – – – – – – –
rafflaw 1, August 8, 2013 at 6:26 pm
Dredd,
that is an amazing claim made by Mr. Tice. If true, it would explain a lot, as Gene suggested. I think we need an investigation into the NSA, but who will do that in light of these allegations?
=============================
It explains Rep. Lewis’ strange behavior in the sense they could make an offer he could not refuse.
No one does anything about it when they first get the message because the world suddenly is not the same anymore:
(Revisiting Eschelon – ACLU / Truthout).
No one has the individual power to do anything about it.
Mr. Tice was ignored: