Posted on 04/23/2006 5:43:33 PM PDT by genefromjersey
Mary Mc Carthy and Plastic Morality
By now , everyone has heard the story : Mary Mc Carthy , a long-term veteran at the CIA , has been fired for “leaking” highly classified material to Dana Priestly, a star reporter for the Washington Post.
Ms Mc Carthy is not only unemployed ; she is in criminal jeopardy as well – and it is by no means a given that Dana Priestly and her employers are “off the hook” for prosecution under the espionage statutes.
At the moment, a Republican administration is in power , and many loyal Democrats are proclaiming (rather vigorously) Mc Carthy should be honored as a “whistleblower” , because some of the material she is said to have leaked made life more difficult for the Administration.
Some of her supporters suggest she had a “moral duty” to violate the stringent terms of her employment –and the espionage laws : a duty that transcends mere statutes and regulations. Some have even suggested that anyone who believes otherwise is on the road to becoming “ a good little Nazi”.
I have a suspicion many of those who presently extol the lady’s virtues might be cursing her - if Democrats occupied the White House ; but I could be wrong.
It’s hard to predict reactions in an age of “plastic morality”.
In many parts of our country , people who feel a high sense of moral obligation towards animals have bombed facilities that conduct animal research , vandalized the cars and homes of research employees,and conducted acts of criminal harassment.
On both coasts, other people who feel halting development is a highly moral act ,have burned down SUV dealerships, spiked trees in an effort to injure lumberjacks, burned down homes under construction, and have even fire-bombed a spring water bottling plant.
In the year 2001, a microbiologist (and friends) exercised their highly developed “morality” by sending Anthrax through the mail to “punish” America for its sins. (They had the good sense to suggest al-Qaeda might have done it – and loyal supporters willing to lay false trails for the FBI to follow ; but a day of reckoning will come…)
Politicians from all major parties have reached out eagerly to accept unclean contributions – forwarded by those who want to promote questionable commercial enterprises ,and welcomed the lobbyists who broker these deals with open arms. They justify betrayal of the public trust by claiming a high moral duty to secure and remain in elective office.
I could go on – and on – until my fingers are too weary to type,and your eyes are too weary to continue reading ; yet , after all was said and done, any one of us might nod approvingly – then go out to do something unspeakable – in the name of a “higher moral purpose”.
Such is the nature of Plastic Morality.
Good post. Actually, just for the record it's "Dana Priest."
Then, is there any such thing as espionage?
The only way to commit espionage is to support the policy that you are sabotaging.....
She is in clear violation of secrecy acts. To not punish her severely (LONG jail sentence) is to just hand the US over to its enemies.
Democrats AGAIN show their patriotism by not pushing for swift and drastic punishment for McCarthy, AND the WaPo. These wackos cannot EVER be trusted with national security. Never.
Challenge him to make that a law. Then GOP holdovers under hillary can spill the governments guts in the tabloids and get away with it. Why not.
So he got the talking points.
Under this insane, baseless reasoning - there is no need of oaths or pledges - they would be totally useless.
So why is Libby being prosecuted? Oh, well, I guess under the lefts convoluted thinking, if a lib really leaks classified information with the goal of bringing down a president in time of war - or anytime, that's heroic and justifiable. But if a conservative doesn't leak anything, just alludes to something that everyone already knows - off with his head.
OK. I think I've finally got it
Dana and Mary? Pillow talk?
Defending her on Fox News Sunday, Juan Williams said, " no oath of office or pledge of secrecy should be kept if a person dealing with classified or secret information doesn't like the policy of the administration or the department they work in - EVEN DURING WAR!"""
Every time I hear that jerk, Juan Williams, I wanna puke.
This morning was the worst. I got into the show just in time to hear him say that and I shut it off.
I don't know why FOX keeps him on. He is about the stupidest person in the world who has face time on the media.
I really wish Bill Crystal had hit him right in the face when Juan accused Bill of "leaking" items theu the years. I was outraged at Williams, and I don't think I am alone.
These people that are starting to circle the wagons and say she did the right thing are saying it's okay to break the law if you don't agree with that law or don't agree with the policy that that an administration has. If that theory was adopted, we wouldn't have to have any laws or oaths of office. They're nuts!
Not even if the person thinks the policy to be wrong - just "doesn't like it"!!!!!
Insane. These people are insane.
Hopefully, there will be enough people still left in the country that can think for themselves and be astounded at these statements - and afraid of the implications.
BUMP!
These are NOT nice people.
oh, so then if any of us would do it, there's nothing to do about it. what a lame conclusion. speak for yourself
You're definitely not alone. Williams is getting crazier and crazier. I emailed the show and said he should be replaced. Everyone should do the same and they finally might get a liberal whose got half a brain on the show.
j
They ALL jumped on Juan for defending the woman. Even Chris Wallace couldn't believe his statement, and stated that people should write their anticipated letters of complaint directly to Juan and not to the program.
The Labadie Collection, part of the University of Michigan's Special Collection Library, is housing Kaczynski's correspondence from over 400 people since his arrest in April 1996, some of his carbon-copied replies as well as some legal documents, publications, and clippings. The collection is expected to grow. The names of most correspondents will be kept sealed until 2049.
He has been active as a writer in prison. A scholarly letter by Kaczynski on a book review by István Deák recently appeared in the New York Review of Books. [4]
bttt
It is not espionage - it is SEDITION.
The deliberate act of attempting to overthrow a legitimate government duly elected!
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