The NSA spies and Democrats look away

CNN ^ | July 8, 2013 | Julian Zelizer

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Editor's note: Julian Zelizer is a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. He is the author of "Jimmy Carter" and "Governing America."

(CNN) -- During the weeks of debates triggered by Edward Snowden and his release of information about a classified National Security Agency spying program, the story has moved further and further from the actual surveillance and centered instead on the international cat-and-mouse game to find him.

What has been remarkable is how Democrats have expressed little opposition to the surveillance program. Many Democrats have simply remained silent as these revelations have emerged while others, like California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, have openly defended the program.

President Barack Obama, while initially acknowledging the need for a proper balance between civil liberties and national security, has increasingly focused on defending the government and targeting Snowden. When former President George W. Bush offered comments that echoed much of the president's sentiment, some of his supporters couldn't help but cringe as these two one-time adversaries came together on the issue of counterterrorism.

[cripplecreek]

Republicans aren’t exactly ready to burn the NSA to the ground.

[GOPJ]

I suspect democrats use the NSA to spy on conservative Americans... dems are OK with that...

[alloysteel]

Hey, it’s THEIR NSA now. That means they can use the organization to their “advantage”.

[fireman15]

The Dims will still start to feel a little queazy about if the midterms go against them. At that point it will be time for some serious congressional investigations.

[txhurl]

bttt

[jsanders2001]

Its one thing to gather intel to protect your nation. Its a completely different thing when you’re gathering the intel to blackmail or intimidate political opponents or use it for political or finanial gain.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”What has been remarkable is how Democrats have expressed little opposition to the surveillance program. Many Democrats have simply remained silent as these revelations have emerged while others, like California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, have openly defended the program. “

not really, who is the most likely to be victimized by this power? Did the IRS go after lib groups?
Their man is in charge, they trust him.

But what about all in the GOP lining up to defend Obama’s spying on us?

[GOPJ]

Its one thing to gather intel to protect your nation. Its a completely different thing when you’re gathering the intel to blackmail or intimidate political opponents or use it for political or financial gain.

If the NSA, FBI, and IRS think throwing away the 'law and order' support from the people who traditionally back them is a good idea, they're in for a rude awakening in a few years...

[Wuli]

If John McCain or Romney were President, the so-called “antiwar” movement would have organized same-day mass protest rallies in NY, SF, Chicago, Wash D.C., etc by now. They are not and never were an “antiwar” movement; merely a Marxist/Leftist/Pogressive movement that uses political opportunity to complain about their opponents in elected office.

[jeffc]

Dems will stop “looking away” when we get a Repub Prez. Then they’ll be screaming about the “spying on Americans” and pretend it never happened under King Zero, and the “news” media will agree with them.