I've gotten into arguments over this: some people assert that if there was a classified operation with the goal of flat-out murdering citizens that to reveal this in violation of its "classified" nature would be the greater sin
, utterly ignoring the 5th and 6th amendments.
The greater amount of materials are technical in nature and constitute material support of our nation’s enemies. His disclosure or Constitutional invasions of privacy are a small part and give a seeming basis of defense. The problem with that approach is that it disregards the nature of the greater portion of the stolen materials and his methods of disclosure.
And here lies our big disagreement: I view the government violating the Constitution as a bigger threat than any of Snowden's actions precisely because the citizenry cannot legitimately* fight back when their own Government tries to crush them. — the foreigner invading is an obvious existential danger, when those in authority are evil is a much more subtle danger.
* Granted, the Declaration of Independence is clear in its construction: That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and provides precedence. However, it is also true that any attempt to avail ourselves this legal responsibility will be painted as sedition, rebellion, and/or treason.
I cannot tell you Snowden’s motivation, but only judge his actions. His actions are not those of a concerned patriot who puts country over self, but a coward who is willing to compromise his country for personal gain.
Hm, that's funny — I level that same accusation against the Republican party.
Everyone with clearance knows the definition:
Top Secret classification level “shall be applied to information, the unauthorized disclosure of which reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security.”
Oh, you mean something like Obama's identification records?
After all, if those were actually released and proved the Birthers correct, then there'd be huge swathes of government officials that would be in big trouble, enough that removing all of them at once would likely disrupt government operations.
I don’t think we disagree, inasmuch as I believe the danger from our own government is existential. The problem with Snowden is that he is a popular Robin Hood, and I don’t claim he is a traitor for disclosing unconstitutional actions.
However, those actions so not change the fact that he also committed treason by giving our enemies top secret technical information that puts our nation at risk. Another’s crimes (our government’s) does not exonerate Snowden.
I am no longer a Republican and you can see how well I’m liked by the GOPe cheerleaders here if you read some of my history. I am adamantly opposed to the GOPe and it’s treachery.
I don’t believe that birther records would make any difference. In my opinion, they are and always have been a side show. The Clinton administration was bouyed tremendously from Monicagate when crimes of espionage, usurpation of enumerated powers and murder were completely ignored. The same is going on today. Snowden’s revelations don’t come close to discovering the truth of the corruption.