Who here has ever had something they've done labelled "treason" by the right wing?
I am appalled at the Russian hacking and believe it should be fully and aggressively investigated and that when the results of that investigation are known, such legal action as may be appropriate should be taken.
But I'm exceedingly wary of the loose use of the labels "treason" and "traitor" in connection with the Russian hacking. Of course, quick draw allegations that someone has engaged in "treason" are pretty old hat on DU.
So why am I wary? Well, for starters its because I've seen that term applied loosely by those on the other side of the spectrum. As someone who marched against the Vietnam War, I have heard that I was giving aid and comfort to the enemy by doing so. As someone who sought out various ways of avoiding the draft, some illegal, I heard again that my doing so was treason as was the assistance of those who would help me find ways to avoid serving. I've had family members be caught up in the red scare of the 50s -- caught up in the McCarthy witch hunt simply because they did not share the right wing's paranoia about the Soviet Union. I've seen others have their careers threatened and sometimes ruined because by going to Russia and meeting with communist officials, they were alleged to be giving aid and comfort to an enemy. I've watched Jane Fonda be vilified for her activities during the Vietnam War.
The treason label is a slippery slope. What constitutes an enemy? Is Russia an enemy? It certainly is true that we are not aligned with them on many many things. But we have diplomatic relations with them. Are they more of an enemy now than they were during the Stalin years or even later when they were engaged in covert espionage against the United States (as we were against them)? Is China our enemy for purposes of the treason clause because they too have engaged in cyber attacks against the US government and its citizens? Same for Iran (apart for other reasons that they might be considered our enemy). At what point does trying to build a different relationship with an enemy become aid and comfort? Indeed, what are the boundaries of "aid and comfort"?
The Russian hacking is an extreme case, but its still far from clear to me that it would or should be considered treason under the limited scope that provision was intended to have by the drafters of the Constitution. And for those that are inclined to echo the John Birch Society by labeling me "Comrade" for expressing these doubts, I can only suggest they return to their history books.
If the investigation into the Russian hacking warrants it, there will be a variety of measures that can be taken both against Russia and against individuals who may have conspired with or assisted them. Whether those measures include charging anyone with treason is something not yet possible of being known.
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