The NSA whistleblowers - patriots or traitors ?

[kentuck]

James Risen, the reporter from the NY Times who broke the NSA "leak" story, says that those people that leaked the story to him did so because they thought this Administration was bypassing the laws and was spying on people illegally. He considers them "patriots".

This runs counter to the White House charges of "treason". They say these people have done damage to our national security and that the President has the authority to bypass the FISA laws, because he is the president and because of the authority given him after 9/11 in the Patriot Act.

Which is correct? Are the "whistleblowers" patriots or traitors?

[Vidar]

1. The traitors are in the White House; opposition to them is patriotism.

[soothsayer]

2. Whistleblowers are ALWAYS patriots. If the gov't wasn't doing

something wrong (i.e., illegal) then it wouldn't be whistleblowing.

[QuettaKid]

wait. this IS a trick question, right? nt.

.

[cascadiance]

11. Except those like Judith Miller that call themselves whistle blowers...

Aiding and abetting others like those she's protecting who are committing crimes in releasing information like exposing our *legitimate* and perhaps *critical* spy operations like the CIA and FBI is not whistleblowing, but a criminal act. We need to make that distinction when we "protect" the press's rights to protect their "sources".

[wtmusic]

12. "Propagandists" is a better term

whistleblowing reveals wrongdoing. Judith Miller was pushing an agenda.

[Avalux]

3. Now do you really believe the White House?

Those who reported the illegal spying are doing a great service to Americans - they are informing us the government is breaking the law. Now ask this question - where should their allegiance lie? With the government or the American people? Seems fairly cut and dried to me. Patriots.

[CornField]

4. In my mind's eye there are two sets of traitors

1) the folks living in the nice public housing in D.C.

2) the folks who received the information from the "patriots" and didn't act on it immediately

[merwin]

9. I think they didn't act on it immediately because they wanted to verify

without a shadow of a doubt that it was true before going public with the info. Don't want the NYT going down like Rather did

[kentuck]

5. So there really is a "war" going on...

But it's not in Iraq. It's right here in America - over our Constitution and our laws. Is that the real "war"?

[Beam Me Up]

21. "National Security" vs "Constitution": another faux dichotomy

brought to you by murderous, thieving, lying scum who hate US for our constitution.

[MessiahRp]

6. PATRIOTS!

Our country was founded on the abuses of our civil liberties and they were laws that were the first we placed into our Constitution for a reason. In 1776 our people fought and died for these principals. Never let these bastards trivialize those liberties by saying that hypothetical national security trumps the rights of the people. Whomever blew the whistle on this lawbreaking should have parades in their honor.

Rp

[madokie]

7. Patriots, in the true sense of the word

[stevietheman]

8. Patriots, clearly. n/t

n/t

[havocmom]

10. Service to nation, it's people & Constitution by showing criminal acts

by those in power... VERY patriotic! The allegiance of public servants in a democracy must be to the rule of law and instruments of governance before any individuals.

Allegiance to specific leaders without critical judgment as to whether those leaders are acting within the law is what servants to tyrants and dictators do.

[underpants]

13. "counter to the White House charges of ___"

Fill in the blank with whatever you want. Whatever it is if it is counter to this White House it is patriotic. Oh and anything coming from this White House is a LIE-I have given up thinking that sooner or later they have to tell the truth about SOMETHING.

[One_Life_To_Give]

14. Not Patriots!

Sounds like they are doing this for political reasons (interdepartmental politics)

I have not seen any evidence to indicate that anything new is taking place here. That was not being done for the last 25 years or more.

[nashville_brook]

15. how about HEROs -- the fact that we are even having this discussion

(nationally) just shows how HEROic their action is.

they have put PUBLIC MORALITY above personal comfort and gain. heros. we've been waiting for them.

[mattclearing]

16. You have to ask? n/t

[FreakinDJ]

17. TRUE AMERICANS = PATRIOT

They are a lot more American then those dumb f@cks running around with a support the troops sticker on their bumber

[Ready4Change]

18. Examine what they have revealed.

If the information provided exposes illegal activity, then they are acting as patriots. AN example is exposing that Bush illegally ordered the NSA to eavesdrop on US citizens without a warrant. In such a case, providing the information may also be illegal, but as it's purpose is to expose high crimes, I see it as something which should be protected.

On the other hand, if the information provided exposes no crime, it is treason. In this case, there is no counterbalancing good to justify the crime of providing the information itself. This is what happened when Plames CIA work was exposed. Plame was not involved in illegal activity, yet her exposure caused harm to our intelligence gathering capabilities in a time of conflict. Treason, pure and simple.

[Voltaire]

19. Speaking as a former

NSAer myself, any leaks coming out of the agency are patriotic leaks made by patriots to try and save this nation. No question...they ARE patriots.

[foreverdem]

20. Patriots

Anyone who exposes infringements on our freedoms and liberties and/or exposes illegal doings by our own govt is a true patriot IMHO.