Results of White House Petition to pardon Edward Snowden

[90-percent]

Got this official response from the White House in my email today.

The petition was signed by167,955 people and is now closed.

I have my opinion, but let's see what my fellow DU'ers have to say for a while.

-jim









we petition the obama administration to:
Pardon Edward Snowden

Edward Snowden is a national hero and should be immediately issued a a full, free, and absolute pardon for any crimes he has committed or may have committed related to blowing the whistle on secret NSA surveillance programs.
Published Date: Jun 09, 2013
Issues: Civil Rights and Liberties, Government Reform, Human Rights
total signatures
167,955

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Official White House Response to Pardon Edward Snowden
A Response to Your Petition on Edward Snowden

Thanks for signing a petition about Edward Snowden. This is an issue that many Americans feel strongly about. Because his actions have had serious consequences for our national security, we took this matter to Lisa Monaco, the President's Advisor on Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. Here's what she had to say:

"Since taking office, President Obama has worked with Congress to secure appropriate reforms that balance the protection of civil liberties with the ability of national security professionals to secure information vital to keep Americans safe.

As the President said in announcing recent intelligence reforms, "We have to make some important decisions about how to protect ourselves and sustain our leadership in the world, while upholding the civil liberties and privacy protections that our ideals and our Constitution require."

Instead of constructively addressing these issues, Mr. Snowden's dangerous decision to steal and disclose classified information had severe consequences for the security of our country and the people who work day in and day out to protect it.

If he felt his actions were consistent with civil disobedience, then he should do what those who have taken issue with their own government do: Challenge it, speak out, engage in a constructive act of protest, and -- importantly -- accept the consequences of his actions. He should come home to the United States, and be judged by a jury of his peers -- not hide behind the cover of an authoritarian regime. Right now, he's running away from the consequences of his actions.

We live in a dangerous world. We continue to face grave security threats like terrorism, cyber-attacks, and nuclear proliferation that our intelligence community must have all the lawful tools it needs to address. The balance between our security and the civil liberties that our ideals and our Constitution require deserves robust debate and those who are willing to engage in it here at home."

[djean111]

1. BS. n/t.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. Do they do that with other petitions?

Shuffle them off to some flunky in whatever they feel is the appropriate department to reply to?

I admit I haven't followed the petition site much in a long time, but I thought the idea was that the President was supposed to respond to them.

[SidDithers]

3. The chief counter-terrorism advisor to The President is a flunky?...

Sid

[HFRN]

16. ...

[mythology]

11. There was never any presumption that Obama would

Personally answer petitions. The premise is that the white house would provide an answer to petitions that had first 25,000 and now 100,000 signatures.

Unless you think Obama has nothing better than to respond to petitions about Death Stars and deporting Justin Bieber.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

12. If he can take the time to answer 10 random letters a day, as they say he does

I think he could squeeze in a personal reply to petitions raising 100k signers. I don't imagine they get even one a week of those, and all he'd have to do for most of them is scribble a one liner saying 'No, we can't just deport Bieber, sorry.'

[Sunlei]

13. yes, they answer all petitions that have enough sigs. some petitions ended up with a bill to meet th

meet the petitioned request, like open cell phones and today they finished all open petitions and added change DOT org petitions to white house petition system.

[RKP5637]

4. As is often the case, if Snowden had gone through normal channels nothing would have happened.

Events would have continued business as usual. Most advancements in the US have generally only come about because of brave whistle blowers and often massive demonstrations. TPTB generally, often, do not like disruptions in the system.

[Thinkingabout]

5. Snowden's actions is not going to be pardoned by the president who realizes the crimes committed by

Snowden. Don't intentionally commit crimes and expect pardons.

[90-percent]

6. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/07/white-house-rejects-petition-pardon-snowden-150729021801493.ht

n/t

-jim again

[malthaussen]

7. As expected.

If the signers of the petition expected something different, I have a lovely bridge to sell them.

-- Mal

[Action_Patrol]

8. That's the response I would expect (NT)

[Alkene]

9. In other words,

"All of our representatives are with other customers,
but please stay on the line.

We apologize for the delay;
your call is very important to us.

Your expected wait time is approximately...
<540>
...days."

[riderinthestorm]

10. "US should hang Snowden in the public square as soon as we get our hands on him"

Says Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Saxby Chambliss...no due process. No trial.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141151783

Anyone still under any delusion Snowden would have received any kind of "justice" staying in the US? Justice like Drake perhaps?

Snowden was wise to run as far and as fast as he could, while he could.

There will be no justice from this Administration.

[mythology]

14. Because Saxby Chambliss is in the Obama administration?

[Sunlei]

15. I think he just wants to come home to the USA but he doesn't want to go to prison for life or 40 yrs

Will Putin even let him become a Russian citizen? Denounce his American citizenship? I don't think the Russian laws are better then American laws and rights.