The Pulitzer Prizes Just Demolished The Idea That Edward Snowden Is A Traitor

[NorthCarolina]

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/14/pulitzers-edward-snowden-traitor_n_5148471.html

The Huffington Post | by Jack Mirkinson

The journalists who won the Pulitzer for their momentous reporting on Edward Snowden's national security revelations celebrated their victory on Monday, and stressed that their awards sent an important message about the nature of Snowden's actions.

The staffs of the Washington Post and the American wing of the Guardian won the prestigious Public Service award for their work, which exposed the astonishingly far-reaching scope of the NSA's surveillance activities and sparked a huge public debate about the extent of the government's spying.

The Pulitzer judges wrote that the Post had won "for its revelation of widespread secret surveillance by the National Security Agency, marked by authoritative and insightful reports that helped the public understand how the disclosures fit into the larger framework of national security."

They wrote that the Guardian had won "for its revelation of widespread secret surveillance by the National Security Agency, helping through aggressive reporting to spark a debate about the relationship between the government and the public over issues of security and privacy."

As a "progressive site", I'm glad we don't have to deal with any Snowden Is A Traitor authoritarians trolling about here on DU.

[MannyGoldstein]

1. The Pullitzers have boxes in their garage!

In Moscow!

@$!# Rand Paul!

Regards,

TWM

[cantbeserious]

16. I Thought The Pulitzers Employed Pole Dancers

eom

[Dragonfli]

40. No, a common myth, actually they just exclusively date pole dancers and make them cry

[KoKo]

2. Recommend!

[jehop61]

3. If so

doesn't he come back to the USA, get some hi-profile legal help and state his case? But he chooses to stay in Russia, Putin's paradise, providing propaganda opportunities.

[NorthCarolina]

5. Right, like he would come back to a country where the minority authoritarians who despise

his blowing their cover are still calling the shots, AND who also have a distinct affinity for torture. Most thinking people understand why he wouldn't come back just yet.

[jehop61]

6. Most

progressives don't hate Government, tea party and libertarians do. That's why I said hi-profile legal help to facilitate his legal process.

[JoeyT]

7. Most progressives have the sense to understand that

progressivism doesn't mean supporting absolutely every action of the government without question no matter what they do.

You might question his patriotism for refusing to submit to the US government, but given their love of torture and protecting those who do it, disappearing people, and killing people for reasons the peasants aren't allowed to know, if he chose to come back I'd question his sanity.

[NorthCarolina]

12. Spot on.

[totodeinhere]

41. Correct. There is plenty that the government has done that most progressives oppose.

Was our illegal occupation of Iraq OK because it was the government that was doing it? Of course not. The difference is that progressives don't automatically oppose anything coming out of the government like many libertarians and conservatives do.

[LiberalLovinLug]

14. Most

Left leaning groups and parties throughout the 20th/21st century, from the union organizations, to the suffragettes, anti-war peace groups AND whistleblowers have developed a healthy paranoia about capitalist catering governments, because all of those groups are a threat to their smooth running money making machine.

Is this news to you?
And I'd say especially now with the Patriot Act, indefinite detention, scrapping of Habeas Corpus, a taste for torture, not to mention the bought out corporate press that would create the story around the narrative their owners want to portray.

What is it with y'all and your need for official punishment first for "stealing" before you even attempt to recognize just what he stole and what kind of importance the revelations of that stolen material means to Americans?

Baffling.

[NorthCarolina]

18. Authoritarians believe Government can do no wrong, and require blind allegiance period.

Such a system seems to have worked out pretty well for China...well, for China's elite at least.

[chknltl]

30. I am not sure I disagree so much but I would add:

Now this is just from my own experience mind you and some things I have learned from Thom Hartmann but most of the authoritarian types I am familiar with firmly believe that they know what is best for everyone else. When they are cornered by questions regarding our democratic process they tend to fall back to saying that the electorate doesn't understand what is best for everyone and should leave the voting to those of 'us' that do.

The concept of Trickle Down Economics fits this notion in that the authoritarian types believe that the "Captains of Industry" got where they are today by being smarter than everyone else so obviously they should be the ones making the economic decisions that the poor folk are just not intelligent enough to make.

Sadly this is the very basis of Fascism and it appeals on a gut level to many people regardless of economic standing. It made Mussolini quite popular with the citizenry of Italy for a while. Even today there are very old Italians who feel Mussolini was wronged because he did indeed provide jobs using this concept when prior to his taking power there were no jobs to be had.

(amazing the things one learns from listening to the Thom Hartmann Show)

[Maedhros]

11. Snowden is NOT choosing to stay in Russia.

The United States revoked his passport and has intimidated other countries into denying him entry. He is in Russia "providing propaganda opportunities" entirely because of the U.S. Government.

[Dragonfli]

43. You don't appear to know about the war on whistleblowers I can provide a link

[Jefferson23]

4. What he revealed was important, he should be honored directly. n/t

[Blue_Tires]

8. So those two concepts can't both be true?

They can't exist independently from one another?

[Gore1FL]

9. This site has many discussions like this.

I've struggled with bringing nuances to these and similar over-simplified threads over the past 13 years. I've found it's best just to not think to hard about it.

[Cha]

53. Yes, they can.

[demoncrat]

10. Hes a traitor!!

Good riddance. He can stay in Russia as far as I am concerned. That's my opinion,and I am sticking to it.....

[NorthCarolina]

15. ...

If that works for you, then more power to ya.

[tazkcmo]

17. AWESOME!!! n/t

[mindwalker_i]

21. Could not have said it better

The "Snowden is a traitor" crowd seems to be made up of people who don't want to know how our government violates the constitution against us, doesn't want anyone else to know how our government violates the constitution against us, and doesn't want the government to stop violating the constitution, against us. The only improvement that picture could have is if the person's head were up the government's ass.

"Noooooo, don't push me out of my happy place "

[NorthCarolina]

25. The truly scary part is that

apparently these same folks talk as though they believe themselves to be good Democrats. I'm like HUH???

[mindwalker_i]

37. Not just good Democrats...

They think they are good citizens. What part of America was founded on supporting everything the government does, including spying on its own citizens? What part of being a good citizen in a democracy is unthinkly cheering everything the government does?

[frylock]

23. fuck off, troll

[Duval]

33. EWWWWWWW n/t

[NBachers]

36. DEMONcrat. I love it! Welcome to Democratic Underground.

Will you be my new friend, Demoncrat?

[rhett o rick]

46. Do you disparage all those that dare speak truth to power of just have a hard

spot for Snowden?

[hueymahl]

13. History will judge the Authoritarians unkindly

That is, provided they allow history to be written.

[lark]

19. Authoritarian?

"As a "progressive site", I'm glad we don't have to deal with any Snowden Is A Traitor authoritarians trolling about here on DU."

The people on this site that trash Snowden generally do it because he's outting President Obama who is perfection incarnate in their eyes, so therefore Snowden has to be a criminal. Authoritarians and fear mongers, of course, are anti-Snowden, but they are also generally anti-Dem as well.

[PatrynXX]

29. he's outting both Obama and Bush but mostly pro Putin n/t

[lark]

32. What did he write that was pro-Putin?

I haven't seen that.

[Cha]

51. Snowden praising Russia and "leader" "for being the first to stand against human rights violations"

"... These nations, including Russia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Ecuador have my gratitude and respect for being the first to stand against human rights violations carried out by the powerful rather than the powerless. By refusing to compromise their principles in the face of intimidation, they have earned the respect of the world. It is my intention to travel to each of these countries to extend my personal thanks to their people and leaders.

http://wikileaks.org/Statement-by-Edward-Snowden-to.html

Snowden is a raging hypocrite.

[lark]

58. Much ado about little.

That was something he said awhile ago. He was talking about the countries that were nice to him and that weren't cowed by the US into disavowing him, it's really more of a personal statement. I haven't heard him make any pro-Russian announcements since Russia started their agression against their neighbor.

Why the extreme vitriol, do you think spying on every American is the way to go and can't stand it that this illegal practice was brought to light?

[LiberalLovinLug]

34. "Pro Putin"?

Please provide a link where Snowden praises Putin.

[Cha]

52. Your link..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1016&pid=90695

[LiberalLovinLug]

31. You may be right

But do they think Obama operates in a vacuum? They seem to, in their overt defensiveness, assume that those that support Snowden are attacking the President primarily. I think most pro-Snowden folks realize that although we'd love it if Obama fell on his sword and went against both parties official stances, we realize that even that wouldn't have much effect on the sold out Washington crowd. It is much more of an ingrained incestual establishment of the press, the lobbyists, and politicians.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

20. very good!

[flamingdem]

22. I smell of whiff of Libertarian on this thread

with a sprinkling of sneer.

[frylock]

24. maybe you should change your underpants

[PatrynXX]

28. well some of us are left wing libertarians

but truth is Right Wing Libertarians seem to love him more than the left. Now the old guard Republicans brand him a traitor.. maybe thats me but you give info to China and Russia usually thats treason , but since Bush and Cheney were never held accountable we can't do this with Snowden but he's still a traitor.

[stonecutter357]

44. libertarians strike me as very odd.

[PatrynXX]

26. Still is a traitor

whether he's charged or not don't care but oh the tea party sure loves him. Sorry I'm not Tea Party. As a Progressive site sure glad we can air our opinion and isn't Russian like Snowden is.

[grahamhgreen]

35. Traitor to those that would destroy the Constitution:)

[Cryptoad]

45. Funny

Too bad the facts are not on your side,,,,,,,,,nothing the Comrade Snowden has revealed has been judged to be un-Constitutional !

Not only is he a traitor , he is a right wing nut.. ! But I guess that is why all you righties defend him so much.

Come back Home Comrade and face up to your transgressions !

[LiberalLovinLug]

47. "...nothing the Comrade Snowden has revealed has been judged to be un-Constitutional"

How about a little thing called the 4th amendment?

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

This should not be a left / right issue. Just because a few in the tea party support him, while FAUX News is screaming for his head on a platter, shouldn't decide if you support his actions or not.

[Cryptoad]

49. Like I said,

no court has ruled anything unconstitutional . Just because you think it in unconstitutional does not in fact make it so..

What still amazes me is that so many were shocked that this was happening, since it hace been going on for over 20 years..

The Age of Privacy is Dead and Gone Forever....... get over it!

[grahamhgreen]

54. Why do you not want to defend our Constitution?

[Cryptoad]

55. Our Constitution

is capable of defending itself. It is working just as our founding fathers planned for it to work.

[LiberalLovinLug]

59. the Constitution

"is just a piece of paper" as the former President GWB is reported to have said.

Its a frail piece of paper in a museum. You actually think it will rise up on its last hemp strands, brush itself off, and draw its little sword and march off to the House on its own?

Because the only other reading of your response is "relax...those in charge of those things know what they're doing...we should just trust them"

If the people don't stand up to the slow erosion of their own Constitution, who will? And from the last I heard Snowden is an American citizen.

[Cryptoad]

60. nice little speech

your opinion is noted, but that all it is your opinion.

If you think our Constitution is nothing more than a ole piece of paper, why are you so concerned about its erosion ,,,,, that ole paper is not eroding,,,,, your own arguments contradict your premises.

But I still await any high court ruling that supports Comrade Snowden claims.....not more personal opinions no matter how well intended they may be!

[LiberalLovinLug]

61. I'm more concerned with what is written on that piece of paper

If I have to spell it out for you. Yes it is just a piece of paper to people like Bush, Cheney and the like.

You are mixing up my metaphors for some reason.

So the head of the NSA confirming what he denied previously about mass spying on Americans doesn't in any way vindicate Snowden.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_R._Clapper

Clapper has been accused of perjury for telling a Congressional committee in March 2013, that the NSA does not collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans.

How about a federal judge?:

https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/12/16-7

In the biggest legal blow to the National Security Agency since the dragnet spying scandal broke in June, a federal judge ruled Monday that the U.S. government "almost certainly" violated the constitution by mass collecting data on nearly every single phone call within or to the United States.


Oh, you want a judge on the HIGH court to rule. I see. Because the SCOTUS is never biased. Especially this one.

[totodeinhere]

42. Some in the Tea Party support him but many Neocons like Cheney are right in there with you

calling him a traitor. It's not helpful to cheery pick a few on the right who may support him when many on the right like Cheney and Rummy oppose him.

[WillyT]

27. K & R !!!

[whatchamacallit]

38. Unfortunately, no level of validation will stop his haters from being

Last edited Tue Apr 15, 2014, 04:05 PM - Edit history (1)

ignorant assholes.

Congrats ES!

[Duval]

39. Not a traitor.

Yes, a "whistleblower". He deserves the Pulitzer Prize, IMHO.

[polynomial]

48. Something is happening to favor Snowden

Pulitzer does not send out praises like this based on some social recklessness.

However, from my view more needs to be done to shame the Bush administration into an unforgiven era that will chastised this history of political corruption forever condemning the profiteering, banking derivative market fakery , with the sacking of the treasury all compromised and complicit with our mainstream media.

For decades the media has known the Bush family has been business partners with the Bin Laden family now know to be the primary financers of Al Qaeda. Worse the Bush History is noted for profiteering such as this going back to Prescott Bush financing the Nazi.

911 should never be forgotten, for America is on the precipice in common knowledge that legions of complicit business, and government officials participated in this insidious treacherous or deceitful game in war with Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bush ignoring intelligence opened the door to let the terrorist in. As a first responder Bush just sat in a Florida school room while being informed planes crash into the twin tower using the safety of the children as excuse to idle time till the second plane hit, many think he knew the second plane was coming and waited.

From my view both Bush brother are guilty, it’s tough to believe Jeb Bush likely helped scrub the FAA records that covered up the frightened Arabs as they flea Florida while all planes were grounded, however, knowing the Bush connection in Florida it likely happened. That is documented in Gerald Posners book secrets of the Kingdom and Russ Baker family secrets.

The difficulty is not Snowden, the difficulty is the disgusting back room deals to profiteer during the Bush administration, make war, intentionally ignore the American infrastructure, oppress voting, refuse to honor a living wage, continued obstruction in health care for all Americans, and worse total disrespect for the poor and education. And last Bush must be condemned for using torture.

[bvar22]

50. This makes it really EASY to see exactly WHO is on the WRONG side of this issue at DU.

*Rampant Government Secrecy and Democracy can not co-exist.

*Persecution of Whistle Blowers and Democracy can not co-exist.

*Government surveillance of the citizenry and Democracy can not co-exist.

*Secret Laws and Democracy can not co-exist.

*Secret Courts and Democracy can not-co-exist.

*Our Democracy depends on an informed electorate.

You either believe in Democracy and a Government accountable to The People,
or you don't.
It IS that simple.

[Progressive dog]

56. I didn't know the pullitzer's were the same as a trial

by a jury of his peers. If Snowden wants justice, all he has to do is come home and face actual charges under US law.

[NorthCarolina]

57. In case you hadn't heard, the US now has an affinity for

Torture of its prisoners, and a knack for "disappearing" them as well. I think it's understandable why he would elect not to chance such a fate.

[Progressive dog]

62. I don't read fantasy, so I must

have missed it.