Hero Or Traitor: Americans Divided Over US Leaker

[Purveyor]

AFP | Jun 26, 2013

WASHINGTON: US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has earned praise and condemnation from fellow Americans divided over whether his disclosures make him a whistleblowing hero or a self-absorbed traitor.

But public opinion remains fluid and Snowden's flight from Hong Kong to Moscow could cost him support, possibly recasting him as a mere pawn of America's adversaries.

--CLIP
According to surveys, Americans display "ambivalence" towards Snowden and the National Security Agency surveillance programs that he exposed, with opinions still shifting as the fast-moving drama unfolds, said Carroll Doherty, associate editor of the Pew Research Center.

In a USA Today/Pew poll released June 17, 54 per cent of respondents said Snowden should be prosecuted for his bombshell leaks.

But a YouGov poll earlier this month showed 35 per cent of Americans opposed putting Snowden on trial, with 26 per cent in favour and the rest undecided.

MORE...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Hero-or-traitor-Americans-divided-over-US-leaker/articleshow/20772217.cms

7 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Hero?
	2 (29%)
	Traitor?
	4 (57%)
	Other?
	1 (14%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[Motown_Johnny]

1. Misguided and mistaken.

Neither a hero nor a traitor.

He should have written a book instead.

The real problem here is that things that should be illegal are legal under the Patriot Act. You can't "Whistle blow" about things that are legal. Now he is stuck in a downward spiral trying to justify his actions. He shouldn't be disclosing things about us spying on other countries but guess what... we spy on other countries. No surprise there. His giving away details is what is getting him in trouble.

Yes, I know I will get flamed by both sides here but I had to take this opportunity to state my opinion.

[mick063]

2. If extortion, thievery, or assault are ever declared legal by those wise men in long robes.

I'll write a book instead. Thanks for the tip.

[Motown_Johnny]

3. Because you would somehow be a whistle blower instead?

Man, I was expecting better flames than that one.

[mick063]

5. It was a flame?

The wise men in long robes say informing folks they are being spied on is illegal. Or conversely, spying on US citizens is legal.

I truly understood the context of your post.

[loyalsister]

8. Well said

His motives seem less pure as he continues to milk his status as international anti-hero fugitive. I have a hard time finding anything redeeming in the results when his behavior indicates that he is on an ego-driven mission.

[cantbeserious]

4. Link To New Documents Released By Washington Post - How The NSA Collects PRISM Data

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/prism-collection-documents/

And Related article.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/us-intelligence-mining-data-from-nine-us-internet-companies-in-broad-secret-program/2013/06/06/3a0c0da8-cebf-11e2-8845-d970ccb04497_story.html

[dkf]

6. If you want to look for traitors look at those who are bastardizing everything this country stands

for. Shame on them.

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

7. But the DU Majority doesn't agree with the traitor charge

still


Edward Snowden is a modern day Paul Revere with a thumb drive full of the news that Tyranny is coming!

[11 Bravo]

9. I forget, was Revere riding to Concord or Hong Kong?

[Robb]

10. Havana, but he got lost.

[Robb]

11. I went with traitor, because it's the only technically correct

term.

That said, it looks increasingly like he's been played six ways to Sunday by a variety of parties.

I do think he, at least at one point, was convinced by himself or others he was being a hero. Cliche, but there it is.

[Posteritatis]

12. If only the real world were so Manichean... (nt)

[Tx4obama]

13. Anti-American leaker, felonious criminal. n/t

[treestar]

14. Other - accused felon

and fugitive from justice.