Once again, Bernie Sanders just flat out gets it

[Scuba]

[ProSense]

1. Here,

full comments:

Senator Sanders comments on Snowden
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024292659

[Scuba]

2. Thanks for adding.

[ProSense]

5. You're welcome. n/t

[arcane1]

3. Wait, does that make him an NSA Apologist, or a Snowden-lover? I'm confused.

I can't remember the last time I read that kind of rational nuance on DU when it comes to this topic. Or the first time!

Love ya, Bernie!!

[Egalitarian Thug]

4. K&R #5 This should definitely be on the greatest page. n/t

[a2liberal]

6. This might be one of the rare times I have to disagree with Bernie

Snowden took extraordinary actions and risk to FULFILL his oath to uphold the Constitution (unless there's a different oath that he's talking about that comes with a clearance. I also acknowledge that I don't know if he actually had an oath to uphold the Constitution. Our elected officials certainly do though and are violating it by calling for prosecution of one who revealed such massively unconstitutional activity [and by voting for that activity in the first place...])

[jmowreader]

8. Clearances don't require you swear an oath to defend the Constitution

When you become a member of the military or a civilian government employee, you swear an oath to the Constitution. That doesn't change when you get a clearance. The oath Bernie refers to is the one where you swear to not divulge the secrets you have learned. I have NO idea what contractors are sworn to do, although our mercenaries like Blackwater and DynCorp seem to have sworn to defend the Almighty Buck.

If Snowden was truly interested in fulfilling an oath to uphold the Constitution, there are a long line of currently pissed-off senators who would have been more than happy to hear him out.

[a2liberal]

12. Thank you for the information about the oaths

However, I do have to disagree on the whole "why didn't he go to higher authority?" meme. When the ones in authority are the ones perpetuating the unconstitutional activity, going to the public is the only option. Keep in mind that even senators who believed that there was unconstitutional activity going on were so cowed by the police state that they were unwilling to do anything about it other than make vague statements about "it's worse than you think"

[mindwalker_i]

7. This is a very balanced approach

However, why doesn't the NSA need some form of clemency or a plea bargain?

[DeSwiss]

9. I'll go further Bernie.....

...they should thank him for what he's done. Give him the Medal of Freedom.

- And be feted in every state in the Union for exposing this tyranny and corruption.

K&R

[debunkthis]

10. Absolutely!

eom

[rhett o rick]

11. Why arent Democrats more like Sen Sanders? nm