General Discussion

ReverendDeuce

(1,643 posts) Mon Mar 10, 2014, 08:56 PM Mar 2014

Snowden hate... I don't understand it... ? [View all]

In keeping with the theme of my Bitcoin thread of a similar title, wherein I pose a question that is of interest to me because of how the Democratic Underground community seems to, on average, share a vastly divergent view of a subject as that of my own, I pose this question:

Why do so many on DU seem to hate Ed Snowden?

My feeling on the matter is that the most fervent anti-Snowden folks are behaving this way merely because of the fact that we're under a Democratic administration and this, frankly, makes us look bad. After years of railing against the erosion of civil liberties under past administrations, I find it hard to digest that so many fellow progressives could do an about-face on this issue.

Please, respectfully share your opinions... I'm really curious.

170 replies

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Highlight:

Snowden hate... I don't understand it... ? [View all] ReverendDeuce Mar 2014 OP

It's mockery, not hatred. randome Mar 2014 #1

The total lack of response to Snowden's "disclosures" are proof positive MannyGoldstein Mar 2014 #4

HIS GIRLFRIEND!!!!111!!!!!!11! morningfog Mar 2014 #11

Yeah, he broke up with his girlfriend, an unforgivable sin in the eyes of NSA apologists. Scuba Mar 2014 #18

There is a statute of limitation on gross violations of the American people's Constitutional sabrina 1 Mar 2014 #79

You could stop the metadata collection tomorrow and it would mean nothing to me. randome Mar 2014 #80

The law has 'allowed' many things throughout history. Such laws were overturned due to being sabrina 1 Mar 2014 #81

That's a very clever way to rationalize giving column inches to gossip about a non-important person LanternWaste Mar 2014 #82

There's two reasons to hate Snowden ... Scuba Mar 2014 #2

He's criminal. We must punish him. BTW ...what ever happened with that Bush war criminal thing? L0oniX Mar 2014 #37

+1000 Mojorabbit Mar 2014 #96

Here are some other reasons for Snowden doubters brush Mar 2014 #104

So, what do you think about the massive spying on the American people, clearly a gross sabrina 1 Mar 2014 #132

I said in my first paragraph that . . . brush Mar 2014 #133

All speculation and CTs. sabrina 1 Mar 2014 #135

Did you not comprehend my first sentence? brush Mar 2014 #137

Yes, I did and I agree with you on that, but disagree about everything else you said. sabrina 1 Mar 2014 #140

All that's well and good . . . brush Mar 2014 #144

No, not on their own, and neither will we. However, already there is a move to create sabrina 1 Mar 2014 #145

It is all the same program. There is no real distinction between foreign and domestic, with the RC Mar 2014 #158

So Snowden divulging details of covert INTERNATIONAL operations and operatives . . . brush Mar 2014 #162

That really does sum it up nicely. reformist2 Mar 2014 #157

There are a lot more rank and file Democratic authoritarians than I would have guessed ten years ago Fumesucker Mar 2014 #3

Winston Smith learned to love Big Brother. Downwinder Mar 2014 #7

I don't think they're authoritarians. If this had happened during Smirk's reign they'd be fans Doctor_J Mar 2014 #31

And the Republicans would hate Snowden if Romney was POTUS Fumesucker Mar 2014 #32

I agree with you. I naively thought that we belonged to the party that would end the abuses of power sabrina 1 Mar 2014 #139

Oxen have been gored. Big ones. nt bemildred Mar 2014 #5

Probably because some are worried about how it makes Obama look, and they are loyal The Straight Story Mar 2014 #6

How can I put this delicately. . . ucrdem Mar 2014 #8

LOL BillZBubb Mar 2014 #56

It is continued and expanded and made legal - albeit still unconstitutional - by Obama. cui bono Mar 2014 #66

This message was self-deleted by its author Th1onein Mar 2014 #59

I think the poster was being sarcastic. nt cui bono Mar 2014 #67

This message was self-deleted by its author polichick Mar 2014 #149

It is almost, without exception, from the Obama-can-do-no-wrong crowd. morningfog Mar 2014 #9

...^ that 840high Mar 2014 #38

CORRECT Skittles Mar 2014 #71

there is simply no excuse for ANYONE criticizing the policies of a Democratic administration - EVER! Douglas Carpenter Mar 2014 #10

That is it. Succinctly put. morningfog Mar 2014 #12

PROPAGANDA woo me with science Mar 2014 #13

+1 KoKo Mar 2014 #41

I'm just taking a wild guess here but JaneyVee Mar 2014 #14

He is not a defector. He sought asylum in a country he does not want to live in because the U.S. Luminous Animal Mar 2014 #27

It's a viewpoint that conveniently obscures the nature of the documents Snowden took. n/t winter is coming Mar 2014 #39

Baloney BillZBubb Mar 2014 #51

Just because you say so? I think not. Maedhros Mar 2014 #58

arguments that use appeals to nationalism bobduca Mar 2014 #146

What? Provide One Link that he "sold documents to a country that hates us." KoKo Mar 2014 #42

This message was self-deleted by its author Th1onein Mar 2014 #60

He did not defect to Russia and he did not give Russia the documents, which is what you are implying cui bono Mar 2014 #68

And, sitting in judgement of someone else's hypocrisy while he's the biggest fucking Cha Mar 2014 #122

If it were Bush in office, DU would almost unanimously love Snowden LittleBlue Mar 2014 #15

Pew poll: Public Split over Impact of NSA Leak, But Most Want Snowden Prosecuted ProSense Mar 2014 #16

Excellent work on the propaganda! JackRiddler Mar 2014 #21

LOL! Yeah, I shaped their opinions. ProSense Mar 2014 #22

Then why do you bother? JackRiddler Mar 2014 #24

Speak for yourself Kolesar Mar 2014 #25

Thanks for reporting FACTS, ProSense.. Anyone claiming "propaganda" obviously Cha Mar 2014 #23

Damn, Prosense. Who knew that because of your posts on DU LARGE MAJORITIES of Americans Number23 Mar 2014 #57

CNN or Pew Research have very little credibility Matariki Mar 2014 #62

a lot of cons say same thing no? tia uponit7771 Mar 2014 #93

About CNN? Matariki Mar 2014 #127

I don't hate him Proud Liberal Dem Mar 2014 #17

Here...check out the EFF Site for Info.. (They gave legal counsel to DU when RW KoKo Mar 2014 #45

Prediction: This thread won't help. JackRiddler Mar 2014 #19

You Nailed it! KoKo Mar 2014 #43

This message was self-deleted by its author Th1onein Mar 2014 #61

Anyone who states that "Greenwald is a Libertarian" also goes on my ignore list. Maedhros Mar 2014 #85

This message was self-deleted by its author Th1onein Mar 2014 #112

For a long time I resisted putting anyone on ignore. Maedhros Mar 2014 #113

The same reason people hate Rush Limbaugh or Ron/Rand Paul? ecstatic Mar 2014 #20

You asked, my answer is no. Wrong. cui bono Mar 2014 #69

All three (Snowden, Limbaugh, Paul) have been the designated targets Maedhros Mar 2014 #86

Exactly, ecstatic. thank you. Cha Mar 2014 #123

Hulk Mad - Hulk Smash Snowden!!! U4ikLefty Mar 2014 #26

Hahaha!!! Luminous Animal Mar 2014 #34

The hate is easy to explain: "Obama no like, so I no like." Vattel Mar 2014 #28

AS noted through this thread, there is a small subset of DU too emotionally tied to the president Doctor_J Mar 2014 #29

AS noted through this thread, there is a small subset of DU too emotionally tied to Snowden OilemFirchen Mar 2014 #46

No. People aren't in a cult of personality when it comes to Snowden. They actually support his cui bono Mar 2014 #70

I'd say you've answered your question correctly jimlup Mar 2014 #30

It's about the bullshit. jeff47 Mar 2014 #33

This message was self-deleted by its author Th1onein Mar 2014 #63

Again, you make claims that aren't actually backed up by documents. jeff47 Mar 2014 #77

This message was self-deleted by its author Th1onein Mar 2014 #114

Excellent post. nt Bobbie Jo Mar 2014 #88

If a person accept a position of employment then they accept the terms of the employment. Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #35

What a skewed viewpoint. BillZBubb Mar 2014 #53

Patriot? Oh, yea, a patriot steals security information and runs to Hong Kong and Russia. Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #72

It's the classic Authoritarian mindset. Maedhros Mar 2014 #87

Are you saying it is okay to steal, to be a thief? This should be a no brainer. BTW, my moral Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #110

So you would never steal? U4ikLefty Mar 2014 #136

You got it right Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #138

If you were starving, if your children were starving? U4ikLefty Mar 2014 #141

Is there anything wrong with asking for food? Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #142

I'm taking that option off the table. To feed youself and your starving children would you steal? U4ikLefty Mar 2014 #143

And just what would be wrong with asking for food for your children and yourself, to offer to work Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #147

I'm not letting you wiggle your way out of this. If you had to steal to feed your children, U4ikLefty Mar 2014 #148

Maybe you did not understand, so for you I will attempt again to explain. Rather than steal I would Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #155

Given the right circumstances, you would kill for a slice of moldy bread. RC Mar 2014 #159

Perhaps if you reread the post I did nit mention money, I said to ask and offer my services to Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #160

... sibelian Mar 2014 #78

Rules of theft should never be acceptable, if he has not gotten a grip of this moral rectitude then Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #84

Ignore list. [n/t] Maedhros Mar 2014 #89

Well, I'm afraid I just don't agree. sibelian Mar 2014 #95

Edward Snowden had higher morals than the people running the NSA, so he exposed their illegal RC Mar 2014 #161

If Snowden has higher morals than the people running NSA then they have low morals also, it Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #163

Snowden tried to work inside the system when he found questionable and outright illegal actions. RC Mar 2014 #164

This has never been about Snowden telling American citizens data was being collected, we Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #165

No, it does not make sense. RC Mar 2014 #166

Did you not know about the phone record data collection before Snowden "revealed" this? Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #168

You mean the lies the NSA was telling Congress about meta data not containing any personal RC Mar 2014 #169

No, I am talking about a news conference George W Bush had in 2005 where he said the data was being Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #170

do you feel that way about Daniel Ellsberg? Mark Felt (Deep Throat)? Frank Serpico? mike_c Mar 2014 #109

Did any of the ones you listed steal files from their employers and run with them to Hong Kong and Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #111

is it the stealing files that bothers you or fleeing persecution afterwards? mike_c Mar 2014 #116

Both, stealing is wrong and after his crime he ran for the arms of Hong Kong and Russia. Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #117

yes, but I asked you whether you condemn Ellsberg, Felt, Serpico, etc for doing similar things.... mike_c Mar 2014 #118

If they stole, then they loose any respect I could have for them, if after their crimes they fled to Thinkingabout Mar 2014 #119

well, thanks for an honest answer.... mike_c Mar 2014 #120

This message was self-deleted by its author Bobbie Jo Mar 2014 #121

There's the camp that hates him because he made Obama look bad. WorseBeforeBetter Mar 2014 #36

He'd be considered a hero by all here if this happened under Bush. Vashta Nerada Mar 2014 #40

I often wonder if that is true. BillZBubb Mar 2014 #55

1. jealousy; 2. guilt. Smarmie Doofus Mar 2014 #44

That's IT. Spot on post. nt laundry_queen Mar 2014 #134

The NSA's data mining program, PRISM was begun in 2007 by George W. Bush and his administration Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2014 #47

What good would attacking RW'ers at this point do for a program Bush put in place KoKo Mar 2014 #48

Wait a minute here, you want ONE MAN to singlehandedly fight against the Repuke scourge, Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2014 #49

No Sarah, but he does control the Executive. TheKentuckian Mar 2014 #65

No, but I see Repukes supporting their Repuke leaders, while Democrats sit on their rears Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2014 #74

Then get off your keester and DO something to change that rather than whining Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2014 #76

This message was self-deleted by its author Th1onein Mar 2014 #64

Obama walked INTO THEM. The system was already in PLACE. Do something to change that. Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2014 #75

This message was self-deleted by its author Th1onein Mar 2014 #115

You are NOT comparing Obama to Bush, are you? Please tell me you aren't. And Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2014 #125

This message was self-deleted by its author Th1onein Mar 2014 #126

Do something, rather than whine. All I've seen is whine. What do you have to show for your Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2014 #128

This message was self-deleted by its author Th1onein Mar 2014 #129

Oh wow, that's really painful. Good heavens. Some people do as much if not more Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2014 #130

Hatred is not constructive. Maedhros Mar 2014 #90

True, but if hatred is going to be wielded, let it not be wielded against the wrong party nt Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2014 #91

I have no use at all for hatred [n/t] Maedhros Mar 2014 #92

No? You don't experience normal, human emotions? nt Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2014 #98

Anger, yes. Maedhros Mar 2014 #105

Difference between hate and anger please. Explain. nt Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2014 #106

Here you go. Maedhros Mar 2014 #107

I don't agree. I think hatred is absolute rejection of something. Anger is a violent emotion. nt Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2014 #108

Right wing nuts DO blame Obama, plenty seem to be posting on DU uponit7771 Mar 2014 #94

Yep! There are right wingers on DU, and they try to pass as libs, but not successfully Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2014 #97

They are not your "fellow progressives" Corruption Inc Mar 2014 #50

I think you are correct! nt BillZBubb Mar 2014 #54

This message was self-deleted by its author Th1onein Mar 2014 #131

Administration brown nosers. Yay! Boss! Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2014 #52

I think it's easier to throw others under the bus, rather than to admit... MrMickeysMom Mar 2014 #73

Daniel Ellsberg had his haters. There will always be those who think anything the US wants to do jwirr Mar 2014 #83

I think my response to William Pitt's OP works here as well... stevenleser Mar 2014 #99

DiFi just gave all DUers more reasons to love Snowden malaise Mar 2014 #100

Snowden said nothing about the CIA. Why would he get credit for that? nt stevenleser Mar 2014 #101

I know he said nothing about the CIA but he opened a can of worms on malaise Mar 2014 #103

It's just "Shoot the messenger." Nothing else. Pholus Mar 2014 #102

Snowden is a stalking horse for the extremist RW baldguy Mar 2014 #124

Some people here don't like their emperor to be stripped of his cool threads. polichick Mar 2014 #150

Unfortunately his cool threads don't include a "comfortable pair of shoes". n/t cui bono Mar 2014 #151

True - just some flip-flops. polichick Mar 2014 #152

DUzy! truebluegreen Mar 2014 #153

Agendas in the morning, agendas in the evening, agendas when it's quitting time! Rex Mar 2014 #154

He didn't come out with all this information before 2008 and after 2016. Autumn Mar 2014 #156

I thought the leaks were necessary and a good thing. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #167