Obama's Press Conference: Snowden, Patriots & the NSA

Dear Mr. President,

Do you really think the American people just need a little more transparency about the NSA’s mass collection of every phone call, email, internet browsing history and financial record to feel more “comfortable” that nobody’s abusing their privacy? That the government’s shredding of the 4^th Amendment (along with the 1^st through the 10^th) is perfectly okay? Excuse me, Mr. President, but you’re the one who’s unclear on the concept. You may feel comfortable that the NSA is not abusing our privacy but We the People sure aren’t. We don’t need to “jigger slightly” the balance between privacy and security and we sure don’t need more PR to reassure us; we need to gut the whole program along with the NSA. What is it that divorces presidents from reality? “Asked whether the steps on surveillance he was taking amounted to a vindication of Mr. Snowden’s leaks, Mr. Obama rejected that notion. He said that Mr. Snowden should have gone to the Congressional intelligence committees with any concerns he had about surveillance, rather than ‘putting at risk our national security’…” (today’s NYT, “President Moves to Ease Worries on Surveillance” p. A1) Come on! When even representatives in Congress are rebuffed and lied to by the chairs of the Senate and House Intelligence Committees in attempts to get basic information about the NSA program, you expect a “29-year hacker” (your term) to be listened to by legislators whose power resides in keeping things just the way they are? Every whistle blower since 9/11 has paid dearly. Bradley Manning, who attempted to go through the chain of command with evidence of war crimes was rebuffed at every turn and for his sin of releasing classified information that should not have been classified in the first place, is facing a 90 year prison sentence. Thomas Drake, John Kiriakou William Binney, whistleblowers all, paid dearly for blowing the whistle while the perpetrators of abuse, corruption or crimes remain unindicted. Edward Snowden had the benefit of predecessors. He knew he would be treated badly. He knew his information would never see the light of day and so, he took the only recourse possible. “I don’t think Mr. Snowden was a patriot,” you said. But Mr. Snowden sparked the public debate you said you wanted. Mr. Snowden is responsible for the transparency you say we need. Mr. Snowden told the truth, his revelations endangers no one and promotes the democratic process. That’s my definition of a patriot, Mr. President.