David Gregory To Glenn Greenwald: 'Why Shouldn't You Be Charged With A Crime?'

[Ichingcarpenter]

"Meet the Press" host David Gregory asked columnist Glenn Greenwald why he shouldn't be charged with a crime for working with NSA leaker Edward Snowden.

Greenwald, who was on to discuss Snowden's Sunday morning flight from Hong Kong to Moscow. (It is unclear where Snowden will ultimately land, though reports have suggested he is headed to Venezuela.) At the tail end of the conversation, Gregory suddenly asked Greenwald why the government shouldn't be going after him.

"To the extent that you have aided and abetted Snowden, even in his current movements, why shouldn't you, Mr. Greenwald, be charged with a crime?" he asked.

Greenwald replied that it was "pretty extraordinary that anybody who would call themselves a journalist would publicly muse" about such a thing, and that there was no evidence to back up Gregory's claim that he had "aided" Snowden.

Gregory replied that "the question of who's a journalist may be up to debate with regards to what you're doing," but added that he was merely posing a question others have asked, and not taking sides.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/23/david-gregory-glenn-greenwald-crime_n_3486654.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003




I think I need to throw up.

[Recursion]

1. The fact that he was "working with" Snowden before Snowden joined BAH makes me wonder

Printing what Snowden leaked him isn't a crime. Saying, "hey, get me this and that document" might be. Not that I think the government would have the stones to go after him.

[pam4water]

122. Honestly, you have ot work with a source to put out a story.

[Recursion]

123. You don't have to say "go work for company X to get my document Y"

In fact, that's kind of problematic from an ethical standpoint if you do.

No idea if Greenwald did, to be clear: my main point is that what we know he did isn't illegal.

[pam4water]

128. One you miss understood what I meant. Real reports -- not the empty head TelePrompTer reading

bubble head -- have been saying for complete info releases they need to meet with the source in order to write the article.
They need get an interpretation of the document that a source is giving before you publish and article -- especially for an article involving that much technical information. It also is good to meet with then to evaluate the credulity of the source. The US government has been trying to intimidated reports by saying meeting with a source before publishing an article is equivalent to collaborating in espionage. And going a long with that interpretation will help destroy the remains of the free press in the US.

Two, there is no ethical issue involved. No one owes a company loyalty. A corporation is an organization for making money. Nothing more. Despite what the supreme court says, a corporation is not a person. If you see a thin ethical balance between supposed loyalty predatory organization and disclosing that every one with a networked device is being constantly monitored you and probably the county is well and truly lost for the next forty years. Anyone how descent can be targeted and imprison using the system Snowden put himself on the line to expose.

[MjolnirTime]

2. Glenn will get his. He is no journalist. Little more than an agent provocateur.

[dsc]

5. you do realize that the journalists who covered the civil rights movement

were called that too. Your post is very anti first amendment.

[MjolnirTime]

7. Greenwald drapes himself with the First Amendment as he slings his shit

The First Amendment protects his right to do so.

It doesn't make him a decent human being.

[dsc]

8. if he gets charged that is hardly protection

[MjolnirTime]

11. That's right. Because conspiring with a spy to leak National Secrets is treasonous in and of itself.

[dsc]

14. I really don't think you thought this through

even the receipt of stolen property (ie leaked docs) is a form of conspiracy.

[MjolnirTime]

22. There was contact between Snowden and Greenwald pre-leak.

He encouraged it. He worked to make it happen.
He is culpable just like Snowden.

[dsc]

37. and other reporters dont

they say oh don't you dare give me that story?

[Warren Stupidity]

66. There is almost always "contact pre leak". Perhaps if you stated it in all caps

it would be a more impressive point.

[20score]

75. Hope you're prepared to change your mind quickly if Obama goes back to where he was back in 08.

If he starts calling this bullshit, like it is, principled people like yourself will have to change positions again. Just giving you a heads up.

[HangOnKids]

85. Wow this has really got your shorts in a twist

Could be that prior to the pre-leak they shared some Depends.

[Squinch]

94. It is logical that there was contact before the leak. I would not have

expected Snowden to look under "reporters" in the yellow pages to find someone to cover his story.

[MjolnirTime]

100. There was contact before Snowden stole the data.

Greenwald knew what was on the way. He had a hand in making it happen.

[Hissyspit]

107. You keep saying that.

Do you have proof?

[MjolnirTime]

125. Greenwald tweeted it himself. Get informed.

He was working with Snowden since February. Snowden didn't hire on at Booz Allen til April.

You do the math.

Greenwald knew him before he got the job which Snowden has claimed he got specifically so he could leak what he had access to.

Can you say conspiracy?

I knew that you could.

[Hissyspit]

127. Um, I am informed:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/06/24/glenn-greenwald-pushes-back-hard-on-latest-edward-snowden-revelations

And quit with the immature condescension. You have NO proof of conspiracy.

[Warren Stupidity]

43. Actually neither are treasonous.

And newspapers publish state secrets all the time. Snowmen might have violated various laws by revealing classified information, but Greenwald and the Guardian were not under any of the constraints that limited Snowden's actions.

[progressoid]

71. It wasn't treason to publish the Pentagon Papers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Times_Co._v._United_States

[John2]

79. This is a judgement

of conscious. It depends on who these secrets are intended to be kept from. If the Government was keeping secrets on us, then he did the American people a favor. If the Obama Administration and Congress was keeping secrets on me, I would like to know that information. This is not Nazi Germany. If they are committing criminal and unethical acts under the cloak of National Security, they need to be exposed. Would you have been very comfortable with the Nazi Regime and all their secrecy?

[HardTimes99]

39. If failure to be a 'decent human being' is now a chargeable offense, I'd

nominate that media whore Gregory as the first to enter the docks.

Sounds like Greenwald handed him his ass on a plate. Well done!

[xtraxritical]

55. David Gregory should be charged with crimes for false reporting about Iraq WMD

and false reporting about Joe and Valerie Plame and many other things. He's like all M$M shit heads.

[nashville_brook]

69. no, what makes him a decent human being is that he's fighting for our rights

as opposed to arguing against them.

[midnight]

12. Excellent point.

[chimpymustgo]

91. Thanks for that important reminder. MLK. Mandela - also considered terrorists.

[L0oniX]

18. "provocateur" that's rich ...coming from someone with 10 hidden posts. n/t

[MjolnirTime]

25. sorry, I'm not in Greenwald's Fan Club. His intentions are not worthy.

[Warren Stupidity]

49. Nice transparency page.

Since the end of meta I've lost track of how outright nasty people can be here.

But I digress. Why are you so upset about the revelation that our government is spying on all of us? Wait, let me restate that. Why are you so upset at the people who have revealed that our government is spying on all of us, rather than at the fact that it is doing so?

[xtraxritical]

57. Meta? DU has so many "insider" things it's really hard to follow but it's your clique not mine.

[HangOnKids]

83. META was a forum on DU3 now defunct

People could go there and air grievances, or as real people say, WHINE. It was "insider" in that the admins made it star member only viewing.

[xtraxritical]

104. OK thanks, I've been confused about that for a long time.

[NoodleyAppendage]

35. It must be blissful to be so clueless. n/t

J

[NorthCarolina]

51. "agent provocateur"?

You know what they say about people in glass houses......

[heaven05]

70. america

is not what it alleges itself to be, a free democracy. Mr. Greenwald deserves praise. Your comment stinks to high heaven.

[kenny blankenship]

88. Most of our info about fascism comes from the era of B&W photography

thanks for providing us with a refresher in living color.

[Bonobo]

112. I don't say this to be offensive, but...

I genuinely believe you are identifying with the wrong party.

The authoritarian -actually totalitarian -philosophy that you clearly hold is simply not consistent with the Democratic Party.

[nxylas]

114. That used to be true at one time

Sadly, no longer.

[BetterThanNoSN]

115. Nothing personal but...

You're an idiot. If you knew him at all and what he stands for you'd never make such an asinine statement(unless you are a government troll).

[pam4water]

124. Did you get lost on your way to Free Republic?

[yodermon]

3. Let's just go ahead and rename "throw up" to "David-Gregory"

as in, "I think I go need to David-Gregory"

[HardTimes99]

41. Bwa-ha-ha, Reminds me of that old George Carlin routine "The 7

Words You Can't Say on Televsion" where Carlin speculates what it might sound like were we to substitute the word 'fuck' for the word 'kill':

"OK, Sheriff. We're going to fuck you now. But we're going to fuck you slow."

[90-percent]

46. nostalgia

Reminds me of the "Friedman units" of the Iraq invasion era.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedman_Unit

suggestion - substitute "puke" or "blow chunks" for "throw-up". It's more visceral.

-90% Jimmy

PS - this post is for humor purposes only and is not really meant to be attacking or critical.

[HangOnKids]

81. YES! And for sick kids we can put the David-Gregory bucket beside their bed.

[pam4water]

129. I David-Gregory'ed after they force feed me at gitmo O:

[neverforget]

4. can always count on Gregory to shill for power

[Punkingal]

6. I thought Greenwald gave Gregory an awesome smackdown.

I wish someone would do it every week. It was a joy to behold.

[MjolnirTime]

10. It's going to be sweet when Greenwald goes down for the pre-leak conspiracy.

He was in contact with Snowden prior to his work with Booz Allen.

It's no coincidence. He groomed a mole.

[MNBrewer]

17. But the real criminals in the Administration will go scot free

just like the ones in the Bush Admin did.

[MjolnirTime]

19. just as long as Greenwald's smarmy ass gets what he deserves...

[eShirl]

24. When you say it like that, it almost sounds personal. n/t

[MjolnirTime]

30. Greenwald's overinflated ego has put people in danger.

Do you think Russia needs to know what Snowden knows?

Do you think he can stop them from finding out everything now that they have him?

The man is a damn fool.

And though I do feel sorry for what he is about to endure, he brought it upon himself.


Glenn cannot close the Pandora's Box he helped to open.
He has done us all a disservice.

[magellan]

36. "He has done us all a disservice."

Bullshit. The Russians don't "have him". Snowden is just passing through. He's already been picked up by the diplomat to one SA country or another.

And SA already knows ALL about us, up close and personal.

But you keep feeding that authoritarian grudge of yours. lol

[MNBrewer]

42. Says you.

I don't believe you, I don't believe Dianne Feinstein, I don't believe President Obama, I don't believe Clapper.

We're being LIED TO by almost everyone in Washington.

[wtmusic]

45. What exactly has put people in danger

or are you just regurgitating security-state talking points?

[A Simple Game]

68. If you think Snowden can tell Russia anything they don't already know,

you are either a fool or naive. He hasn't told me anything I don't already know or at least suspect.

The only thing Snowden is doing is embarrasing the US and telling the few that didn't know, or didn't want to admit, that they are being spied upon by their own government.

Please don't tell me you think China didn't know we were spying on them too.

[MjolnirTime]

101. Snowden knows intimate details of the methods being used by the NSA. Now the Russians do to.

[A Simple Game]

105. I have no doubts that the Russians already knew more about it than Snowden does. n/t

[cali]

27. don't hold your breath on Greenwald being prosecuted. Come to think of it

I take that back. Feel free to hold your breath and stamp your feet in frustration. Have a full fledged tantrum over it. Ain't gonna happen.

[Demit]

28. Why do you describe him as smarmy?

[heaven05]

73. you

are letting personal feelings about Greenwald color your perceptions. I'm glad people like he and others are out there. Ellsberg is a hero of mine too. You'll do well in the New World Order.

[Marr]

40. I can see how authoritiarians would consider that "sweet", yes. /nt

[DisgustipatedinCA]

52. Grooming a mole? Sounds dirty. Take it to the Lounge, mister. This is a family forum.

[HangOnKids]

78. I was going to post something along those lines

Looks like Falcon Air is flying again.

The mole grooming might be the funniest thing I have ever seen on DU.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

95. Mole grooming definitely sounds like something best done in private

We seem to have a whole crop of FalconAir's running around these days. That's ok, because I'm going to pull out the big guns and bring Farmboxer and Carlos Jiacinto back. Our latter day FA's will never understand what hit them.

[HangOnKids]

102. I have to work tonight at our live auction and I am grumpy

These live auctions over 3 days make me crazy with the late, late hours, but your post made me laugh. Thanks.

[BetterThanNoSN]

116. Ahem...

We all know the govt pays trolls to disseminate garbage so thank you for your contribution of refuse.

[BeyondGeography]

9. What crime?

No fan of Glenzilla, but that's a smear, not a question. Gregory sure works hard not to be taken seriously.

[Catherina]

13. Journalists abetting war crimes are prosecutable under international law

David Gregory is a shill. Good riddance to him if that ever happens.

[MjolnirTime]

31. what about journalists abetting espionage??

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

33. FYI: Going public is not espionage, it's called blowing the whistle

If this were espionage, you would have never heard of Edward Snowden.

[eridani]

137. ^^this^^ If the knowledge is public everyone knows it

And if everyone knows it, no one gets any comparative advantage from that.

[MNBrewer]

15. David Gregory's crime: Impersonation of a Journalist

[jsr]

21. Also: Impersonation of a snow monkey

[wtmusic]

50. JLOTD

(Juvenile Laugh Of The Day)

[wundermaus]

16. David Gregory is a toady.

Snowden exposed illegal activities that breach constitutional rights of privacy and due process.
Snowden is a whistle blower of criminal activities including the highest levels of "our" government.
Snowden is a fugitive of a corrupt and criminal government that seeks to "make an example" of him.
Snowden is a patriot and champion of liberty for putting his life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness on the line.
Glenn Greenwald is an independent journalist.
What is David Gregory?
David Gregory is a toady.

[brett_jv]

67. Generally agree about Gregory, HOWEVER ...

"Snowden exposed illegal activities that breach constitutional rights of privacy and due process.
Snowden is a whistle blower of criminal activities including the highest levels of "our" government. "

Remind me of which court case decided that the bulk collection of the meta-data of phone calls without the names attached to the phone numbers was prohibited by the 4th amendment?

The courts may yet decide this collection of meta-data IS in violation of the 4th, and I REALLY hope that one does ... but until that actually happens ... well, the first two lines of your post are just hyperbole, nothing more.

The law doesn't 'work like that', where random citizens (like you or I) personally just 'get to decide' ... what actions by the authorities are to be regarded as an 'unconstitutional search'.

The courts will decide, just like they have in other controlling cases, which has happened 100's and 100's of times before ... there's just not yet been one decided re: collection of phone call meta-data.

[A Simple Game]

72. We can agree about Gregory, but no however.

First, there is no court case yet because the agreement was secret, as in nobody knew about it so it couldn't be challenged.

Second, yes the law does work like that, where random citizens get to decide. It's called questioning the legality of a law. Do you think all laws are legal? They aren't but will stay in place until some random citizen is harmed by it and questions it in court. Do you believe after all of the revelations to refute it that the government is only collecting phone numbers? Who is checking this? I think no one is checking this.

Third, yes now that it is known the courts can decide. Until it was leaked nobody knew their rights were being trampled upon. Many suspected but couldn't do anything about it without proof.

Do you really believe they aren't collecting content along with numbers? Do you believe they aren't collecting or at least scanning emails for content? Do you think this forum is being monitored?

If you believe that it is only the phone numbers and it does no harm, why don't you reply to this message with your phone number and see how long it takes for someone to reply with your name and address?

[brett_jv]

135. Actually, it sounds like we don't disagree about anything ...

Aside from the fact that you (and many like yourself) apparently feel it's appropriate to call the meta-data collection 'illegal and unconstitutional' prior to the court case (to decide the matter) actually happening. And I don't.

And, in fact, I think there's enough OTHER court precedents out there to suggest to me that, assuming we ARE being told the actual truth about it, there is at least a reasonable possibility that the courts may actually uphold the legality of that particular program.

I don't KNOW one way or the other, and neither does anyone else, so ...

But don't get me wrong ... I don't LIKE THAT IT'S HAPPENING one friggin bit. Nor do I 'trust' what the government tells us. Nor do I think we shouldn't raise hell about it.

I just think accusing Obama of running an 'illegal' operation is hyperbolic. It's not been decided either way.

So by all means, lets get it out in the open, and get it decided.

On a related sidenote it's stunning to me how EVERY time I bring this point up ... other posters proceed to put all kinds of friggin words into my 'mouth' ... that are very clearly not on the page.

[A Simple Game]

136. Yes let's get it out in the open and decide.

I don't think President Obama is running an illegal operation, I believe he is running an unconstitutional operation.

[graham4anything]

20. This makes me wonder- what did Rand Paul know, and when did Rand Paul know it.

wouldn't it be groovy if the Bushfamilyinc have set up Rand Paul along with their attempts at smearing the President.

Someone posted something about the Rosenbergs, and I had forgotten about them...

could Rand be charged with conspiring with the enemy (China and Russia) to overthrow the government or something like that?

I have no idea as I am not a lawyer, and do not play one on tv.

so this is just a question (and librarians everywhere say there are no stupid questions).

[Comrade Grumpy]

63. Drinking and posting is not advisable so early in the day.

[Bonobo]

113. Graham4anything: "Paul/Nader/Greenwald/Kucinich" Party.

He thinks they are one and the same.

[RobertEarl]

23. What Gregory really wanted to say

"I sure wished I was as brave as you, Glenn."

[Evergreen Emerald]

26. Gregory is not qualified to determine who is or who is not a journalist.

Last edited Sun Jun 23, 2013, 12:52 PM - Edit history (1)

The "free press" sold out to corporations. Just look at David Gregory. He is nothing more than a stenographer for the right wing.

Who the hell does he think HE is to question whether or not Greenwald is a journalist? Greenwald did an excellent job of smacking down that idiot who dares to question anyone else's journalistic bona fides.

Our fourth branch of democracy is in tatters.

[Harmony Blue]

29. I like how Greenwald called out Gregory

that was awesome.

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

32. Pravda on the Potomac - YIKES

What a creepy question, especially considering that is what our government authorities now believe reporters are :co-conspirators:

[Harmony Blue]

34. Yeah Gregory is unable to connect dots or even remember

what happened the last three months.

[Octafish]

54. Corporate McPravda

[font size=1"]Professional Liar by susan m hinckley.[/font size]

The official voice of the Republikkkon Party also seems the official voice of Big Media:

ABC and the rise of Rush Limbaugh

The other thing the great Carl Bernstein reported should've got him another Pulitzer:

The CIA and the Media

His old paper still hits a homer on occasion, most recently on how the Government has privatized Secret Government:

Top Secret America: A Hidden World.

America's mass media were virtually silent about that series, too.

And that is why our nation creeps, literally and figuratively, rightward toward the "national security state" Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. described to Charlie Rose.

PS: This post really has four things everyone should know about Corporate McPravda. I believe you know that, usGovOwesUs3Trillion, but for those new to the subject, a shock.

[Monkie]

58. but snowden is "hong kong eddie" the spy for talking to a chinese paper

the self-delusion of some people is breathtaking.
im tempted to seek out a new career, marketing bridges would seem to be a growth industry in the US.

[kentuck]

38. Ultimately...

The Washington Post and The Guardian are responsible for whatever is printed in their papers. The same could be said about our airwaves. Blame cannot be placed on journalists and reporters, unless, of course, they own the newspaper or television station. If the knowledge only makes it up to the editors, then that is the level of responsibility.

[DirkGently]

44. David Gregory should be charged with

impersonating a sentient humanoid.

Good of Gregory to further illustrate the point so many seem to be missing -- the release of information to the American public is not a crime. Withholding information from the American public often is.

Which is the real problem here. These leaks are not "espionage." No "enemy" has received damaging information.

This is government threatening people with criminal prosecution for knowing or disseminating information that might tend to embarrass it.

[marions ghost]

130. Right

[Poll_Blind]

47. Added Video of tha smackdown to DU Videos section HERE:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017127199

PB

[treestar]

48. What crime?

There's no point in discussing it if they can't define the crime.

[Bluenorthwest]

53. It's interesting to see the Greenwald haters try to figure out how to support Gregory

whom they generally also claim to hate. They must feel left out, I notice the very silly and very surly have made attempts but the more judicious among them are loathe to cheer for Gregory.

[Catherina]

60. They'll find a way. I hear one of them has an OP quoting Rand Paul now

[Chan790]

92. Oh no, I have no ideological disconnect saying I still despise them both.

The enemy (David Gregory) of my enemy (Glenn Greenwald) is not necessarily my friend.

It doesn't change my opinion of either of them: Gregory is still a RW toadie masquerading as a real journalist and Greenwald is still shrill nowhere-near-objective propagandist who only reports what reinforces his agenda even if he has to be dishonest or engage in unethical practices to do it. Neither one of them is a real journalist any more than Julian Assange is. I'd sooner expect a fart than the truth from any of them. Let's toss all of the "journalists" and talking heads on TV and in newsprint onto that bonfire.

A pox on all their houses.

It's easy to revile the cancerous plague within modern journalism when you believe the media has no integrity and feels no obligation to the truth or to reporting the news. To paraphrase a great quote about atheism: "I contend that we are both media skeptics. I just believe in fewer journalists than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all other journalists, you will understand why I dismiss yours."

[aikoaiko]

56. That's funny coming from the guy who illegally possessed a AR15 30-rd mag in DC

Still, its good to see a journalist get as good as he gives.

[Catherina]

59. And here comes that asshole Steven Rattner. Then a ZING by Greenwald

[Puglover]

62. LOL!

[laundry_queen]

74. HAHAHA. Pefect. nt

[AzDar]

84. This beauty should be on the front page! Just. Epic.

[Catherina]

86. Let's see

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023075482

[Harmony Blue]

87. Rattner...he makes me angry every time I hear his name come up

[Enthusiast]

90. I love it! nt

[Puglover]

61. Monkey face

(apologies to monkeys one and all) got it thrown right back at him. Loved it.

[99Forever]

64. What the fuck Gregory does know about being a...

... journalist? That slack-jawed toadie is just another corporate propagandist for the 1%er Authoritarian Police State. Fuck him and the Fascist Network he rode in on.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

65. Everyone claims NBC is "Liberal" but MTP was always a Neocon megaphone....

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/meet-the-press/14770534#14770534

http://crooksandliars.com/2007/02/09/the-guide-how-dick-cheney-uses-meet-the-press-to-control-the-message

Now everyone acts like Russert was a saint.

[rpannier]

109. Russert was useless and Gregory is useless

They are Howie Kurtz territory when it comes to new personalities

[dkf]

76. Because David Gregory would have never exposed all this...like many "journalists".

[LittleBlue]

77. Gregory should be fired immediately

To suggest that Greenwald should be imprisoned for reporting a story, he's no longer a journalist but a government advocate.

Gregory could move to Russia and make more money on Putin's payroll, he'd fit right in. `

[John2]

82. He would be a very

loyal and patriotic employee for Goerbbels.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

80. David Gregory? Karl Rove's dancing partner?

Being a friend of fascists can be financially rewarding.

For anyone that wants to defend Gregory or think that he's been doing the right thing, there's a major difference. He's getting paid. Only chumps will be friends of facists for free.

[avaistheone1]

108. Yup.

k&r

[Catherina]

93. Who needs the government to criminalize journalists?

[Ichingcarpenter]

96. I think Gregory is

a member of the so called hidden government.


I wouldn't be surprised he gets a CIA paycheck

Wolf worked for the CIA as did
anderson cooper.

Many of the truths are in this story.


THE CIA AND THE MEDIA

How Americas Most Powerful News Media Worked Hand in Glove with the Central Intelligence Agency and Why the Church Committee Covered It Up

BY CARL BERNSTEIN

http://www.carlbernstein.com/magazine_cia_and_media.php

[Catherina]

97. Thank you! Bookmarked n/t

[Ikonoklast]

118. Glenn Greewald is a Libertarian who worked for the Koch Brothers.

He cashed their checks while writing position papers for the Cato Institute.

Makes one wonder, doesn't it.

Greewald does the bidding of the Randians who would destroy this nation in their mission to accumulate vast wealth.




But the many on the left love him. Makes me wonder how many here pretending to be vlefter than left are just libertarian asshasts playing troll.

[Maedhros]

131. I know it's useless to ask you people to try and back up your bullshit with facts,

After all, even Homer Simpson knows that FACTS can be used to prove anything that's even REMOTELY true.

However, this is worth responding to:

"He cashed [Koch brothers] checks while writing position papers for the Cato Institute"

http://ggsidedocs.blogspot.com.br/2013/01/frequently-told-lies-ftls.html

I am not now, nor have I ever been, employed by the Cato Institute. Nor have I ever been affiliated with the Cato Institute in any way. The McCarthyite tone of the denials is appropriate given the McCarthyite nature of the lie.

In seven-plus years of political writing, I have written a grand total of twice for Cato: the first was a 2009 report on the success of drug decriminalization in Portugal, and the second was a 2010 online debate in which I argued against former Bush officials about the evils of the surveillance state.

I not only disclosed those writings but wrote about them and featured them multiple times on my blog as it happened: see here and here as but two examples. In 2008, I spoke at a Cato event on the radicalism and destructiveness of Bush/Cheney executive power theories.

That's the grand total of all the work I ever did for or with Cato in my life. The fees for those two papers and that one speech were my standard writing and speaking fees. Those payments are a miniscule, microscopic fraction of my writing and speaking income over the last 7 years. I have done no paying work of any kind with them since that online surveillance debate in 2010 (I spoke three times at Cato for free: once to debate the theme of my 2007 book on the failure of the Bush administration, and twice when I presented my paper advocating drug decriminalization).

If you're going to throw everyone under the bus for speaking at the Cato Institute, then you need to include:

Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas:

http://www.cato.org/blog/new-cato-unbound-markos-kos-moulitsas-libertarian-democrats
http://www.cato-unbound.org/contributors/markos-moulitsas/

Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20029677-281.html
http://www.securitylawbrief.com/main/2012/07/event-aclu-cato-institute-to-host-discussion-on-fisa-amendments-act.html
http://tweetwood.com/RonWyden/tweet/250720998456954880

Democratic Rep. Jared Polis:

the ACLU's Legislative Counsel Michelle Richardson:

http://www.securitylawbrief.com/main/2012/07/event-aclu-cato-institute-to-host-discussion-on-fisa-amendments-act.html

Brown University Professor Glenn Loury:

http://www.cato-unbound.org/contributors/glenn-loury/

liberal blogger and Clinton Treasury official Brad DeLong:

http://www.cato-unbound.org/contributors/j-bradford-delong/

Harvard law Professor Lawrence Lessig:

http://www.cato-unbound.org/contributors/lawrence-lessig/

liberal blogger and GWU Professor Henry Farrell:

http://www.cato-unbound.org/contributors/henry-farrell/

Wall Street critic and securities professor William Black:

http://www.cato-unbound.org/contributors/william-k-black/

So can we please stop repeating the stupid Koch brothers talking point? Tell your handlers in the DNC that it's not working.

In closing, from Greenwald:

Trying to judge someone for where they write or speak - rather than for the ideas they advocate - is about as anti-intellectual and McCarthyite as it gets. CATO has a far better record of advocacy than the mainstream Democratic Party on vital issues such as opposing the Drug War, secrecy abuses, the Surveillance State, marriage equality for LGBT citizens, anti-war activism, and reforming the excesses of America's penal state. They were attacking Bush and Cheney for power abuses (see here) and aggressive wars (see here) far earlier, and far more loudly, than most mainstream Democratic politicians.

[Ikonoklast]

133. Why thank you for what I already know.

Greenwald cashed the checks from Cato by his own admission.

Oh, and who else on that list has consistently shilled for Libertarian candidates for office, besides Greenwald?

Nice to see libertarians defending one of their own here, and Fuck Rand Paul.

[Maedhros]

134. Greenwald has not supported any candidate.

Please provide evidence for your assertion.

[kentuck]

117. Important question.

About the First Amendment.

[N.I.B.]

98. I just saw a video clip of this.

Here it is.

I like the way this forum lets you just post the link without having to use tags. Kudos to who developed this forum.

[Octafish]

99. Time for Comcast to fire Rove's dance partner.

Like Terminator to the truck driver: "Get out."

[silvershadow]

106. Not sure about all that, but I fired Comcast on Friday. I feel like I've had a nice shower. nt :)

[idwiyo]

103. I am going to join you.

[whttevrr]

110. To: MjolnirTime : What proof do you have of your allegations?

It was asked in a thread above and you stopped responding to that particular part of this discussion.

I thought it was a relevant question... What proof do you have?

You got anything on that?

[whttevrr]

111. Here is the post referenced above:

100. There was contact before Snowden stole the data.

Greenwald knew what was on the way. He had a hand in making it happen.

107. You keep saying that.

Do you have proof?

[tomm2thumbs]

119. why can't Gregory be charged with impersonating a news reporter....

or at the ver¥ least, impersonating someone without a hidden agenda

[ChiciB1]

120. FWIW....

Greenwald might/may be over presenting himself (not sure), however DAVID GREGORY isn't my idea of a GREAT JOURNALIST!

Once upon a time, here in America there was something known as "the fourth estate" that actually did "investigate" news. Generally they used sources, more than one for the most part BEFORE they put out the information. IMO, we no longer HAVE a "fourth estate," we have media darlings!! THEY have underlings who contribute information and give it to any given host, who then waits for the camera to roll at which time said host can ask questions in any way he/she chooses. Maybe what "said" host feels will make he/she look serious, important, knowledgeable or present themselves good enough to keep their job.

I'm not giving my opinion on Snowden or Greenwald at this point in time. I've heard it said that Greenwald may be a person who has an inflated ego, but if what he's saying is the truth, so what. But I don't know the whole truth.

I AM more worried about people like Michael Hastings, who I REALLY respect and I DO wonder what really happened to him. I would LOVE to think it was ONLY a freak accident, but somewhere in my gut or in the back of my mind, I'm not so sure.

But, DAVID GREGORY does nothing for me! Seems like the right hand man of John McCain/Lindsey Graham. Who knows?

JMHO!

[pam4water]

121. Of all the dumb thing Gregory has said that is the dumbest to date. But I have faith in him. He'll

say something even dumber in the near future.

[warrprayer]

132. Gregory

biggest right wing ass kisser on the teevee

[pomkrazy]

138. David Gregory

As far as David Gregory he should be sued for deformation of character. He has his head stuck so far up Obama butt it would take till next election to get out and of all the people to give Tim Russets position to him what a waste of time on Sunday morning!
The government is spending billions of dollars on spying on Free ? people,, in a Free? country and my great president by the way whom I voted for because he said he would protect my Social Security put on the table not the republicans He put it on the table to pass CPI!! Cause he needs all the money he can get to spend spying on people and giving banks and corporations money that should be for the people .
Anyone who is a true journalist tells the people the truth!! David Gregory is the worst example of a journalist I have ever saw!
And as far as Mr. Snowden I don call him a traitor I call him a Patriot and Gregory asking Mr. Greenwald, Why he shouldn't be charged with a crime?" he asked. Why because he knew Snowden This is supposed to be America but is it????