American voters say 55 – 34 percent that Edward Snowden is a whistle-blower, rather than a traitor, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.
In a massive shift in attitudes, voters say 45 – 40 percent of the government’s anti-terrorism efforts go too far in restricting civil liberties, a reversal from a January 14, 2010 survey, by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University when voters said 63 – 25 percent that such activities didn’t go far enough to adequately protect the country.
Almost every party, gender, income, education, age and income group regards Snowden as a whistle-blower rather than a traitor. The lone exception is black voters, with 43 percent calling him a traitor and 42 percent calling him a whistle-blower.
There is a gender gap on counter-terrorism efforts as men say 54 – 34 percent they have gone too far and women say 47 – 36 percent they have not gone far enough. There is little difference among Democrats and Republicans who are about evenly divided. Independent voters say 49 – 36 percent that counter-terrorism measures have gone too far.
Some of the largest growth in those concerned about the threat to civil liberties is among men and Republicans, groups historically more likely to be supportive of governmental anti-terrorism efforts.
“The massive swing in public opinion about civil liberties and governmental anti-terrorism efforts, and the public view that Edward Snowden is more whistle-blower than traitor are the public reaction and apparent shock at the extent to which the government has gone in trying to prevent future terrorist incidents,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
“The fact that there is little difference now along party lines about the overall anti- terrorism effort and civil liberties, and about Snowden, is in itself unusual in a country sharply divided along political lines about almost everything. Moreover, the verdict that Snowden is not a traitor goes against almost the unified view of the nation’s political establishment.”
When Quinnipiac University asked voters in January, 2010, whether they thought the government had gone too far restricting civil liberties or not gone far enough to protect the country, not more than 35 percent of any demographic group thought it had gone too far. Then, Republicans said not far enough 72 – 17 percent; today GOP voters say not far enough 46 – 41 percent. Democrats went from not far enough 57 – 29 percent to too far 43 – 42 percent. Men went from 61 – 28 percent not far enough to 54 – 34 percent too far. Women went from 64 – 22 not far enough to 47 – 36 percent not far enough.
“The change in public attitudes has been extraordinary, almost across the board and obviously not just related to the revelation of the phone-scanning program, given all that has transpired since 2010,” said Brown. “Yet it would be naive to see these numbers as anything but evidence of a rethinking by the public about the tradeoffs between security and freedom.”
We would never have known about PRISM, Obama's spying baby, if now for Snowden. I think Snowden didn't go the normal route of Whistleblowers because he didn't know whom to trust. There are very few I would trust. Everything Obama touches is suspect and in going behind the back of Congress to put PRISM into effect I think Obama is more of a traitor and more dangerous to the American People than Snowden. Obama abhors the Constitution and doesn't follow it. He has no use for the rule of law and refuses to follow the ones he doesn't like. When nothing is done the traitor in the White House, is there any wonder Snowden chose the path he did to inform the American People of what was being done behind their back?
Snowden disclosed the data mining of all of our communications, texts,tweets,emails,phone calls, digital phoyographs, cell phone tracking, ALL of it. This followed at least 3 former Federal Employees using the established whistle blower proceedures to expose the same NSA activity, to no result. Why no result? Because Congress just authorized the Illegal NSA activity last week in a vote. The Federal Government is not going to control the Federal Government.
Regardless of what anyone thinks of Snowden, what we do know with absolute certainty is that the US government LIES about everything.
Oops. Must be time for a new terror event. Gotta get those mindless voters back on our side.
What kind of contract did Snowden sign . . or pledge did he swear . . when he took the NSA job? Isn’t that the crux of the matter?
The notion that Edward Snowden compromised national security by revealing a NSA spying tactic assumes that our enemies have never read "1984" . . . not to mention "Best Sellers" by people like Dan Brown, Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn, etc. . . . I would be shocked, SHOCKED, to find out that government does NOT access internet and telephone activity. It has been pretty obvious to libertarians that we have been in "1984" since 1984. Did anyone really think "big brother" is not watching?
yes and I wish he would release more the government don't want more released because they are afraid people will find out the things they are planning for the AMERICAN PEOPLE. and will try to do some thing about. that is my guess.
Snowden is a hero in my book.
Being old enough to remember when Russia was part of the totalitarian Marxist Soviet Union, while the United States was the champion of freedom and the dignity of man gives me the certain knowledge that the roles are completely reversed today. I have been blacklisted for life by the U.S. Government because I fought to protect the United States and its Constitution in the Vietnam War. I know for a fact the way the Marxist creeps in the United States Government scoff at human rights and rule "through the muzzles of their guns," to paraphase Chairman Mao, the person whose picture many of our government leaders had posted in places of honor in their college dorms during the 1960s and 70s, right alongside Che Gueverra and Ho Chi Minh. My case has been before the Merit System Protection Board and the courts, without a single decision on the merits being issued. Dismissals of several administrative appeals to date have been based completely on fraud, and summary judgements, also fraudulent, were issued by courts before any evidence could be presented. At this time, I am awaiting a decision by a court of appeals to see whether my employment discrimination case can go forward. The case was first filed in 2007 and has never even reached the discovery stage due to misconduct by civil servants pretending to be judges, a judge not assigned to the case, and Justice Department attorneys. It is ironic that the people seeking so hard to put Snowden in prison belong there themselves for the rest of their lives for the deliberate murder of about half a million of my fellow veterans, using the same method that Stalin used to kill seven million Ukrainians from 1931 through 1933.
Snowden is a whistle blower, exposing unchecked federal power to spy on a majority of the american people by Janet, Obama,HSA,DHS, IRS. The size of this thing is mind boggling, it will blow your mind what has been exposed! What really blows mine is that it was all directed to us, you and me, and they can keep the info for 5 years. It's time for a tax revolt, this gov't can die on the vine.
HES LESS OF A TRAITOR THAN THAT S.O.B. IN THE BLACK HOUSE
Explaining the statistics: some people think a "whistle blower" is a referee or some sports figure, as all they know is sports. They lack the information or understanding to know what this term means in this current context, and therefore have no real opinion on the issues. This is why you get an even distribution – soft of a "coin toss". Gladly for us, their responses can be safely "thrown out" without affecting the actual numbers of people who answered the poll. On the other hand, the poll that really matters is the one done in November, where they vote several times each. This poll is more binding and causes them to get free Obamafones. Tangible results cause higher voter turnout an sheeit.
My god! Far enough is just that, far enough! They want the internet companies to collect more info on their users and give the gov't the passwords to accounts! Info to be collected, SS numbers, addresses, dates of birth, voting precinct (even though they have that in the address), number in family, religion, likes and dislikes, education level, military background, it goes on and on. This is the very things that census takers can't ask by the law! been that way for years. let's add drones, eavesdropping on phones, and with passwords, guess what, might as well have the NSA sitting in your living room and listening to your conversations. This is one of the things Snowden disclosed, and he disclosed the same activity to our allies, best friends in the international arena. We know who blew the whistle, SNOWDEN, He blew the whistle on the law breakers, OUR ILLUSTRIOUS ADMINISTRATION THROUGH HSA, IRS, DHS, TSA, PARTS OF THE MILITARY, EVEN EPA. THATS WHO.
Snowden is no traitor!
obama is the traitor!
Left to its own devices, the American public can usually see the light. We need 1,000 even 10,000 Snowdens to hold Obama to his pledge of "the most transparent Administration in history." Since he makes wild promises that he has no intention of fulfilling, it's up to us to help him. Yes? 😀
Yep Forrest,
It usually works that way-but in todays world it takes ENTIRELY TOO LONG for this to happen! I think Ed Snowden is an AMERICAN HERO-just wish he'd released the info of ALL the wrong doings instead of just the Cocksuckers In Asses,pardon the french,just my opinion
Heh! Never heard it put QUITE that way before! LOL!
Our spineless, clueless weasels in congress, whose responsibility it is to oversee our lawless spooks, still wouldn't know (or care?) about the domestic spying our Stasi was doing if not for Snowden. SO what's the controversy. But the mulatto Hitler's regime and his lackeys, hate him for it. Surprise, surprise!
How the heck were you "protecting America and the Constitution" in Vietnam? How does killing over a million Vietnamese help America?
Ignorant Conservative Racist!
Evidently, our government is now paying Great Britain to spy on American citizens without the burden of Constitutional limitation — more than two centuries after rebelling against the British government for the very type of citizen abuse U.S. leaders are now seeking to impose on their own subjects.
http://personalliberty.com/2013/08/05/god-save-th…
no wonder Obama tried to stop the Bolivian's president's plane because he thought Snowden was on it…..I'll bet he is sweating this latest revelation….so is congress because they spent hundreds of millions having the Brits do their illegal unconstitutional spying according to that article.
That is the biggest Snowden bombshell so far.