"Unfortunately, rather than an orderly and lawful process to debate these issues and come up with appropriate reforms, repeated leaks of classified information have initiated the debate in a very passionate but not always fully informed way," President Obama said. "But given the history of abuse by governments, it's right to ask questions about surveillance, particularly as technology is reshaping every aspect of our lives."
First of all, there is no legal way for issues to be identified to even debate. Second, it's not history at all. President Obama is the latest serial abuser. It's current practice under his Constitutional watch, or lack thereof.
But despite his embrace of reforms, the president had little sympathy for Snowden when asked if the former government contractor could be characterized as a "patriot" and "whistleblower."
"No, I don't think Mr. Snowden was a patriot," Obama said. "The fact is, Mr. Snowden has been charged with three felonies."
What happened to innocent until proven guilty? This is but more horse hockey from America's latest Chief Executive.
There is no legal way to have Obama's "healthy debate." The American people are expected to silently comply.
