Obama Administration Has Declared War On Whistleblowers, Describes Leaks As 'Aiding The Enemy'
from the going-a-bit-far dept
In 2008, now President Obama ran with the following as a key plank in his campaign:Protect Whistleblowers: Often the best source of information about waste, fraud, and abuse in government is an existing government employee committed to public integrity and willing to speak out. Such acts of courage and patriotism, which can sometimes save lives and often save taxpayer dollars, should be encouraged rather than stifled as they have been during the Bush administration. We need to empower federal employees as watchdogs of wrongdoing and partners in performance. Barack Obama will strengthen whistleblower laws to protect federal workers who expose waste, fraud, and abuse of authority in government. Obama will ensure that federal agencies expedite the process for reviewing whistleblower claims and whistleblowers have full access to courts and due process.None of that has happened. Instead, as we've discussed repeatedly, President Obama has been the most aggressive President ever in attacking whistleblowers and bringing the full weight of the law down on them. In fact, in 2012, rather than promote protecting whistleblowers in his campaign, the campaign bragged about how it cracked down on whistleblowers:
President Obama has done more than any other administration to forcefully pursue and address leaks of classified national security information.... The Obama administration has prosecuted twice as many cases under the Espionage Act as all other administrations combined. Under the President, the Justice Department has prosecuted six cases regarding national security leaks. Before he took office, federal prosecutors had used the Espionage Act in only three cases.The above paragraph is true -- and we've pointed it out in the past as well -- but we thought it was shameful, not something worth bragging about. Furthermore, since he was elected, President Obama has never praised a single federal employee who was a whistleblower. When asked by a reporter from the Huffington Post for an example of President Obama supporting a whistleblower, the White House refused to respond.
Given all of that, it will come as little surprise to read a piece by reporters Marisa Taylor and Jonathan Landay of McClatchy's Washington Bureau, in which they reveal that the White House has a special attack program to deal with whistleblowers called Insider Threat Program (ITP). And, no, contrary to what the administration has claimed, it's not just about "national security" issues. It goes way beyond that:
President Barack Obama’s unprecedented initiative, known as the Insider Threat Program, is sweeping in its reach. It has received scant public attention even though it extends beyond the U.S. national security bureaucracies to most federal departments and agencies nationwide, including the Peace Corps, the Social Security Administration and the Education and Agriculture departments.And, as the reporters note, the program may emphasize classified material, but actually goes way beyond that to cover leaks of just about anything. Furthermore, it encourages the ridiculous view that leaks which expose questionable behavior to the public are the same as aiding the enemy.
“Hammer this fact home . . . leaking is tantamount to aiding the enemies of the United States,” says a June 1, 2012, Defense Department strategy for the program that was obtained by McClatchy.Yes, informing the American public of misdeeds by the US government is considered "aiding the enemies of the United States." The reality, of course, is what they're saying is that they really mean "the current government" when they refer to "the United States," and "the enemies" are the American public.
And, part of the program seems to be to put pressure on anyone to snitch on their colleagues if they suspect potential leakers. Government employees who fail to report colleagues who exhibit "high risk" behaviors may be subject to criminal charges. Basically, snitch on anyone who acts suspiciously, or else... And, of course, it's not just the Defense Department. The Agriculture Department has an online tutorial teaching people how to spot potential whistleblowers, entitled "Treason 101."
As becomes obvious, this massively discourages whistleblowing. It massively discourages anyone raising any alarm about programs that might be out of control, for fear that they might be declared a "high risk" person or even guilty of espionage for trying to blow the whistle. President Obama not only has not supported the "courageous" whistleblowers he praised, he's made it so scary to report any malfeasance that when it eventually does come out, it takes the dramatic form of someone like Edward Snowden, rather than someone willing to go through all the "official channels." It's a complete failure and does little to promote good government.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: aiding the enemy, espionage, leaks, whistleblowers
Reader Comments
The First Word
“Add a word and it makes sense
'Often the best source of information about waste, fraud, and abuse in [other] governments is an existing government employee committed to public integrity and willing to speak out.He was committed to helping whistleblowers, right up until he found out that his government, and his administration might be a target, making him look bad, and then suddenly it's 'Crush whistlblowers as the traitors to the government they are!'
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
So...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: So...
or get someone to remind him of what he promised during his campaign...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: So...
Why have we not impeached this guy yet?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: So...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: So...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: So...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: So...
Oh, and for those who think this is still just about fighting jihadists, there are those claiming you can be a terrorist for:
1) Complaining about drinking water. From the article: "We take water quality very seriously. Very, very seriously," said Sherwin Smith, deputy director of TDEC's Division of Water Resources, according to audio recorded by attendees. "But you need to make sure that when you make water quality complaints you have a basis, because federally, if there's no water quality issues, that can be considered under Homeland Security an act of terrorism." (and he's on tape saying it).
2) Protesting. And mind you, if Alan Grayson's analysis of TPP ("This agreement hands the sovereignty of our country over to corporate interests.) is accurate, your going to see a lot more corporate use of this legislation in coming years.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible...
...make violent revolution inevitable.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: So...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: So...
...same as the old boss.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: So...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: So...
He knows very well what he promised. He used whatever promises he could to gain power, and now that he has it for another several years, he's running the country into the ground before he leaves.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: So...
I guess you're too young to remember five years ago.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: So...
History will prove Obama to be no less a man as these despots.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: So...
Gotta find the trigger though. Here it was 10 cents.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: So...
Storming the streets does nothing but justify increasing the violence of the response by the government.
The American way is to get candidates that support your point of view elected to state and federal legislatures.
I think it's odd that people who sat in tents in the mud and smoked joints are looked up to, while the tea party got their candidates elected to congress and are considered a bunch of kooks. Go figure.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: So...
The American way is also storming the streets. Both are needed to effect change.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: So...
...same as the old boss.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: So... Options?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: So...
When your enemy is stronger harass and evade.
Just keep leaks coming, protect and help any whistle blower in anyway you can :)
That is how you fight back.
Talking about leaks anybody saw the new Anonymous claim that they hacked North Korea and are about to dump the Norks missile program on the internet?
Will Obama crackdown on Anonymous again?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: So...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: So...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: So...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: So...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: So...
Then the IRS, DHS and others will come knocking, as we saw, with this President's enemies list...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: So...
Not unless they were being racist while they were standing up to the administration.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: So...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: So...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: So...
To any and all out there who are still claiming racism, put up or shut up.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: So...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: So...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Racism fallacy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtu8xVLP4iU
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It's a domino effect. As more whistle blowers step up to stand for their cause, others feel empowered to do the same.
Obama could have easily have had only three, if other whistle blowers hadn't come forward first and empowered more.
I doubt we've seen all the dominoes fall.
Should be interesting, this future of America.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
Who knows. Maybe it's because the first three didn't get protection, the other 3 decided to retaliate.
Any which way it stands, this news isn't surprising. I've never known any government to protect a whistle blower and I doubted Obama would despite the hypocritical statement.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
I don't know if this is true or not, but if it is, so what? You'd think then it would be even easier to come up with an example of a whistle-blower that he doesn't hate.
This is part of the mosaic that Obama presents: a very secretive administration that has no problem with spying on the American people and punishing all who dare to cry fowl.
In fairness to Obama, nearly every president has been this way to one degree or another. Obama stands out because it's 180 degrees apart from his rhetoric, and because he's more energetic about it than usual.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re:
Is that a chicken joke?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
a) The presidency is a punching bag position, is not were the decision really happen.
b) He has done little to nothing to actually change anything in that regard and we all saw it.
c) His own actions is what probably creates the right conditions for this to happen, people everywhere are growing worry of their own governments.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Add a word and it makes sense
He was committed to helping whistleblowers, right up until he found out that his government, and his administration might be a target, making him look bad, and then suddenly it's 'Crush whistlblowers as the traitors to the government they are!'
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Add a word and it makes sense
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
There are no traitors in a democracy. There are opposing views that should be taken into account.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Three_of_the_United_States_Constitution#Section_3:_Treason
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
Guess what the government is trying to portray them as having done?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
First, "Aid and Comfort" is a term of art that means "Any act that deliberately strengthens or tends to strengthen enemies of the United States, or that weakens or tends to weaken the power of the United States to resist and attack such enemies is characterized as aid and comfort."
The key word in there is "deliberately". The government would have to show that the leakers were intentionally trying to assist an enemy of the US. Incidentally assisting them doesn't count.
Second, the US is not actually at war, so we have no Enemy to give Aid and Assistance to.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Could we not turn this game of semantics around on them?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
"an actual assembling of men"
~ Campaigns of singletons organized via the internet.
~ War by drones.
~ Robot uprisings.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Response to: Ninja on Jun 21st, 2013 @ 7:30am
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Enemies
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Enemies
Of course we shoot traitors?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Government whistle blowers are traitors.
That is the way politicians see the issue.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Which simply means that under his administration things have gone from bad to worse compelling twice as many people to follow their consciousness.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
check it out at boiling frogs...
*AND* that is one of the big uses: these masters of the universe are ALWAYS plotting against each other, so it would not surprise me that 90% of the taps are against 'players', not stupid, useless chumps like us...
art guerrilla
aka ann archy
eof
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What happened to...
The gov't sure seems to have a lot they want to hide and since they work FOR the people and are paid BY the people, we have every right to know what all their dirty little secrets are.
I can't think of any President's campaign promises that were more meaningless Obama's. He's gone back on nearly every one.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What happened to...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Sadly this is becoming more and more true of most "democracies", but the US usually paves the way
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Now, what would make a person change like this? A simple "change of heart"? Did he not intend to keep his promises? Or had the intelligence community come across something in his background which they could use to blackmail him.
Regardless of your opinion of him, you have to admit that a career politician doesn't publically break a campaign promise in 2 weeks without some sort of extenuating circumstances.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Apparently they are too lazy to try and gague the effects of their actions as well...
... it must be laziness. No engaged government in their right minds would make themselves the enemy so quickly as have ours.
If the power-tools in government today want to keep their power, they'd best start a regimine of introspection, and cause and effect.
Attempts to engender chilling effects start to stand out to the general public when seen in rapid succession as we have seen in the US in the past year.
With regards to our government, they are their own worst enemy. They should really roll up their sleeves and begin to pull their heads out of their asses.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
One Solution: Vote Independent
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: One Solution: Vote Independent
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Two Words
Heil, Obama
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
A tale of two presidents: The one we voted for � and Obama
Recent leaks reveal a frightening reality: In fighting terrorism, we have resorted to engaging in terrorism
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Wait, we didn't need recent links to reveal this. We already knew this. It has obvious even from just watching the TV news starting roughly at the time we attacked Iraq.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
A tale of two presidents: The one we voted for � and Obama
Recent leaks reveal a frightening reality: In fighting terrorism, we have resorted to engaging in terrorism
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Dear Mr. President:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Dear Mr. President:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Dear Mr. President:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Where do they come from?
If it weren't for whistleblowers, we'd have not known about Watergate and so many other things. We'd never have a clue, and the government likes it that way.
After all, they wouldn't want us to get upset about their criminal negligence in performing their duties-and they certainly wouldn't be telling us about them.
Of course they don't like it when others do their duty.
Too bad there aren't more brave people willing to do it. Edward Snowden is one of thousands of people working for the NSA. Must be a lot of others who know about this, and never spoke up.
Nope-just duck and run for cover when the truth finally comes out. Just be sure to understand that what you thought was telling the truth is actually treason to the government despite the fact that whistleblowers are supposed to have special protection from retaliation.
Doesn't seem to be working does it?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I blame the Nobel committee
I don't like it, but it makes sense. He's an internationally recognized hero. Of course he hates opposition. Of course dissenters are villains. He's friggin Kal-El, so obviously anyone who feels they need a small stock of kryptonite are plotting to destroy the world.
You just hope at some point that--I dunno, maybe Michelle would just turn and say "Dammit babe, this shit is fucked up! You gotta dial it down, and you gotta do it now."
My wife does that kind of thing for me whenever I've just gotten out of a superhero movie.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Even the news reporters have been treated like they are the enemy. If you can't give Obama and crew a brilliant and sterling news article, his staff will call you and cuss you out on the phone... according to previous news reporters stating how they've been treated.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/aubrey-vaughan/2011/07/13/white-house-bans-reporters-shouting-quest ions-president-obama
http://blog.sfgate.com/bronstein/2011/04/28/update-chronicle-responds-after- obama-administration-punishes-reporter-for-using-multimedia-then-claims-they-didnt/
The White House news staff has been pitching a bitch fit about not having access to the president over news and speeches. Instead the White House has been doing an end run around the reporters and issuing it's own glowing reports.
All this reflects secrecy and no intention of owning up to what is happening. Mostly we are finding that the MSM is in cahoots with the White House in order to continue to get anything in the line of news out of this administration. They will voluntarily hold the news pending official permission to release it. The link as only one of many incidents owned up to.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/02/benghazi-media-news-cia-request_n_2066651.html
It was investigative reporting that kept politicians honest. That's pretty much been killed off. There is no one to really keep the executive powers in check, without oversight. It appears to be the intention of this administration to control any leaks it doesn't want out through preventing whistle blowers from holding this administration and government accountable for it's misdeeds. None of this stuff coming out is actually harmful to the enemy but is embarrassing to this government. Were it not doing misdeeds, there would be no embarrassment.
This issue with what is being done to whistle blowers is a sign of just how badly our government is not obeying the law and not living up to the intents of the constitutional guarantees.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Aiding the Enemy
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
If you're a US government official and consider the American People to be your enemy...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
If the "War on Drugs" and the "War on Terror" have shown us anything, it's that we're in for a wild ride as we shed further constitutional rights in the name of "security". By the way, whenever the government mentions that they're doing things in the name of "National Security" or "Safety", they're using a form of code and what they actually mean is that they're doing what they're doing to ensure their own security and safety.
They don't give a fuck about you, or me or anyone else that isn't in their elite little club. Pathetic fucks.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Not helping conspiracy theorists.
I've always had a healthy skepticism of my government "looking out" for MY best interest.
This is clearly a statement that the government (starting long before Obama) is run by one party, not two as it seems and that the government is clearly taking part in destroying our constitutional liberties that even it's own citizens are all potential terrorists.
Shameful!!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The inevitable outcome:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
We did more to Bill
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Author misinformed
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Author misinformed
Not misinformed. Well aware of his signing the whistleblower protection act (both the earlier one and the latest update). Point is, they're meaningless given how the administration has acted. Papering over despicable actions with a weak law that is mostly useless is not particularly helpful, don't you think?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Fuck Obama
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Snoozers are losers
Well, its about time somebody finally realized that YOU the People, are the "enemy of the state".
The corporate-owned federal Government has been waging a war against its people for a decade or more and the very people its been attacking and destroying, are the folks PAYING for the war effort with their tax dollars.
Maybe now the American Puplic will begin thinking about defending itself against this monstrous entity that has invaded and conquered their government and their nation.
Somehow though, I doubt even such a blatant example as this will manage to wake "We the People" = "Enemy of the State" from its beer and TV induced stupor.
To enjoy the American Dream, apparently, Americans must remain asleep.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
With Obama every day is opposite day
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Betrayl of our veterans by aiding Free Syrian Army
Now, however, our Democratic leaders want to betray every victim of Sunni violence and betray every wounded American Veteran who served on the USS Cole, or in Somalia ,Iraq and Afghanistan. Every wounded or killed service man or woman since George W. Bush, like those at Benghazi, has met such a fate by a Sunni, Wahhabi terrorist sponsored and supported by the oil sheiks of Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf.
Why has our President and State Department become the obedient vassals and Janissaries to those sheiks who wish to recreate the Sunni Caliphate of Suleiman the Magnificent? Is it because the Persian Gulf oil royalty threaten to devalue or abandon the dollar on the petro market? Or is it because these plutocratic sheiks, much like the Chinese leaders, subsidize so much of the national debts incurred by the profligate, progressive leaders of Europe and America? ( Loans are made with terms, conditions and with pledges of collateral favorable to the lenders.)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I dont get it?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Goodness gracious!
When I read this article, touted as there being 'double' under Obama as under any administration, I just KNEW it would be some tiny insignificant number 2x some other insignificant number. I'm just surprised it wasn't 1 vs 2 prosecutions. Seriously techdirt, when did you start becoming so sensationalist..
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Goodness gracious!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The Last Word
“