Updated
ABC News is jumping to the defense of Mary McCarthy by employing an age-old excuse: everybody does it.
The firing this week of a veteran CIA analyst for disclosing confidential information is just the latest reminder that leaking government secrets can be a dangerous and risky game.
After all, leaking has been around as long as the nation itself.
In 1794, George Washington was outraged when Alexander Hamilton released details of a treaty negotiation.
Benjamin Franklin lost his job as postmaster after he leaked private letters to reveal political leanings of colonial leaders — letters that helped fan the flames of the Revolution.
“Leaks have been around since Jefferson was complaining about newspapers and what they were doing to him,” said Howard Kurtz, media critic for The Washington Post. “The difference now is you have so many more media outlets and a 24-hour digital world [so] that the leak can instantly go around the globe. You don’t have to wait for the newspaper to be delivered on horseback.”
Just because Benjamin Franklin leaked private letters of colonial leaders doesn’t mean it’s ok for Mary McCarthy to leak classified documents pertinent to our national security. Sheesh, why do I feel like I’m talking to a teenager?
And the article continues:
Not that there was any shortage of horseback riding leakers in the old days. In fact, you might say it was the “midnight ride” of Paul Revere and his unauthorized disclosure of British troop movements back in 1775 that led to the birth of our nation..”
What a lousy defense. Comparing Mary McCarthy’s leaking to the actions of Paul Revere is not only inaccurate – it’s manipulative by playing to Americans’ patriotism to garner sympathy for McCarthy as if she were some kind of American hero.
A reader makes a great point, one that I missed: why wasn’t Benedict Arnold used as an example? He is, after all, a more accurate example, but accuracy isn’t what the author intended. The article is attempting to paint McCarthy’s leaking as no big deal, that even the most important and revered of our founders did it. Using Benedict Arnold, whose name alone still connotes evil and deception to this day, would have turned readers against McCarthy.
Here’s how the article ends:
Back in Washington, the Bush White House is having problems with leaking, just like its predecessors. But as dangerous as leaking is, a world without leaks might just pose some dangers of its own.
“Without some leaks on some issues from some well-placed sources, a lot of important stories would never get out,” [Howard] Kurtz said.
The folks of the MSM are convinced the world revolves around them, that all other activity, business or government, is subjugated to their need to “get the story out.” As far as they are concerned, not even national security is as important.
Update: Mary Katharine Ham of Hugh Hewitt has a round up.
Proud Kaffir
What a laughable moniker. The dump I took today had a higher IQ than you. Guess that wouldn’t matter to you bcuz it’s obvious that you are profoundly proud to be Bush’s bedpan.
So thats where Your brains went? swooooshhhhh!
And you Mak are proud to be Frankens butt child.
With Bush at 32/33% and supported by this fecal crowd, impeachment looms ever brighter come post-November.
When this Murdering Pig is exposed thru post-elecyion investigation, it’ll take a lot more than dumb Wizbang turds to save him.
Where did all the sock puppets come from?
Proud Kafir,
we will see how proud you will be when you burn in hell you and your master.
mak:
“Your ability to argue a point runs the gamut from A tio A 1/4th.”
And, mak, being the expert at this ability, should know.
Right mak Kerry was suposed to sweep Bush right out of office and it did,nt happen ! He whipped Your boy. just keep trying to convince yourself that it wont happen again, and you,ll just guarantee another can of whoopass! and next time maybe you should try a real war hero like Alec Baldwin.
Wow. Benjamin Franklin and Paul Revere? I’m absolutely surprised that ABC didn’t mention the most famous leaker of all from the American Revolution; Benedict Arnold.
I’m not surprised in the least. They don’t mention Hiss either, after all, he was just trying the level the playing field with the USSR. He was a truth-seeker!
and next time maybe you should try a real war hero like Alec Baldwin.
When the hell is supposed to leave this country? He PROMISED, damnit, that he would leave if McChimpy Haliburtonzazi was elected again. Why can’t these liberals ever keep their promises?!
we will see how proud you will be when you burn in hell you and your master.
You know, if you REALLY wanted to debate, or get answers to any reasonable questions, you would avoid such useless ad hominum. Then, perhaps we might take you seriously, and we might even try to answer or argue a point that you bring up.
But, instead, you choose to be a monumental wanker, and thus, you get my ridicule. I’ve seen dopeheads argue more effectively over the best snack to consume while high than what you have had to offer.
James Cloninger
hey, if you’re going to use it, get it right… it’s spelled ad hominem.
Since you used it twice, I suspect that it wasn’t a typo, but rather, reflects that you’re dumber than snot. Which is the reason you take the positions that you do.
Or the fact that I don’t normally use ad hominem to attempt to feebly boister an argument.
But, ooh!, you got me. I didn’t spell my latin correctly! I guess that means Bush is the next Hitler then.
By the way, “Which is the reason you take the positions that you do.” is not a sentence, but a fragment–a clause that should not stand alone.
And, it’s “election”, not “elecyion”.
And, it’s “Wizbang”, not “Whizbang”, which you have used on numerous occassions. (Note that I used the “which” clause correctly)
By your logic, then, you are dumber than shit.
How do you like that ad hominem?
Do you want to go on? I have time to pick on you.
(correction: there should be an elipsis before the word “…or” at the top of my previous post)
we will see how proud you will be when you burn in hell you and your master.
I addressed each of your absurd “points” and this is how you respond? Are you one of those jihadist, condemning me to hell, as UBL does, for spouting a different political viewpoint? And we are the “fasciti”, right?
I gladly adopted my monikor after a discussion on an Islamic board where someone committed, “As a Christian, you shouldn’t be so proud. Afterall, you are a kaffir.”
I responded that I am a Proud Christian and a Proud Kaffir.
(Before you point it out, I realize that the more common spelling is “kafir” or “kufar” but I kept his more uncommon spelling.)
PIMF
commented
mak – so I am pitiful am I? Is that because I don’t care to get my shorts in a wad, call names, make exaggerations, tell lies, and generally rant and rave like you? Since you are all worked up over this Drumheller/60 Minutes Bush bash let me explain it to you AGAIN. I didn’t see the show. I don’t watch 60 Minutes, I don’t care or trust what they say. In fact I watch very little commentary type news on the MSM. I used to watch all of the news shows, but quit after they became no more than shills for the far left. I suspect that most people commenting here feel the same. For the record I also turn off the commentators that are biased to the far right. I am a bit of a news junkie, but I prefer to get just the straight news (hard to do these days but it is out there) and decide for myself rather than have some pretty or perky talking head tell me what to think. I also prefer to debate with people who enjoy the give and take of different points of view and hope to learn from the process. I see no point arguing with the likes of you when nothing will be accomplished by it. Trading insults is not the way to win friends and influence people. But go ahead and keep insulting people and telling them how stupid they are. That always makes people like you, believe you, and want to vote your way. If you are going to convince me of your point of view you have to act like a sane adult, not some stark raving mad moonbat. Now go ahead let me have it, rant and rave away, who cares. I’m sure everyone here will be soooo impressed.
You all continue to offer mak44 attention not deserved. Totally ignoring the Trollisms would be slightly more effective, as responses are what is sought.
Mak you are the definition of MORON.