Comments on: The Whistleblower Gets Whacked – updated http://firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/ Firedoglake weblog Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:20:26 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bryan http://firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-77295 Bryan Mon, 24 Apr 2006 18:02:46 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-77295 <p>Steve is dead on with this one.</p> <p>But a whistleblower sharing information he or she knows in order to inform the public that something wrong, maybe even illegal or criminal is going on within the U.S. government, certainly mitigates the wrongful act of having leaked information in the first place.</p> <p>Of course it doesn’t. Whistleblowing does not include leaking to the press. The Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act of 1998 sets out exactly how those in the intelligence community are to proceed when they have conerns with a secret program. They go to their agency IG, and if not satisfied, they can appeal to the Congressional Intelligence Committee.</p> <p>This woman needs to be locked up for a good long time. I would even make the case that the country is at war and the penalty should be much steeper than that.</p> <p>I hope they smoke the rest of them out soon. These are people who honestly believe that they know what is best, but they cross a line when they decide they are right to attempt to influence policy by leaking to the press. And yes politics is involved. You can hate this administration, but when it clouds your judgement this badly it is time for a nice long vacation somewhere warm and some umbrella drinks.</p> Steve is dead on with this one.

But a whistleblower sharing information he or she knows in order to inform the public that something wrong, maybe even illegal or criminal is going on within the U.S. government, certainly mitigates the wrongful act of having leaked information in the first place.

Of course it doesn’t. Whistleblowing does not include leaking to the press. The Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act of 1998 sets out exactly how those in the intelligence community are to proceed when they have conerns with a secret program. They go to their agency IG, and if not satisfied, they can appeal to the Congressional Intelligence Committee.

This woman needs to be locked up for a good long time. I would even make the case that the country is at war and the penalty should be much steeper than that.

I hope they smoke the rest of them out soon. These are people who honestly believe that they know what is best, but they cross a line when they decide they are right to attempt to influence policy by leaking to the press. And yes politics is involved. You can hate this administration, but when it clouds your judgement this badly it is time for a nice long vacation somewhere warm and some umbrella drinks.

]]> By: donna http://firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-76001 donna Sun, 23 Apr 2006 16:30:04 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-76001 <p>If she felt compelled to “leak” out of conscious, she should have quit first and come forward. But, it appears to have been very sneaky on her part. You, can’t have it both ways and retain any kind of honor.</p> If she felt compelled to “leak” out of conscious, she should have quit first and come forward. But, it appears to have been very sneaky on her part. You, can’t have it both ways and retain any kind of honor.

]]> By: The Mahablog » News Cycles http://firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75624 The Mahablog » News Cycles Sun, 23 Apr 2006 03:37:52 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75624 <p>[…] Be sure to read the rest of Glenn’s post. He makes a lot of excellent points. For another sanity check, see Taylor Marsh […]</p> […] Be sure to read the rest of Glenn’s post. He makes a lot of excellent points. For another sanity check, see Taylor Marsh […]

]]> By: Anonymous http://firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75618 Anonymous Sun, 23 Apr 2006 03:31:32 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75618 <p><i>As John Dean said on “Countdown” last night, Mary McCarthy has broken the law by disavowing documents she signed to keep classified information secret.</i></p> <p>My recollection is: John Dean said she was guilty of a “breach of contract” because of the employment contract she signed prior to her employment. </p> <p>While she can be fired for breach of contract, I don’t recall John Dean stating that she particularly violated any statute because there is a possibility she may be protected as a whistleblower. </p> <p>I may be wrong, but that is my recollection.</p> As John Dean said on “Countdown” last night, Mary McCarthy has broken the law by disavowing documents she signed to keep classified information secret.

My recollection is: John Dean said she was guilty of a “breach of contract” because of the employment contract she signed prior to her employment.

While she can be fired for breach of contract, I don’t recall John Dean stating that she particularly violated any statute because there is a possibility she may be protected as a whistleblower.

I may be wrong, but that is my recollection.

]]> By: Scudrunner http://firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75367 Scudrunner Sun, 23 Apr 2006 00:48:09 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75367 <p>I’ve got an idea… why don’t some of the big progressive players, (moveon.org comes to mind), start collecting contributions for and offering “rewards” to whistleblowers so that we can have some counter-effect to this intimidation effort. Something generous enough to help defray legal costs and pension losses. We all sit back and contemplate the actions of our enemies, but how do we counteract actively? THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!</p> I’ve got an idea… why don’t some of the big progressive players, (moveon.org comes to mind), start collecting contributions for and offering “rewards” to whistleblowers so that we can have some counter-effect to this intimidation effort. Something generous enough to help defray legal costs and pension losses. We all sit back and contemplate the actions of our enemies, but how do we counteract actively? THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!

]]> By: yeoman http://firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75239 yeoman Sat, 22 Apr 2006 23:24:18 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75239 <p>The CIA’s firing of Ms. McCarthy for leaking classified information would seem to confirm that there is indeed a system of “black site” prisons. The contradiction which is raised by the CIA’s actions is that they are denying there is any such prison-system while punishing the whistle-blower for leaking about it! If the information she leaked concerns non-existent torture centers, then her information is based on something that doesn’t exist, if we are to trust Porter Goss & his outfit. Therefore, why would they punish her for leaking?</p> The CIA’s firing of Ms. McCarthy for leaking classified information would seem to confirm that there is indeed a system of “black site” prisons. The contradiction which is raised by the CIA’s actions is that they are denying there is any such prison-system while punishing the whistle-blower for leaking about it! If the information she leaked concerns non-existent torture centers, then her information is based on something that doesn’t exist, if we are to trust Porter Goss & his outfit. Therefore, why would they punish her for leaking?

]]> By: EM http://firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75229 EM Sat, 22 Apr 2006 23:10:17 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75229 <p>President Bush and V.P. Cheney are allowed to declassify anything they want whenever they want, and then “leak” it whenever they want. They get that power by virtue of the fact that Americans elected them. Period. </p> <p>Mary McCarthy wasn’t elected, didn’t have that power, and specifically signed a promise with the American people that she wouldn’t leak classified information. Period.</p> <p>If McCarthy were a true whistleblower, she could have gone to Congress - where there are mechanisms built-in to disclose classified information that are entirely legal. If reports are accurate, she knowingly and willfully broke the law.</p> <p>The American people gave President Bush and Vice President Cheney guardianship of American secrets. They gave McCarthy no such power.</p> President Bush and V.P. Cheney are allowed to declassify anything they want whenever they want, and then “leak” it whenever they want. They get that power by virtue of the fact that Americans elected them. Period.

Mary McCarthy wasn’t elected, didn’t have that power, and specifically signed a promise with the American people that she wouldn’t leak classified information. Period.

If McCarthy were a true whistleblower, she could have gone to Congress – where there are mechanisms built-in to disclose classified information that are entirely legal. If reports are accurate, she knowingly and willfully broke the law.

The American people gave President Bush and Vice President Cheney guardianship of American secrets. They gave McCarthy no such power.

]]> By: Tennessean http://firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75212 Tennessean Sat, 22 Apr 2006 22:51:12 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75212 <p>Taylor, you’re doing yeoman’s work here this weekend! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your hard work. Brilliant. Bless you, Firedoglake.</p> Taylor, you’re doing yeoman’s work here this weekend! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your hard work. Brilliant. Bless you, Firedoglake.

]]> By: Frank http://firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75168 Frank Sat, 22 Apr 2006 22:18:18 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75168 <p>Mary McCarthy is a hero. The senate intelligence committee should hold hearings under the whistle blower statutes. I mean how often are “traitors” uncovered??<br /> Lets shine a spot light on her. A hero or a traitor? Let the people of this country decide.<br /> Sadly, we have become that which we are unsuccessfully fighting against. Morphing our nation from a once honored and admired country into a bannana republic,(even sanctioning lllegal immigrants to give it more of a bannanaish flavor), will be a lasting Bush legacy.</p> Mary McCarthy is a hero. The senate intelligence committee should hold hearings under the whistle blower statutes. I mean how often are “traitors” uncovered??
Lets shine a spot light on her. A hero or a traitor? Let the people of this country decide.
Sadly, we have become that which we are unsuccessfully fighting against. Morphing our nation from a once honored and admired country into a bannana republic,(even sanctioning lllegal immigrants to give it more of a bannanaish flavor), will be a lasting Bush legacy.

]]> By: Bionic http://firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75166 Bionic Sat, 22 Apr 2006 22:15:22 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/04/22/the-whistleblower-gets-whacked/#comment-75166 <p>Mary, you are a gem!</p> Mary, you are a gem!

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