OPINION:
Republicans in the Senate — some, anyway — raised their eyebrows in surprise when Tulsi Gabbard, the president’s pick to lead up national intelligence, refused to say whether Edward Snowden was a traitor or patriot for leaking classified documents in 2013.
“Gabbard in danger after views on Snowden rankle GOP senators,” The Hill wrote in one headline.
Come on, GOP. Don’t be like that.
Imposing a single-issue litmus test on any nominee is ridiculous. But on Edward Snowden? Even more ridiculous. Not only is Snowden so yesterday that practically a new generation of voters don’t even know who he is or of what he was accused. But more importantly, his accusers were primarily those who were embarrassed by the public outing of their questionable activities — meaning, Snowden exposed some curious government surveillance programs that cut constitutional corners for dubious reasons, and the matter of his character has never been resolved in the public mind: Was he a traitor or patriot?
It’s been the question of the decade among media pundits, intel people, political operatives, and government leaders. It’s been the question around Americans’ dinner tables at family gatherings. It’s been the fodder of interesting discussions — and court cases. In 2020, for instance, one federal court found the United States government had indeed engaged in unlawful activity by conducting mass surveillance on citizens through various intelligence operations.
So with Snowden, it’s always been a matter of perspective. Hero to the people or traitor to the cause? And of course, it’s obvious where the government would stand on the issue; it was the government’s oft-illegal programs that were exposed by Snowden, after all.
“Gabbard has in the past called Snowden a ‘brave’ whistleblower who uncovered damning civil liberties violations by the intelligence community,” ABC News wrote.
She also supported the granting of clemency for Snowden.
And during confirmation hearings, Gabbard refused to stand down and distance herself from her prior views of Snowden.
“Is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America? This is not a hard question to answer,” said Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat.
Gabbard declined to say — but did explain this: “Edward Snowden broke the law. I do not agree with or support all of the information and intelligence that he released, nor the way in which he did it.” At the same time, she went on, Snowden “released information that exposed egregious, illegal and unconstitutional programs,” she said, as ABC wrote.
Republicans didn’t like her answer.
“Republican senators pressed Gabbard to declare Snowden a ‘traitor’ and to acknowledge that he ‘harmed’ U.S. national security,” The Hill wrote, “but Gabbard refused to do so, raising alarm among Republicans who will be voting on her nomination in the weeks ahead.”
Ridiculous.
Let it go, Republicans.
As Vice President J.D. Vance said on Fox News, senators don’t really, rightfully, have the power to prevent President Trump’s nominations from being confirmed.
“The president has made his selections and the advice and consent power of the United States Senate should not be used to block people because you have one policy disagreement on one issue,” Vance said. “You don’t get to make these decisions. President Trump gets to make these decisions and he already has.”
So did the American people when they voted for Trump — and his open embrace of the likes of Gabbard.
Republicans, it’s time to let the grudges over Snowden go.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter and podcast by clicking HERE. Her latest book, “God-Given Or Bust: Defeating Marxism and Saving America With Biblical Truths,” is available by clicking HERE.
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