Inside Obama's "Orwellian World" Where Whistleblowing Has Become Espionage: The Case of Thomas Drake

DemocracyNow.org - National Security Agency whistleblower Thomas Drake faces 35 years in prison on espionage charges for allegedly leaking information to the press about the NSA's overspending and failure to properly maintain its large trove of domestic spy data.

"Espionage is the last thing my whistleblowing and first amendment activities and actions were all about," Drake said recently in a public speech. "This has become the specter of a truly Orwellian world where whistleblowing has become espionage." According to the New Yorker, the Obama administration has used the Espionage Act of 1917 to press criminal charges in five alleged instances of national security leaks—more such prosecutions than have occurred in all previous administrations combined. We play excerpts of Thomas Drake's first public comments and talk to former Justice Department whistleblower, Jesselyn Radack.

To download the video/audio podcast, read the transcript, or for more from Democracy Now! on this breaking story, visit: http://www.democracynow.org/2011/5/18/inside_obamas_orwellian_world_where_whi...

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• amy goodman
• democracy now
• juan gonzalez
• barack obama
• thomas drake
• espionage
• the new yorker
• whistleblowing
• Jesselyn Radack

[RamsesReturns]

Well Obama Lovers... when you have Amy Goodman giving up on Obama its over. She was the last of the left hold outs in the know. I hope people can now see how it all works, Bush, Obama, Clinton it's all the same, they do the dirty work setting up of a totalitarian world regime. The media elects our bogus Presidents we don't, we/most of you just jump on what ever bandwagons they set in motion. It has to stop, freedom has been the big loser here, when will we put our foot down?

[RamsesReturns]

My final point here... "when good men do something' and they then are prosecuted by a machine that is fueled by radical injustice, that person becomes one of us, and they deserve our full support. These people are the heros among us. If reporters are intimidated to pursue truth, then we are lost as a society. It is every free citizens duty not let a fallen soldier of truth or justice die out in an open field alone.

[sheltercrow]

Lets get real here. The operative phrase is "domestic spy." Since when has spying on virtually all of the communications of the Americans public become patriotic? Am I supposed to get all teary eyed because a Big Brother operative gets caught saying Big Brother isn't doing a good enough job? If the NSA had it way it would have a surveillance camera recording every American 24/7. Is that what you really want? You better watch out, you just may get what you ask for.

[WalksWithGreys]

This video NEEDS to be spread to EVERY home in America ! Wanna bet YouTube pulls this video ?! Better download it....

[laurasIs2c]

The fact that the few are further limiting the ability to bring justice to our nation, is demonstrated by the facts that the Wall Streeters go without rebuke, the Bush administration goes without consequences, Cheney, goes without criminal ethics violations, 911 goes without investigation, John Uhe gets a plum job after making torture legal....but the whistle blowers are getting thrown in jail....nothing hear that doesn't go on in China everyday...,Obama NO....

[laurasIs2c]

Watch this and pray that there are attorneys who will fight for our democracy...or not...the thieves love it when you give up!

[Licmycat]

Never heard repubuglies criticize their bushie butt-buddy. Looks like they are working with Obama and only criticize Obama to get another white-collar criminal in office to support their crimes and immoral acts. Dam straight I'll blow the whistle on ever demon in white collars hurting GOD'S children and repubuglies hate GOD for their master satan who gave them the power and money to go burn with him later. I honor Whistle-Blowers!

[blackdon33]

i love reading everybodys post

[sunnydips]

Heres an idea, lets cover up government crime and prosecute whistleblowers to preserve corruption.

[RamsesReturns]

@sherhak Well better late than never I suppose. A lot of damage has been done however. ~Cheers

[sherhak]

@RamsesReturns no, she's not. i'm the last one. i give up on him today, lol.

[sherhak]

@thatstheguy07 LOL

this guy is an american patriot. orwellian indeed.