Thursday, October 19, 2006

Conflicts of loyalty

Democratic Staffer on Intel Committee Tagged as Leaker: House Intelligence Chairman Peter Hoekstra has suspended a Democratic staff member because of concerns he may have leaked a high-level intelligence assessment to The New York Times last month. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press Thursday night, Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., a committee member, said that an unidentified staffer requested the document from National Intelligence Director John Negroponte three days before the Sept. 23 story about its conclusions.


Commentary

One of the most misused examples of the paramountcy of conscience is the case of St. Thomas More, who could not acknowledge King Henry VIII as his spiritual sovereign. What's often omitted from the story is that More resigned the highest office in England rather than attempt to keep it and undermine his King while in it. He was determined to follow his conscience and pay the price for it. In modern parlance he was a conscientious objector not a whistleblower.

In 1531 he attempted to resign after being forced to take an oath declaring the king the supreme head of the English church "as far the law of Christ allows". In 1532 he asked the king again to relieve him of his office, claiming that he was ill and suffering from sharp chest pains. This time Henry granted his request.

Though out of office he remained a political embarassment. After a frameup he was sentenced to die for treason. On mounting the scaffold More declared that he died "the king's good servant but God's first."

9 Comments:

Blogger sam said...

In June, the House approved a Republican-drafted resolution condemning news organizations for revealing a covert government program to track terrorist financing, saying the disclosure had "placed the lives of Americans in danger."

The resolution, which passed on a largely party-line vote, did not specifically name the news organizations, but it was aimed at the Times and other news media that reported earlier that month on a secret CIA-Treasury program to track millions of financial records in search of terrorists.


Condemnation Resolution

10/19/2006 09:00:00 PM  
Blogger Pangloss said...

Well, at least Ted Turner finally let everybody know which side he chose in the War on Terror. There's no doubt anymore.

10/19/2006 09:09:00 PM  
Blogger patrick neid said...

oh god, another loser soon to be feted on oprah. i don't think i can take another one.....

10/20/2006 06:01:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Prosecute, Prosecute, Prosecute.

10/20/2006 06:02:00 AM  
Blogger geekesque said...

Let's see here now:

1) Republicans have no proof;

2) Republicans suspend the Democrat without any kind of inquest;

3) Rightwing bloggers are ready to have the guy thrown in prison.

Same kind of critical thinking skills that led to that horrendous mistake known as the invasion of Iraq.

10/20/2006 08:13:00 AM  
Blogger Habu said...

geek,esq

And you know the Republicans have no evidence? How would you know that? Isn't that prejudicial, and slanderous?
Why good fellow you've exposed yourself as an idiot. And in so few sentences too. What a shame.

10/20/2006 02:26:00 PM  
Blogger 3Case said...

To Geek, Esq.:

1. Mark Foley.
2. Gerry Studds.


Lastly, sure, I always like my government to play fast and loose with national security matters...look how well the '90s turned ut.

10/21/2006 09:34:00 AM  
Blogger 3Case said...

habu1,

Maybe he assumed....

10/21/2006 09:36:00 AM  
Blogger Brother Waxwell said...

That, Mrkufr, was brilliant.

10/21/2006 11:54:00 AM  

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