I've already seen a number of conservative bloggers painting Mark Felt as an anti-hero. What would life had been like if he hadn't stepped up to expose the fraud perpetrated by Nixon and co? Well, we wouldn't be using the suffix -gate randomly to indicate some scandal, and that would be nice. Outside of that, it is impossible to know. History cannot be erased, no matter how hard the propagandist works to reframe the story and its players.
Fortunately, if you have the time and energy, you can read/listen to all of the Watergate tapes and judge for yourself. We know the outcome, but it is still outrageous what these folks tried to get away with. Pay particular attention to the tape from 23 June 1973 labeled "smoking gun."
History will judge Mark Felt, but I would suggest that his ethical breach of leaking material to the Washington Post pales in comparison to the fraud perpetrated by the crooks in office at the time. They aught hang a medal of honor and bravery on the man before he dies. Thank goodness he had the chutzpah to step up and call out the emperor with no clothes.
Perhaps we need more men like Felt. No doubt, there is someone waiting in the wings with the ammunition to take out the W, Rove and Co. with one fell swoop of a leak. This is why they are so nervous and are quick to shut down and shut up contrarians.
People who tell the truth regularly never need worry about what they have said or will say. Those who do not, eventually find themselves tangled in their own noose. Give them enough slack and they will hang themselves.
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1 comment:
I agree that the pendulum is swinging pretty far past the breaking point of logic in the right wing circles, but to call this man "brave" is swinging it awful far the other way.
Heroism is doing the right thing, regardless of the threat of personal harm. Hiding for 30+ years, long after any threat still existed isn't exaclty being brave.
Of course Nixon and Co were guilty as sin, and don't shed a tear for them getting called to justice for what they did. But Mr. Felt, and others didn't seem to care how many laws they broke bringing the criminals to justice.
To me, it was just a few rats complaining that the fleas on the other rats were more annoying. ;~D
Great article though! Very good read.
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