Jump to content

Is W. Mark Felt a "Hero" or "Traitor" ?


Do you think W. Mark Felt is a "Hero" or a Traitor?  

57 members have voted

  1. 1. Do you think W. Mark Felt is a "Hero" or a Traitor?

    • Hero
      23
    • Traitor
      7
    • Neither
      27


Recommended Posts

I was only 8 years old when the Watergate story broke so most of what I know about it I initially learned from the movie, All The Presidents Men.

 

Personally I don't think he is a hero or a traitor. I think he was instrumental in uncovering a Political Scandal. Other than that, "Thanks for playing our game".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was only 8 years old when the Watergate story broke so most of what I know about it I initially learned from the movie, All The Presidents Men.

 

Personally I don't think he is a hero or a traitor.  I think he was instrumental in uncovering a Political Scandal.  Other than that, "Thanks for playing our game".

348754[/snapback]

 

I'd wager to most of the public he's neither...but the key here is that he's a hero to the press (not without reason, I might add), and therefore will be portrayed as such.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd wager to most of the public he's neither...but the key here is that he's a hero to the press (not without reason, I might add), and therefore will be portrayed as such.

348768[/snapback]

I was young as well during this time, but as I aged and thought journalism was a good career move (see...drugs do fry your brain), I remember a conversation in a journalism class where it was basically determined that Watergate changed the relationship between the media and the presidency. The word of the government was rarely questioned by the press back then, and once Watergate broke, that was that. The media questioned every single movement by the government and no elected official could escape the wrath of the media.

 

As the story goes, the media ultimately got tired of waiting for the government to screw up, so they created Dan Rather...and he decided to just make things up to keep it interesting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They're airing interviews with some of the guys convicted over Watergate. One of them (not MacGruder) said that while he didn't view him as a hero, or a traitor, he thinks that he is a man of character.

 

Coulson (sp), I believe it was.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sweet poll on the "quasi-local" Fox station last night.

 

Felt - Criminal or Hero (nice choices...nothing like extreme black and extreme white)

 

68% said criminal.

 

Those are some jaded bastards.

 

BTW, is criminal still applicable in this case?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Neither. I personally have higher standards for the label hero. This was certainly in the right direction, and the case could be made it was heroic, but I reserve the title for those who risk their lives to save others. And LarryBoy. I would consider him as a role model in regards to his behavior in this issue, however.

 

Nor was he a traitor. His first duty was to law enforcement. He absolutely did what was right. He chose the wrong method out of necessity. Normally, if you have information about criminal activity in an ongoing investigation, you report it to the prosecutor. However, since Nixon and then acting FBI director Gray were actively trying to suppress the investigation, the only way to get the information out would be through the press. Going the official route, he would have ended his career, and probably for nothing.

 

I can understand staying mum while still working, even after the prosecutions were completed. Once past his retirement, I'm not sure what the point of remaining silent has been.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sweet poll on the "quasi-local" Fox station last night.

 

Felt - Criminal or Hero (nice choices...nothing like extreme black and extreme white)

 

68% said criminal.

 

Those are some jaded bastards.

 

BTW, is criminal still applicable in this case?

349736[/snapback]

I saw that on WB. The Frog outfoxes Fox.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw that on WB. The Frog outfoxes Fox.

349809[/snapback]

 

Watergate's enough before my time that I don't know the details...but I wouldn't be surprised if he WAS a criminal for his actions. I was just thinking about that this morning: for the sake of completely putting the Watergate issue to bed, DOJ ought to do an investigation (basically, interview him) to see if any laws were broken...and if so, he should be given an immediate Presidential pardon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Probably because he's seen the power of the government in action when it comes to ruining people's lives.

349801[/snapback]

I don't think that was it. It could be, since a Reagan pardon in 1981 alleviated him from a conviction on authorizing break-ins of people's homes who were associated with the Weather Underground. So I'm sure at least at some level there was concern of being prosecuted. But I think it was more of a personal thing. Leaking information to the press wasn't something he was proud of. That's an old-school mentality, all right. It was his current generation family wanting to cash in on the subject that talked him into coming forward. Left to his own devices, he would have taken his secret identity to the grave.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Watergate's enough before my time that I don't know the details...but I wouldn't be surprised if he WAS a criminal for his actions.  I was just thinking about that this morning: for the sake of completely putting the Watergate issue to bed, DOJ ought to do an investigation (basically, interview him) to see if any laws were broken...and if so, he should be given an immediate Presidential pardon.

349864[/snapback]

 

Why? Because he leaked something illegally?

 

Imagine if EVERY cop did their job like this. Scary.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think that was it. It could be, since a Reagan pardon in 1981 alleviated him from a conviction on authorizing break-ins of people's homes who were associated with the Weather Underground. So I'm sure at least at some level there was concern of being prosecuted. But I think it was more of a personal thing. Leaking information to the press wasn't something he was proud of. That's an old-school mentality, all right. It was his current generation family wanting to cash in on the subject that talked him into coming forward. Left to his own devices, he would have taken his secret identity to the grave.

349875[/snapback]

The government doesn't have to prosecute you for the crime you committed. Think about it. Trumped up charges and glitches can amount to thousands of dollars in legal fees and numerous headaches - especially when you're collecting a pension.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The government doesn't have to prosecute you for the crime you committed.  Think about it.  Trumped up charges and glitches can amount to thousands of dollars in legal fees and numerous headaches - especially when you're collecting a pension.

349881[/snapback]

True. I guess my point is I think it was more of a personal belief that leaking information is wrong, and he didn't want to be known as that guy. It was his family's desire to make a buck and his advancing age that prompted him coming out now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are you saying he shouldn't have?  :doh:

349904[/snapback]

 

He SHOULD have gone through official channels even if it meant him losing his job.

 

At least then he would have been able to come out with the allegations above the board rather than breaking the law. There's nothing worse than a cop that breaks the law IMO. Well, unless you count liberals that think they know what they're talking about. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Watergate's enough before my time that I don't know the details...but I wouldn't be surprised if he WAS a criminal for his actions.  I was just thinking about that this morning: for the sake of completely putting the Watergate issue to bed, DOJ ought to do an investigation (basically, interview him) to see if any laws were broken...and if so, he should be given an immediate Presidential pardon.

349864[/snapback]

 

I thought I read that Reagan Pardoned him. Could have been for something else though

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He SHOULD have gone through official channels even if it meant him losing his job.

 

At least then he would have been able to come out with the allegations above the board rather than breaking the law. There's nothing worse than a cop that breaks the law IMO. Well, unless you count liberals that think they know what they're talking about.  :doh:

349915[/snapback]

 

Proper channels? Last I checked, the director of the FBI was appointed by Nixon and would have quelched that real fast. Not real sure who else he would report it to.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...