The Significance of Wikileaks

Wikileaks has exposed some of the insidious elements of our political process. Regardless of motives and political bias, the information that came to light is revealing on many levels. We all knew how corrupt politics can be and how money influences politics and policies. We just didn't know the extent and the breadth of how far it reaches including the media.

- August 2016

The First Amendment includes a freedom of the press. This is by design so that there would be a watchdog of our elected officials. Unfortunately, in recent times, the press has become a biased entity working in conjunction behind the scenes to support one political party. It is up to other organizations like wikileaks and Judicial Watch and the Landmark Legal Foundation and a handful others to take on this task.

Our country works because the government works for the people not the other way around. Over the years, we have created laws such as the Whistle-blower laws and FOIA and others to keep tabs on the people in power. Unfortunately, people like Hillary Clinton have found ways to skirt these laws and in the process corrupt both our government and the press.

The latest controversy over the private email server is front and center with what is wrong with the process. When the FBI director has to testify in front of Congress and give Mrs. Clinton political cover, something is wrong and does not pass the smell test.

It seems to me that Wikileaks is a natural outcome of a corrupt government. If it did not exist, it would have been invented by some else. Our own government, the NSA and the CIA and the FBI all conduct cyber security and spying on us the citizens and on foreign governments.

It is an invasion of our privacy which the courts have ruled against. Yet, they are happening anyway as we speak in the name of national security.

Meanwhile, our own government official, can create a home grown server, and allow foreign agents access to these sensitive documents and yet not pay a price or consequence. According to the FBI director, it was just sloppy conduct and not "intent" to skirt the FOIA.

What was exposed? Among the latest 20,000 emails released were some of the doings of the DNC. Thery were so damning that the head of the DNC, Deborah Wasserman Shultz had to resign.

Who were implicated in the press?

The treasure trove of Democratic National Committee emails released by Wikileaks on Friday include evidence of Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz demanding an end to negative “Morning Joe” coverage.
An angry email sent to “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd by Mrs. Wasserman Schultz demanded negative coverage by MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski “must stop.”
“Chuck, see below. I would like to discuss this with you today. Can you reach out to Luis to schedule a call? Thanks,” the Florida congresswoman wrote after forwarding a newsletter from Breitbart News’ Ian Hanchett.
“On Wednesday, MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ co-host Mika Brzezinski called for DNC Chair Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) to ‘step down’ over her handling of this year’s Democratic presidential primary,” the email read. “After playing a clip of Wasserman Schultz, Brzezinski said, ‘This has been very poorly handled from the start. […]’ Brzezinski’s co-host, former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough wondered why Sanders would ‘get in line’ for the Democratic Party, given that they ‘rigged the entire thing,’ and that if he was in Sanders’ position, ‘I’d say, ‘Go straight to hell, I’m running as an independent.’ “

We were given a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes in these political campaigns. It is showing us how the "sausages are made."

It is important for the American people to know who is manipulating them. Who is "spinning" the truths? Who is lying and making up stories...? Who has an agenda when reporting the news? Who is totally dishonest and not trustworthy?

In a way, it is similar to some of the past leaks such as Climategate. Those internal emails exposed some climate change Scientists as being dishonest...

It is often said, the truth shall set you free. Let these emails speak for themselves in their own words.

I for one am cheering the Wikileaks for having the courage and the tenacity to do the job of the press. They are trying to keep our government honest. If in the process, some secrets are let out, that is the price we pay. Alternatively, without these revelations, we would have a corrupt government and a corrupt DNC and a corrupt political process all for show.

If there is an award for this, I would nominate Wikileaks.