Pure bullshit, putting it politely. More accurately self-serving bullshit. None of these bear-hugging rhetoricians have the guts to do what Manning and Snowden have done, nor those who have been their clients, speechifying fees and funding topics, career boosters, campaign posters, cowardly woe-is-the-US industry while enjoying the beltway and coastal perks and prizes beloved of arm chair pundits and civil liberties pimps. This is vulgar behavior parading as valiant derring-do, never ever crossing the red line of genuine courage. Merely thanking Snowden and Manning, rather than crossing the line of lawfulness into their fearful terrain is as predictable national security mongering on all sides. Pity Snowden for falling into their trap. And burn that ACLU card after gazing at the 1/2 million salary of its slick director over-paid to suck the teats of excessively wealthy under cover of thousands of lesser contributors corraled into craven water-carrying for legal actions amply exploited for billable hours. Why Wyden and his ilk milk insider knowledge as if privileged journalists should be no mystery. It is the coin of kings.