[rfnslyr]

This is the United States government. By pardoning snowman they set a dangerous precedent.

Let's say they pardon snowden, in the future, if more whistleblowers appear, all they have to do is say "but snowden was pardoned!" And then what?

[actionscripted]

I understand the potentially precarious position this puts the government in with regards to handling leaks and whistle-blowers in the future but I'm okay with that. Pardon Snowden, pardon (encourage?) future whistle-blowers.

[venomsnake]

Don't do stuff that makes people become legitimate whistleblowers is a good start.

The US public is not stupid. There is very little goodwill towards Manning about what he did compared to Snowden[1]. And for good reasons.

So people are pretty good from separating whistleblower and leaker. So I think it will be non issue.

[1] There is a lot of sympathy for Manning about the way he was treated, which may or may not be a good case for clemency in the next administration.

[adventured]

If more people do what Snowden did, and reveal the kind of violations he has, then they too should be pardoned for the same reason he should be.

The proper response by the government to future cases is to judge them each case by case.

[rfnslyr]

None of this is going to happen. The moment they open that door all hell breaks loose.

I really wish, but it won't. The system is solidified.

If they open this door, and then do anything against people using Snowdens precedent, the white house will be in a much worse position than now.