Why does Edward Snowden get treated better in Russia than Russian LGBT citizens?

[LynneSin]

Last edited Fri Jan 24, 2014, 04:53 PM - Edit history (1)

Seriously, does Putin think that some how Americans are impressed he was so kind and open-hearted giving Edward Snowden asylum when LGBT Russians are treated like criminals. Maybe it's me but I call that BULLSHIT. You want to show how great Russia is then treat your own citizens equally.

I use to look forward every 2 years to the Olympics but this year I have no intentions of watching them. Putin is an a-hole - nuff said!

Edit note: No clue why I put Eric in there.

[1000words]

1. LOL

Alrighty then ...

[MADem]

2. Because Eddie is, per Pootie, nothing more than a sharp stick with which to poke Obama in the eye.

And the LGBT citizens are worthless in his eyes--the worse he treats them, the madder we get...so it's a win-win for the Pootster.

[Adrahil]

16. Exactly.

He's a useful tool for Putin to take a poke at Obama in particular and the West, in general.

[Number23]

18. Nailed it as usual, MADem

((Do you know that I have typed that as the subject of so many posts that it comes up automatically?? ))

Because Eddie is, per Pootie, nothing more than a sharp stick with which to poke Obama in the eye.

And I don't think that anyone with even a shred of sense or reason would even try to deny that.

As an aside, if you want to see some major, massive, EPIC Snowden pwnage, please check out msanthrope's exchange in this thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024375714 I've never seen one person smack so many asses at the same time.

First thread I've bookmarked in a YEAR. It was that good.

[MADem]

19. Hilarity ensued!!!

I have no doubt that Snowden's FSB lawyer confirmed that Snowden is not a spy. I bet Vladimir Putin would you tell you that too. what more do you want??!



I have no doubt that Vlady-of-the Nipples-on-a-Horse would deny he was a spy. Can you imagine the headlines if he didn't?

Now I'm wheezing @ Nipples-on-a-Horse!!!!

[Number23]

20. My laugh of the week, it really was

I love the "Snowden has a team of US lawyers" and when asked to name them, the non-respondee does everything but break out a pair of steak knives to start juggling in order to change the subject.

Oh, my word. I actually started to wheeze after reading that.

[msanthrope]

22. Why thank you Number 23...the thread devolved when Tucker Carlson was

cited as an authority, and two civil attorneys who have not been retained by Mr. Snowden were cited as his attorneys.

All I know is that if Mr.Snowden has a criminal defense attorney, that person hasn't informed the court. Of course...a criminal defense attorney would tell him to stop talking to his co-conspirators, stop doing live Internet chats, and get his ass over to the US Embassy.

There's another thread floating about wherein some Snowden apologist claims he's legally barred from raising a whistleblower's defense...well that's not actually true. Snowden can raise whatever defense he wants before the court, and is entitled to a hearing on the matter. BUT HE CAN'T DO THAT FROM RUSSIA. If he wants to claim he is a whistleblower, he can....but he has to show up to court. The only thing preventing Snowden from claiming a defense is Snowden.

[Number23]

24. So the only avenue for Snowden to claim whisteblower status is from the U.S.?

I admit that I don't know much about who's on his legal team. But considering how high profile this case is, I find it hard to believe that he would have ANY trouble securing legal representation within the U.S. That could be the crown jewel for some enterprising attorney wanting to make a name for her/himself.

Edit: And I just read one of the links that was supposed to "prove" who Snowden's US legal team was. It says pretty clearly in the first line that Ben Wizner is listed as a "legal adviser" and not legal representative.

[William769]

3. See my sig line & feel free to pass it around.

[FreeState]

4. I grew up loving the winter games

I remember many winters sitting around as a family watching them. I probably will watch a little of it this time, I feel torn between supporting the athletes, who have worked their asses off for years to be there, and not giving the ratings to the networks here that are barely covering the human rights violations there. I may just watch some of it online to avoid supporting the media.

[LittleBlue]

5. Eric Snowden? Didn't know Edward had a brother. nt

[grahamhgreen]

6. Because Russia needs to learn how to spy on their own citizens as well as the NSA does here;)

I can here the penny drop, lol.

[DevonRex]

8. Are you nuts? Russia can legally spy without warrant, or a court

or any probable cause. There IS no court process. Their Central Bank can even spy. Doesn't have to be an intel agency or law enforcement agency. Why don't you KNOW this?

[Cha]

12. Thanks for tellin' him, Devon.. there's always going to be those who

stick up for putin without merit.



Russia Good Bad USA

[grahamhgreen]

15. Not sticking up for Putin's spying, just letting you know he is most likely mining Snowden and

his data for more effective ways to spy on his own people and others

[grahamhgreen]

14. It's HOW it's done - all of the social media monitoring, GPS tracking, meta-data, and SMS collection

Dropout JEEP, Intercepted packages. Custom-made cables that steal data. Towers that mimic a commercial cellphone network..... etc.

Tricks and tips for spying on your pepes!

[jeff47]

17. Russia does not need those because they "have the right to spy". (nt)

[Cha]

7. It's "Edward" Snowden, Lynne.. And, I'm glad the US is sending some

of our Gay Athletes as part of our Delegation. I made a thread on it last night that many are avoiding like the plague.





http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024380832

I have no idea what's up with Eddie and Putin's relationship.. although he did praise Putin for his stance on "civil rights" that made him sound like he was brainwashed.

[xocet]

9. Eric Snowden? n/t

[Douglas Carpenter]

10. I at least they hope they treat Edward as nice as they do Eric

Eric Snowden is a real bastard. But I think what Edward did was very important

[NCTraveler]

11. Putin doesn't view either as people.

Putin views Snowden and LGBT Russians as political tools. I promise you Putin has very little use for Snowden other than jabbing Obama in the ribs a little bit. Putin probably views Snowden as nothing more than a snitch and would like to watch him die. It is the way of the KGB.

[jakeXT]

13. He probably thinks they are all strange -- Maybe ingnorance is bliss

"You know, I sometimes thought about him, he is a strange guy," ex-KGB spy Putin said in an interview with state-run Channel One television.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ihnNR3lkwIuJQR2eOkyATFXEUA1w?docId=CNG.e75faaa2f6df50bdfa970b26510033e2.3b1

Homosexuality was a federal crime in Russia until 1993, but in Soviet times café owners were tacitly glad to garner a reputation as a gay hangout: It brought extra cash flooding in, and a few extra bribes were enough to keep the police at bay.

According to Kosachenko, public affection with other men was easier than it is now. In his opinion, the laidback lifestyle and southern effusiveness for which Sochi was known meant that few people interpreted such casual displays as immoral — partly because of a widespread ignorance about homosexuality.

"Sochi is a multinational city, they're relaxed about everyone," he said. "And before, people didn't know anything about it (homosexuality), and so no one thought much of a hug or putting your arm around someone."
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/amid-putins-crackdown-sochi-gay-scene-thrives

[Luminous Animal]

21. Why does the U.S. harbor terrorists that get better treatment than most U.S. LGBT citizens.

You do know, don't you, that most LGBT citizens in this United States do not enjoy equal rights.

But this guy gets safe harbor:

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0629-26.htm

[msanthrope]

23. You do realize that we've tried to throw Carriles out of the country, right? Since your

source is nearly 9 years old, I suspect you are ignorant of the extensive litigation that the DOJ has pursued against this man. But Carriles will probably die in Miami---Mukasey made sure the case and evidence against him were so botched, that there is no way, short of rendition, that he leaves.

This case is a perfect example of Bush, and Bush appointees leaving a turd in the DOJ for Holder to clean up...It's mindblowing how a federal judge basically let this guy go...and makes for great reading.

[arthritisR_US]

25. Both things put the digs in to the current

government. US is evolving in their tolerance and understanding so Pukin gets a twofer with these two things.

[BainsBane]

26. He's a propaganda victory for the Russians

I would imagine he's treated better than a lot of straight Russians as well, just as defectors during the Soviet era were.