A Pretty Big Deal
Surveillance: Continuous observation of a place, person, group or ongoing activity in order to gather information. Source: www.dictionary.com
Spying: Keeping watch on a person or a thing to obtain information. Source: www.merriam-webster.com
Those terms seem pretty similar, don’t they? In fact, lexicographers might say that they represent a “distinction without a difference”. No big deal, right?… NOT so, apparently.
During the recent congressional interrogation of Attorney General William Barr, the perceived difference between those terms became a VERY big deal. During Mr. Barr’s testimony, his recently announced scrutiny of possible Democrat spying on the Trump Campaign came to the fore. Congresswoman Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) asked a VERY “leading question” of Mr. Barr: “You’re not suggesting, though, that spying occurred?” To which Mr. Barr responded that, yes, he DID, in fact, think spying occurred. A hush fell upon the proceedings, and one could almost feel the blood pressure of Democrats in attendance rise.
But, WHY should this be a major issue? We already KNEW that there was wire tap surveillance of the Trump Campaign. We already KNEW the names of Trump Campaign advisors cited in the un-redacted TRANSCRIPTS of that surveillance, as divulged by National Security Advisor, Susan Rice. We already KNEW that the partisan Obama FBI had obtained a FISA (Foriegn Intelligence Surveillance Act) warrant, based upon the fabricated Christopher Steele “Trump Dossier”, for the PURPOSE of authorizing government surveillance of the Trump Campaign. Are we to suppose that the FBI, and the Obama era Department Of Justice, went through all of the trouble getting a FISA warrant and then did NOTHING with it?… We are not that gullible.
So the surveillance of the Trump Campaign can not be disputed. So, why the big deal? Well, there’s one nuance of meaning that might separate “surveillance” from “spying”. Spying SOUNDS worse! Surveillance SEEMS like something the FBI could, and even should do, as part of its mandate. Spying, however, is a bit darker. Perhaps it’s the legacy of all the Cold War era spy novels and movies we’ve grown up with, but accusations that our government SPIED on its own citizens is something we are less willing to accept. ESPECIALLY, when it is done, as it was in this case, for partisan political purposes. And, if Americans come to understand that illegal spying did in fact occur, they will get behind the indictments and prosecutions that may follow. And, THAT could impact the 2020 election. As it turns out, it’s a pretty “big deal” after all.