
(CNN) - Was it right or wrong for Edward Snowden to leak information about secret government surveillance programs?
A new national poll indicates Americans are divided.
Documents Snowden provided to journalists revealed the existence of secret National Security Agency programs to collect records of domestic telephone calls in the United States and the internet activity of overseas residents. Snowden, who fled to Hong Kong, was fired from his position Monday at the Booz Allen Hamilton consulting firm. The FBI is investigating the leaks.
According to a survey by Gallup that was conducted Monday and Tuesday and released Wednesday, 44% said it was right for Snowden to share information about the surveillance programs, with 42% saying it was wrong and 14% unsure.
There was a slight partisan divide, with nearly half of Republicans and independents questioned saying it was right for Snowden to leak the information. That number drops to 39% among Democrats.
The Gallup poll questioned 1,008 adults nationwide by telephone, with an overall sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points. The question regarding Snowden's actions was asked to half the respondents, with a sampling error of plus or minus six percentage points.
CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser contributed to this story


@Ben--Oh come on...........Don't you think comparing this guy to Jebus is a bit of a streach. Geez.......
Snowdens a spy but remember it was Bushs PatriotAct,Homeland security that gave him a future through the CIA after dropping out of school...I remember after 9/11 and how I said that these two policies that Bush inacted would infringe on my liberties and constitutional rights and also remember these same so called patriots in republicans telling me I'm unamerican ,unpatriotic and if I don't approve I should leave this country,remember that you sanctumonious republicans I surely do!!Now republicans are ticked off because Pres.Obama signed an extention to these existing laws and they can't do anything about it,tough luck idiots,live with it..And remember republicans if you don't like the monster your imbecile of a president in Bush created after 9/11 you can leave this country as well and again remember if you've done nothing wrong Big Brother ain't gonna bother you or will they its up to you hypocrites!!!
James Clarkson
Let's be clear here. Snowden did not give secrets to China.
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How do you know? Are you there with him? Are you him?
Maybe this guy is looking for stardom to become another 'James Bond' type for Tinseltown, or looking for the highest bidder for his services in the future.
he is not an American but anti America.he is selling the security of his friends and relatives
Hey USA, I have news for you. NDAA, unmitigated information gathering on every US citizen, a coordinated powerful movement to disarm the American public. Americans have already lost their way of life and a hair away from losing their republic. Franklin said that America is a republic, if you can keep her. Obviously her citizens have been asleep at the switch. Too busy looking for terrorists under their beds and keeping tabs on each other rather than on their government.
When rationality is outlawed, only outlaws will be rational.
If a republican was in office, an overwhelming amount of democrats would be against NSA surveillance instead of that 39%.
.Ahh, yes........Original Patriot Act signer.......oversaw the WORST economic collapse since the GREAT DEPRESSION,.....Started a WAR under LIES told us all, that RESULTED IN....4486...American service members DEAD............good times
Martin Alexander
If a republican was in office, an every single neocon would be for NSA surveillance and calling for detractors to be hauled off to Cuba.
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FIFY.