Glenn Greenwald - Political Views

Political Views

Greenwald describes himself politically as independent, though other sources have described him politically as a liberal or progressive.

Greenwald is critical of actions that have the support of both Democrats and Republicans, writing: "the worst and most tyrannical government actions in Washington are equally supported on a fully bipartisan basis." In the preface to his first book, How Would a Patriot Act? (2006), Greenwald begins by giving some of his own personal political history, describing himself as at first neither liberal nor conservative but as one who had taken positions that can be ascribed to both liberals and conservatives, voting neither for George W. Bush nor for any of his rivals, indeed not voting at all.

"I think the only means of true political change will come from people working outside of that system to undermine it, and subvert it, and weaken it, and destroy it; not try to work within it to change it."

However, articles in The New York Times and The Nation have called him, respectively, a "liberal", an example of "liberals wonder when Obama’s team will reflect them". and a liberal commentator, and polls from Forbes and the New Statesman ranked Greenwald as a top liberal and progressive commentator respectively. Greenwald raised money for Russ Feingold's 2010 Senate re-election bid, Bill Halter's 2010 primary challenge to Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln, and several Congressional candidates in 2012 he described as "unique".

Greenwald is a strong advocate for U.S. constitutional "balance of powers" and for constitutionally-protected civil and political rights. He frequently criticizes the American "Corporate News Media" for echoing the administration's talking points rather than asking hard questions. He advocates drug liberalization and opposes capital punishment.

In 2012, he became one of the co-founders of the Freedom of the Press Foundation.