They disclosed classified information without regard to consequences they could not foresee. That we are able to hone in on a potentially positive consequence—exposing a particular harm—does nothing to address other problems with what they did, problems which may overshadow the good and which are definitely relevant to this discussion.
Manning and Snowden whistleblew that the State was circumventing it's obligations to human rights and wilfully breaking international and US law. Being critical of that kind of thing isn't demonizing the State - nor, imo, should it be cast as the sole preserve of The Left.
Us little people have always been critical of the big, powerful people, regardless of our political inclinations. Unfortunately the big, powerful people have been telling us for so long that what we're criticising them for is actually the fault of some other little people that we've started to take it as a given.
The problems chiefly being about how we interact with institutions. The right has traditionally seen itself as protectors of law and order. In that vein they might have pointed out—as I just did—the unforeseen consequences. The left for its part is reluctant to accept authority, or to put faith in systems, often scoffing at the idea that a cold faceless machine could ever do good.
