Jimmy Carter on Eric Snowden: Two Different Angles

At a closed-door event covered by German newspaper Der Spiegel, former president Jimmy Carter defended the actions of whistleblower Eric Snowden. Additionally, according to translated text, Carter may have stated he believed the U.S. does not currently have a "functioning democracy."

Here are two news sources writing on the same subject, one left-leaning one right-leaning:

http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/16043-jimmy-carter-defends-snowden-says-u-s-has-no-functioning-democracy

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/18/jimmy-carter-edward-snowden_n_3616930.html

Both sources report similar stories, but reading the stories side-by-side shows small differences reporting fact. For example, both articles briefly discuss skepticism in the reporting of Carter's words by Der Spiegel, or at least the translation of those words, as no American media sources covered the event. Der Spiegel's source within the event still remains unnamed. HuffPo admits the skepticism, but assimilates the soundbite into past declarations made by Carter. The New American includes all this information as well, but cites Inquisitr, the news source offering Carter's translated text, and reappropriates the organization's statement on the validity of HuffPo's source.

HuffPo:

"America does not have a functioning democracy at this point in time," Carter said, according to a translation by Inquisitr.

No American outlets covered Carter's speech, given at an Atlantic Bridge meeting, which has reportedly led to some skepticism over Der Spiegel's quotes. But Carter's stance would be in line with remarks he's made on Snowden and the issue of civil liberties in the past.

Inquisitr:
“America does not have a functioning democracy at this point in time,” the German newspaper Die Spiegel quoted the former US president as saying. There was some question on the validity of the source, however, as no American media outlets reported on the event and it was not clear where Die Spiegel got its source from.
Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/855289/jimmy-carter-defends-edward-snowden-says-america-has-no-functioning-democracy/#0iGIVOrAqTDpXjsO.99

The New American:
The English translation of Carter's remarks was published in the online news source Inquisitr.com. No American media outlets reported on the closed meeting and it was not clear where Der Spiegel got its information, Inquisitr noted. But both Inquisitr and Huffington Post, which also carried the story, noted that the quotes were consistent with previous published remarks by the former president.

Instead of agreeing with HuffPo's analysis of Carter's past record on Snowden and the NSA leak, The New American reports on HuffPo's reporting, cites them directly, and writes extensively about both Snowden and American opposition of his actions on both sides of the aisle.

Anyone else find any differences or similarities they'd like to talk about? Does anyone prefer once organization's style over the other?