"'Is Edward Snowden a traitor?': Senators repeatedly ask Gabbard for an answer," read a recent CNN headline.

This was a hot topic for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Members were questioning cabinet nominee Tulsi Gabbard. She is Trump's choice for director of national intelligence.

CBS News added that "Numerous senators — both Republicans and Democrats — have questioned Gabbard on Snowden."

How did Gabbard flub in her response? She ducked answering the question. Instead she responded with answers to questions that were never asked.

That didn't go over well. A Time magazine article reported, "Gabbard's Refusal to Call Snowden a Traitor Draws Pushback at Hearing to be Intel Chief." The Wall Street Journal claimed, "Tulsi Gabbard's Refusal to Call Snowden a Traitor Threatens to Sink Nomination."

Sink her nomination? Over a stale issue from more than 10 years ago? It seems like the act of calling Snowden a traitor is now a litmus test of one's qualifications for the national security post.

But what does it mean to be a traitor? Is it a crime to be one? Or are the senators just using the word as a pejorative?