Sanders won loud applause for what seemed a gentlemanly gesture in withholding criticism for her use of a private email server for classified information.

But when Sanders said "The American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails," I had a flashback to a House hearing three decades ago on large liberties taken with the law during the Iran-Contra affair under President Ronald Reagan. Beginning his testimony, then-Secretary of State George Shultz made the mistake of saying, in effect, who cares about laws being violated: "The American people are tired of hearing about Iran-Contra."

Rep. David Obey, D-Wisconsin, was quick to respond: "Mr. Secretary, I did not take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States until I got tired."

Well, we intelligence professionals also took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. There was no "until we got tired" – or even "until we retired" in that oath. It has no expiration date. Congressman Obey's persistence and tenacity offer a model for patriots.