The government knows that if they try to treat this guy as a traitor they will drag their feet in a long court dispute... while at the same time so much about whistleblowing, secret spy project, etc will be discussed that they don't know how it will end. They could loose, the guy could run free and on top of that the NSA/FBI & friends would have a lot more regulation on their activities.
Now if they try to just discredit him, it's much easier. No courts to deal with, the general public is easily manipulated (it seems half of the U.S. believes Snowden is a traitor, how hard is it to get the majority to agree?).. and no strict regulation, no explaining to do, etc.
So they are so used to Iraq and the leaked cables story that they immediately entered automatic mode and shouted "traitor!". Now they seem to be realizing their options and are adjusting their acts. Kind of smart on their part but I hope they fail, that the public don't let this thing die and that we shed light on a lot of this secret stuff. Let's see how it goes.
