I did think immediately of Edward Snowden. I could imagine it applying to him - he quickly went to high global significance by standing for something he may not believe in (though it seems like it & is still important), but satisfies his want to do something right. It does not make him less credible to me, but rather more because it presents him in a very non-selfish light.

People have been trying much harder and more successfully to discredit Snowden using other arguments.

The characterisation actually makes me more hopeful for the future of whistle blowing.