If PRISM was "nothing," why is everyone involved so worried? Why are they giving such careful, specific denials about what PRISM does? Why are they talking ab

If PRISM was "nothing," why is everyone involved so worried? Why are they giving such careful, specific denials about what PRISM does? Why are they talking about how much harm it does to our intelligence gathering if people know about PRISM? The series of "least untruthful" statements by the Obama administration, its allies in Congress, and the leaders of the NSA and FBI suggests that there is in fact a story here.