"It would have ended any distinction between a traitor selling military secrets to the highest bidder and someone speaking to a journalist on a matter of conscience and for no reward."

Under the terms of the USMCJ when it comes disclosing classified information to an unauthorised third party there is no distinction made with regard to who that unauthorised third party is and there is no distinction made with regard to motive (financial gain or conscience).

By the way in every military justice system if you are charged you are always, always charged with the most severe offence you actions can viewed as being - the subsequent investigation then whittles those charges down as they are forbidden from increasing charges.