Manning is a whistleblower and a hero.

Dante on December 6, 2012 at 8:54 AM

“So if we have an American citizen, and he’s willing to take it, uh, take the consequences and practice civil disobedience, say “This is what our government’s doing!” Should he be locked up and in prison? Or should we, you know, see him as a political hero? Maybe he is a true patriot who reveals what’s going on in government.”

– Ron Paul

Two Points:

1. Because I am a lawyer, I will say that Manning only “allegedly” violated 18 U.S.C. § 793 & § 798.

2. There is no “civil disobedience” in the military. Manning is NOT a civilian. In the military, troops do not even have full First Amendment rights, for example.

Were the Rosenbergs “heroes”? How about Alger Hiss?

Bradley Manning took an oath when he joined the military. He also signed an agreement not to disclose classified information as part of his security clearance and accepted such each time he viewed material online or on paper. Disclosing classified information to an organisation, Wikileaks, that has nothing but contempt for his country does not make him a hero or a whistle-blower.

If he was truly concerned about what he had learned, then he should have followed the Pentagon Papers example by secretly delivering the documents to a Senator or Representative sympathetic to his position, who then could have disclosed everything on the floor of the House or Senate without being subjected to prosecution pursuant to the Speech and Debate Clause.

Bradley Manning wanted the fame and adoration of the Left and he wanted to hurt his country, which is why he chose a cretin like Julian Assange to be his delivery system. Fortunately for him, he will get many years to play the political martyr to the “nano-thermite” crowd.

Manning is a whistleblower and a hero.

Dante on December 6, 2012 at 8:54 AM

Manning endangered my life and those of thousands of other serviceman by revealing intel sources. It’s one thing to object to what you perceive as an unwise war, it is quite another to cheer treason that further endangers the lives of your countrymen serving in a combat theater ostensibly on your behalf.

You are sh**ty little dwarf.

. But I can’t imagine him passing a security clearance.

rbj on December 5, 2012 at 7:14 PM

Lil barry d’ohbama couldn’t pass a security clearance, either.

And you see where that’s gotten us.

Manning is a whistleblower and a hero.

Dante on December 6, 2012 at 8:54 AM

You’re an idiot.

And a coward.

Go away.

Since Congress is an elected office, you don’t have to. Granted, he would never be assigned to any committee with access to classified information. But if the voters vote you in, they can’t keep you out because you couldn’t pass a background check.

Shump on December 6, 2012 at 10:21 AM

The House could, in fact, vote not to seat him.

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members

But I can’t imagine him passing a security clearance.

rbj on December 5, 2012 at 7:14 PM

Since Congress is an elected office, you don’t have to. Granted, he would never be assigned to any committee with access to classified information. But if the voters vote you in, they can’t keep you out because you couldn’t pass a background check.

Ron Paul called Manning a “Patriot” last year

jp on December 5, 2012 at 8:00 PM

And another one of the liberation hero Judge Nap says pretty much the same. This is just one of the reasons I will never vote for one.

Manning is a whistleblower and a hero.

Dante on December 6, 2012 at 8:54 AM

No, he’s a coward and a traitor, and hopefully some day he’ll get the same punishment as Timothy McVeigh. Though what he really deserves is the Eddie Slovak treatment.

My late brother served honorably in the Army (actually with NSA), and he had nothing but disgust for Manning.

And you’re a rational, intelligent adult.

GWB on December 6, 2012 at 9:05 AM

Took you this long to finally post something correct.

Dante on December 6, 2012 at 8:54 AM

And you’re a rational, intelligent adult.

mbecker908 on December 5, 2012 at 11:36 PM

Even in WA State, he would not be elected.

Isn’t he facing the death penalty for treason? And . . . I thought felons could not serve in Congress.

The crazy part is, I can actually think of a couple of districts where he might win.

Sadly, In Obama’s Amerika, there are a lot more than a couple of districts this yutz would succeed…

The crazy part is, I can actually think of a couple of districts where he might win.

Nancy Pelosi’s, for one. But I can’t imagine him passing a security clearance.