Obama hurt fair trial chances: Manning backers

[The Northerner]

WASHINGTON — Supporters of alleged Wikileaks leaker Bradley Manning on Tuesday accused President Barack Obama of interfering the future trial, after the president said the army private broke the law.

The White House however disputed the stance of the Bradley Manning Support Network, which arose after an encounter between Obama and a group member following a political fundraiser in San Francisco last week.

Obama told activist Logan Price in an exchange caught on camera that Manning, 23, had acted irresponsibly and risked the lives of US service members by allegedly sending secret military and diplomatic documents to the website.

"He broke the law," Obama said.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iASLv67aFb5qNHFoQusuvdtoHekA

[Drale]

1. Even if Obama didn't know anything about Manning

didn't even know he was imprisoned. I'm not so sure if he would have gotten a fair trail to begin with.

[JuniperLea]

5. I don't think so either...

People in general are horribly confused over civilian and military law.

[Historic NY]

12. Yup........

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[Angry Dragon]

2. Could they be trying to sabotage the trial??

By torturing him and the president saying he is guilty.........

[Cali_Democrat]

3. The commander in chief prejudged the case....a former constitutional law professor no less

This has special significance because it will be a military trial and Obama is the commander in chief of the military.

The case should be thrown out and Manning should be freed.

[KittyWampus]

8. LOL! The Free Mumia of the 21st century.

[EFerrari]

9. You've posted this over and over.

I guess joking about the miscarriage of justice passes for wit in some circles.

[RandomThoughts]

4. There is no enforcement of law.

A person can not be accused of breaking laws when none exist in society.

It simply is not possible to break a law in worse then anarchy situation.

You can go against a control edict without any just backing behind it, but you can not be said to have, or be accused of, or convicted of breaking a law.

They still aren't listening.

[NYC Liberal]

6. Nonsense. Exactly how did he "hurt fair trial chances"

by vocalizing what everyone already knew his position was?

[EFerrari]

10. Animals vocalize, people verbalize.

And it's called undue command influence.

[Recovered Repug]

11. How exactly?

837. ART. 37. UNLAWFULLY INFLUENCING ACTION OF COURT
No authority convening a general, special, or summary court-martial, nor any other commanding officer, may censure, reprimand, or admonish the court or any member, military judge, or counsel thereof, with respect to the findings or sentence adjudged by the court, or with respect to any other exercises of its or his functions in the conduct of the proceedings.

Even if the President is considered an "other commanding officer" - there is currently no trial taking place, so this section doesn't seem to apply.

No person subject to this chapter may attempt to coerce or, by any unauthorized means, influence the action of a court-martial or any other military tribunal or any member thereof, in reaching the findings or sentence in any case, or the action of any convening, approving, or reviewing authority with respect to his judicial acts.


This section doesn't apply because the President is not "subject to this chapter" see link.

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ucmj.htm#802. ART. 2. PERSONS SUBJECT TO THIS CHAPTER

So, how was there "undue command influence"?

[EFerrari]

13. Are you trying to say with a straight face that having the CIC

deliver a verdict before the proceedings have even started is not undue influence?

Good grief.

[Recovered Repug]

14. I am saying with a straight face

that just because YOU call it undue influence, doesn't make it so. You may want it to be, but I don't see how it qualifies.

[EFerrari]

15. Maybe this OP can help:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x967782

[EmmettKelly]

7. Didn't work for Manson

And Nixon was a Lawyer too. Of course we all know Nixon was a blithering idiot.


August 4, 1970