Ron Paul says he'd protect Bradley Manning and other whistleblowers

Published: 18 April, 2012, 01:25

Republican Presidential hopeful U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) speaks during a town hall meeting at the University of Maryland on March 28, 2012 in College Park, Maryland (T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images/AFP)

As Bradley Manning awaits his next appearance in court, the pool of presidential candidates have been slow to comment on the prosecution against the US Army private accused of providing government secrets to WikiLeaks. Except for Ron Paul, that is.

President Barack Obama called Manning “guilty” even before he was brought to trial for his alleged role with WikiLeaks, but GOP presidential hopeful Texas Congressman Ron Paul told supporters last week that he thinks it isn’t quite as simple as that.

Addressing supporters in San Antonio, Texas last week, Congressman Paul weighed in on the whistleblower’s role in bringing light to governmental scandal.

At a campaign stop luncheon on Thursday, 36-year-old local Jonathan Streeter quizzed Rep. Paul for his take on the Manning incident:

“I believe that open and transparent government is an important part in a government being accountable to the people, and indeed Obama made this same sort of promises and has obviously failed on that; The most visible example is Bradley manning and the WikiLeaks issue,” explained Streeter. “In your administration, what would you do to safeguard government transparency and specifically what would you do about Bradley Manning?”

Before divulging an in-depth explanation, Congressman Paul was quick to cut to the chase.
“I’d have him protected under the whistleblowers act,” explained the presidential hopeful.