Twitter Reactions Are Far-Ranging Over Obama Commuting Chelsea Manning’s Sentence
Surprising news broke out this afternoon when it was announced that President Barack Obama, three days before leaving office, would commute the majority of Chelsea Manning’s sentence. Manning was serving a 35-year sentence over leaks she provided to WikiLeaks in 2010. She has served nearly seven years of that sentence and is due to be released in May.
Right away, reactions began pouring in on Twitter. As one would expect, those in the liberal and progressive community were extremely happy about the news:
President Obama commuting Chelsea Manning's sentence might be the best/most progressive thing he's done. I'm surprised, ecstatic & grateful.
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) January 17, 2017
Whether President Obama freed Chelsea Manning because of his personal beliefs or from progressive pressure, it was the right thing to do.
— John Iadarola (@johniadarola) January 17, 2017
President Obama frees Chelsea Manning from a ridiculously long prison sentence. Awesome.
— Ana Kasparian (@AnaKasparian) January 17, 2017
Obama commuted bulk of Chelsea Manning's sentence, just to give us one last glimpse of what it's like when a President does the right thing.
— Frank Conniff (@FrankConniff) January 17, 2017
THANK YOU President Obama for commuting the prison sentence of Chelsea Manning!!! She will be released in May – instead of in 2045!! THANK U
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 17, 2017
Glad to see Obama doing the right thing in regards to Chelsea Manning.
— Cassandra (@ChrisWarcraft) January 17, 2017
Chelsea Manning is a brave hero who never should have been tortured, caged and punished. President Obama did the right thing!
— jeremy scahill (@jeremyscahill) January 17, 2017
Meanwhile, many conservatives presented a much more negative view towards the news:
Obama commutes the sentence of Bradley Manning.
Bullshit. Manning is a traitor. His actions killed Americans. https://t.co/D9yfuEmrEo
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) January 17, 2017
A pardon for Chelsea Manning, nothing for Gen. Petraeus. It's not too late: Impeach Obama!
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) January 17, 2017
Ever the friend of traitors: https://t.co/8VFbhMD1Wm
— David Horowitz (@horowitz39) January 17, 2017
"We ought not treat a traitor like a martyr." – @TomCottonAR on the commuting of Chelsea Manning's sentence.
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) January 17, 2017
Chelsea Manning is a dude, y'all.
— CNN Lies & Is Hitler (@NolteNC) January 17, 2017
Chelsea Manning is lucky she has Trans-Privilege or else Obama would have let her rot in prison for 35 years if she was a regular person.
— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) January 17, 2017
There was also quite a bit of snark:
The beauty of this is that Assange gets to accept the invitation to the inaugural. So it's really a beautiful thing.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 17, 2017
So, @wikileaks, when is Julian surrendering now that Obama did what you asked? https://t.co/bOyxI9ZRux
— SwiftOnSecurity (@SwiftOnSecurity) January 17, 2017
Obama commutes Chelsea Manning's sentence, confuses groupthink consensus on whether or not WikiLeaks is good or evil.
— Anthony L. Fisher (@anthonyLfisher) January 17, 2017
Oh. I see we're going to have Chelsea Manning Twitter for a few hours.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 17, 2017
So no Democrat ever gets to complain about WikiLeaks ever again. https://t.co/qPw86twWag
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) January 17, 2017
And WikiLeaks weighed in:
VICTORY: Obama commutes Chelsea Manning sentence from 35 years to 7. Release date now May 17. Background: https://t.co/HndsbVbRer
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 17, 2017
As did Edward Snowden:
In five more months, you will be free. Thank you for what you did for everyone, Chelsea. Stay strong a while longer! https://t.co/PaLvJDvDbl
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) January 17, 2017
[image via screengrab]
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