Air Force Brass Must Crack Down on Obama Picture Removal

[babylonsister]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earl-ofari-hutchinson/air-force-brass-must-crac_b_167417.html


Earl Ofari Hutchinson
Political Analyst and Social Issues Commentator
Posted February 16, 2009 | 06:56 PM (EST)

Air Force Brass Must Crack Down on Obama Picture Removal


Apparently Colonel Jay Raymond Commander of the flagship Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, didn't get the word. Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States. He's also the Commander in Chief of the armed forces. The failure to get the word was apparent when Raymond did not instantly reprimand Peterson commissary employees for abruptly yanking Obama's picture from the commissary entrance.

The employees claimed that the picture of Obama didn't fit in with the theme and the tradition of Presidents Day. That only presidents Washington and Lincoln should be honored on that day; meaning that their pictures are the only presidential pictures that should be seen. This lame excuse won't wash.

Obama is the current President and before him Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and probably the faces of Bush Sr. and Ronald Reagan smiled benignly down on commissary visitors and patrons on Presidents Day. There is no record anyone protested that their pictures were not in keeping with the spirit of the day.

The Obama picture flap is not a petty, silly, and small thing. It's part of the relentless low intensity campaign that has been waged by some bloggers, on some web sites, and by some conservative talk radio hosts to belittle, demean and discredit the nation's first African-American president. Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Peterson Air Base Commander Jay Raymond should call the picture removal the bigoted act that it is.

They should do what any good military commander does when there's insubordination and disrespect in the ranks and that's crack down. That means an immediate order to place Obama's picture back on the wall, and sternly warn that this is an order and disobedience will be punished.

Secretary Donley should also send a message to Air Force personnel at all bases that President Obama is the nation's commander in chief. His picture will be on full display at the bases and fully respected.

Related thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5067117

[BlooInBloo]

1. All officers involved should be stripped of all rank.

[Retired AF Dem]

17. What officers?

The Store Director is a civilian, the Store Administrator is a civilian, the front end manager is a civilian, the grocery, produce and meat dept managers are civilian.

[wolfgangmo]

93. Good Point

They are civilians so fire their asses.

There are plenty of well qualified patriotic americans who could use that job.

[Retired AF Dem]

98. Yes the old we don't know the whole story but lets ruin

someones life. Of course the most famous case on DU was when that judges husband was killed a few years ago. All the screaming banshees yelling and screaming, white supremacist's did it, find them hunt them down kill them all. In the end scumbag white supremacists had nothing to do with it. Any apologies from the screaming banshees? Of course not. Nut cases all. Please if you ever get picked for jury duty do your best to get out of it and do our justice system a favor.

[FightingIrish]

2. My son works for a federal agency

Someone couldn't wait until January 20 to replace the presidential portrait. They pasted an Obama portrait over the face of the goofy guy that was already hanging.

[remoulade]

14. And that was perfectly acceptable because

uh, why?

[Thickasabrick]

15. because the goofy guy was a criminal that caused thousands of deaths?

[remoulade]

16. He was the president (unfortunately) up until 1-20. Only a juvenile ass would deny that.

Sorry, I'm fed up with double standards and hypocrisy no matter who the guilty parties are.

[Thickasabrick]

19. Some people would argue he wasn't really the elected president

but....whatever. I see your point and you are correct.

[remoulade]

20. I'm a little conflicted here. I'm not at all convinced Bush was honestly elected

but he ended up living in the White House and so I sucked it up, mostly, and accepted it. And obviously I disagree with the wingnuts who claim
Obama is somehow illegitimate (the birth certificate thing is particularly galling)...and so there it is - we don't have to like reality to believe it.
:D

Thank ya.

[Quantess]

51. So you're one of those who believe Obama isn't an American citizen?

Sweet. :thumbsup:

[whopis01]

52. how did you determine that from his post? n/t

[Quantess]

63. Whoops, I misread.

The line breaks threw me off. Sorry about that!

[Why Syzygy]

85. I didn't suck it up.

Our country was in the hands of a hostile regime for eight years. They subverted the Constitution, which is supposed to be our Guardian.

The way I read my rights to citizenship, anyone who disregards the legal document is, in a word, illegitimate.

[TheWatcher]

100. So, you knew he was a War Criminal, and not legitimately elected

But you decided to suck it up and accept it?

And we wonder why we end up with the Government we deserve.

I wonder what things would have been like if John Adams, Jefferson & Co. would have just "sucked up and accepted" everything back then.

But then again, I guess all this "By The People, For The People" stuff is antiquated, outdated, and quaint, anyway.

Besides, now that he's gone, we should just forget about all that bad stuff and never hold him or any of his cabinet accountable for their crimes and atrocities.

We'll just suck up and accept it!

But heaven help ANY government official if they get a blow job. We'll show THEM what Rule Of Law means, by God!

[Thothmes]

18. they did not take LBJs picture down, even thought he got

36,000 Americans killed.

[SammyWinstonJack]

66. Because the goofy looking guy was NEVER legally elected. He should have been impeached instead.

[DainBramaged]

103. Booshe WASN'T President any more, that's why, you got a problem with that?

[wizstars]

88. man, you got my hopes up for a second there...

...when you talked about "that goofy guy hanging".....

Wishful thinking on my part.... :rofl:

[geckosfeet]

3. Beyond the racist underpinnings, it is a subversive act of treason.

For a military facility to remove the presidents picture is truly astounding. These people should be disciplined asap in the harshest manner possible.

[GA_ArmyVet]

10. It is not treason

As listed below in the legal description of treason, it hardly rises to that level, but it is disrespectful, and should not be condoned.

TITLE 18 PART I CHAPTER 115 § 2381 Treason

Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.


UCMJ SECTION 904. ART. 104. AIDING THE ENEMY

Any person who--

(1) aids, or attempts to aid, the enemy with arms, ammunition, supplies, money, or other things; or

(2) without proper authority, knowingly harbors or protects or gives intelligence to or communicates or corresponds with or holds any intercourse with the enemy, either directly or indirectly; shall suffer death or such other punishment as a court-martial or military commission may direct.

[geckosfeet]

21. Well, if you put it that way. But if one could make the argument that whoever

took the picture down, took it down at the request of an enemy of the United States (define enemy as you will) to give them aid and comfort, one could call it treason.

As for the death penalty, even I come up a little short on that one.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

27. Of course you'd have to prove that.

[geckosfeet]

29. Of course. No witch burnings here.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

33. And you actually think a jury is going to convict someone of treason for asking for a photo....

to be removed. I'm guessing some jerk retiree bullied some Privates wife who was working as a cashier and she listened to the retired First Sergeant and took the photo down. Pretty despicable but not treason.

David

[petronius]

35. That's the kind of logic freeper types used to claim that anyone who

posted at DU in the last 8 years committed treason. After all, some posts on DU were critical of the president, who was the CiC, and criticizing the CiC could embolden our enemies and dishearten our troops.

Treason, socialism, and fascism are IMO the three most overused and misunderstood words in the blogosphere these days...

(And I'm speaking generally here, not specifically about your posts - I understand that you're conversating, not advocating. :))

[Winterblues]

84. How about Outing a Covert CIA Agent that worked on nuclear proliferation?

Would that be considered TREASON in your estimate. I can not think of anything in this current "War on Terror" that would aid the "enemy" more than taking a Covert Agent off a years long trail of nuclear material and destroying a sizable network that had been in place for years..If one is guilty of TREASON I see no reason their picture should be exalted.

[GA_ArmyVet]

89. Whole different scenario, and one that I am infinitely

unqualified to make a legal guess. However since I am already donning my pseudo lawyer hat...I would say it would depend on how you framed it to the judge and jury. One could definitely make the case, it is however an intent crime meaning that to prove guilt you have to prove intent (you can not accidentally commit treason). So in order to prove treason, you have to prove their actions not only aided the enemy, but that was the intent of the action. Otherwise Geraldo could be charge with treason when he gave troop positions while he was embedded, obviously gave aid to the enemy, but I think it would hard to prove his intent was to do that, in fact I believe he was just not thinking of the implications of his actions. I am not saying the same is true with the outing of Plame, just that you would have to prove it done with the intent ot aid, not just that it aided the enemy.

Damn, that was more legal opinion than I have any business making, my apologies to the the lawyers here. Time for me to quit practicing law without a license.

[remoulade]

13. You're just shitting us, right?

:eyes:

[geckosfeet]

22. Based on the definition of treason given above, I do not "shit" you.

Treason is treason. Big or small.

[remoulade]

23. Bullshit. Treason is concisely defined. Your attaching the charge to a petty bit of racism

does neither you nor Democrats any favors.
\

[geckosfeet]

30. It seems fairly broadly defined to me. "Aid and comfort" is wide open.

It could be simple racism.

It could be something more sinister.

Have a nice fucking day.

[TheWatcher]

101. Yes, and the guy you "sucked up and accepted" committed plenty of it.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

26. You realize that commissary employees usually aren't members of the military, right?

[havocmom]

31. Navy Exchanges have civilian managers, but there is still a military CO

I assume commissaries have a similar chain of command? On a base = under military command? At least it used to mean that.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

32. They have said that commissary employees took the photo down.

[havocmom]

34. yes, but isn't there a bit of military brass in charge at some level?

I know dipshit racists are too many and not far enough between, but these employee answer to SOMEBODY, and on a base, eventually that somebody up the chain is military.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

43. I'm sure at some level there is. Just not sure they're going to fire some cashier for listening...

to someone who said they were important and that it needed to be taken down. They'll probably have a training class.

David

[Hangingon]

50. I think that commissaries are part of AAFES.

AAFES (Army Air Force Exchange Service) is a NAF (non-appropriated fund) organization which is headed by a 2 star. I don't think the picture situation rises to the level of treason. Some disciplinary action may be warranted. AAFES should look into the situation.

[Best_man23]

82. They have civilian managers

But they still answer to military command, since most Exchanges and PX are on base grounds.

[kiranon]

38. They can still be terminated and should be over this incident.

Removing the President's picture is unacceptable behavior by the commissary employee(s). I used to work on a general's staff and the military head for the commissary was once called in and asked to institute a change in commissary policy world wide and it was done with the stroke of a pen by that general.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

39. I agree. I just don't think the responsible parrty should be charged with treason.

[whopis01]

54. Bullshit

The picture of Obama was on a sign advertising Presidents' Day. They didn't remove the President's picture from the sign, they took down the entire sign. A sign which was inappropriate to begin with as there is no federal holiday names "Presidents' Day", nor does Colorado recognize it as a state holiday. And the federal holiday is designed to recognize Washington - not Washington and Lincoln and all the other Presidents.

They actually replaced the sign with another, more appropriate sign titled "Washington's Birthday".

Was at least one customer complaining about the picture a dipshit racist? Did he want the picture removed because he didn't want to shop at place with a picture of a black man? Is this guy an idiotic asshole who should be barred from stepping foot in that store? Yes to all the above. But to suggest that someone should lose their job over removing a sign that was arguably inappropriate is ridiculous.

I realize that in past years they used pictures of other Presidents when they should not have and no one complained. And I realize that at least some of the complainers were motivated by racism. But as much as it guiles me to see them get anything they wanted, they have a valid point here and certainly no one should lose their job for doing what is appropriate for a federal holiday.


http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/39871

[EmilyAnne]

69. I disagree so much! Its just a picture. Sure, the picture should be hung back up if its

customary that the presidential portrait is displayed in a commissary. Sure, its a politically motivated move to take it down.
Still, claims of this being treason, that people should be fired or kicked out of the military, are pretty fascist. Obama is the president, with or without a photo hanging up in some commissary. We don't need his image being displayed as a means to maintain power. We have rule of law and the Constitution to do that.

I think that if the stories about General Petraeus defying Obama's instructions about withdrawal from Iraq are true, then that is closer to treason.

[GA_ArmyVet]

95. Yes, I know

The treason section is from US Criminal Code.

Aiding the enemy, I got from the UCMJ as it was the first one I found, however, the UCMJ is also part of the US Criminal Code and is very similar for everything except purely military offenses.

[tblue37]

45. I don't think Obama believes

"L'Etat, c'est moi!"

He is not the US, and disrespect toward him, while obnoxious, is certainly not treason and not a threat to US Security.

If it were, we would all be on trial for disrespecting the asshat who occupied the WH previously.

[whopis01]

57. It is not treason by any stretch of the imagination

This was a poster advertising "Presidents' Day". Not an official picture of the Commander-in-Chief being displayed at a federal facility.

It was probably inappropriate to have the poster up at all as "Presidents' Day" is not a federal holiday, nor is it a state holiday in Colorado. What would have been more appropriate would be a poster for "Washington's Birthday" - which is exactly what they replaced it with.

[GA_ArmyVet]

96. Advertisements in general should not be posted in the

Commissary. However, Presidents Day is a holiday, at least on Military bases and Government Offices. I assume so anyway, I got the day off work.

[whopis01]

99. You got Washington's Birthday off - not President's day

Some states have a holiday called "President's Day" - and place it on the same day as Washington's Birthday - but it is not a federal holiday.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Tell it like it is

and then make sure that an order is made--and obeyed.

[bluestateguy]

5. Some people seem to view the military as an arm of the Republican Party

and they need to be reminded of the official political neutrality of the armed forces. I don't give 2 shits how any of them vote in the privacy of the voting booth.

The election is over, and Obama won.

They must be told without equivocation "Obama is your commander in chief. Bitches!"

[barbtries]

6. i agree.

[GA_ArmyVet]

7. Yeah, I have to agree thats not right

It is posted in the Pentagon where I work, but not at all the bases yet...sometimes it takes a bit to get official photos distributed and mounted.

As an aside, I have not seen any disrespectful actions by anyone at working around me.

[ms liberty]

9. I'm glad to hear that...

Welcome to DU, GA_ArmyVet, and Thank you for your service!

[GA_ArmyVet]

11. Thank you

Glad to be here.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. You know, it's really apparent...

That our military is dysfunctional. One needs only look at their yearly budgets to see that. But the pacesetters have to be The Air Farce. Whenever there is one of these stunning stories, it's generally The Air Farce and it's generally got the word "Colorado Springs" somewhere in the story.

Sooner or later, preferably sooner, we are gonna have to get a real prick in there at either SECDEF or SECAF to clean out the Dobsonian elements that have taken it over, root and branch.

[Loki]

25. Watched a very interesting documentary recently

called "Constantine's Sword" that examined just what you are talking about with regards to the link between the US military and the Christian right and anti-Semitism at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. It's time to for President Obama to have his MacArthur moment.

[remoulade]

12. It's a petty, silly and small thing that feeds people who live to find things to be offended over.

I would give you odds that President Obama would laugh in the face of anybody who got their undies in a twist over a picture on the window of a fucking grocery store. Oh wait, maybe he isn't capable to defend himself...

[rvablue]

40. Maybe a small issue, but not petty. Barack Obama is the Commander in Chief

and these knuckle-dragging, uneducated, half-wit, racist bigots need to remember that.

They are a shame to our country, the flag and the Constitution of the United States.

President Obama can defend himself just fine. He already handed the "Just Say No" useless do-nothing GOP their asses this past week.

[kiranon]

41. Next, someone will say "Can't you take a joke?" It's "Yes, Sir; No, Sir; No Excuses, Sir." Skip

all the rest. The behavior was unacceptable and a sitting President ignores it at his peril as it indicates that the employees who are low level personnel must believe that the top echelon believes the same way or they would never have done it. In the military, everything is from the top.

[kirby]

86. Did you read the whole story previously?

Apparently the cashier said the 'customer' who complained said the following...

"He said they're not going to have no black man on the window where he shops," the cashier said.

Still petty, silly, and small? At first read I thought it was silly because technically I believe Presidents day only honors dead presidents. But when I read that, it changed my mind.

[Hotler]

24. Colorado Springs home of the

Right-wing flight-wing of our military.

[underpants]

28. Jesus look at all those hearts

you vixen you :spank:

This is AFA bullcrap. They have a coven of fundies out there in the thin air.

[donco6]

37. I couldn't be more embarrassed that this happened here.

I knew they were racist, fundie assholes, but this takes the cake.

[kiranon]

36. They need a stand down at Colorado Springs and those who do not support

the Commander in Chief need to be dismissed whether they are civilian or military.

[Avalux]

42. My SO is retired AF and was outraged to read about the picture removal.

It's not so much the fact patrons of the commissary were complaining - it's that the staff actually gave in and took the picture down. Something needs to be done.

[tblue37]

44. When Clinton was president, members of the various branches of the

Armed Forces were openly disrespectful and encouraged by Republicans to be so--and no one was ever punished or even warned for it.

When W was president, any member of the armed force who dared to express even mild displeasure was instantly reprimanded and threatened. Now they are doing to Obama what they did to Clinton. This needs to be nipped in the bud. I do fear sometimes that because Obama is easy-going, he will let people get away with too much crap, and by the time he realizes he shouldn't, it will be too late to roll back the disrespect.

I thought W was an ass when he snapped at a reporter who called him "sir" instead of "Mr. President." (I still think so, since "sir" is suitably respectful, but Bush was the sort of guy who actually had the rpesidential seal stamped onto his socks!). But I would love to see the WH push back immediately at reporters and pundits who call him "Obama" or "Mr. Obama" instead of "President Obama."

And I would love to see this commissary crap slapped down hard, too.

[rvablue]

53. In all fairness, I have yet to see a reporter call the President "Mr. Obama" when speaking to him

directly.

I can tell you though that it is in both the AP and Chicago style guides (the bibles of copy rules in journalism) that in the first reference to the President you use "President Obama" and in the folllowing references you use either "Mr. Obama" or "the President."

I know the "Mr." thing upsets some on DU. It is simply the rules of the way it has been done throughout modern times. There is ZERO disrespect intended or implied.

[Castleman]

83. Openly disrespectful?

How about threatening the President? When that jackoff Jesse Helms said that Clinton had better watch himself and not to "come to any bases in North Carolina", I thought the assclown should have been hung by his toes for threatening the President. As much as I appreciate Obama being cool with all the crap, I think a forceful lesson or two about respecting the man and his office is in order. If the general or what-have-you in charge is busted back to buck private, the rest will get the message.

[kentuck]

46. Letters to the Editor in the Colorado Springs Gazette this morning

http://www.gazette.com/opinion/obama_48224___article.html/day_presidents.html

[TwilightGardener]

47. If the photo of the current President always hangs there, as it does

in many military facilities, and the employees took it down, they should be reprimanded and the photo returned. If someone who worked there just liked Obama and decided to post his photo in the entryway for President's Day, I can sort of understand why Freep types would whine that "he's not Washington or Lincoln"--because I sure as hell felt that way about the Chimpster.

[NeedleCast]

55. What a bunch of loonies

Since when does President's day only honor Washington and Liconln? I have NEVER heard that before.

[bdab1973]

59. It wasn't...

This was not over the display of the chain of command photos that are prominently displayed in each unit's headquarters building.

This was a DeCA (Defense Commissary Activity) advertising display at the Peterson AFB commissary for a President's Day sale. The local Air Force squadron does not directly oversee or have any command jurisdiction over the commissary...DeCA does.

All these howls to have the local Air Force officers stripped of rank of charged with treason are simply hyped up rhetoric from a bunch of people that don't know the facts.

DeCA will have to look into the matter to determine if there was any undue racial or political undertones in this incident.

[Ezlivin]

48. They HAD to take it down

People were touching it and getting healed.

:)

[Cid_B]

49. Just to be clear...

Apparently this was not the actual chain of command photos (Military personnel know what I am talking about) but rather a promotion for the holiday sale or promotion.

I didn't think it was clear from some of the comments that followed.

[Orsino]

56. "The employees claimed that the picture of Obama didn't fit in..."

The picture. Presumably, Obama is wearing the wrong kind of tie--because I certainly can't think of any other reason why they might think Obama doesn't look right. :eyes:

[Uncle Joe]

58. Kicked and recommended, that commander should at the very least be reprimanded.

Thanks for the thread, babylonsister.

[bdab1973]

60. For what?

The two wing commanders at Peterson are for Air Force Space Command's 21st Space Wing and the AF Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing. Neither unit (nor the AF Space Command Headquarters) has any administrative or command authority over the commissary. The commissary is run by an independent DoD agency called DeCA (Defense Commissary Activity). DeCA has their own chain of command, and it's independent of any branch of service. The employees at each commissary are all federal government civil service workers that work for DeCA, not the USAF. So even if they did something wrong, the local base or wing commanders have no authority to discipline them over this issue.

There is a general officer that has oversight of DeCA at the DoD level. But by and large, the military has no local presence at commissaries.

[Uncle Joe]

64. If DeCa is an independent

DoD agency that still puts them under the Department of Defense and their own chain of command still runs through the Presidency.

If the military commander has no authority over them, the Secretary of Defense does.

[bdab1973]

67. That is true...however you are missing my point...

you are calling for the heads of the USAF commanders at that base. They have no authority over the commissary. It's a bit like you getting fired for something someone in the company next door did.

[Uncle Joe]

68. Maybe my second post wasn't clear,

if the military commander has no authority over them, then DeCa still answers to the Secretary of Defense and as such whoever runs DeCa at that installation should be held accountable.

[bdab1973]

71. The person who runs DeCA at that installation is likely civilian...

And I would really wait to see where the facts fall. It seems the different versions of this incident fall all over the place. If something was determined to have been done wrong, then hold someone accountable.

[Uncle Joe]

74. I agree with the thrust of your post,

but I believe even if he/she is a civilian and he/she answers to the Secretary of Defense, that puts them under the chain of command, making the President their Commander in Chief as well.

[bdab1973]

75. That is true, but this isn't about the commissary denying he's the CinC

It was a "President's Day" ad that featured Obama, and some customers objected to a sitting president being featured as the subject of President's Day (and they are technically correct, although I wouldn't have cared one way or the other). So commissary workers removed the sign.

[Uncle Joe]

76. I would like to know the history of recent previous President Day

traditions at this commissary to study for consistency sake.

Maybe I'm mistaken regarding President's Day, but it was my understanding this was expanded to recognize and include all Presidents, including current ones.

[Retired AF Dem]

105. News flash for Uncle Joe

It was a sales banner. It would have been taken down at the end of the day. It ended up being taken down a few hours earlier. The only fault I find with DeCA is every once in awhile you just have to tell cry baby customers to fuck off.

[newtothegame]

61. Agreed, but jumping on the race card isn't gonna do us any favors. How bout the argument...

that he's the President, and it's President's Day, so put his picture up? How hard is that?

[goforit]

62. Of all the military branchs, the airforce never gets their hands dirty.

Yah, they'll bomb,bomb, away at anything they want, but do they ever see one drop of blood on their hands???

And where the phuck were they on 911???? Quite frankly, I don't even think they're capable of protecting anyone.

They are the most arrogant and ignorant and disrespectful of all the branches!

[bdab1973]

65. What?

The Air Force has had people die in the two wars. Air Force EOD and Security Forces have lost many people in particular. Aircrews have been lucky, because the insurgents typically do not understand how to effectively use the surface to air missiles they have. I have personally be shot at on several occasions while flying over Iraq. In the first gulf war, a number of pilots were lost, and a couple were lost on the first few days of the current Iraq war.

As for 9/11, the fighter pilots were scrambled as soon as they were told something was going on. What do you expect, that they would have ESP and know when to launch? Give me a break.

There are lots of USAF people that are working very hard on a daily basis in both conflicts. It's been luck in some cases that some of our aircraft weren't brought down...like a rocket going right through the #4 engine of a C-130 and it didn't explode...had it gone off, that crew would have been dead. There are lots of close calls.

Unfortunately, both wars are primarily ground conflicts, as are most insurgencies. So therefore the ground forces absorb most of the casualties. But there are AF casualties as well.

[Cid_B]

102. That is one ignorant post...

I like to give the AF a hard time as much as any Army guy but damn... ignorance... phew...

[EmilyAnne]

70. Come on, guys! Its just a picture. It has no special powers.

Obama is the president, with or without a photo hanging up in some commissary. We don't need his image being displayed as a means to maintain power. We have rule of law and the Constitution to do that.

The over reaction seems pretty fascist. No one is committing treason. No one should be fired.

[bdab1973]

73. And it was actually an ad...

...for a "President's Day" sale, and someone thought that President's Day should be about past presidents, not the current one. However right or wrong that opinion is, it's really not a big deal, IMHO.

I'm quite sure that the actual "Commander-in-Chief" photos in the military units show Obama, and have not been removed.

[Ganja Ninja]

72. I was on a Submarine and at sea when Nixon resigned.

We took his picture and turned it face to the wall.

[Posteritatis]

81. Ha! Nice (nt)

[TWiley]

77. Time to shoot some Generals .....

Frankly, I am sick and tired of the "hero worship" mantra forced down everyone's throat over the past 8 years. The military is far too big for its britches and needs to be reigned in.

The tension between Mr. Obama and the military began during the inaugeration parade. The Joint Pussies refused to stand with Mr. Obama and only popped in for a second or two to salute their own troops as they walked by.

Fuck the military. I am sick of their "worship me" horse shit simply because they volunteered to kill people and got paid for it.

[MajPayne2]

90. Now that is not a nice thing to say about the military

I am active duty and I supported the President financially and with my vote. Some in the military are rabid anti-Obama types but that is not all of us. To make a blanket statement like that does no one any good and bastardizes those of us who signed up to serve our country rather than "shoot people and get paid for it". I never asked for anyone's worship nor praise. I volunteered for this job and will follow the orders of my CIC regardless of who he or she may be. If you are going to bad-mouth the service of so many for the actions of a few assholes, what does that make you?

[GA_ArmyVet]

91. Ok I was there at the Inauguration

working the inauguration and you could not be more wrong. The Joint Chiefs were exactly where they were supposed to be. They had a bus that took them to their spots. Their roles were assigned by the Presidential Inauguration Committee (PIC) and they went to all the balls and parades and ceremonies they were invited to attend.

I was there and saw the chairman with his wife sitting in the reviewing stand for the entire parade. Some key leaders were not there, because that was their role. The threat level was so high that many people were ordered to be in alternate locations to respond to any threat or emergency that arose.

As far as your other statement, I don't ask to be worshiped, but a bit of mutual respect between human beings is not so much to ask for. I don't degrade you by saying Fuck Burger flippers, Fuck Middle management, or fuck whatever you chose to do. I try to respect you for a human being and your choices.

I have responded to you before though, and I almost always receive a rude response in return, and this leads me to believe you do not wish to engage in polite discussion, but intend to shout rhetoric and hyperbole trying to disrupt open and honest debate and discussion of issues without any explanation, example or proof of your opinions.

That said, I still wish you well and hope one day you will share you insight into the military, politics and share how you came to your enlightened views.

[southernyankeebelle]

78. This is bad

My father and father-in-law both retired from military with over 22 yrs. My husband served with 21 yrs. I have worked at military bases for over 20 yrs. I have shopped at the commissary and I have seen the picture of the current president on the wall no matter which president it was. No one has a right to take it down, no one. I didn't like some of those presidents that were hanging on the wall but I respected the position not the person. The Base Commander should be informed and action taken to have the picture put back up. Am white, and I am damn tired of seeing down right racism like this. There are black soldiers all over this country and overseas fighting for our freedoms just like white and other races. Everyone should give them the same respect. Shame of people who don't. This is one issue that I always get pissed about. I don't expect this cramp from the military people. You usually see this stuff with civilians.

[pasto76]

79. This is how republicans "stick it Obama"

despite all the flag waving and last eight years of "cant questions the Chief".....I hate them all, but am astonished at how brazen their hypocrisy is.

[happygoluckytoyou]

80. works for me.... so when do we celebrate BLACK PRESIDENTS DAY ? ? ?

[Career Prole]

87. I had a picture of Nixon ruining my appetite in boot camp,

and a picture of Ronnie Raygun making me throw up a little in my mouth at the end of my time in the Navy.
I would have welcomed a portrait of President and CinC Obama!

[AnneD]

92. I had Carter....

Regan and BushI. I couldn't get out fast enough at the end.

[Politicalboi]

94. There must be camera's

So they could probably get the one who took it down.

[Joe Chi Minh]

97. The individual/s involved should be sevely punished for their bad faith

and lack of patriotism. Demotion seems appropriate.

[crimsonblue]

104. I wasn't surprised by this in the least...

Co Springs and the Air Force base close to it are a hotbed of religious fanaticism and racial bigotry.