What was a military person doing in uniform clapping for the Republican 'rebuttal'?

[mahina]

I thought service men and women were supposed to be scrupulously apolitical when in uniform.
Also, what a load of horsewaste.


On the bright side, I thought our President hit it out of the park.

[EFerrari]

1. Remember, leadership at the Pentagram has not changed. n/t

[SpiralHawk]

9. Commander AWOL (R) purged the Pentagon and installed his own so called leaders

Most people forget the chickenhawk republicon purges...and all the FAIL that has followed...

[MadBadger]

2. There was somebody in the First Lady's Box doing the same thing

So it can go both ways.

[mahina]

6. Didn't see that, but there's no rule against people being in uniform clapping for the President;

it's the partisan part that's not within bounds.

[Obamanaut]

30. The SOTU is partisan. nt

[dmr]

12. But that was about military & military family benefits.

That's a little bit different.

[Toots]

15. No it can't

The President is the Commander in Chief. He is the Military's boss. They have to by Military Law be present when asked and be in uniform. It is also against Military Law to be in uniform when attending any Political function. The military that was present at the SOU was not there to support the Democrats but the nation. The Military at the Republican assembly were there to support Republicans, and in Uniform and that is not allowed.

[Zywiec]

16. Maybe it was the Virgina National Guard?

They work for the governor and not the president unless federalized.

The President of the United States is the commander-in-chief of the state militias "when called into the actual Service of the United States". (Article II, Section 2).

[Toots]

19. If the Governor was giving the State of the State then maybe, but he was not

This was a purely partisan event and that soldier should be reprimanded and possibly court martialed. When in uniform he represent the US Military and not himself. It is very plainly against Military Law.

[Zywiec]

20. The National Guard does not represent the US Military

One is controlled by the state, the other by the US Department of Defense. Please show me where this is plainly against military law.

Oh by the way, it's court martial, not marshal.

[Toots]

22. The National Guard is governed by UCMJ

It follows exactly the same Laws as the regular Military..

[Zywiec]

24. You need to do a little more research since clearly you don't have a clue

about the differences between title 10 and title 32.

Good luck with your outrage.

:patriot:

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

27. Sorry, you are just wrong about that.

[mahina]

28. Thanks.

Rules is rules.

[GoCubsGo]

18. The Governor in Virginia is not Commander in Chief.

The guy in the First Lady's box was applauding his Commander in Chief. The guy in the rebuttal was applauding a guy who was criticizing his Commander in Chief. See? It doesn't work both ways.

[MadBadger]

25. How do you know the guy wasnt VA National Guard?

[Blue-Jay]

3. Some military folks are Republican.

Some aren't.

Me? Don't really care.

[mahina]

5. Yes, that's true, but they aren't supposed to be visibly partisan in uniform.

I am quite sure of that. I have no problem with whatever political affiliation but not in uniform.

If we have to honor the rules, they should too. (Them= republicans).

[1]

7. eh... not so much. they are required to follow orders. but if they express an opinion at a speach?

who fucking cares if they applaud or not?

really...

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

17. I hear what you're saying...

But it's one thing to be present and applauding at the SOTU Address or to be in the audience and applauding (albiet politely) if the POTUS or a Member of Congress is making an official visit to your base.

But this was a POLITICAL rally. This is the partisan, Republican response to the President's speech and the guest list was by invitation only.

He was put there as a prop.

[Toots]

21. I do...really

That uniform represents the US Military and not the person wearing it. I do not want the US Military being partisan..It is against the Law and quite frankly it is very frightening..

[mahina]

8. the rules:

Can - Attend partisan and nonpartisan political meetings or rallies as a spectator when not in uniform.

Cannot - Attend partisan political events as an official representative of the Armed Forces.

Cannot - Participate in partisan political management, campaigns, or conventions (except as a spectator when not in uniform), or make public speeches in the course thereof.

[1]

10. clapping = making public speeches? really? why do you care so much about this? it is nothing...

let it go...

[Bluerthanblue]

23. it's important because like it or not people are influenced by little

seemingly innocent gestures like that.

I noticed it myself right away- and my first gut reaction was (oh shit) because many of the shots of the President's audience at the SOU showed the Joint Chiefs sitting still while most Dems were applauding. (same with the SC). That simple gesture sends a message. It's one thing to see ALL Military reps being unresponsive, but to show an admittedly PARTISAN 'response' with a uniformed Military Rep in hearty agreement is wrong. It would have been under Bush- and I'm sure there would have been repercussions for the person involved-

imo anyway.

[mahina]

29. I care because we cared enough to take off the uniform when at political events,

and they should too. When the Commander in Chief goes on base and speaks to the troops, that is not a political event, or it shouldn't be. But the republican rebuttal was.

I don't understand why you take such exception. It's not like I'm calling for a walkout or a letter to the editor campaign, just noting the fact on a bulletin board. Do you suggest silence?

If so, what is the purpose of this or any other board?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

26. Sounds like everyone followed the rules.

[bluestateguy]

4. I never saw that

nt

[TorchTheWitch]

11. applauding doesn't necessarily mean approval

or should be taken as a sign of partisanship. Generally applause is often nothing more than a sign of respect and politeness... nothing more than a courtesy. If you think his applauding is a sign of partisanship, his NOT applauding would also be a sign of partisanship. If others were applauding it would be courteous to also applaud.

[Recursion]

13. VA National Guard

I could see that he was enlisted but I couldn't make out the chevrons. If that was the sergeant major of the VA National Guard, I think the governor appoints him so it would make sense for him to keep the guv happy...

[zbdent]

14. remember there was someone advising the troops that they show no reaction

to Obama's speech at a base a while back ... which apparently was the norm under all Presidents ...

but then, the "liberal media" didn't make a huge stink about the troops "not applauding" or "not reacting" under Bush43 ...