As the guest of the 1st Radio Battalion at their 2008 USMC Birthday Ball, I heard similar remarks. The classic was: “We’re a little concerned about your senator becoming CIC.”
My reply was, “He’s NOT my senator; I voted for Alan Keyes.”
To be fair (and repetitious since this has been on FR at least 3 times), the events the author cites are quite different. Bush’s visit to troops in Iraq was more personal while Obama’s speech at Camp Lejeune was more of an official policy statement. Marines at Camp Lejeune were at attention and more than likely not allowed spontaneous response (positive or more likely negative) to Obama’s entry into the room.
That being said, the Marines were free to express themselves at the end of the presentation and the lack of enthusiasm spoke volumes.
I’d agree with you but if you watch carefully, the two officers on stage were clapping...you’d think that would be a signal for the rest of them to clap as well.
This didn’t appear to be an “attention on deck”, “as you were” situation.