How can DK'ers make their argument out of uniform?
At least this woman is properly tin-foily attired...
Posted on 08/03/2007 11:06:41 AM PDT by bnelson44
Via Barnett, this comes from one of the left’s own, Ezra Klein:
AN ODD CLOSE. As the Military and Progressives panel came to an end, a young man in uniform stood up to argue that the surge was working, and cutting down on Iraqi casualties. The moderator largely freaked out. When other members of the panel tried to answer his question, he demanded they “stand down.” He demanded the questioner give his name, the name of his commander, and the name of his unit. And then he closed the panel, no answer offered or allowed, and stalked off the stage,
Wes Clark took the mic and tried to explain what had just occurred: The argument appears to be that you’re not allowed to participate in politics while wearing a uniform, or at least that you shouldn’t, and that the questioner was engaging in a sort of moral blackmail, not to mention a violation of the rules, by doing so. Knowing fairly little about the army, I can’t speak to any of that. But it was an uncomfortable few moments, and seemed fairly contrary to the spirit of the panel to roar down the member of the military who tried to speak with a contrary voice.
The yKos program lists the panelists but doesn’t say who the moderator was. I’m going to see if I can find the rules about political speech for soldiers while in uniform; Paul Hackett, of all people, criticized Ehren Watada last year for calling Bush a liar while wearing military dress but that had more to do with insubordination towards a superior officer in violation of the UCMJ than simple political speech.
Needless to say, though, that the left in general and Wes Clark in particular would balk at someone using their Absolute Moral Authority to advance a political agenda is an irony too enormous to be absorbed in one take.
If the dummie pandering Presidential candidates don’t immediately leave that “convention,” I hope the RNC gets some spicy video of the incident for use during the general election campaign next year.
The “company you keep” says more about you than anything else.
Can’t wear the uniform and play in politics. If he was in civies, it would have been OK.
Sticky subject... I’m not sure that I would have attended the meeting in uniform, or any protest/counterprotest for that matter. But you would think that these people would have the courage to at least hear him out.
As for the Weasel... F him.
Semper Fi
NYleatherneck
Supporting the mission is playing politics?
At least this woman is properly tin-foily attired...
JVB is correct. Political speech is prohibited while in uniform.
He was participating (or trying to)in a discussion, not a political activity...........
I don't think this situation applies..........
Here’s the Navy Uniform Regs
“(4) For Members of the Naval Service. The Secretary the Navy supports the following:
(a) Exercising the rights of freedom of speech and assembly does not include the right to use the inherent prestige and traditions represented by the uniforms of the naval service to promote privately held convictions on public issues.
(b) Members of the Navy and Marine Corps, including retired members and members of reserve components are prohibited from wearing uniforms of the naval service while attending or participating in a demonstration, assembly, or activity knowing that a purpose of the demonstration, assembly, or activity supports personal or partisan views on political, social, economic, or religious issues, except as authorized in advance by competent authority; or incident to attending or participating in a bona fide religious service or observance”
I thought that was the oldest rule in the book.
Republican Party needs George S. Patton, not Miss Manners running the campaign.
A long time ago.
Shows me all I need to know about these folks. Here you have a guy in uniform that may be a certified crazy Kos head, but the minute he stood up wearing it, he was the enemy.
Having worn the uniform myself, I seem to recall that we were not allowed to actively particiapate in political “campaigning”.
I don’t know the full context of the soldiers statement, but simply stating “the surge is working” seems to me to be an apolitical stance.
It would have really made the point if he stripped to his undergarments and finished his discussion.
Censorship as usual from the left.
What the chief said...
8^)
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