Tempest over Obama's tea cup salute: CIC sparks anger by saluting US Marines with drink in his hand

Daily Mail Online ^ | 23 Sep 14 | David Martosko

[seanmerc]

President Barack Obama saluted a pair of United States Marines on Tuesday while holding what appeared to be a styrofoam cup in his saluting hand, a breach of military regulations that won't win him fans among veterans and servicemen.

[The Great RJ]

It would have been more respectful to just have walked by the Marines with his cup and not attempted a half assed salute. Reagan's instituting the practice of saluting his military escort was out of respect and recognizing his role as Commander in Chief. Obama is a jerk and certainly has no serious regard for the military personnel who help keep him safe.

[leapfrog0202]

The fact that the WH put this out there on Instagram says a lot about where their heads are....up their a$$es.

Not only is the salute a horrible one in the first place, but then add in the little plastic coffee cup....

[hattend]

The asshole is left handed. The coffee cup would normally be in his left hand... was it intentional for another distraction?

[hattend]

Was his right hand injured?

[happyhomemaker]

I saw this on twitchy and immediately went to post it on my Facebook and there were all ready at least 5 posts of the video from different “friends” I have never seen anything get such a reaction from such a diverse group of people. Even people who only post game and dog posts were posting about this. In 4 seconds it shows exactly who this guy is. No need for words.

[DH]

This is not the first “slap in the face” of military personnel standing watch in a formal setting. Remember the “umbrella holding fiasco?”

He hates the military.....especially the white part of it.

[Stepan12]

Such a jerk, he is. His presidency is the main reason we need a Pinochet type in power. I hope the military remembers his constant middle finger type actions toward them.

[CodeToad]

The country elected a savage African. They got one. Ghetto trash, nothing more.

[Salvation]

Even I know better than that.

[TWhiteBear]

‘The country elected a savage African. They got one. Ghetto trash, nothing more.’

We the People, elected him twice.
He will reappoint himself for the third term, to rescue the US from Ebola, War, Depression.
The Republican Party will continue to do nothing but whine politely.
TWB

[LeeClementineKenny]

I do think it's a very minor issue compared with all the other things he's done, but that doesn't mean I don't understand what it meant. I don't doubt it was intentional either. You are 100% correct to see it as a sign of his deep-seated disrespect of our military. He has a deep-seated dislike of our entire nation. Unfortunately it's not shocking to see him disrespect our military when you know that. Nothing Obama does should be shocking since we know he's a worthless anti-American scumbag. He literally hates this country. That's a fact. I'm not being dramatic or overstating it in the least.

[SandRat]

Maybe, let’s hope.

[seanmerc]

Customs and courtesies rules have changed over time. Now, veterans are allowed/encouraged to salute during the national anthem.

[navyblue]

I guess I’m dating myself.

[cva66snipe]

Can't he respect anything. A non salute would be acceptable because even though he is CIC he is civilian. Armed forces are required to salute civilians with authority over them such as POTUS and branch secretaries etc. A salute as some POTUS have done as a sign of respect is acceptable but not by any means a requirement. A salute like you just stepped off a plane for a good time and are toasting the hired help looks shabby so does having a Marine violate USMC regs and tradition by holding an umbrella. Does POTUS not have civilian help such as C.O.S. to assist him?

The man has no respect for tradition nor protocol and embarrasses the office and often the nation because of that.

[Graybeard58]

No, it was while walking to a funeral chapel and he had his right arm around his wife. I suppose I put him in the awkward situation by saluting him - which was exactly what I was supposed to do.

[Graybeard58]

A fellow member of the military.

Me, a lowly E-4 and him a 2 star General. I thought it prudent not to correct him.

Good thing I didn't according to reply #21 by Birdsbane, see my reply #56 for the circumstances.

[rjsimmon]

If the General had his arm around his wife while in uniform, he was in the wrong. That is a breach in protocol and discouraged while in uniform, especially if in a Service or Mess/Evening Dress. The General was in the wrong.

[Graybeard58]

If the General had his arm around his wife while in uniform

Then it might be argued (Not by Me) that Obama was not "in uniform" when he inappropriately saluted.

I think the same of Obama's saluting at all, the same as Clinton's. Zero military experience-don't salute. Both those mentioned have nothing but disdain and disrespect for the military.

[M Kehoe]

The CIC is a POS.

5.56mm