US Marine in trouble for Obama comments
Source: Agencies |
March 24, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE US Marine Corps has begun disciplinary action against a sergeant for comments he posted on Facebook saying he would refuse to follow the orders of President Barack Obama.
Major Michael Armistead, a spokesman for the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot in San Diego, said the corps was taking action against Sergeant Gary Stein over allegations he "posted political statements about the president of the United States on his Facebook 'Armed Forces Tea Party' page."
The comment in question has since been removed, and Stein, 26, told the San Diego Union-Tribune he could not remember it precisely.
However, he said it was part of a debate about punishment faced by NATO and US personnel over burning copies of the Quran in Afghanistan last month and paraphrased himself as stating: "I say screw Obama. I will not follow orders given by him to me."
'Unlawful orders'
Stein said he later clarified online that he meant he would not follow "unlawful orders" from the president, commander in chief of the US armed forces.
Stein, a weather forecaster assigned to Camp Pendleton near San Diego, said the reaction to his comments was an infringement on his freedom of speech.
He defended his right to express personal political opinions when off-duty and out of uniform.
US Defense Department rules allow military personnel to express political opinions as long as they are not doing so as representatives of the armed services.
Stein told the newspaper that the Marines had accused him of making statements about the president "prejudicial to good order and discipline," and were taking steps to discharge him.
Major Michael Armistead, a spokesman for the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot in San Diego, said the corps was taking action against Sergeant Gary Stein over allegations he "posted political statements about the president of the United States on his Facebook 'Armed Forces Tea Party' page."
The comment in question has since been removed, and Stein, 26, told the San Diego Union-Tribune he could not remember it precisely.
However, he said it was part of a debate about punishment faced by NATO and US personnel over burning copies of the Quran in Afghanistan last month and paraphrased himself as stating: "I say screw Obama. I will not follow orders given by him to me."
'Unlawful orders'
Stein said he later clarified online that he meant he would not follow "unlawful orders" from the president, commander in chief of the US armed forces.
Stein, a weather forecaster assigned to Camp Pendleton near San Diego, said the reaction to his comments was an infringement on his freedom of speech.
He defended his right to express personal political opinions when off-duty and out of uniform.
US Defense Department rules allow military personnel to express political opinions as long as they are not doing so as representatives of the armed services.
Stein told the newspaper that the Marines had accused him of making statements about the president "prejudicial to good order and discipline," and were taking steps to discharge him.
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