Case of Obama-bashing Marine renews debate over First Amendment rights

The Hill  ...."Stein called Obama a “domestic enemy”  and said he would not follow orders from the president, though he later clarified that he was talking about not following unlawful orders.

" "This is what he's putting out to the public, and he's a sergeant of the Marines, on active duty," said Capt. John Torresala, according to the Los Angeles Times. "How can this not be prejudicial to good order and discipline?" '

...."Hunter, who wrote that Stein should not be discharged for an opinion shared by the majority of Marines, said that Stein was acting as a private citizen “in a forum that encourages civil interaction between family, friends and acquaintances.”

" “He did not appear to be representing the Marines Corps,” Hunter said in his letter to the Marines, “or creating the illusion that he was speaking in some official capacity.” "

Though TW agrees with this Marine's feelings, his words could be construed as inspiring mutiny and could well cause big problems in future critical missions. The Marines are a crack outfit; don't mess with what works well.


Western Journalism Center

" “Good order and discipline require the military maintain respect for the chain of command,” Glazier said. “That includes prohibiting speech critical of the senior officers in that chain of command — up to and including the commander in chief.” 

"According to Pentagon directives, military personnel in uniform can’t sponsor a political club; participate in any TV or radio program or group discussion that advocates for or against a political party, candidate or cause; or speak at any event promoting a political movement.

"Commissioned officers also may not use contemptuous words against senior officials, including the defense secretary or the president."

WESTERN JOURNALISM.COM  [Sgt. Stein] "is the founder of the Facebook page called the Armed Forces Tea Party, which he formed in 2010 as an expression of free speech. The page  currently has more than 26,000 followers  and according to its description is ”in no way affiliated with the military, or United States Armed Forces.” He has spoken at several tea party events in southern California during the last two years outside of uniform."

By way of contrast with Sgt Stein:


Obama's friend, Bill Ayres on the military: ENTITLED DOMESTIC TERRORIST MIFFED THAT TROOPS TREATED WITH RESPECT  "Ayres seems to think it is his self-appointed job to “marginalize it and discourage” respect for the military.  Because showing respect to those who guarantee Bill Ayers the right to sound like an entitled and pompous jackass is something beyond his intellectual grasp.

"My guess is among the Bill Ayers of the world, war is never the answer.  Unless of course it is his moth eaten hide that’s in jeopardy.  And then, by God, he’d be the first demanding those who serve in the military put their lives on the line for his lousy existence."


Bill Ayres should love Stein's principles because decades ago he was trying to get our GI's to disobey orders from the chain of command and praising those who did. Though I feel Sgt is worthy of far more honor than Ayres and his Woodstock generation, I can't help but fear Ayres would love to see the military structure disintegrate.