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Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Obama

Wake

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Marines discharge Sergeant for Facebook posts criticizing President Barack Obama

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Marine Corps said Wednesday it has decided to discharge a sergeant for criticizing President Barack Obama on Facebook. The Corps said Sgt. Gary Stein will be given an other-than-honorable discharge for violating Pentagon policy limiting speech of service members. The San Diego-area Marine has served nearly 10 years in the Marine Corps. He has said he was exercising his free-speech rights.

The discharge will mean he loses all benefits. A federal judge previously denied a request to block military discharge proceedings against Stein, who called Obama an enemy on Facebook.

Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts - Yahoo! News

What are your thoughts on this?

Do you think they went too far in punishment?
 
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Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

Anyone stupid enough to publicly badmouth his boss around the world, and not expect repercussions deserves firing.
 
Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

I do not agree with it. Freedom of speech. If he was disobeying orders that would be one thing, but I dont know that to be the case.
 
Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

I do not agree with it. Freedom of speech. If he was disobeying orders that would be one thing, but I dont know that to be the case.

I stand corrected.

The judge pointed out Stein's March 1 comments on a Facebook page used by Marine Corps meteorologists in which the sergeant stated, "Screw Obama and I will not follow all orders from him."

Seems like he should have been punished. Firing may be extreme.
 
Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

Anyone stupid enough to publicly badmouth his boss around the world, and not expect repercussions deserves firing.

That's pretty much how I'm seeing it.

Firing seems a bit extreme, but insubordination is never met kindly. The guy is an idiot for putting that on facebook-- just another one on the long list.
 
Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

"I will not follow orders" is what done it.
 
Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

he insulted the Commander-in-Chief and threatened to disobey any orders originating from him.

asshole made his bed...and now he shall rest in it.
 
Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

This is fine as at the end of the day the Marine violated "Pentagon policy limiting speech of service members," this is especially true when you read that he "called Obama an enemy on Facebook" as well as "Screw Obama and I will not follow all orders from him."
 
Re: Marines discharge Sergeant for Facebook posts criticizing President Barack Obama

Any man who bad mouth's his boss, and basically implies that other employees should not obey their boss should be fired.

its called "personal responsibility" and demanding that people be held accountable for their actions.

I'm glad we agree on this.
 
Re: Marines discharge Sergeant for Facebook posts criticizing President Barack Obama

Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts - Yahoo! News

What are your thoughts on this?

Do you think they went too far in punishment?

My thought are this:
When you join the military, you are essentially property of the military, and you have to abide by their codes, not civilian codes. If he didn't realize what he was getting into, then he should have made sure he knew the rules before going in.

When I was 17 yoa, I considered joining the military, because I would be good military material. I have the personal drive and motivation that would likely excel in that environment. When I realized I was basically giving up my rights 24/7 for at least 4 years, I decided against it.
 
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Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

That's pretty much how I'm seeing it.

Firing seems a bit extreme, but insubordination is never met kindly. The guy is an idiot for putting that on facebook-- just another one on the long list.

Insubordination doesn't rate an other than honrable discharge.
 
Re: Marines discharge Sergeant for Facebook posts criticizing President Barack Obama

its called "personal responsibility" and demanding that people be held accountable for their actions.

I'm glad we agree on this.

Did you say the same thing when troops violated DADT?
 
Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

he insulted the Commander-in-Chief and threatened to disobey any orders originating from him.

asshole made his bed...and now he shall rest in it.

He said he would disobey any, "unlawful", order which is his duty as a member of the United States armed forces.
 
Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

Insubordination doesn't rate an other than honrable discharge.

I would say due to the frequenceny of how many times he did it, it does warrant an other than honorable discharge. And yes, if this was done during the Bush administration I would have approved of it as well.

If this was just a one-time offense I would say it would be justifiable as NJP, but it wasn't just one time.
 
Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

In reality I don't really know anything about the military and its structures/systems. So long as this method of punishment is applied fairly, no matter which soldier says it or whatever president we currently have, I'm alright with it.
 
Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

I would say due to the frequenceny of how many times he did it, it does warrant an other than honorable discharge. And yes, if this was done during the Bush administration I would have approved of it as well.

If this was just a one-time offense I would say it would be justifiable as NJP, but it wasn't just one time.

Dan Choi wasn't discharged. Are you ok with that?

The Obama regime dropped the case against Erhen Watada. He actually disobeyed orders. Are you ok with that?
 
Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

In reality I don't really know anything about the military and its structures/systems. So long as this method of punishment is applied fairly, no matter which soldier says it or whatever president we currently have, I'm alright with it.

Truth be told, the military code of justice is probably much more stable, and of more integrity, than our civilian legal system.
 
Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

Dan Choi wasn't discharged. Are you ok with that?

Actually Dan Choi was discharged.

EDIT: If you are asking whether I think he should be allowed back in, I would say no.

The Obama regime dropped the case against Erhen Watada. He actually disobeyed orders. Are you ok with that?

Not OK with that one.

Next?
 
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Re: Marines discharge Sergeant for Facebook posts criticizing President Barack Obama

Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts - Yahoo! News
What are your thoughts on this?
Do you think they went too far in punishment?
From the little bit I read, the guy received more than one warning before it came to this.
I assume that the guy is a competent adult and bears responsibility for his actions.
I also assume that the military has these rules for some reason.
 
Re: Marines discharge Sergeant for Facebook posts criticizing President Barack Obama

Deserved what he got. He had multiple chances to change his stance, and he still seems to believe he has done nothing wrong. He has disobeyed orders/violated rules.
 
Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

I stand corrected.



Seems like he should have been punished. Firing may be extreme.
Insubordination doesn't rate an other than honrable discharge.

He said he would disobey any, "unlawful", order which is his duty as a member of the United States armed forces.



Stein posted on a Marine meteorology and oceanographic Facebook page March 23, "As an active Marine I say, 'Screw Obama' and I will not follow orders from him."

There were at least four other times a U.S. attorney told Stein to tone down his "inflammatory" political comments.


After Stein posted objections to Obama's healthcare policy and encouraged others to go against the orders of superiors if they disagree with the actions, the U.S. Marines Corps decided to reconsider a previous decision to not take punitive action against him.
Looks like he got off without the confinement.



Article 91
(5) Treating with contempt or being disrespectful in language or deportment toward a warrant, non-commissioned, or petty officer. “Toward” requires that the behavior and language be within the sight or hearing of the warrant, noncommissioned, or petty officer concerned.
Article 117
(6) Contempt or disrespect to warrant officer. Bad-conduct discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 9 months.

(7) Contempt or disrespect to superior noncommissioned or petty officer. Bad-conduct discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 6 months.
 
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Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

Looks like he got off without the confinement.



Article 91
(5) Treating with contempt or being disrespectful in language or deportment toward a warrant, non-commissioned, or petty officer. “Toward” requires that the behavior and language be within the sight or hearing of the warrant, noncommissioned, or petty officer concerned.
Article 117
(6) Contempt or disrespect to warrant officer. Bad-conduct discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 9 months.

(7) Contempt or disrespect to superior noncommissioned or petty officer. Bad-conduct discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 6 months.

Article 91 doesn't cover civilian members of the chain of command.
 
Re: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts for criticizing President Barack Ob

Actually Dan Choi was discharged.

EDIT: If you are asking whether I think he should be allowed back in, I would say no.



Not OK with that one.

Next?

Hold to the seat of your pants, because Dan Choi is getting his commission reinstated.

Politically motivated double standards suck. Don't they?
 
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