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2004-10-05 Home Front: Politix

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Posted by Steve 2004-10-05 8:56:38 AM|| || Front Page|| [11130 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 A few words from the military on the subject:

Legal restrictions are placed upon Department of Defense personnel because they are public servants. Also, there is a long-standing DoD policy that DoD personnel acting in their official capacity may not engage in activities that associate DoD with any partisan political campaign or election, candidate, cause or issue.

Under the provisions of Army Regulation 600-20, paragraph 5-3, a Soldier on active duty may not participate in partisan political management, campaigns, or conventions, including the solicitation of votes or political contributions for a particular candidate or issue.

The Army Materiel Command Web site states while on active duty, a Soldier may do the following:

1. Register, vote, and express a personal opinion on political candidates and issues as a private citizen, but not as a representative of the Armed Forces;

2. Promote and encourage other Soldiers to exercise their voting franchise so long as it does not constitute an attempt to influence or interfere with the outcome of an election;

3. Join a political club and attend its meetings when not in uniform;

4. Serve as an election official if such service is not as a representative of a partisan political party, does not interfere with military duties, is performed while out of uniform, and has the approval of the installation commander;

5. Sign a petition for specific legislative action or a petition to place a candidate's name on an official election ballot so long as the signing does not obligate the Soldier to engage in partisan political activity and is done as a private citizen and not as a representative of the Armed Forces;

6. Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper expressing the Soldier's personal views on public issues or political candidates, if such action is not part of an organized letter-writing campaign or concerted solicitation of votes for or against a political party or partisan political cause or candidate;

7. Make monetary contributions to a political organization, party or committee favoring a particular candidate or slate of candidates subject to statutory dollar limitations;

8. Display a political sticker on the Soldier's private vehicle.

Posted by RN 2004-10-05 10:26:04 AM|| 2004-10-05 10:26:04 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 An interesting commericial this is going to make. Winter Soldier II? I don't think it will be too hard to round up some Bay Area vets that don't like the President. Are they trying to get the military vote? If so this aint the way to go about it. Should be entertaining at least. Maybe I should go down there and try out?

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2004-10-05 10:27:18 AM|| 2004-10-05 10:27:18 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 RN, all true but I'll bet the Kerry/Edwards stickers are few and far between on any military base. Kerry is goading soldiers to go on camera and express a political view. Probably in hopes that someone will take action against the individual. Then they (K/E) would swoop in and cry "DISENFRANCHISEMENT, HALIBURTON, RACISIM" to make some cheap political points. I wonder if ANSWER or MoveOn are behind this?

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2004-10-05 10:32:34 AM|| 2004-10-05 10:32:34 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 CS...I'm living on one post, working on another and my Son is serving at a Camp. Agreed there are few Kerry stickers...and they are out numbered by W stickers.

Posted by RN 2004-10-05 10:40:09 AM|| 2004-10-05 10:40:09 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 ask this guy.... lol

Posted by Frank G 2004-10-05 10:40:09 AM|| 2004-10-05 10:40:09 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 Wrong photo, but I like your original link better.
http://www.terpsboy.com/terpsboyarchives/001660.html

Posted by ed 2004-10-05 10:46:32 AM|| 2004-10-05 10:46:32 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Yes, but the UCMJ is clear, as RN has pointed out, there are existing regulations -

Art. 92. Failure to obey order or regulation

Any person subject to this chapter whoâ
(1) violates or fails to obey any lawful general order or regulation;
(2) having knowledge of any other lawful order issued by a member of the armed forces, which it is his duty to obey, fails to obey the order; or
(3) is derelict in the performance of his duties;
shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

with a special twist for any commissioned officer -

Art. 88. Contempt toward officials

Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

In other words an 'officer' appearing in such a commerical has already decided to end his/her carrer in the military. Court martial is really not necessary, just a letter of admonishment in the personnel file for every review board to read, quick passovers for promotion, and deadend assignments.

Posted by Don 2004-10-05 11:00:49 AM|| 2004-10-05 11:00:49 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 Active duty can rant all they want about how you hate Bush/Haliburton/Enron/etc but you have to do that as a private citizen. You can't be identified as a soldier or wear a uniform (or part of) when you make the political statement. I am retired so I can bad mouth Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Santa Claus, or God just so I use the tag 'Retired' after my name. This sounds a awful lot like Kerry is baiting some poor smuck to appear on camera as anti-Bush soldier. And make it appear as he/she represents the Military as a whole. A line such as: "Many people in my unit feel this way, but are afraid to come forward." or something like that will do the trick. I still contend that MoveOn or ANSWER are behind this.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2004-10-05 11:25:51 AM|| 2004-10-05 11:25:51 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 Might get some Guard or Reserve people who have seperated. If they have fully completed their commitment, I'd say they would be free to do this. They better not be in uniform. Of course, silly rules don't apply to Democrats.

Posted by Steve 2004-10-05 11:28:44 AM|| 2004-10-05 11:28:44 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 dems are stoopid. Not just, as already noted: Wardrobe: casual or uniform but...oh please, oh please... let's find a guy name "John Smith" whose never served in the military to show up at the casting call and pretend that he did. *snicker*

Posted by 2b 2004-10-05 11:29:28 AM|| 2004-10-05 11:29:28 AM|| Front Page Top

#11 hmmm... here's a question: If someone has served in Iraq - what is the time period that they are considered "active reserve" or whatever it's called.

Posted by 2b 2004-10-05 11:31:32 AM|| 2004-10-05 11:31:32 AM|| Front Page Top

#12 2b, you have to remember that in Kerry's world reservists and guard members don't count. Or did he change that position?

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2004-10-05 11:34:35 AM|| 2004-10-05 11:34:35 AM|| Front Page Top

#13 Dammit, Frank! You trying to get me fired?

Posted by BH 2004-10-05 11:41:24 AM|| 2004-10-05 11:41:24 AM|| Front Page Top

#14 I'm just asking - cause I don't know - but aren't active duty put on "active reserve" (or something like that) for 2 years upon release?

Are they free to say whatever they pleasee during that period?

Posted by 2b 2004-10-05 11:43:38 AM|| 2004-10-05 11:43:38 AM|| Front Page Top

#15 D'oh - tried to link to adjacent photo....damn..sorry

Posted by Frank G 2004-10-05 12:02:26 PM|| 2004-10-05 12:02:26 PM|| Front Page Top

#16 2b, No you are not allowed to give a statement in uniform. Makes no differnce if you are activated or not, it still against the UCMJ. So whomever is running this casting call is openly inviting soldiers to disobey the UCMJ. This could and should backfire on the Kerry folks.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2004-10-05 12:06:32 PM|| 2004-10-05 12:06:32 PM|| Front Page Top

#17 So when Kerry appeared before congress in uniform and lied about 'war crimes' it was a violation of the UCMJ since he was still in the Navy (inactive)?

Posted by CrazyFool 2004-10-05 12:14:21 PM|| 2004-10-05 12:14:21 PM|| Front Page Top

#18 CF - I was just gonna say that issue with the UCMJ might be lost on the Kerry Krowd

Posted by Frank G 2004-10-05 12:15:30 PM|| 2004-10-05 12:15:30 PM|| Front Page Top

#19 The Marine Corps Times in this issue, had a poll of Active duty/guard/reserves of who they would vote for Prez. Bush won - 73% to 18% for Kerry. I wonder if the DNC will find any of that 18%. You can pull up the issue if you want. It was Armed Service wide. Those who have just served in Iraq are even more strongly for W then those who've not deployed in the past 2 yrs. If the mil thinks W is the man I wonder what the problem is w/the rest of the country.

Posted by Jarhead 2004-10-05 12:34:11 PM|| 2004-10-05 12:34:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#20 It also affects US Government employees. A week ago the HRO people sent out something that I think was called the Hatching Act or some such, that pretty much says the same thing.

Posted by 98zulu 2004-10-05 12:54:14 PM|| 2004-10-05 12:54:14 PM|| Front Page Top

#21 add seems to be to be a waste of money if the Bush campaign counters with an add that highlights this: The Marine Corps Times in this issue, had a poll of Active duty/guard/reserves of who they would vote for Prez. Bush won - 73% to 18% for Kerry.

Posted by 2b 2004-10-05 12:55:58 PM|| 2004-10-05 12:55:58 PM|| Front Page Top

#22 2b, I don't think they are trying to capture the Military vote as they are trying to grab those voters who would be swayed by an anti-Bush ad with military people in it. As if to say: "See the military is against the President." Trust me they will find some wide-eyed kid who will explain he joined the military to escape poverty and never ever wanted to go to war, especially an illegal and unilateral one such as Iraq. He/she will also rant about how "most" of the troops hate Bush and think his is "selected not elected."

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2004-10-05 1:24:22 PM|| 2004-10-05 1:24:22 PM|| Front Page Top

#23 Prior and during the Iraq War (even today), it wasn't difficult to find some military folk to whine that they didn't join the military to go to war...they joined to get the benefits.

I'm sure they probably have Kerry stickers and would be willing to compromise their sorry asses with the hopes that the ACLU or a blue state congressman will come to their rescue.

Posted by RN 2004-10-05 1:51:56 PM|| 2004-10-05 1:51:56 PM|| Front Page Top

#24 Can they bring their lucky hats?

Posted by tu3031 2004-10-05 3:42:18 PM|| 2004-10-05 3:42:18 PM|| Front Page Top

#25 Should they bring their "ZIPPO" lighters?

Hat Tip Tom McMahon @ www.tommcmahon.net

Animal Slaughter
Another excerpt from the best-selling Unfit For Command:

George Bates, an officer in Coastal Division 11, participated in numerous operations with Kerry from January 1969 through March 1969. In Bate's view, Kerry was a coward who overreacted with deadly force to protect himself when he felt threatened. Bates, a retired Navy captain, believed that Kerry treated the South vietnamese in an almost criminal manner.

Bates is haunted by a particular patrol with Kerry on the Song Bo De River in the first part of 1969. With Kerry in the lead, the boats approached a small hamlet with three to four grass huts. Pigs and chickens were milling around peacefully. As the boats drew closer, the villagers fled. There were no political symbols or flags in evidence in the tiny village. It was obvious to Bates that existing policies, decency, and good sense required the boats to simply move on.

Instead, Kerry beached his boat directly in the small settlement. Upon his command, the numerous small animals were slaughtered by heavy-caliber machine guns. Acting more like a pirate than a naval offcer, Kerry diembarked and ran around with a Zippo lighter, burning up the entire hamlet.

Bates has never forgotten Kerry's actions and was appalled by the complete hypocrisy of Kerry's quick shift to the role of a peace activist condemning war crimes upon his return. Even today, Bates describes Kerry as a man without a conscience.

Posted by BigEd 2004-10-05 4:49:22 PM|| 2004-10-05 4:49:22 PM|| Front Page Top

#26 Thanks BigEd.

HEY: It doesn't look like they're asking for REAL service people to audition--they're just looking for run-of-the-mill actors for the t.v. commercial.

It's all pretend. It's a ROLE (see the casting call link):

" Men and women of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, etc.) that served in Iraq, are voting for John Kerry, and are willing and able to be interviewed on camera about why they are voting for Kerry."

It looks like those are the lines (in voiceover) from the commercial itself. The actors will choose a uniform (which they will have to purchase, or which will be purchased for them) and will stand there looking serious (probably) while the viewer at home hears the voiceover--THUS giving the IMPRESSION that the people they see are actually real soldiers. If there are lines from the "soldiers," those lines would be scripted for them in advance. It's all an act. Trust me--with the $$$ it takes to produce and market even a 15-second spot, they won't leave anything to chance. The idea is to create a sense that the military is DIVIDED--Bush lied, people died. You know the mantra.

Posted by ex-lib 2004-10-05 5:59:23 PM|| 2004-10-05 5:59:23 PM|| Front Page Top

#27 you know that zippo thing gives me a flash

maybe george w needs pull out a soft pack of camels and fire up one and sociably offer one to senator kerry

Posted by half 2004-10-05 6:42:48 PM|| 2004-10-05 6:42:48 PM|| Front Page Top

18:11 Mrs. Davis
18:07 Tony (UK)
17:47 Ari Tai
14:26 Anne Haight
13:15 Voidseeker
12:58 Dan Goodpasture
12:38 Dan Goodpasture
12:05 ed
11:59 BS Detector
10:40 richard mcenroe
09:53 Bill
09:41 Paul H.
02:02 JOHN KERRY SUCKS!!
00:57 Mr. Oni
23:35 Paul
23:04 Grunter
22:53 TShipman
21:34 richard mcenroe
20:21 Aris Katsaris
20:20 Aris Katsaris
20:13 Aris Katsaris
20:08 Bulldog
20:01 Bulldog
19:57 Aris Katsaris