A message to Mr. Romney from a Petty Officer in the US Navy

[kpete]

http://itwouldappeariwaswrong.tumblr.com/post/32014879130/tinyasateacup-applause-all-the-awards

[liberal N proud]

1. k&r

[pinboy3niner]

2. From another 47% veteran...

(Originally posted in Veterans Group by white cloud.)

Romney's disdain not worthy of vote

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has defined me as a member of the dependent 47% ("Romney tries to trim Obama's lead with Latinos," Sept. 18). He believes that I have, by choice, chosen to become part of the roughly half of the country that receives government assistance for housing, health care, even food. In my case, he is correct.

I did choose a path that led me to government dependency. Let me explain. In 1966 at the age of 17, I enlisted. At 19, I was in Vietnam serving as a Marine corpsman in a front-line rifle company. I always felt fortunate to have survived the war when so many others didn't. My service cost me my health and ultimately my ability to work. I rely on my veteran benefits.

Romney disdainfully characterizes me and other veterans as being a part of the dependency culture. He wanted no part of the Vietnam War and apparently holds anyone who has ever served in contempt for accepting compensation for their service.

Veterans and their supporters need to ask Romney why he feels the veterans of this country should be described by him as another group of entitlement victims. Ask him who is to take responsibility for the wounds and illness veterans endure for serving? And what about their survivors and dependents?

I believe Romney thinks everyone who gets a government benefit for service to our country is just another member of a parasitic welfare class and we are the problem. I ask all to vote accordingly.

Thomas L. Ralston
Muskego

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1179873

[Cha]

42. Thank you for this Message, too,

pinboy!

The More the Merrier to Fight Down the kochs, romney and his band of rich guys who don't want to pay their fair share!

[Geoff R. Casavant]

3. A wonderful statement, but he shouldn't have signed it.

Even sailors on our side are bound by the Hatch Act -- no political acts in uniform. I know the uniform is necessary to make the point, so I wish he didn't put his name on it.

[iamthebandfanman]

5. I was thinking the same thing..

cant do that stuff while in uniform..
have tons of military friends whove told me they have to be careful sometimes

[rwsanders]

6. Agreed...

Hopefully if anyone makes an issue of it, he can say he is one private citizen responding to the hateful comments of another private citizen. The guidelines I have read say that the military can't appear at campaign events in uniform and can't disparage elected or appointed officials.
Even beyond the "official" repercussions, there is a pervasive culture of republicanism in the military. I had to shut down a group of petty officers who were harassing a female that was the only democrat in the group. It was so hard to keep my mouth shut during the Bush years listening to everyone celebrate his stupidity.

[pasto76]

10. good on you

I recently called out a SSG for inciting insubordination and sedition against our first sergeant. Am I mr popular now? who cares. I try and do whats right. That we have a black 1SG is of no matter.

thankfully my reserve platoon back when we deployed was mostly democratic.

[SaveAmerica]

23. That's awesome that you stood up for her, but I don't think that

there are more republicans in the military, just that they are louder and a bunch of big mouths and bullies. Kind of like everywhere else. My FB is 95% dems but if you read my feed you'd think Republican's ruled there based on the very wild far right posts those 5% are leaving in their wake.

So when you did stand up for her, you did something that not many do because of that bullying aspect the R's have in the military. I'd love to see more like you.

[calimary]

39. Welcome to DU, rwsanders!

And thank you for your service! Thank you for your vigilance. Thank you for your compassion and thought and your clear-eyed view of the state of our nation.

[RevStPatrick]

8. I was just thinking the same thing.

I like what he has to say there.
However, that young man is going to get into trouble.
And he should.

[heaven05]

17. well

I hope he doesn't get in trouble for the truth, irregardless of Hatch Act shit. And if he does some good legal help will be his. Hey, it was a heartfelt response to mitttwit, queen anne and lyinaynryan.

[CitizenPatriot]

21. I'm not sure

he should. Yes, it's political, but he's not disparaging elected officials He's praising his C-I-C and dissing a candidate for office. Fine line... but better than refusing to respect the chain of command and undermining the authority of C-I-C.

[lpbk2713]

9. Could be he was about to be discharged or separated.

That might explain the dress blues.


I burned several bridges behind me just before my four years were up. I figured if they wanted
to go through all that trouble of going after me in civilian life they could take their best shot.

[pasto76]

11. my first thought as well

wish more troops knew this. Including and perhaps mostly our senior pentagon brass.

[KBlagburn]

26. I am a member of the uniformed services. Am I covered by the Hatch Act?

http://www.osc.gov/haFederalfaq.htm
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency

"I am a member of the uniformed services. Am I covered by the Hatch Act?

Answer: No. Members of the uniformed services are not covered by the Hatch Act. However, if you are a reservist and a federal civilian employee, you are covered by the Hatch Act."



That not withstanding, there are provisions of the UCMJ and DoD Directive 1344.10 that could potentially be in violation here. The issue all being that he being in uniform. Even if he were no longer active duty, one still has an obligation to the uniform.

That being said, I completely agree with his message and hope more of my brothers and sisters in uniform and fellow vets are seeing Romney for the piece of garbage he really is.

[Robb]

52. He's fine, since you can't see his trousers.

Seriously. The standard is that he has to be visibly wearing full dress to be in trouble, and you can't know for sure.

[geckosfeet]

4. Saluting from behind my keyboard

[porphyrian]

7. ! n/t

[mnhtnbb]

12. See, this is one of the reasons I have hope for NC--LOTS of active duty and retired military--

and they aren't going to like the Repubs voting against the Vets jobs bill.

We might even see some coattails in NC. Wouldn't THAT be GREAT?!?

[pinboy3niner]

13. Mine: Mr. Romney, I am part of the 47%.

I receive partial combat disability retirement pay (non-taxable) from the Army, and I receive my health care from the VA.

AK fire in Vietnam blew away half my jaw and teeth and put a hole in my shoulder, and I was peppered with shrapnel. I know that may be hard to grasp for someone who spent that time in the thick of things in France, but bear with me.

I spent 18 months in an Army hospital before being retired for disability. Six years later, with about a year left to go for my undergrad degree, I had to drop out of university in California and relocate across the country so the bone graft to my jaw could be redone--twice--by the Navy's National Medical Center after the Army's original bone graft failed.

Don't worry yourself too much about me (as if I need to tell you that, lol!). I'm doing okay, even though my path didn't earn me hundreds of millions of dollars (believe it or not!). I've been used to living with my physical deficits for a long time now. (And would you believe it--my doctors ordered me not to ride motorcycles? According to them, it's too risky even for me to go skiiing!)

I hear that, according to you, the government has made me "dependent," that I've somehow come to believe that I'm a "victim," and that I am wrongly receiving undeserved "entitlements." When I heard that, believe me, some choice words came to mind for you--but I'll spare you that.

It does, however, strike me as incredible that a candidate for the Presidency could be so ignorant and clueless about our progressive tax system, and especially as regards the troops (over whom you hope to serve as Commander-in-Chief) and veterans. It boggles the mind.

By now you can probably tell that I won't be voting for you in November. But I guess that news is pretty much anticlimactic, as it seems you'd already written me off. Believe me, the feeling is mutual.

Peace,
pinboy3niner

[MADem]

16. +1,000,000! nt

[gateley]

20. ...

[shireen]

27. you're awesome

[Martin Eden]

28. +22,281

Your letter to Romney deserves much wider exposure.

Seriously.

Very powerful.

[catchnrelease]

32. Eloquent letter

[panader0]

33. Here's to you pinboy3niner!

Hoisting my beer.......

[calimary]

40. I salute you, sir. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.

[heaven05]

14. great

a prime example of romtwits 47% underclass that he despises. Bravo to you sailor and pinboy3niner!

[MADem]

15. Now THAT's what I'm talking' bout!!!! nt

[freshwest]

37. +1

[SouthLouisianaWoman]

18. Military/Veteran Vote

Does anyone have a link that shows the most up-to-date Obama and Romney percentages of the military/vet vote? There is much coverage of other groups--women, Hispanic--but I haven't seen actual numbers for the military vote.

I know the mil/vet vote is traditionally Rep, but I was wondering if there has been any movement. I know it's too soon to see the effect of the 47% comments but I'm wondering if Romney's comments about the embassy attacks have moved the numbers.

[calimary]

41. Welcome to DU, SouthLouisianaWoman! Good question.

I was pretty surprised to see, a couple of months ago, that veterans groups preferred wrongney - when President Obama and the First Lady have focused so much more time and attention on veterans and their families. I hope our veterans who fought for us or stood guard know which side is all talk and which side really gives a damn!

Glad you're here! Help us keep President Obama in the White House for another four years!




Now get to work.

[skeewee08]

47. I thought Tweety said during the convention

That President O has a high approval rating amongst the military...correct me if I am wrong

[Douglas Carpenter]

19. knr

[ejbr]

22. That man deserves a promotion! n/t

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

24. Good message but really dumb to sign this.

If he was going to go ahead and sign it, why not just show his whole face?

He shouldn't be politicking in uniform.

[Raster]

30. Whatever his reasons for signing or not signing, for showing his face or not showing...

Last edited Sat Sep 22, 2012, 09:07 PM - Edit history (1)

..his face: WHATEVER!

The important thing is that he stood up and spoke out. He told his story about his brother.

And the MOST IMPORTANT PART: "I am happy with my Commander in Chief, who ended two wars and got Osama. You're just a hateful and narrow-minded bigot. You are NOT Presidential material."

Thank you, Petty Officer Millen!

[Rob H.]

36. Not a CPO, a PO

The Dixie cup is a dead giveaway (looks like he might be wearing crackerjacks, too). Here's hoping he's a CPO someday, though.

Rob H.
(Former Navy brat and son of a retired Chief)

[Raster]

38. thank you.

indeed I had promoted him. corrected.

He should get to keep the bump in pay tho...

[upi402]

25. hero

[ismnotwasm]

29. K&R

[polichick]

31. Well said! k&r

[lovuian]

34. You Rock

[BrainMann1]

35. Thanks Bro.

[Cha]

43. Thank you so much, Petty Officer! nt

[defacto7]

44. Firmly Kicked,

rec'd as well

[nadinbrzezinski]

45. Unless he is PO-R, should not have done it

[revolution breeze]

49. When hubby was AD

He was reprimanded for driving my car with a re-elect Bill Clinton bumper sticker on base while he was in uniform (he was a CPO who are usually safe from warnings like this and had he been in civilian clothes this would have been a non-issue). He came home and I had to remove the sticker imediately. And of course in base housing yard signs were a no-no.

[nadinbrzezinski]

51. I know, I happen to be married to a CPO-R too

and politics was simply a no-no, for obvious reasons.

Those who have never been even close to the military might applaud this, but with good reason this, you shan't talk politics while in uniform is a good idea, and not just limited to the US.

We had the exact same proscription while serving in the reserves in another country.

[revolution breeze]

53. I was so happy to leave base housing

I told hubbys CO (in an unofficial social setting, not at the command) hubby had sworn to uphold and defend, but I had not. I never gave up my right to free speech. He laughed and said I was the perfect candidate to president over the Family Support Group.

[nadinbrzezinski]

54. In Hawaii we were glad to get base housing

And I understood why the proscriptions applied, period.

You do not want any military force to talk politics, period.

This young man should face the music for doing something that is a clear violation of his oath.

Yes, he did give up his rights when he took the oath.

As to you, well, in a way if you marry into the military in a way you do give up some rights, especially if you live in base housing.

[revolution breeze]

55. Which is why

We lived on the economy in Japan and rented in the community and did not send my childredn to DoD schools. It was hubby's job, not my lifestyle.

[skeewee08]

46. Thank u for your Service

[zentrum]

48. Wow. Says it all.

Hope he's safe from being officially reprimanded for being so political in public. Is there any blow back danger for him?

[revolution breeze]

50. See my post #49.

Clinton was the Commander-in-Chief and we were in Washinton State (all Democratic representation thank you). My bumper sticker simply said re-elect President Clinton. Nothing like being a newly-wed and finding out I just lost MY right to support a candidate. Hubby retired in 2006 so now I can speak my piece freely.