Marine's anti-Obama Facebook posts test military rules

[marmar]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Marine Sgt. Gary Stein first started a Facebook page called Armed Forces Tea Party Patriots to encourage service members to exercise their free speech rights. Then he declared that he wouldn't follow orders from the commander in chief, President Barack Obama.

While Stein softened his statement to say he wouldn't follow "unlawful orders," military observers say he may have gone too far.

The Marine Corps is now looking into whether he violated the military's rules prohibiting political statements by those in uniform and broke its guidelines on what troops can and cannot say on social media. Stein said his views are constitutionally protected.

While troops have always expressed their views in private, Stein's case highlights the potential for their opinions to go global as tech-savvy service members post personal details, videos and pictures that can hurt the military's image at home and abroad. ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/marines-facebook-page-tests-military-rules-234113159.html

[rfranklin]

1. if this had happened under Bush...

This guy would still be in Leavenworth. FoxNews would have started a mediastorm and Republicans would have demanded afiring squad.

[all american girl]

2. He's not allowed to do that

Just as my husband is not allowed to be a political event, showing support, in his uniform...when you are in the Military, you do lose some rights, while displaying that you are in the military. He can do this, if he does not indicate that he is in the military...tough shit dude...UCMJ is pretty darn clear on that.

[monmouth]

3. Bet he listens to rush on AFN...n/t

[cynatnite]

4. The minute you put on a uniform you are required to be apolitical...

If this guy can't handle that, he needs to leave the military. It was the same thing when bush was in office.