Marine Says He'll Continue to Post on Tea Party Facebook Page

[Dos Equis]

Will be interesting to see how much leeway they give him. 

Marine Says He'll Continue to Post on Tea Party Facebook Page
By Joshua Rhett Miller
 - FOXNews.com

A Camp Pendleton Marine whose Facebook posts ignited a debate about whether active duty troops are allowed to criticize the president of the United States says he intends to keep posting his views on the Web.

Sgt. Gary Stein created the Facebook group "Armed Forces Tea Party Patriots" three weeks ago as a way to voice his opposition to President Obama's health care overhaul. On Tuesday, prior to a cable TV interview, superior officers asked the 24-year-old Marine to review the Department of Defense directives on political activities. Stein then removed the Facebook group, only to see it revived by a civilian member of a local Tea Party group hours later.

According to Department of Defense directives, military personnel are prohibited from sponsoring a political club, writing anything that solicits votes for a political cause or speaking at any event that promotes a political movement.

Stein says he respects Obama and will follow any order handed down by his commander in chief, but he plans to continue to voice his opinion on Facebook. He said he has contacted an attorney who told him he has committed no wrongdoing.

"I'm speaking as Gary Stein, not as Sgt. Gary Stein," he told FoxNews.com. "I just want to give my daughter the greatest country that we can, just like my parents gave me. I want her to inherit the America I know we can be."

Stein, who lives in Temecula, Calif., with his wife, Ashley, and their 2-year-old daughter, said he will still contribute to the Facebook group, but will do so in a more controlled fashion.

"I'm not going to push it," he said. "I'm going to think a lot more before I post and not go off on wild tangents like I did before."

Stein's initial posts to the group have been removed, and he declined to indicate exactly what he posted that drew the attention of his superiors. But he insisted he did not comment on military matters.

"It wasn't meant to be a group to speak out against the government or against the president," he said. "I respect the president. I will follow his orders."

He said he removed the page voluntarily after realizing it "had become not what I intended it for" -- to be an open forum for military members who affiliate themselves with the Tea Party movement.

News of Stein's experience ignited a polarized debate online, particularly on the very Facebook page he created and later removed.

Staff Sgt. Victor Rodriguez, who, like Stein, is a military meteorologist and at one point was a member of the Facebook group, told FoxNews.com he and many of his associates were disappointed with the Marine's actions.

"Though I do not speak for them, they have expressed their concern with Stein's violation of military policy," Rodriguez wrote FoxNews.com. "I believe in order to maintain a cohesive unit, military members need to remain apolitical when it comes to the public.

"Yes, we all have our views, and we discuss them amongst one another. However, we understand that unit cohesion is a large part of our occupation and sending the enemy mixed signals about our policies and support for those policies can be an added benefit to them for propaganda purposes."

Rodriguez continued, "With that being said, I am sure Sgt. Stein is not a bad Marine, and that it was just a misunderstanding concerning the articles of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice and associated articles pertaining to political activism."

But Joseph E. Torres, who said he spent 11 years as a Marine, disagreed with Rodriguez's assessment.

"It's really sad that Marines can't speak out on issues not dealing with Military Op's," Torres wrote on Facebook. "Like we don't have a say in the government we serve. You know they're not going to promote him if he ever get on the list."

The San Diego chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement that it sent a letter to Camp Pendleton's commanding officer urging the Marine Corps to protect Stein's right to freedom of speech.

"While the Corps has indicated through a spokesperson that it 'is not looking to file charges,' Sgt. Stein’s speech has nonetheless been chilled," the statement read. "The ACLU strongly supports the First Amendment rights of servicemembers to discuss and critique the government’s policies and conduct. Speech on issues of social and political concern is recognized by the courts, including military courts, as 'the core of what the First Amendment is designed to protect.'"

Former Marine Corps attorney Patrick Callahan told the San Diego Union-Tribune that military members do surrender some free speech rights when they don a uniform.

"There are restrictions on time, place and manner," he told the paper. "For instance, service members can't go to political rallies in uniform. The issue becomes whether somebody is doing it in their professional capacity."

Camp Pendleton spokeswoman Maj. Gabrielle Chapin said the Marine Corps is not considering filing charges against Stein.

"Marines take care of Marines," she wrote in an e-mail to FoxNews.com. "Sergeant Stein's supervisor was concerned that his activities with the Armed Forces Tea Party Patriots could give the appearance or impression that the Marine Corps is endorsing the group and its messages."

She said Stein was not disciplined, and he received the same "one-on-one mentorship and guidance" provided to all Marines.

Stein, who has another child on the way, said he has grown from the experience and intends to keep posting messages he deems appropriate.

"I'm going to do make sure I'm doing it the right way, I'm going to lead by example," he said. "I'm glad my voice can be heard. I wish everyone's voice can be heard the way mine is right now."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/15/marine-says-hell-continue-post-tea-party-facebook-page/

[Dos Equis]

Tea Party Marine Sticks by His Guns in Fight With Government and Obama
By Joshua Rhett Miller
 - FOXNews.com

A U.S. Marine whose Facebook posts led to a refresher course last week on the Pentagon's directives on political activities is not running for cover as he continues to post or support material critical of the government and President Obama.

Sgt. Gary Stein created the Facebook group "Armed Forces Tea Party Patriots" four weeks ago to voice his opposition to Obama's health care overhaul. Superior officers asked the 24-year-old Marine to review directives on political activities before he was interviewed on TV, and Stein removed the Facebook group -- only to see it revived by a civilian member of a local Tea Party group hours later. Stein now serves as an administrator of the group, which has more than 9,100 members, including some soldiers on active duty.

According to Department of Defense directives, military personnel on active duty are prohibited from sponsoring a political club, writing anything that solicits votes for a political cause or speaking at any event that promotes a political movement. They may also not participate in any "radio, television, or other program or group discussion as an advocate for or against a partisan political party, candidate, or cause" or distribute "partisan political" literature.

In one of his recent posts to the Facebook group, Stein asked members to voice their opposition to the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010, a Senate financial overhaul bill introduced by Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn.

"In short it grants permanent, unlimited bailout authority to the Federal Reserve," Stein wrote on Tuesday. "It's like TARP forever without the nasty, unpopular debates and votes in Congress."

He provided contact information to eight Republican senators who have "not yet 100% opposed" the bill and asked members of the Facebook group to spread the word to local newspapers.

"Once again it's up to us, you and your fellow Tea Party Patriots, to defend America from out of control government," wrote Stein, who lives in Temecula, Calif., with his wife, Ashley, and their 2-year-old daughter. He is a meteorologist for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton in Southern California.

Attorney Eugene Fidell, a senior research scholar who teaches military law at the Yale Law School, said that while military brass tend to "avoid creating martyrs" regarding issues of free speech, Stein should seek legal advice.

"This young man should consult an attorney," Fidell told FoxNews.com. "He's tempting fate here. But that's the territory. You can do it, but you may pay a penalty."

The Facebook group Stein created carries a disclaimer that any views expressed on the page are "not endorsed or shared by the Military or the [Department of Defense]." It also includes at least 100 photos, including a satirical shot of President Obama on a fictitious "Dancing With The Czars" advertisement, complete with inset photos of celebrity judges Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., White House reporter Helen Thomas and actor David Hasselhoff. Another altered photograph depicts Obama with a large red "X" over his mouth and the word "LIAR" across his forehead, while a graphic depicts the "socialist brain of the liberal Democrat."

Yet another graphic on the page recalls Obama's reported mispronunciation of the word "corpsman" while speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in February.

"What's your major malfunction numbnuts?" reads the graphic, which features the vociferous drill sergeant from the 1987 war classic "Full Metal Jacket." "You're a Harvard grad and don't know the difference between CORPS and CORPSE? You flunked lunch at Harvard, didn't you?"

Camp Pendleton spokeswoman Maj. Gabrielle Chapin told FoxNews.com last week that the Marine Corps had not filed charges against Stein. She said Stein was not disciplined, and he received the same "one-on-one mentorship and guidance" provided to all Marines.

Camp Pendleton officials on Wednesday referred inquiries to the Department of Defense, which did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Stein says he's confident he will not be reprimanded by the military, but he acknowledges that his outspokenness may hurt his military career. He insists that his participation in the Facebook group remains as a civilian.

"It was written by Gary Stein," he said. "People need to understand this. When I post something on the Facebook page, it is as Gary Stein and has nothing do with the Marine Corps and has nothing to do with Sgt. Gary Stein. As long as I'm coming to the people as Gary Stein, then I'm OK."

In a statement released on Tuesday, Stein commented on remarks made by former President Clinton that antigovernment rhetoric can lead to violent results.

"The Tea Party movement does not condone the formation of violent militias or individuals that are plotting against the government. This 'Revolution,' that we speak of is when history will repeat itself as the American people, once again, unite to fight for their freedom. This time we will be fighting on a new battlefield without bloodshed, but the result will be the same," Stein wrote.

Stein told FoxNews.com on Wednesday that he released his latest statement to counter critics who suggested that "silence" from Tea Party members regarding antigovernment rhetoric could be construed as condoning those messages. Stein, who remains on active duty until July 2012, said he did not consult an attorney prior to releasing his statement.

"I wanted to make sure our views are heard," he said. "I wanted to make sure that if any Tea Party went on the record that it was the Armed Forces Tea Party Patriots."

Stein said he's received hundreds of e-mails from active and retired servicemembers on his postings. Every "single one, except one," Stein said, supported his right to speak out. The lone dissenter, a fellow Marine, claimed Stein is "making a mockery" of the Marines, he said.

Asked if he's considering a career in politics after he leaves the military, Stein said nothing is out of consideration.

"President Obama was a community organizer and now he's president of the United States," he said. "Anything can happen. I know there's a lot bigger and better things out there for me."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/21/tea-party-marine-facebook-clarifies-stance-militias/

[Hugo Chavez]

bump.  would like to here what people think about this?

[2ND COMING]

bump.  would like to here what people think about this?

My first instinct was, what a faggit little drama queen this one is.

[Parker]

My first instinct was, what a faggit little drama queen this one is.

X2

[Wiggs]

I was 10 years active duty and will become a reservist in the coming weeks
You know the deal once you're in.  Accept it or get the fuck out.  We don't have the same rights as other Americans when we're in.  Deal with it.  He'll be dishonorably discharged if he keeps it up.  Well deserved.

[Soul Crusher]

This guy needs to pick another battle to wage. 

Why not just pick a spoof account or something like that?

[Dos Equis]

Military Board Says Marine Should Be Dismissed
Friday, 06 Apr 2012

A military board says a Marine who criticized President Barack Obama on his Facebook page has committed misconduct and should be dismissed.

The Marine Corps administrative board made the decision Thursday after a daylong hearing at Camp Pendleton for Sgt. Gary Stein.

The board's recommendations go to a general who will either accept or deny them.

The board also recommended that Stein be given an other-then-honorable discharge. That would mean Stein would lose his benefits and would not be allowed on any military base.

Stein's lawyers argued he was expressing his personal views and exercising his First Amendment rights.

Stein is a 9-year veteran whose service was to end in four months.

http://www.newsmax.com/US/Marine-FreeSpeech/2012/04/06/id/435033

[Dos Equis]

Marine Corps discharges sergeant for Facebook posts critical of Obama
Published April 25, 2012
Associated Press

SAN DIEGO –  A sergeant will be discharged for criticizing President Obama on Facebook in a case that called into question the Pentagon's policies about social media and its limits on the speech of active duty military personnel, the Marine Corps said Wednesday.

Sgt. Gary Stein will get an other-than-honorable discharge and lose most of his benefits for violating the policies, the Corps said.

The San Diego-area Marine who has served nine years in the Corps said he was disappointed by the decision. He argued that he was exercising his constitutional rights to free speech.

"I love the Marine Corps, I love my job. I wish it wouldn't have gone this way. I'm having a hard time seeing how 15 words on Facebook could have ruined my nine-year career," he told The Associated Press.

Gary Kreep, an attorney for Stein, said he would pursue administrative appeals within the Marine Corps but anticipates the effort will fail. He said he planned to file an amended complaint in federal court.
"As long as he wants to pursue this, we will be supporting him," said Kreep, who is executive director of the United States Justice Foundation, an advocacy group.

The Marines acted after saying Stein stated March 1 on a Facebook page used by Marine meteorologists, "Screw Obama and I will not follow all orders from him." Stein later clarified that statement, saying he would not follow unlawful orders.

Brig. Gen. Daniel Yoo, the commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, said in a brief statement Wednesday that evidence supported an administrative board's recommendation to discharge Stein.

Tom Umberg, a former Army colonel and military prosecutor, said Stein persisted even after being warned.

"The Marine Corps gave him the opportunity to think about his actions, yet Sgt. Stein continued to undermine the chain of command," said Umberg, who was not involved in Stein's case. "I think his purpose was to leave the Marine Corps in a dramatic fashion in order to begin a career in talk radio or what have you."

Umberg believes the decision to discharge Stein will have limited impact because the vast majority of Marines would never consider such postings.

"I think 99 percent of the soldiers and Marines currently on duty understand the duties of supporting the chain of command and understand their rights of free speech are limited," he said. "To that 1 percent who don't know their rights to free speech are limited once they take the oath, this is a loud and clear message."

During a hearing, a military prosecutor submitted screen grabs of Stein's postings on one Facebook page he created called Armed Forces Tea Party, which the prosecutor said included the image of Obama on a "Jackass" movie poster. Stein also superimposed Obama's image on a poster for "The Incredibles" movie that he changed to "The Horribles," military prosecutor Capt. John Torresala said.

At the hearing this month at Camp Pendleton, Torresala argued that Stein's behavior repeatedly violated Pentagon policy and he should be dismissed after ignoring warnings from his superiors about his postings.

The military has had a policy since the Civil War limiting the free speech of service members, including criticism of the commander in chief.

Pentagon directives say military personnel in uniform cannot 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.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/25/marine-corps-discharges-sergeant-who-posted-facebook-posts-critical-obama/?test=latestnews

[Hugo Chavez]

I was 10 years active duty and will become a reservist in the coming weeks
You know the deal once you're in.  Accept it or get the fuck out.  We don't have the same rights as other Americans when we're in.  Deal with it.  He'll be dishonorably discharged if he keeps it up.  Well deserved.

I don't don't like how there is a double standard.  Nobody has any problems using the troops to promote presidential actions which is just as stupid to do.

[240 is Back]

I dont know what the argument is:

According to Department of Defense directives, military personnel on active duty are prohibited from sponsoring a political club, writing anything that solicits votes for a political cause or speaking at any event that promotes a political movement. They may also not participate in any "radio, television, or other program or group discussion as an advocate for or against a partisan political party, candidate, or cause" or distribute "partisan political" literature.

In one of his recent posts to the Facebook group, Stein asked members to voice their opposition to the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010, a Senate financial overhaul bill introduced by Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn.

He was asked to stop by his bosses.   What else is there to talk about?  All this shit today... people agree to something for their employer, thye enjoy the medical care and tuition and room and board... then suddenly they have some policial awakening and hear something on youtube that angers them, and suddenly the oath they took isn't valid cause they're upset about something.

i dont get it.  It's not like you're in the peace corps.  You joined a military who is pretty well known to blow people up in the nation of resources, bases, our political ideology, etc.  Ain't no saints here.  You joined the baddest fighting unit on the planet, you agreed to their rules, you enjoyed the benefits, and you helped the USA kick ass.

Suddenly you grow a conscience over domestic funding of healthcare, and your oath isn't valid?  I dont understand.