Stein learned that from republicans... They always rewrite their own words to say the same stupid things all over again.. As if that makes a difference to anyone other than showing a double likely hood to keep on with the same dishonorable public demonstrations of old hate. ignorance & total lack of patriotism

Stein is a disgrace to the uniform

The punishment seems a little extreme, but rules are rules. Social Media is as much to blame.

Sorry, now? Puleeeeeze....

sorry your dumb ass has been discharged! That's ALL!

To even "think" it was okay to bad mouth the president is unbelievable!

Is this what "America" has become?

It is good to see that he decided to apologize to the president but clearly it is too little too late to help him. This case should be a warning to Republicans that spew hate and vitriol towards our president. No, he isn't a domestic terrorist even if he does care about poor people... it just makes him a good human being, unlike you and your prejudiced opinions. Republican's constant personal attacks on the president are disgraceful and only reflect badly on those regurgitating the hateful accusations.

Good luck to this guy but I doubt it actually changed his attitude in any way and I bet he's out there flaming and trolling the president in no time. I just hope he got a dishonorable discharge.

As a Vietnam Era Veterna, I truly cannot recall anyone in my service branch (US Army) or others having the temerity to speak out against the President, i.e., the commander-in-chief. And Lord knows we had two of the worst you could serve under: LBJ, who escalated the war to a bloody mess that left thousands of US servicemen wasted, and Richard Nixon, for whom no critical or redeeming word can suffice. Still, we served and honored them as commanders-in-chief, no ifs ands or buts about it. Of course, there was no such thing as Facebook or the Internet back then, so who knows what our behaviors would have been like. Of course, most of us were too busy doing our duty, trying to survive, and protect the lives of our fellow soldiers and marines to get all hung up on criticising "the boss"...

Mike: You stated, "I think the punishment was an overreaction. Many soldiers criticize the CIC during their enlistment, few are punished. But then social media wasn't around then. New rules must apply. I'm afraid the CIC may be a little too thin skinned than previous CIC's were."

I disagree with your statement. I'm sure that many soldiers criticize their CIC, their commanding officers, etc. However, to post that he would not follow orders from President Obama is beyond criticizing the CIC.; it is a dereliction of duty. Moreover, calling CIC the enemy seems to be treasonous.

How do you come to the conclusion that President Obama is thin-skinned? Did he comment? Was he involved in the discharge? I don't follow your logic.

He just doesn't get it. He acted on behalf of the USMC. He is not the Commandant. He is a sergeant at Camp Pendleton.

He has no authority to speak on behalf an entire military body. He was fired for being stupid.

“Obama is the economic enemy,” he wrote in the post. “He is the religious enemy ... He is the ‘fundamentally change’ America enemy … He IS the Domestic Enemy.”

Where does all this vitriolic hatered come from? I don't use the race card lightly when criticizing Obama haters but what else can it be here?

I'm all for criticizing the president for ideological and policy differences but it seems to always be this over-the-top hyperbole with many right wingers. From thinly veiled death threats to outright contempt on the congressional floor.

I'd like to see president Obama step in and give this guy a second chance just to show everyone what a class act the president is. As long as the guy really repents and this is the only real ding on his record.

Miked, how is the punishment extreme, and how is social media to blame? If I publicly said those things about my boss if I worked in a corporation do you think that person would let me still work there? I hope not, or moral would be pretty low since it would reflect badly on the business, the boss, and me. Good luck with getting someone to pay you and give you benefits after spewing whatever comes to your head in a public forum. A pink slip would follow just as he is being discharged. Hate the boss if you like, but don't be stupid and arrogant enough to post that and to ignore the warnings you got about that kind of thing already.

As for social media being to blame? Oh, so someone held a gun to his head and forced him to type all that inappropriate content over time? It's the computer's fault? The internet's? Maybe his web host for the website or Facebook's? Seriously, how happened to personal responsibility and common sense?

Perhaps if he really wanted to take care of his little girl and wife he might have thought about what he was saying before he said it and kept saying it. I think the Marine Corp has more reason to be disappointed in him than he does in the Marine Corp.

RTYPO; No, no second chance. We, as Americans, and those in the military, must respect our President. Those in the military must folow orders, and those of us in the public respect the office and unify behind our country. Nothing less.

RTypo, he was warned before. He has had his chances. I would say this no matter who was president. He wasn't punished as badly as he could have been. He chose to keep up the political statements and nastiness and he received the consequences.

I don't have a problem with people not liking Obama's policies. The issue is that some people simply resort to name-calling and lies in a cheap attempt to discredit someone else. As an independent tree-hugger I didn't vote for Obama, because I didn't trust him, and I cannot defend many of his policies. However, in order for an intellectual discourse to take place critical thinking is a requirement. Spouting ideology or regurgitating unsubstantiated bits and pieces heard on Fox News is just childish. This guy does not come across as sincere. He just sounds like he's sorry he got caught. Here's a thought. If you don't like your CiC then don't reenlist.

Mary, what post are you referring to? Mike was blaming social media, not Obama. I'm sure Obama had nothing to do with Stein's punishment! Nothing at all..........

Being correct on all counts does not excuse not including the waiver that they were his own views and not those of the Corps. Hopefully in the near future the man in the presidents office will be impeached or better yet, arrested and the Sgt. will be vindicated.

Where does all this vitriolic hatered come from? I don't use the race card lightly when criticizing Obama haters but what else can it be here?

R Typo, I couldn't agree more with your statement. This is the legacy of the Tea Party, wrapped in the flag and masked as their brand of "patriotism," touted by the Becks and Limbaughs and Hannitys as gospel - people who either don't want to hear anything different or who don't have the means/intelligence to research this nonsense themselves just eat this B.S. up.

George: I was referring to Mike's statement regarding President Obama's thin skin.

"I think the punishment was an overreaction. Many soldiers criticize the CIC during their enlistment, few are punished. But then social media wasn't around then. New rules must apply. I'm afraid the CIC may be a little too thin skinned than previous CIC's were."

He's about as dumb as Hank Williams Jr ... about ..........

Bull@!$%# and more Bull@!$%#, as a retired Marine I state the other than honorable discharge is Political Posturing at its worst. The Marine had close to 10 years of service. The Corps could have just denied reenlistment, but no they had to bow down to the PC bull@!$%# our government has come to succumb to. @!$%# Odumbo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@George: I don't remember a soldier EVER making such a remark under George Bush. And he was one of the dumbest person to rule US. A good man, a dumb president. It must have really riled many of those bravehearts to serve under such a nincompoop, but they sucked it up and did their duty. That's what you do. You follow your commander-in-chief. You don't say 'I won't follow orders.' That can translate into 'treason', no matter who the Commander is at that point.

"I think there might have been peer pressure among the senior enlisted.”

Like hell. I was on a court-martial sentencing board once with enlisted and officers (the convicted can choose to have enlisted on his board if he himself is enlisted). The officers were all for giving the Airman a break as he was not much more than a kid, but it was the enlisted folks who wanted to fry him. I think they saw it as a betrayal of their own standards (the Airman stole from a warehouse he was supposed to be guarding).

Don't think you were railroaded by your superiors, Sgt. Your own rank is far more pissed at you for letting them down.

Rtypo: I agree with you. Criticizing President Obama's policies, leadership, etc., is fine. However, I don't know what else to attribute the hatred shown toward President Obama. The birther "crap," the anti-American rhetoric, the racist emails sent by some Republicans, and school districts forbidding teachers from letting their students watch President Obama's address to students is evidence of racism. And, like you, I don't charge racism lightly. Many times, some on the left have accused someone of racism, and I disagreed.

Having served long ago and knew full well then that I could not criticize a superior officer, including the president. This guy was treated extraordinarily fair. I'm sure he is sorry and means every word of it. But discharge him like a bad habit.

There are two simple rules a MAN must learn: Control your mouth and control your behavior. Once you master those, life is a lot simpler.

Milo: You stated, "Bull@!$%# and more Bull@!$%#, as a retired Marine I state the other than honorable discharge is Political Posturing at its worst. The Marine had close to 10 years of service. The Corps could have just denied reenlistment, but no they had to bow down to the PC bull@!$%# our government has come to succumb to. @!$%# Odumbo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

How is this political posturing? How is the discharge succumbing to political correctness? This Marine posted on Facebook that he would not follow the CIC's orders.

Milo, I call BS on you being a retired Marine. Every other military member I have seen post on this subject has agreed that he should be discharged because he broke an oath.

Your rage for the proper punishment he received shows that you have no respect for the Corps or the Oath they take.

Woe be to those who do not obay king Obama!

To Sgt. Gary Stein,

I could kiss you for what you said.

The Marines are missing a good man.

And don't you dare apologize or feel bad.

Your a breath of fresh air and we need more men like you.

Be proud and thank you.

Its absolutely sad how the despicable democrats will switch sides on issues of rights whenever it does not suit their political agenda.

Lets see.

Gay rights.... OF COURSE...

Criticize the President.. DAMN YOU... JAIL AT MINIMUM

@!$%#ers, go to hell

Treason????? Really?? Sounds more like straight up stupidity to me. Who thinks it's okay to criticize your boss in public where they will hear about it?

Thats our problem now, no one standing up. At least this Marine saw there is a problem. How long are we going to allow this Obamanation to continue. Time for a change Simper Fi. Marines are not Robots.

I'm hearing two different versions of the same story. If he said "I will not follow President Obama's orders" then he should have been fired. If he said, "I will not follow an illegal order from President Obama" that is entirely different statement. Regardless, I'm not sure taking away all his military benefits is just or necessary. He did serve for nine years, some being in a combat zone.

It smells of political bull@!$%# more than anything.

First, I thank this man for his service to our Country. That being said, though - Obama IS in fact the Commander in Chief. Hence, he's the boss. In ANY organization, the Military included, you run the risk of getting canned by slandering your boss on a social website. So, don't be surprised if, after a weekend of incessant ranting about him/her on Facebook you're called on the carpet the following Monday.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Dont let the door hit you on the way out, (ex) sergeant !

AND - Rshaw, as a marine, his job is NOT to stand out, but to step UP..to BE a marine and NOT denigrate his Commander ...period.

Funny how it worked out. He was talking all big and tough a little while ago, before he really needed the free health care he gets. When he trys to find insurance, if he can find a job, they will deny him because of previous conditions.

The military is not a democracy and this soldier knew that when he made the comment.

In addition, I'm not at all surprised that the "race card" was used when judging this Marine's misconduct. He was wrong, as a member of the Armed Forces, and not because he is white. Comments left like the one made by "RTypo," do absolutely nothing but cause further dissention.

Sounds like this guy drank the tea party cool-aid. As a Navy Submarine Veteran if you criticize the CIC and say you won't follow his orders during war time your standing into danger, you could be shot. That's a little extreme, but the UCMJ takes a dim view of treasonous acts during national conflicts. I realize this guy was a weatherman criticizing President Obama, but he wasn't a Weatherman, if your from the '60s. I think mostly he was just stupid, the USMC is way better off without him!!

if you wanna make this political then he deserved to be fired for crossing the line with his superiors. if you wanna make it civil, I wonder how many people keep their jobs after crossing the lines with their bosses on the internet...

all you people bringing the president into this discussion as its his fault for the stupid idiot dismissal are anti-president and anti-america, if the country needs you, you wouldn't serve under your commander in chief? you are all traitors who talk down the president....

You are not alone Stein, the country wishes it could take back the Presidential election of 2008 too!

This is an embarassment...to think that somone would criticize the president, not because of his policies, but BECAUSE OF A RELIGION! He sweared an oath, to the commander in chief, then turns around to defy said person, this is disgraceful, and will leave a bitter taste in the name of the marines.

Go off your high horse, no one cares about religion, it doesnt belong in politics, it belong in your church, club, and your household. Even if Obama does somthin that agaisnt your religion, remember this ITS YOUR religion. Seperation between church and state. dont need some self rightous religous organization promoting thier beliefs on somone else. there is only liberal and conservative propoganda, that has to do with politics. we DO NOT need religious propoganda....

P.S. dont blame the social network...

Five minutes later, another Marine took down his post, but not before someone Stein knew took a screen shot and forwarded the comment to Stein’s superiors.

WOW! A fellow Marine turned on his brother? I would want HIM removed from the Marines! How can he be trusted to protect his brothers anymore? He posted on a closed forum and is entitled to FREE SPEECH! Face it, not everyone is hypnotized by Obama, some can see him for what he really is and aren't afraid to tell the truth

When you're working in the private sector if you talk about your boss the same as the sarge you get fired. Why should he be treated any different? The republican politicians have become disrespectful. Some of the things they have said and actions taken, if done by a democrat, they would be screaming to have him drawn & quartered.

His original comments were Republican Tea Party comments.

His "apology" is a Republcan Rush Limbaugh apology.

He has learned from his mentors and masters very well.

But he does not deserve to be a US Marine.

Maybe he can be a factory guard for one of the Koch Brothers Factories.

Here is a Marine who given 9-10 years of his life to his country, shots off his mouth about the President, said he will not follow orders from the President, then get caught and now he is this poor victim, Military and Gov't are after him to make an example of him. When you are in the Military, you have no rights of free speech unless given to you by your senior Officers. To put it on Facebook or what ever out there for the world to see is just stupid. I am sorry his career is over but next time he will think better of himself than to throw his life down the drain. Thanks for your Military Service, I wish you the best. PS: you don't have to like what the President says, But you must follow his orders, he is the Commander in Chief.

There is a difference between being sorry for one's actions and being sorry for having to face the consequences for one's actions.

Because he was warned about this type of behavior by his commanding officer, and yet he chose to be insubordinate and continue, my sense is that he's really just sorry for having to face the consequences for his actions.

I don't feel sorry for this idiot. I did't realize he had been warned before about posting stuff before, so he had chances and therefore he needs to be fired. This is not freedom of speech. I just had a conversation with someone about facebook in terms of policy for a job, and I stated that while you should not be able to get the password of an employees facebook account, the employee should not use work time to play on it.

To me this is another case of a worker getting in trouble via social media. As others have stated, I don't care who the president is, you should never state something you will regret later and can lose your job.

He's only sorry because he lost everything he had. You knew the rules, You knew what you were doing was wrong, You were told to stop several times. You got what you deserved.

As a veteran, I served under Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton. Carter and Clinton were by far the worst CICs I worked under. Clinton never served in the military and did everything he could to avoid going in. It sure was hard not to be negative. But I kept my mouth shut like a good GI.

Barlow-191

Sounds like this guy drank the tea party cool-aid. As a Navy Submarine Veteran if you criticize the CIC and say you won't follow his orders during war time your standing into danger, you could be shot. That's a little extreme, but the UCMJ takes a dim view of treasonous acts during national conflicts

Remember Ehren Watada, the first officer to refuse going to Iraq? He didn't just talk about refusing orders, he flat out refused them. He was dismissed from the military. The military will not disclose the type of dismissal he received citing privacy rules. It was Obama's Justice Dept. that finally dismissed all other charges and attempts to prosecute Mr. Watada.

“If he was in front of me right now, I would salute him, say, ‘Yes, Mr. President, No, Mr. President,’ and when I walked away, I would still disagree with his policies. But those are two separate things.”

Don’t compromise yourself, stay strong and be of good courage!

weemee

RTYPO; No, no second chance. We, as Americans, and those in the military, must respect our President. Those in the military must folow orders, and those of us in the public respect the office and unify behind our country. Nothing less.

Sorry, respect is something that is EARNED!

* The media is not to blame

* The Blame

** Tea Party controlled republican party--Birthers--and other bad acting political delinquents

** Commentors like miked-332794--taken out of contex--everyone is to blame but me PC: I'll let you name it

* This Marine is sorry he learned a horrible lesson

* No second chances--this guy is a slug

* This is not so much about what he said about the president. This is about this guy going back on his oath to the American people--an oath he took freely. When the Corps cautioned him on his breach of trust, he doubled-down and brought dishonor to The Corps.

* No political correctness he except the one where they gave him an other than honorarble discharge vs the dishonorable discharge he jockeyed for.

* Finally: milo-2 should not be heard or seen. milo what did you do as a marine????

You make a big mistake soldier, too late for regrets, when you dress your uniform must respect your Commander in Chief. You must be a civilian, a politicians or part of the media to criticise the President shame on you, just wait for your discharge and use your freedom of speech. Like Democrats did against Bush.

aliveinsd... I am sure you're right. I am sure there's a lucrative job waiting for him. I mean what employer wouldn't want a Marine who was thrown out of the Corps because he said he refused to do what the boss said to do.... oh wait.

@Drewbuddee

The ironic part is that the Health care act that President Obama passed will allow him to get his insurance, and can't be denied because of a pre-existing condition. He has the man he was talking smack about to thank for the fact that he will get his health care right away! Isn't that something!!!

What stands out to me is Stein loses everything while the people whose vitriol he espouse loose nothing. Why? Because they are sideline patriots. They don't serve.

Steelforce... wrong, but even if that was the case... from what I have seen is that the VAST majority of fellow soldiers and veterans have said he should be removed because he broke an oath. Would you want to be in the trenches next to this guy taking enemy fire when he decides he doesn't want to follow orders? The uneducated say it was just words but what he did endangers fellow soldiers.

What a disgrace this marine is.

President Obama is the Commander-In-Chief.

While in the military, you do not criticize your commander.

He is fortunate that his foolishness did not lead to a court martial.

steelforce... you actually think what he did falls under freedom of speech? Really? Okay, go into work tomorrow and tell your boss you refuse to follow any orders he gives you from now on. Then plead freedom of speech as he kicks your @ss to the curb.

This is why the DoD should never have allowed the use of Facebook on military computers. If they did not the whole situation would be out of there jurisdiction.

He'll get a job as the new poster child for the Tea Party (what's left of it) kind of like Joe the (not really) Plumber.

Although I believe the USMC did the right thing, SGT (PVT?) Stein is lucky he was diagnosed while still on Active Duty. He will now continue to be able to utilize the services he so took for granted when he decided to go on his verbal rampage.

bsbfankaren, those services are paid for by who? the people of the united states. Stop thinking the government is the one who distributes, it is the people of the unites states. All the government does is move money.

bsbfankaren, would you call it a verbal rampage if a citizen said the same thing? Only call this a verbal rampage if you would call other attacks verbal rampages. Many citizens make such statements, I doubt you would classify all of them as verbal rampages.

Steelforce... The Government makes the rules. If you think public opinion should make all the rules then you support anarchy. There are difficult decisions to be made that the bulk of the public does not like, but those decisions are necessary. There are things that are in place for our own good, whether we like them or not. Just as kids in school would vote no to doing homework.

What it comes down to is this soldier took an oath and the penalty of that oath is expulsion. He knew it when he took the oath and he knew it when his superiors warned him. All along the way he said he didn't care... until the penalty was handed down.

My guess is he expected a lot more soldiers, current and former, to agree with him. That just didn't happen. They know the rules and they acknowledge that he broke them.

Steelforce, you fail to see the point still. An average citizen does not take an oath and draw pay and benefits for taking that oath. He broke the oath... all there is to it. There is absolutely NO gray area here.

Everyone who is writing one this must not have every said or did something you later regret. I know at times I say I could just kill you and not really mean it. It was taken down within 5 minutes. IT was not to the public eyes it was on a close forum matter of fact if he would not have got discharged I bet none of us would have even saw it.

He did a stupid thing by making the comments.

skiing111, I agree with this 'oath', but is there no bounds to this oath, didn't he say he would not follow "illegal" orders? International law determines what is legal orders does it not? I think these international laws are for the good, and were created out of the Holocaust, I am fairly certain.

Steelforce... he actually said he wouldn't follow ANY orders from the president. There is a reason why all of the soldiers (Current and former) that are posting on this agree with his punishment. They know better than non-serving citizens if the punishment fits the crime.

I am not saying you have to agree with the presidents policies, but you can't deny that this Marine broke the rules KNOWING what the punishment would be. He did not care until the punishment was handed down and then he was sorry. He was adamant all along in his stance. To me this is no different than when everyone else is convicted of a crime. They always preach sorrow once they are found guilty.

Besides, I have mentioned before, what Soldier would want to be in a battle with him when he decides what orders he doesn't want to follow. These men/ladies have to have 100% confidence in their fellow soldiers. I know I wouldn't want to put my life in his hands if I was a fellow Marine.

The US Military does not have time to waste on individuals who portray their political or religious beliefs as the beliefs of all members of the military. And they certainly don't have time to waste on service people who say they won't obey the orders of their commander. His very statements and actions make him unfit for service, and a dangerous distraction to his fellow soldiers. I don't care what political party he's from, or which party's president he insulted. In the Military, you are responsible for knowing the rules, and if you break them you will be held accountable.

FedupwithFed:

No truer words spoken than: "Respect is earned". You've got all my votes. Those that don't that, will never succeed in life.

simply funny how some of the Republicans backpedals when rules are applied to themselves, proving that the rules are there for others. This has nothing to do as 1st Amendment rights, but about his duty that he has volunteerred for. He was not drafted. He chose to joing the service. He choice post after earlier warnings.

As for Milo's comment in regards to PC???? Really, and your suggestion to allow him to service out the remaining 3 months is not PC???? Wow, more hypocracy.

Frankly, I don't want any men or women defending this country who have such an absolute hate and disgust for OUR President. It's absolutely ridiculous and out of line. Period.

skiing111, I am coming to more of an agreement on the terms of punishment, but what bothers me the most is the onesidedness of people who support civil liberties.

On one hand, some people support the destruction of "don't ask, don't tell," which was set in place by the military leaders for purposes of order in the chaos that is war; but on the other hand, many of those in the same group of people seem to disparage those who invoke the freedom of speech, also restricted by military leaders for purposes of order in the chaos that is war.

It seems that left leading individuals support civil liberties only when it furthers their causes.

bicfj

His original comments were Republican Tea Party comments.

His "apology" is a Republcan Rush Limbaugh apology.

He has learned from his mentors and masters very well.

But he does not deserve to be a US Marine.

Maybe he can be a factory guard for one of the Koch Brothers Factories

So bicfj-

What this tells me is that you believe only Liberal Democrats deserve to be in the Corps! Republicans/ Conservatives are only "good enough" to guard a Koch Brothers factory. Am I wrong?

Gooood Night Vietnaaaaam....

Here is a Marine who given 9-10 years of his life to his country

He is 26, how could he have served 9 to 10 years? He was warned by his superiors once before. He didn't heed the warning. He just lost medical for life and maybe some college. AWWWW..he will be fine.

To those who call the president thinned skinned, he has endured more back stabbing and criticism than any president in history. The right REFUSES to work with him or any democrat. To hell with them! It is time to throw the TGOP out now. I don't mean all republicans, just those tolling the tea-party and koch brothers and their likes lines against all Americans.

Fed are you serious? What he meant was nobody will give a guy a job who has told the world he won't follow orders.

Stein, YOU'RE FIRED....no excuses accepted. The first week of basic training consists of HELL and learning the the UCMJ, (gray bible), front to back and they will keep setting you back until you know it. He knew what he was doing was wrong and then he got caught, and now he's sorry?? Like I said Sgt, YOU'RE FIRED and remember your civilian bosses will do the same to you, without a hearing so I hope you learned your lesson!!

If Bush had been president, there would be no story here.

A lot of people are missing the point here. Never mind his comments, his creation of a public page called "Armed Forces Tea Party" is a direct violation of Defense Directive 1344.10. The military is supposed to remain above politics, and that was clearly political in nature, and specifically mentioned the US Military in its name.

As to his comments about not following illegal orders from the CIC:

1) A Marine NEVER says that. First, the president never goes to a junior officer to give an order. He gives orders to the Generals, who send them down the CoC.

2) IF the Marine is given an illegal order, he has the right to refuse, at that time. He will face a courts-martial, and have an opportunity to defend his decision.

3) To simply say something like that, in a general context, is done ONLY to be combative, and show his partisan politics, as a military member, and also against that same Directive.

Concerning the military and free speech: If servicemen and women are allowed to voice their partisan politics, the only thing that can result from that is a division between the forces. Other countries who allow this sort of thing see these results in the form of military coups, and that results in a country being run by the military. There is a reason that this country designed a country led by civilians.

The consequences of this Marine's action could very well be an over-reaction, and designed to make an example. In this case, an example is definitely needed, to show that this will not be tolerated, even in the smallest degree.

I agree with the results of this inquiry with everything I hold dear.

Semper Fi!

Steelforce,

I don't see the comparison between what this Marine did and "Don't Ask Don't Tell". On one hand you have a Marine directly breaking an oath he took. The punishment of breaking that oath is expulsion. He knew it, he still did it. The other one is an example of all human beings being given equal rights to serve openly in our Military. As I stated, Freedom of Speech does not apply here. Not everything an individual has come out of their mouth falls under Freedom of Speech. That is probably the biggest misconception of all time. Not everything you say is protected. As I said, try telling your boss that you refuse to follow every task he tells you to and then claim freedom of speech.

But I just don't see how the two are comparable. One is a Marine breaking the rules and the rules being enforced. The other is simply not denying someone their right to take that oath and serve openly based on sexual orientation. They did not break any rules.

Anyway, it was good debating the topic with you.

hah, you guys and your Probama talk....you're so funny! I think the funniest part is that you ACTUALLY think little o gives a rat's behind about you. You people just prove the old saying true, "Ignorance is bliss!!!"

Obama sucks and needs to be removed from office any way possible. Romney needs to be prevented from entering office any way possible.

Frankly, based on the wide variety of opinions, would could conclude Texas was right from the beginning and we should all simply secede from the union and allow states to manage themselves. We have no functional military, as this article goes to prove. over 70% of it is defending other people anyway (which was never the intent of the US military...it was to provide defense for our country not rebuild every third world nation that has a monsoon).

I respect everyone because I respect myself. No one must EARN my respect.

I respect children, animals, mother Earth--I even respect you. Because I respect myself.

The only one who needs to earn one's respect is oneself.

Knuckleheads still don't get it, but that's why they have rocks for brains.

The marine is punished for his inability to perform his job. Nobody has an issue with the opinions. Nobody, either, has an issue for somebody being properly punished for not doing their job. This marine finally woke up and smelled the coffee with his regret, unlike the true idiots.

@ Eva Peron...agree, but also people wish they could take back the presidential election from 2000 and 2004 which by the way even though people hate to continue the blame, but it's what got us into this mess...

I am so sick and tired of all these closet racist conservatives
disrespecting the President and the office of the Presidency. You may disagree
with his policies and I for one don’t agree with all of his policies decisions,
but he is the duly elected head of the executive branch of OUR government. I am a Vietnam veteran
and that punk who disrespected President Obama not only disrespected the man he
urinated on the office as well, and disgraced the uniformed. Everyone who has
served knows the military is not a democracy. I know this may come as a surprise
to all of you who chose not to serve the country you claim you love so much, but
democracy does not work well in the armed services for obvious reasons. However
this story really isn’t about military justice. Anyone with an IQ higher than their shoe size
can clearly see this. It is just plain old dumb racism.

Because of this Marine views about Blacks and
some of you all have the very same views; you all can only see that he is disrespecting
a black man. Every conservative in the land love to wrap themselves in the flag
and talk about how they love the constitution, not just part of it, but all of
it. Well the last I looked, that same constitution established the executive branch
which is headed by a black man and this is you all’s main problem. Listen up!
You can disagree with the president’s positions on any policy issue, but when
you publicly show disrespect to him as a person you also show distain for the
office! Another thing for all of you who
show you have more cyber courage that command of the facts; please tell us
which one policy that President Obama pushed and signed into law that had a
negative impact on you personally.
I don’t what to hear about what you heard on some conservative media outlet,
but what impacted you… just you?

All I want to know publicly is the name of the motherphucker who stab him in the back and ran like a good little cockroach to his superiors to 'report' what big bad Stein was posting....I mean it was up for 5 mins and some phucking a$$-wipe copies the page so he can be some sort of hero to his phucking superiors!

I sure as hell wouldn't want that phucker watching my back, after all he's already stabbed one Marine in the back who's to say he won't do it again and again

Bulldog2,

You rant about bullsh!t racism while you spout the same sh!t. Barry is 1/2 Black....1/2 WHITE or did you forget that part? but i guess when you're racist such as yourself you overlook what is clear fact...his mother was white his father black...therefore he's of mixed heritage 1/2 White 1/2 Black....so you assertion that he's hated as a Black I call bullsh!t on you.

I love how he's Black but never once do people mention his mother was White and raised by White grandparents and instilled with their values...Barry was raised with these values yet everybody wants to forget about his White side and his heritage, which is that of a mixed background...not a Black background. So when you can admit that it's a mixed race person that holds office then you have finally taken a step towards enlightenment

I sure as hell wouldn't want that phucker watching my back, after all he's already stabbed one Marine in the back who's to say he won't do it again and again

Actually, I wouldn't want the guy who didn't understand how the chain of command and military regulations worked watching my back. He's obviously a moron and would just as likely kill me as the enemy out of stupidity.

All I want to know publicly is the name of the motherphucker who stab him in the back

Given the proclivity for people who would support stein to own and use firearms (no matter how illegal: thank you Oklahoma shooters) I think it's best that the person who reported him (it might have been his supervisor who saw the post in the first place) remain anonymous.

Pfft. If MY name was on this guy's paycheck, I'd boot him out too.

Military rules are a little more stringent than civilian rules for a reason (mainly national security - there I go talking like a Republican again, LMAO), but the basic premise is the same. You live or work under someone else's roof, you must obey THEIR rules. If you want to live under your own rules, by all means start your own business, pay for your own house, or apply to OCS and keep working at what you do until they make you a General. The military regulating freedom of speech is no different from the moderators of this forum regulating free speech. There are reasons why these rules are in place. The first amendment IS NOT ABSOLUTE! All it protects you from is being jailed (in civilian life.) One must still bear the burden of taking responsibility for their actions, and whatever consequences might result from those actions.

All these people are saying is that there's a correct way and an incorrect way to state one's opinion. Stein chose the incorrect way, and must therefore live with the consequences of what he has done.

Economic enemy? So, giving a bunch of rich folks tax breaks, while spending $4 TRILLION on a war was economical genius? Religious enemy? So keeping religion from taking over our government is only bad when it comes to christianity? You can't be a good American, and believe that

There are so many virulent statements on these forums, by individuals who take extreme positions -- Conservative and Liberal, both -- that I wonder what they would do if faced with libel proceedings whenever that was found to be appropriate. Would they reverse completely and apologize as this young man has done? Yes, I believe that they would.

Think before you shriek!!! It's good advice.

First of all I have heard every where else that what he said was that he would not follow an unconstitutional order which he has the right to refuse unlawful/unconstitutional orders. If he said all orders then he is very incorrect. Where he is really in the wrong is in calling President Obama names like Domestic Terrorist, that he is not allowed to do while in the military that is why he is being punished, it is clearly stated in the UMCJ. President Obama is the Commander and Chief and he can not disrespect the office while in the military he lost that right when he joined. Plus he did it very publicly on Face Book so now he is being made an example of, if he had just said it in passing he probably would have just had a reprimand placed in his record. They warned him in the past he should have listened then, he knows he is in the wrong.

"Stein said he repeatedly told Marine Corps officials he would shut down the Facebook page and not speak with the press if they allowed him to complete his contract, which ends in three months, but they refused."

How magnanimous of him to "agree" to follow the rules from now on if they agree not to punish him for not following the rules in the first place. He calls his own commander in chief the enemy and he only follows orders if it benefits him personally in some way. That's not the kind of soldier I would want in my platoon. No wonder they don't want him either.

P.S. good luck with that real estate thingy, Stein. I think your license pretty much lost its value along with the homes you might otherwise have had a chance to sell. I think it became worthless under the watch of the previous commander-in-chief, the one you did respect.

I find this very entertaining that the Obama administration go after a poor Marine enlisted man for telling the truth about a failed administration hoping to draw attention away from gas prices, no jobs and a dying economy under Obama's socialist administration. Then he goes after Ted Nuggent for also speaking up getting his appointments at the US Fish and Wildlife Service enforcing a little know game law on Ted. I hope Obama is proud of the Gestapo tactics that he always beat up on the Bush administration about. He certainly knows the "Chicago Way" of doing business. Does Obama have no shame? He is not only an embarrassment to the office of President, but to the whole USA.

This case should be a warning to Republicans that spew hate and vitriol towards our president

Now replace Republican with ANYONE and you get a real picture of the situation. Fact is, both sides of the party have their extremeists. Get over it people, no one side is better. I believe half n half on both sides (death penalty is bad [D] but I don't like abortion[R]).

I hate how civil arguments on simple things like this turn into a shoutfest. Why cant we just explain our case and move on??? And cant we agree that people are not the issue here, it's the politicians? On both sides?? If we want to get rid of this squabbling, get rid of the high politician pay, that way only people who enter office (although there are probably some in there) are the ones who truley care about this country.

Stop being so ignorant people....and stop buying bottled water, i mean for real, do you know where that water comes from???

Ugh..w/e ppl will always live in ignorance :/

bsbfankaren

"Although I believe the USMC did the right thing, SGT (PVT?) Stein is lucky he was diagnosed while still on Active Duty. He will now continue to be able to utilize the services he so took for granted when he decided to go on his verbal rampage."

You are so wrong! In order to claim VA compensation for a medical condition that you were diagnosed with while on active duty, you first have to have an honable discharge, He is not going to have that and therefore he forfeits all of his VA benefits, no healthcare, no GI bill for college, no VA homeloan, nothing. This is why it is making such an uproar over his comments.

I am a Disabled Veteran myself and I remember not liking Clinton while I was serving and I complained to my peers all the time. I Never marched in any parades against him wearing my uniform or representing the Corps in any of my statements. Therefore, I followed the correct procedures/regulations to be able to keep my positon in the Corps. I also followed any lawful order that was given by Clinton, if any, lol....The regulation is not to represent yourself as a member of the Corps while making these statments. the Article seems to say that he did this originally and after being warned by his superiors that he cant do this, he stopped that, If that is the case, they have overstepped their bounds and are wrongfully discharging this marine veteran of 9 years and robbing him of many benefits he should be entiltled to because of that service.

To even "think" it was okay to bad mouth the president is unbelievable!

Is this what "America" has become?

Yeah, No kidding! No one "ever" bad mouthed Bush at all!

Nope, no need. He already paid for his violation of the UCMJ by loosing all his retirement benefits. He is a disgrace to the uniform for disrespecting his commander in chief. Disagree with him all you like, but as long as he is in the Marines, he is bound to follow the rules or pay the price. I hope he enjoyed his fame in exchange for his future and benefits.

Kl25 - Odumber? What, that's your idea of clever?

Good for you for speaking the truth about odumber.

Oh the irony of a right-wing fringe Internet forum troll lobbing epithets at the President of the United States... you know, the one that was a Constitutional Law professor from Harvard at his last job. Ignorant.

Almost, keep trying

kl25 did you even read the story? I'd say it wasn't good for him at all. And if you think his words had any truth, your as ignorant as he was.

Presidents, even Lincoln, had people speak very badly about them, very disgusting and cruel words. So this type of thing is not new. They called Andrew Jackson's wife a horror in the newspaper, and stated that Lincoln was the worst president ever in his time. But history doesn't lie like people with a political agenda do.

The issue isn't whether he spoke the truth or not anyway, it is the fact that in the military it's a crime to do what he did, and very disrespectful. Respect is for those who have honor and integrity, even if it really your enemy in battle.

People like you will never understand that concept. Honor is as foriegn a idea to you as truth.

The military man should not have put this on Facebook, due to the fact he is in the military and reports to the disaster of an administration.. I agree, totally, with his evaluations of our inept President. He will have a good job waiting on him, as he checks out of the military, guaranteed.

Yes! Digging horse manure, you know, the same stuff you are full of????

It never ceases to amaze me how some of you people come out of the wood work to Bash the President. No Respect what so ever, thanks to all of your parents for doing such a wonderful job of raising you to adulthood. Nice work. To all of the nazis out there, start looking over your shoulders, they are watching!!! When in the Military, you must follow the orders of the Commander in Chief, period. Where are the people, when, say Geo. W. Bush and Dick Cheney started two wars under false pretenses of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, no body spoke up??? Lies, now we are paying for it. He was Commander in Chief, remember the banner on the Aircraft carrier that said, Mission Accomplished, well that was a lie also. Great Job!!!

Unfortunately, Kl25, he mimicked comments like yours and lost a 10 year career because of it. I hope he lands on his feet but military rules are unforgiving and he knew that going in. Anyone in the military knows that discipline and espirit de corps keeps soldiers alive and that is more important than the political views of one soldier. I hope he learned something, because a boss in the private sector will fire his ass, no questions asked.

You got to understand that the rights in the military is not the same as a civilian. Just how long have you being in the armed forces? Forgot your code of conduct? Remember he is your CIC.

I do not think the unemployed marine would agree with you.

K125 there is something that you do not understand. As a member of the Armed Forces, all uniformed personnel have to follow a set of rules known as the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the UCMJ. Accordingly, they cannot openly criticize the President of the United States, because he is also the Commander in Chief, which makes him the Sargent's superior officer. Any open criticism of a superior officer is considered insubordination which can be considered grounds for a court martial depending upon how egregious the comment was. Military personnel must abide by a separate set of rules than civilians. He knew this, so I cannot feel any sympathy for what happened to him.

You seem to think that the First Amendment protects to right to lie, it doesn't, as a case decided in Texas today demonstrates.

Any soldier knows that in the military, chain of command is sacred and you don't trash talk your superiors (nor could you get away with that on most jobs). These generals see their duty as protecting morale so soldiers can get up and fight again another day. It's pretty hard to keep control if soldiers are going to start critiquing and lambasting them everyday in the press and on the internet, especially in war time.

Not to say there aren't bones to pick. If you have a stance and it's meaningful to you, go for it and accept the consequences. Just don't expect to have your cake and eat it too.

Personally, I feel the time to have encouraged a revolt would have been under Bush who got us into this inane bs in the first place.

@Andrew: There is NO "freedom of speech" in the US military.

The military is NOT a democracy and on joining you knowingly agree to that. I realise that it's ironic that military personnel give up some of their Constitutional rights, the same rights they have sworn to defend, but that's the way it has to be in order to maintain order and discipline; or would you have soldiers vote every time they they are given an order: "All in favor of charging the enemy say aye, those opposed say nay." ?

10 year career? The boy is 26! He began his service at 16? The 1st amendment doesn't fully protect military personnel. He was warned to quit and he didn't. Too bad for him, but way I got it figured, his career was only 8 years, 8 1/2 tops.

He was warned by his superiors, yet the stubborn mule spouted off on Facebook anyways. He should have thought about this before he acted. He's not a 10 year old, he's a 26 year old man with a wife and child. He knew this was wrong according to military enlistment rules when he signed on the dotted line, yet he did it anyways, and now he's out of a job. How stupid can you be???? No wimpy apologies matter now.

No matter what side of the fence you're on politically, this is a no brainer. The right wingers on here would be screaming foul had this been a left-leaning marine criticizing a Republican president on FB, and they KNOW it. Time to grow up.

rednawt1,

The article clearly states he was in the Corps for 9 years, so he most likely joined at 17, just like my son did!!! These guys most likely are just rounding up to 10. Quit being a knuclehead!!!

What can you expect when we have an commander in chief like Obama? I'm sure the Marine made the comment for a lot of military personal.

It is not this young Marine's fault what we put in office!

I'm sure the Marine will take the responsibility for his comment and the responsibility of a lot of military personnel. End of story. Too bad dude but you knew this would happen. Finally, some equal justice under military law when a wrong Marine does wrong and somehow expects to be treated as if he didn't do wrong. I'm satisfied but disappointed in him, not in the Corps.

His motto is "Semper Sometimes/Some Circumstances Fi". He's out!

floyd

It is against the regulations to speak against his Commander in Chief. He made a mistake even if what he said could be truth. He never act as a leader actually he prefer the UN take the decisions for him, to much apologies.

This man put the lives of his fellow servicemembers at risk. He gets no sympathy from me.

As a Marine you follow oders from your Commander and Chief regardless. As a Marine you support and defend the Constitution. As a Marine you do not look at politics. As a Marine you defend our Country and not the ones personal interest. This is what makes a Marine different and knows it. This is what make you feel safe from foreign invaders.

Discharged for telling the truth? So we now live in the Soviet Union west?

Why was Hunter Gable's comment - the first one of this thread "collapsed by the community"??? Who are the "community" participants who can voice those opinions? He said it all...and I cannot understand for a moment what the controversy is. Stein was so out of control.....he's lucky he's isn't jailed for treason.

I am appalled...and don't think any "discharge" is good enough...he needs to be charged in military court.

I have ALWAYS felt it wrong to waffle in the face of adversity when defending a belief. He should have just thumbed his nose at all of them if he felt strongly enough about his views to jeopardize his career over them. Now he has done nothing more than betray his own beliefs. That is sad. Stand your ground young man. Do not hang your head ever for speaking out on your beliefs. you just showed a little lack of maturity by not picking your battle and the time for it a little better, but your message was clear. You gladly served the people and the constitution of this country, even enlisting and serving during a time of war, but had a problem with this socialist who trying to undermine the constitution for which you served. You should stand proud that you feel so strongly about the sanctity of the constitution, and your service.
To the rest of you who claimed to have served. Did you really serve to see this socialist POS (Obama) thumb his nose in the face of the constitution for you which you served? Really? Is this what you fought for? Give me a break. Who cares about "the code" Right is right, and wrong is wrong. Obama is the biggest problem facing this country today. It's just sad that they cowed this young man into apologizing for his beliefs. Remember, he didn't enlist during this admin. he did so during the last one. It's kind of hard to silently serve when you see your CinC crapping on your beliefs and what you are even serving for.

It is fitting that this tea party representative be discharged for his slander against his Commander in Chief. Now if I understand it right, the tea party should be celebrating as the government just got one member smaller.

Thank you, ProgressiveforAmerica. Well said!

"Do Overs" only happen in kids games. Welcome to reality.

So Marines are still to be "brain washed?" and have no opinion regarding the state of our government? And since when did FB become part of the military. It's called: Freedom of Speech, he isn't representing the U.S. Marines or anyone but himself and his personal opinions. That's why Obama is so bad for this country. We no longer have our freedoms. It's all an illusion. Wake up people!!! I think it is an abomination that he is being kicked out of the Marines. It makes me sick like everything else going on in our government. The Sargent made a "correct" summation!

Agree contrarian , but he is in the military and the law is the law.

I guess you don't have freedom of speech in the military, especially if it is about a president who wants a socialistic society.

Funny how a little while ago he was unsympathetic. Now that he is getting discharged, and losing his healthcare he is sorry. Let him try to get insurance, first let him find a job.

From the Marines to being the new poster child for the (pretty much defunct) Tea Party. Maybe Joe the (Not really a) Plumber can get him some speaking gigs.

This Commander In Chief did NOT start any wars unlike somebody else. And this Commander In Chief is a Christian unlike somebody else who is a Mormon.

what ever happen to freedom of speech,he is serving this country,why should he not be allow to speak? he didn't say one thing that sounded like treason,just his own opinion!

"socialistic society?"

When he joined the military he should have been taught that that when It comes to the President of the United States, his commander in chief (HIS BOSS) you can't say what you want and not suffer repercussions! You no longer have 1st amendment rights when it comes to your leadership! One of the first things I learned when I joined the military was Yes, you have freedom of speech, but you better watch what you say!

I think SDBRUCE is way off base with his comments! I know there are many out there that share this Marine's views, and would be proud to give this Ex-Marine a job (that is probably why he already has some real estate to sell!). Okay, he made comments that should have received a reprimand - a Marine must be politically correct, but I feel the punishment doesn't fit the crime. There have been many such comments on previous Presidents by military personnel, but THIS Administration gets handled with kid gloves on a regular basis. My prayers are with this young man and his family.

i would hire him the first chance i could get, you are only a leader to those that follow. as for obama if he really was born in the usa he should be upfront about it. i wouldnt take orders from obama ever, this country has become too politically correct. when you cant even express your opinion you are not in america, i would hire everyone that would tell obama off. he can take his socialist views and shove them.

Really? Obama and Bush made every American on this planet and inside the borders of this country enemies of the state with the Patriot Act and Defense Authorization Act and other pretend laws dictated under the color of law. In light, these totalitarian and often fascist laws have no authority in a constitutional manner.

The people who ignore this, republican, democrat or other wise have no business commenting about what this Marine did or did not do. You are as guilty as he is if in fact he did anything wrong at all.

The ones who overlook the fact that the so-called Citizens of this nation have been targeted as terrorists by the very government they pay taxes to is absurd. It's like a slave defending his master as he is being beaten to death.

But hey...my team (political party) is better than your team (political party)..so na na na na.

Pfffft.....

When you JOIN the Military of the USA,

you sign away ALL of your civil rights, and you do it THE 1st DAY IN UNIFORM

& you are TOLD YOU ARE DOING IT !

The Military cannot function with "Civilian" laws & rules...

this is for all of you CHICKEN HAWK Conservatives who have NEVER SERVED your country ONE SINGLE DAY .

Unfortunately for some of the people speaking what they do not know - This Law did not begin with President Obama. This Law was on the books well before this Presidency and has been upheld many times over during other Administrations. So to hear all these comments about Socialistic Society's and Soviet Rule crap is very ignorant...Ignorant indeed!

Contrarian,

How do you feel about another president who started an expensive and unnecessary war under fraudilent premise? Do you have strong words for him?

This Commander In Chief did NOT start any wars unlike somebody else. And this Commander In Chief is a Christian unlike somebody else who is a Mormon.

Liberal/progressives call themself open minded , but you are a bigot like many others .

This is not just a matter of freedom of speech. He A.) stated that his intention to defy his oath as a Marine to follow the orders of the CNC of the entire US military. There were many who personally disagreed w/ entering Iraq but they went because the CNC gave the order. B.) He made his statements as a USMC sgt and had been previously told that he could only make statements that were his designates as none USMC statements, he could not make statements as a USMC sgt. My son is a Marine, it is his job to follow orders. When his c.o. wants his input, he'll ask for it.

WE the majority elected this COMMNDER AND CHIEF YOU KNOW HOW that works in a democracy, you have absolutely NO knowledge except what you hear from faux news which is not even close to TRUTH, and you voice untruths about OUR commander and CHIEF you are a TRAITOR you deserve to be sent back to your country your grand parents came from I DON"T want your treasonous AR$$$$ here What gives you the right to put anyone's face on any picture of a jack ass that is reserved for YOUR face NOW sweetheart. You make me SICK. NOW go set in a bread LINE or at some soup kitchen for your meals . You were working on MY DIME BRITCH you do as MY COMMANDER AND CHIEF says BRITCH

nathanwoodring - The US military does not care what you think. You have no choice as to who your leader is and you follow/obey or you are dishonorably discharged.

Yes, people as an old military wife I knew that we lived under a different set of rules. But tell me, when I worked for a large corporation do you think that even or especially as a manager I could post that kind of stuff on a public site and not face repercussion? It's just not done. Or AKA as engage brain before putting mouth in motion.

All I can say is the world has absolutely lost it!!! The inmates are running the asylum!!!!

People like "just wondering" wants a man in court bc he spoke his mind!!! Thanks to evil controlling people like you our country WILL FALL.....that sadly will happen! Our country was based on RIGHTS!!! MORON!!!! Just bc the man wore a uniform doesnt take AWAY HIS RIGHTS!!!! HE WORE THE UNIFORM TO KEEP HIS & OUR RIGHTS!!! Why dont you go have a drink and watch the world unravel!!! We've all got front row seats anyways!!!

He is an idiot and I believe racism is at the root of all
this. I been saying this for the longest time now. The bigots are coming out
the wood work. So here is you card contrarian001

Ozzie Guillen makes comments about Castro and gets suspended, by his BOSS. This Marine says something about his BOSS and gets fired. No one is depriving this Marine of his free speech, they're just holding him responsible for his free speech! This seems like a case of insubordination and contempt: ". . . In the U.S. military. . . insubordination deals predominately with not following the orders of a superior, contempt in the U.S. military involves the use of contemptuous words against certain appointed or elected officials. . ." He chose not to follow the orders of his superior officers with regards to posting on the site and he's paying the price. He chose to exercise he right to free speech and he's paying the price.

Man, reading the rightwingers comments on this board just proves how little they truly know about life, reality, and politics.

"Socialistic society", "liberals and Muslims like the Obama's", etc., etc.

Where do you people come up with this crap (oh wait, I know, Fox News.)

This country is full of retards, and they go about proving it every day on these message boards...

I find this very entertaining that the Obama administration go after a poor Marine enlisted man for telling the truth about a failed administration hoping to draw attention away from gas prices, no jobs and a dying economy under Obama's socialist administration. Then he goes after Ted Nuggent for also speaking up getting his appointments at the US Fish and Wildlife Service enforcing a little know game law on Ted. I hope Obama is proud of the Gestapo tactics that he always beat up on the Bush administration about. He certainly knows the "Chicago Way" of doing business. Does Obama have no shame? He is not only an embarrassment to the office of President, but to the whole USA.

I find it very entertaining that ignorant know-nothings like to comment about military processes that some idiot broke. Judging by the spammage of this one comment I would guess that you are merely pushing some idiotic talking points that were put out by your organization.

I wish that 'mericuns would smarten up and realize that they are shooting themselves in the foot (as this tool did.)

Amazing how quiet and defenseless my liberal media friends and my buddies over at the ACLU are! If this had happened 4 years ago, the ACLU would of defended this guys actions to the death. And my girl friend Rachel Maddow would of beat that drum hard. She is such a hottie! I love the people who have my back, it's sad that it will all be over in a little more than 6 months!

All you people out there are so quick to judge people, call them names, insult them and as far as the Marine---well he is still an American citizen, code or no code, he fought for this country and yet he is denied his rights according to the Declaration of the United States. Our Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces should walk in this Marines shoes for awhile, put on the uniform and go over to Afghanistan and try a few recon missions, then maybe he might be more tolerant. Yes there are many Members of our armed forces who have said the same things and worse about a Commander in Chief in past years. His only crime is that he should have not put it on facebook. Facebook is not private, my guess would be that there are people working for the government who monitor these things. My husband and I served our country for 20 years, Korea and Vietnam. There were many soldiers who did not approve or want to go there. to fight a war. There was no choice then there was the draft, now it is a volunteer thing. We lost so many good men and women in that conflict, as well as Korea. We left Vietnam with out any honor for our lost hero's, for our returning Hero's, who were treated badly. Our Pow, came home without honor. I remember the day our Pow,s started returning and it was heartbreaking, but happy reunions. I also remember the day that Saigon fell, Many of our soldiers died that day. Now we have been in Iraq, now Afganastain. We also will leave there with out much honor. So you all out there who think you can do a better job that the Marines and can keep you mouth shut, join the armed forces. I guaranteeyou will have a different view on life. You so gooders out there , who think this Marine is so terrible, walk in his shoes for awhile, get out of your arm chairs and write on more important things, litlle the MAY DAY GROUPS THAT ARE PLANNING ON WALKING AND PROTESTING THE WAY THINGS ARE, NO JOBS, NO RAISES, ETC. TRY TO IMPROVE YOUR OWN COUNTRY INSTEAD OF TEARING IT DOWN. I FOR ONE WILL NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA. i DO NOT BELIEVE HE HAS DONE THE JOB HE COULD HAVE DONE, I DON'T LIKE THE COMMENTS HE MAKES , WHEN HE THINKS THE MICROPHONE IS OFF. I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT HE IS FINDING WAYS TO GET AROUND OUR LAW MAKERS SO HE CAN PASS HIS OWN BILLS, WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE LAWMAKERS, ETC. If this Marine Had said that about President Roosevelt or Truman or about a couple other, then I would have felt like some of you do. We all have our opinions and this is mine. All of our rights as free speech , right to own a gun, etc. or going out the door What does it take for people to wake up. It's written on the wall. I won't bae back on this post, so comment all you want. Thank you

To R-sticker===The popular vote doesn't elect the presidents, it what the electoral votes in each state do. Voteing is a right and an honor but that too is going out the door. You were very nasty to who you called Britch. and it was all uncalled for. If you can't speak decently to others opinions, get off the blog. Don't bother to reply?????

The disaster we have is in the White House now. Can't wait to get him out. None of his policies have worked.

Oh, you mean the disasters like 5 trillion added to the debt, by-passing congress with executive orders, telling a manufacturing company they can't operate in a non union state, giving money used to bail out a industry to his union buddies and says screw the stock holders, starting military action without the consent of congress...you mean that kind of disasters?

Stuff your sorrys in a sack Mister!!

-G. Kostanza

None of this has anything to do with free speech or the obama administration, you say bad things about your boss and you are going to get fired end of story.

This President isn't worried about putting Americans to work, I heard he just gave contactors to build OUR bridges to the Chinese and to hell with us. The Americans tried to get the job at a cheaper price, but he wouldn't go for it,,,,,,,,,, Whoever voted this guy in, got CHANGE ALRIGHT!!!! I will be at the polls trying to get him OUT>>>>>>>>>

The disaster started within the Bush Admin Tony. And its going to take another 4 yrs or more to get out of this mess that his regime has done to our country. It is too hard for any POTUS to recover this quickly. Deregulation, WARS, tax incentives for big c's and the wealthy, etc.etc have set this country back and almost bankrupted it before Obama was even thought of. Obama 2012..I'll willing to bet 1 miiiilllllliiiooon dollars. Ok..maybe a just a Ben.

TOM IN NH-294... you basically nail this down man. I wont say more because you said it all.

The President isn't worried to put American's to work? Excuse me Sarah Sadler, but ask yourself how many so called 'SOCIALIST callers drive AMERICAN CARS??? I see them all the time with the huge 8x10 american flag stuck to a back of a Japanese or European brand name car. Please... if you are going to be all AMERICAN with your talk... better go ALL the way.

We believe Bush would get the job done and get Bin Laden and he COULDN'T DO IT... we again want troops pulled out of these wars, it is costing us trillions, and God knows how we are still affording this and why we can't protect ourselves from afar. You cannot govern, or keep peace in those lands, and very soon America is going to have to get prepared for future threats from North Korea.

And you turn off CNN.

jon talk big trash on line you pathetic keyboard warrior. bet you would not say that to this jarheads face puswak!!!

Liberals are such idiots... but then.. thats WHY they are Liberals!

He is being punished for violating the Hatch Act . The Act was sponsored by Senator Carl Hatch following disclosures that WPA officials were in fact using their positions to win votes for the Democratic Party, just as many had alleged. Hatch, himself a Democrat, saw this as outright corruption which should not be tolerated under any circumstance by either political party, a feeling shared by most of his colleagues in the Senate.

This act denies ALL public employees the right to publically profess opinions about elected officials. Not that this stops the SEIU, but then there are sooo many discrepencies between Union organized benefits and the military that there is not enough room here.

I was in the Army under LBJ. We used to write LBJ graffitti on the walls of many restrooms.. which served as the Facebook of its time. The catch was, we remained anonymous. The mistake this guy made was stating that he is active military AND criticizing O'Bummer, who is a totally inept fool and dangerous to the safety and security of our nation. I can say this now because I am no longer in active service to the Government. Had I been caught writting it on the wall in ..say... 67, this same thing could have happened to me.

Hey you ment what you said, and it cost you your job. Look on the bright side you can say whatever you want about your boss now. and this time dont back down

Sarah Sarah Sarah...turn off the Fox propaganda channel and try reading something for a change instead of spouting Republican lies...

Wanna know who approved the bridge try reading the NY Times article on it and THEN go look up who the players are...REPUBLICANS killing Union Jobs outsourcing for quick cost savings on a product that will fail in 5 years.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/business/global/26bridge.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

You TOM IN NH-294 are an idoit. I wish I was there with you at this moment. I would stick my fist in your mouth so deep you wouldn't be able to speak another bit of bull. Do some research for yourself and stop relying on the Obama news media for your information. Your kind piss me off.

What I agree with is the last paragraph of this...“If he was in front of me right now, I would salute him, say, ‘Yes, Mr. President, No, Mr. President,’ and when I walked away, I would still disagree with his policies. But those are two separate things.”

We, as Americans have the total honor of speaking our very own opinions. But this guy was tagged and I 'm sure there is more behind this story than most of what is written here.

I do understand that any particular organization doesn't want their own writing vulgar statements with their stamp of approval. But he sure does have his own right to speak his own opinion and views. I surely wouldn't write bad stuff about my employer under my "facebook" page and be friends with them and hope that nobody would bother me. But I do think that from just this story (and I am being partial because I only read this story) makes him out to be a scapegoat or a "teaching point for others to learn from. He should not be dishonorably discharged, I feel. But he should get a good ole slap on the hand and learn from this and so should others and then Marine Core be clear in their statements. People are smarter than many of us think, they just like to push the limits.

As much as I hate the policies of Obama, nor do I think he is a good human being, as evidenced by the way he continues to divide the country, vilifying one segment, pandering to the victim mentality of another segment, dangerous, dangerous stuff. With that said, the marine needed to be fired, period. Unfortunately he will also lose all his benefits. That seems a bit too extreme a punishment for a 10 year service record. I hope there is something that can be done about that.

As for those branding him and all republicans as racists, you can kiss my a$$. From my point of view it is the left that is full of racism, sexism, and every other label you pin on the right. We conservatives view all people as equals, regardless of race, sex, religion, etc. The left obviously feels these people are inferior as they keep passing laws to give special treatment to one group over another. All this does is subvert the mindset of the recipient, making them feel inferior. Need proof? What progress has been made since these programs were put in place? None. The only things these programs do now is to keep he poor and minorities on the democrats plantation.

hardtostarboard

That is the dumbest thing i have ever read. You sound ignorant despite your attempt to use some $5 words... Republicans care about the marginalized because they don't believe they need ANY special treatment.... they treat them all equal???

Like I said, dumbest thing EVER...

Sarah Sadler

It was the state of California who gave that bridge project away to the Chinese. They tried to save money and that didn't work out either. Try getting your info straight before you post.

Obama/Biden 2012

Yes, we have freedom of speech. But, when you are in the military you ought to know that truth is no defense. But, I'd say that the way to post you want to say is "I've been asked to respond to ...... (whatever about Obama)......, but Mama always told me that if you don't have anything nice to say about someone, you shouldn't say anything.

Chrissie-

Then that speech is NOT free. If a person remains silent because of what might happen if they express their opinion then there is no freedom of speech. If you don't think so just ask anybody that lived in Soviet Russia or Nazi Germany. Granted people in military don't have the same constituional protections that civilians enjoy, (ironic that that document is the essence of what they are defending) however I have noticed a trend in recent years whereby people that express an opinion are later punished somehow for expressing that opinion. Sign of the times I guess: Do drugs, put out a sex tape, lie cheat and steal and you are rewarded with a reality tv show or a book or just a million "followers" on one of the social media sites but express an honest thought or opinion on something considered not "politically correct" you lose your job, lose your health benefits, have to start over in disgrace and whatever else the LEMMINGS on here think is an appropiate way of curtailling a persons RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH. I wonder how many on here will lambast and condemn me for speaking my mind? I say BRING IT ON!! After all it's YOUR right. For now anyway.

yog: Everyone in the US has the right of free speech. Of course, the "free speech" that we have here is different than the free speech others have in other parts of the world. The fact is that everyone has the freedom of speech. But, in the US the worst that can generally come of it is that you will be fired by your boss. In other countries you may have the freedom of speech but pay for it with your life. The fact is that if you berate your boss, then you are asking to be fired. Don't forget, bosses are human too.

Gary,

In case you don't know, service members don't have freedom of speech. It's been that way since George Washington. You speak against your commanders, you're fired (sometimes by a firing squad).

Yog-the Constitution does not say that military members are exempt from Constitutional rights. It's the pentagon/military regulation that strip them of their rights. The Constitutionality of the regs should be questioned. But that will never happen.

BTW-the President is not the Commander in Chief 24/7. Only in time of declared war. If a president decides to send troops off to another country to kill-without a declaration of war-he is violating the Constitution. Many presidents have done this, so I'm not pointing fingers at any one Pres. Doesn't make it right though. Soldiers shouldn't follow illegal orders and can be charged with a crime, even if they are "just following orders".

Exactly!!

Yog, you're missing an important point regarding free speech. What it basically means is that the government can't jail you for what you say. It does not mean that your boss must keep you on a payroll if they believe that your statements are doing them or the company harm. They also have the freedom of speech to fire you in response to what you say.

Obama is a TOOL! He should not be discharged for expressing his opinion of Obama, this is not the issue! The issue is not that he disrespected his president Obama, but that he disrespected his commander in chief Obama!

Any company that I have worked for has an 'Ethics and Compliance' policy. The one that currently applies to me in my daily work, basically states that within the confines of the company and when on company time, freedom of speech does not exist. Adhering to the 'Ethics and Compliance' policy is simply part of being professional.

I have seen people being fired for cause on the spot for a lot less than what Sgt Stein thought expedient to vurp out to the world. He has been utterly unprofessional in not adhering to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, with which he, after 9 years of service, should be quite familiar with.

Most people have no respect for obumbo and now some must pay the price to say it. I know, supposedly you can't speak against the CIC if you are in the militay but being critical of him should not be a crime. It's not our fault that he is such a failure and speaks often against the US to foreign leaders while he bows to them. Folks, the experiment was a failure!!

With all these collapses only means freedom of speech has gone out the window""Isn't that what our solders are fighting for.

respect for obumbo"

Obumbo? Wow aren't you clever? By the way you sound like a 3 year old because a 4 year old could make up names better than that.

ABSOLUTELY PREDICTABLE! It's not my fault it's a witch hunt! "If I could take it back I would." Loser. He volunteered for service. He knew the rules and ws warned of the concequences of his actions. Refused to stop. Busted.

All you people sceaming about Constitutional Rights. Are you aware that Licensed Childcare Providers in Washington State are stripped of their Constitutional rights in order to be Licensed to provide childcare? You are guilty of all accusations until proven innocent. You have no right to remain silent but must report any violation of and WAC you think you may have committed. DEL may come into your home at will and "inspect" After you have spent thousands of dollars on equiptment and education you may be shut down by a anonymous accusation . No income until you prove your innocence. Your business records can be seized without notice or cause. We all agree because we know we are providing care because we love children and want the best for them. We know we would never intentionally hurt anyone. Rights are gone Providers are railroaded. Everyone loses.

Well, Mo, why don't we just violate everybody's rights? We pretty much do

.

Don't regret it Sgt. Stein, you were right! Prez BO is a communist. All bets are off. You should be able to say what you want.

I personally think that he did the right thing. The "President" is not over there living that everyday. I wish more of the military would speak up and the true Americans hear their stories, not just how it is presented by our government. They want you to see it through their eyes(cut and, dry, black and white) and not in color. I think they need to shed a little light on the people that are there everyday in a positive way. You never see the good things that are being done, or how they are doing as our father, brother, sister, mother, etc..... over in the battlefield. It's all negative all the time. SUPPORT our troops!!! To every service man or woman that might be reading this - I want to say THANK YOU for your service.

Hmmm... As a U.S.A.F. veteran, (1962-1966) I realize there is no "free speech" in the U.S. military. The military, regardless of branch, is all about conformity. If you do not conform in every way, you are not part of the "club."

The military people who decided that an Other Than Honorable (OTH) discharge is the answer in this matter are wrong. They made a mistake, because this person served honorably for a long time, prior to the comment. All they are doing by assigning the OTH is barking and snarling, to set an example.

More likely than not, he should be given a General Under Honorable conditions. (GUH). After all, he did apologize and admit his choice was not appropriate.

If Commander-In-Chief Barack Obama had any hair on his butt, he would intervene, on behalf of the GUH.

USA1967 it's not our fault that you are a failure in comprehending military law and speak often against the U.S. and bow to Fox News with the lies and false stories they produce. Maybe if you watched another real news channel you would see video of republican presidents bowing to other world leader at meetings. When you put forth your nonsense name calling. It is not our fault that you cannot face the reality that President Obama,( that is his name) has turned the economy around from the destruction the republicans caused when they crashed the economy. The american voters elected the President in an election, it was not an experiment. All facts are on the table, the nation is recovering from the failed policies of republicans. Obama/Bidsen 2012

They gave him an oppertunity to stop and he refused and now he turning sissy,he voluenteered they did not send fo him,he knew the rules of the house he was going to,simple as that.

Stupid is as stupid does. You are not being booted because of what you wrote. It is because you showed NO judgement in your actions. You KNOW where you are working and you know the workplace rules. You were informed across an oficers desk so you are held accountable for that knowledge. Now this is going to follow you forever. Anything less than an Honorable Discharge will be questioned anytime you have an employment check done. Good Luck, youngster. You are not the first to f**k up.

Tell me if I am wrong. But didn't they fire a commander for something he said about the President? So why should this disrespectful ass think he could just say what ever he wanted. He is the tool not the President. This Tool joined the Military Knowing he might have to work for a President that he disagreed with. I was once told that freedom isn't free. Free speech isn't free either. This guy what's to speak his mind then he can pay the price. 9 years down the drain. Dishonorable discharge. Was it worth it dude.

If the truth was to be told this guy is not the only one who has these thoughts and feelings. I would like to thank all our servicemen and women for what they do. If it was not for men and women such as these we would all be listening to guns and the cries of our children. Again thank you all because I for one do not have the guts to go off to war. When the President or anyone else for that fact stands in the midst of war that is when they can be called a commander.

I think that he should be able to voice his opinion and that he should not be kicked out of the military. There is freedom of speech and weather you are in the military or not you should have the right to voice your opinion as long as he did not threaten him in any way. Does our military think they can change the constitution and take away our freedom of speech????? If more of our military personal would speak up and give their opinions this country would be better for it. I would like to thank you for serving this country and protecting my family and I'm truely sorry that the military wouldn't stand behind you, shame on them.

He blatantly stated that he would refuse to follow orders. He's in the Corps; his job is to follow & obey. My son's a Marine. If my son's commander wants his opinion, he'll ask for it.

Not only did he lie and lambaste his boss, he did it on a "closed forum for active-duty meteorologists and oceanographers". Anyone with one ounce of intelligence would know that Obama is far more in tune with anyone who has the slightest amount of scientific knowledge than his predecessor. And, as a hint to the right wingers reading this, meteorologists and oceanographers both refer to professions that require some scientific background, quite different from astrologers.

Does anybody remember what G.I. stands for? Government Issue. You swear an oath to protect the US of A, you belong to Uncle Sam until you leave the military. If you get a sunburn, you get in trouble because you cannot do the work required of you as a GI. For an active duty soldier to write that kind of stuff, no wonder he's getting discharged. Lucky that's all that happens to him. You are certainly entitled to say whatever you want to say, however, you also have the responsibility of what you say. And if that's not free speech, oh well. That's the price for being Government issue.

CLUE - We all have the SAME freedoms. You have the freedom to do something stupid. All of us have the freedom to crucify you for it in the court of public opinion. That is exactly why giving freedom to the people works.

CLUE - You do NOT have the PRIVILEGE to be protected from people disagreeing with you. You do not have protection from being shunned for what you say.

Excerpts:

(Associated Press – Wed, Mar 7, 2012)

The Marine Corps said Stein is allowed to express his personal opinions as long as they do not give the impression he is speaking in his official capacity as a Marine. Spokesman Maj. Michael Armistead said the Corps is taking a closer look to ensure Stein has not crossed that line.

The Pentagon policy is necessary in preventing political and religious debates that could divide a unit and disrupt the strong working relationship that is needed to carry out missions, Glazier said.

"There are plenty of examples in the world of militaries heavily involved in influencing political events that have shown that is not conducive to civilian rule of law," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/marines-facebook-page-tests-military-rules-234113159.html

---------------------------

Since the article was published, Sgt, Stein "crossed the line," after he, as a U.S. Marine, advocated to a world-wide Facebook audience as well as in semi-closed forums -- and with collusive agreement with his military peers that believe the same, that no one should obey the orders of their superior officers, particularly, those of the Commander-in-Chief, since it clashed with his and their extremist and prejudicial political beliefs of what appears to be an online, militant, local arm of the Tea Party. To some, his public rants made the honorable U.S. Marine Corps look like a politically extremist bunch of rogues in the public eye. He was warned to stop doing this, he violated that warning, ignored policy and broke the rules, and so the Marines had no choice but to discharge him.

Two thumbs up for Starsailing and Dave'snothereman. He knew he was wrong and now he has to pay the consequences.

He weakens our Military by encouraging our adversaries that the Military dos not support tyne Commander in Chief and will not obey orders. Thanks for 9 years of service, don't let the door hit your sorry rump on the way out!

Also he rants against a health care program but enjoys fully paid healthcare as a part of his job, and if he had stayed in, he would have enjoyed that for the rest of his life. Now he wants to stay in while a medical treatment is dealt with...WHAT A HYPOCRITE!

A lot of you need to learn what freedom of speech is. You have the freedom to say what you want.

You do not have the privilege to be immune from all the consequences of your words.

Everyone has the freedom to shun you AND protect themselves and their businesses from being associated with you when you say bone headed stupid things that are inflammatory and dangerous.

Willow-369182 I totally agree with you.

The moment you join the military is when the recruiter has you take an oath to our country and to the chain of command. You vow to protect the commander in chief with your very life.

You should think very carefully BEFORE joining the military. No one needs your permission or approval to appoint any president the people put in office. If you aren't okay with whoever the people give you then you better not sign up.

By joining the military you AMMEND your civil rights. You don't have the exact same circumstances as civilians. Your opinions about certain things are worth exactly NOTHING because you have given yourself to your country as a civil servant. If you doubt that then you weren't listening to your drill sargent in boot camp. All we need from you is a SIR, YES SIR and compliance to all orders. Anything else is grounds for discharge.

Thank you, Frankly. You hit the nail on the head - I wonder if any of the "job creators" touted by the Tea Party will jump to hire and ensure hc benefits for this guy? I'm sorry he's got a pre-existing condition - it's going to be rough on his family, but it might be a wake-up call for him. Easy to rail against the "evils" of socialism when you're nestled comfortably in one of the most successful socialist organizations in the country - the U.S. military.

I think that this is just one more example of the downfall of this nation. I believe that this man has more support than crooked media can round up. He did nothing wrong. Not one single person commenting on this can say they agree with the pre*****. Oops almost went to jail. Can't say that name or you loose your job, get drug through the mud by corrupt media. It really should be an embarrassment to the military to pursue something of this nature and really show the "man" commented on has no integrity or Balls about him to stop these actions. I am sure this service man would not have made the comment if he wasn't somewhere the US shouldn't be. A decision by the "man" with no balls.

Stand For What You Know Is Right, not what you are Told to Think.

Lauri. When my son joined the Army, He gave is life to uncle Sam. I begged him not to join. Little Bush was in office and we were in a war that Bush/Cheny lied us into. I didn't want my son in another Vietnam. Iraq was a war of choice, We had no business being there. The funny part of this if there is a funny part, Is President Obama has done more to kill the people that attacked us on 911 then Little Bush ever did. Obama gave the order to take out OBL. Bush never was going to kill him. Hell they were old family friends. Bush was just pandering to his fat cat so they could make money off our young men's blood. If we did like you said and let the enlisted men tell us what to do, or give there options we would have never went into Iraq or Vietnam and maybe a few others. If this guy wasn't just a right winged nut case he would still be the military. But he didn't have the of free speech. He gave that up when he joined and was sworn in. What he did was treason and he should have been put in Leavenworth for it.

Now he says he sorry- what he is REALLY sorry for, is that he has just wasted 9 years of his life- He is sorry about what people will say about him for the rest of his life- he is sorry that all veteran benefits will be denied to him now- he is sorry that when he is older and lifes illnesses and sicknesses take hold of his body he will not be able to treated free at any VA facility-

He is sorry he will never collect the pension he was working for. He is sorry for the good job he might have gotten in the real world after 20 years- he is sorry of no VET benefits for college or for buying a house- he is sorry for no buriel in a National Cemetary. He is sorry for no free headstone, no flag of the United States, no bugler playing taps over his coffin. No free plot as a final resting place.

His moments of human err will cost him a nightmare every sleeping hour of his life til death. His moments of human err will haunt his memory every waking hour until the one of his death.

He will wonder what every single face that looks at him is thinking at that moment for the rest of his natural days.

He will wonder endlessly what his children are hiding every day when they come home from school with black eyes.

He will have a future life that should not be held by any man alive.

All because he said, I will not follow any order of the President of The United States- my Commander- in -Chief.

Pedestrain I am with you on that. They piss and moan about what they have that others want. These people would cut there own heads off just so they can bleed on you. Great post.

I know, supposedly you can't speak against the CIC if you are in the militay but being critical of him should not be a crime.

To say that you would not obey orders given to you by your commanding officers is far beyond "being critical" when you are in the military. My sister loathed Bush, but had she been ordered to war she would have gone as she was a solider in the Army. You cannot choose what you will or will not do because you don't agree wit the President. If you don't like it, don't re-up, and don't place yourself in a position to be discharged because of your own views (just like any other job out there).

Beleave in youself. If there was any truth in your post. then this guy should have refused to go to Iraq, when Bush/ Cheny lied us into that war. And Like Pedestrain said in his post. This guy was complaining about the new health care law. But he got them not to discharge him until he got some medical issues taken care of. When you join the military, You don't get to pick who will be elected as President. We the people do that. And we the people Elected President Obama. Like it or not he is the President and if this tool didn't like that then he should demanded he be discharged. I think there were a few that refused to serve under a black President. All this other stuff is just BS.

Well it still seems a lot of you have no idea what the 1st amendment says! Please give it a shot and stop commenting from ignorance. So many say you can say whatever whereever and so on. The 1st amendment has many revisions due to oversight in its drafting. Yell fire in a theatre, ooops I apologize doesn't make it OK. But back to the issue. I'm a 100% Disabled Viet-nam vet who didn't think that war had anywhere near a reason for it but, you serve with the knowledge you don't gripe and commit sedition or create disharmony in any sense of these acts. Even now when this crud says I'm sorry he also says he's disappointed in the Marine corps. Kinda nullifies the I'm sorry part. You people need to read the 1st amendment. This guy is getting off easy and some of you support him out of ignorance, because it involves your biased views about the POTUS. Suck it up...he was warned and got what he asked for by continuing his BS

He got less punishment than he deserved!! He said he would not follow orders from his CIC, and therefore none of his superiors. This is the type of thing they do and say in those countries where they often have military coups.

Well now that he is out he can say whatever he wants to say. Wish him speedy recovery though, and he is only 26, so ther might be something for him in the affordable care act.

Freedom of speech does not mean there are no consequences. If what you say results in consequences, the right to free speech does not excuse you from those consequences. In the military there are consequences to saying you refuse to uphold the oath you take when you join. In other countries and other times, the consequences would be much worse than a less than honorable discharge.

Simple. If you can't follow orders, the military is not for you. This really isn't a free speech issue. Anyone who thinks that complete, absolute, say-anything-because-I-can freedom of speech is what the US stands for is sadly mistaken. For instance, it is illegal to slander or libel, and it is certainly illegal to yell "Fire!" wherever you please. There are many limitations on speech, but it is within reason. If I post mutinous or disrespectful things about my boss on social media, I will most likely get fired. I know and understand this - he did too.

P.S. mad props to Gary. That is one angry white dude. He is one of the reasons I enjoy viewing comments - complete and utter ignorance of facts, lol.

For over 236 years, our brave young servicemen have given their all to uphold and defend their oath to The United States of America, the Constitution, their superiors and their fellow brothers in arms. Their ultimate sacrifice must never be cheapened or stained by a brother in arms that uses political discourse to dishonor that sacrifice. My Grandfather and two of my Uncles served with distinguish and honor during two crucial wars.

Two of my cousins and several dear friends came home missing limbs and a good portion of their sanity after serving tours in Vietnam. I have no doubt such casualties afflicted many more serving in several wars since then. My Grandfather, uncles, cousins and friends were the lucky ones. Many others came home in flag-draped coffins or remain missing in action.

This foolish nine year veteran Sergeant of the Marine Corps gravely dishonored all of his brothers in arms that have faithfully marched in step with him and those before him that paid the ultimate price in honoring their sworn oath to the nation of their birth. I would have him shot as a traitor.

He should consider himself very fortunate to walk away from his sworn commitment with only the loss of military benefits. You, I and he knows that his 15 minutes of fame will be handsomely rewarded with a lucrative career as spokesman for the extremely partisan television network that first sparked his traitorous behavior. They can have him. We can rid ourselves of this vermin forever by merely clicking the remote control.

"BTW-the President is not the Commander in Chief 24/7. Only in time of declared war."

Article II, Section 2:

"The President shall be the Commander in Chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called in the actual service of the United States..."

Sorry, it says nothing of the declaration of war. He is in charge, and it is an important part of our system that a civilian is always in charge of our military.

It is amazing how everyone is going after this guy (and I agree he could have chosen better words and better ways) instead of noticing that there is immediate impacts to those that speak out against the president. By the way, servicemembers do NOT have to respect the president as a person but they do have to respect the office. So for those of you that spit out comments without knowing anything about the military except for what you see on the news: grow up and get ready for your "change".

Those of you that think he was being racist: stop trying to rely on that as a "get out of jail" card every time. Grow up!

Lol @ you people who think this is something new or recent.

Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Sailors have been getting discharged from their respective branches of service for engaging in this sort of activity since... well... the inception of those branches. I had a friend in the Navy that was discharged for stuff he posted about Bush, no big news hubub over it, because it's a relatively normal occurence. No idea why this particular guy has the spotlight on him, maybe because his comments were more vitriolic than what they normally discharge people for.... I mean, calling your CiC "the domestic enemy" is pretty clearly discharge-worthy.

After 8 years or however long this guy was in, he should know better. The Marines might not be known for their intellectuals, but they ARE known for their common sense at least... right?

Ofcourse I have not seen the post but what I have read earlier is that he said he would not follow orders that went against the Constitution of the United States. The oath they took says they will protect the constitution first then latter says they would obey the orders of the president. It was written like that to prevent the president from use his powers to become a dictator. ( in my opinion ) Some of these post come across as to give the president ultimate power. We need to remember that the President is just an elected official not Our King from the 16th century that can have someone beheaded at will. I thank god for for our brave service members that have the guts to stand up for what they believe. It is a shame that this young brave man can not practice the same rights that he is so willingly to give up his life to protect.

Freedom of speech doesn't cover insubordination. If you aren't going to do what your boss tells you to, you lose your job. Pretty simple if you ask me.

He weakens our Military by encouraging our adversaries that the Military dos not support tyne Commander in Chief and will not obey orders. Thanks for 9 years of service, don't let the door hit your sorry rump on the way out!

Also he rants against a health care program but enjoys fully paid healthcare as a part of his job, and if he had stayed in, he would have enjoyed that for the rest of his life. Now he wants to stay in while a medical treatment is dealt with...WHAT A HYPOCRITE!

The guy gave 9 YEARS of his life to SERVICE of his country. He has been a Marine longer then Obama has been president, and everyone wants to just throw him aside because he said not nice things. The Marines have rules and when you break those rules there are consequences, but there could have been a million different punishments that includedhim serving out his contract. Punishments should fit the crime and Obama and the rest need to get thicker skin. I think he should of been demoted and given some crap detail until his release but throwing him out on his butt especially now that he has a medical condition is just shameful.

Remember this everyone, liberals will defend weather underground members, they will stand next to Occupy Wall Street Crowds who talk of revolutions, vandalizepublic property, campaign to have a cop killer released from jail. Liberals defend Acorn workers who lie, cheat, and steal, they protect Planned Parenthood clinics who hide rape cases, lie about age in order to perform abortions. Liberals will defend laws that allow voter fraud which has been documented by countless videos, BUT............

if you're a Marine who bad mouths the President they want the book thrown at you. No sympathy, no turn the other cheek, no cries for a lessor punishment, just vengeful attacks.

Hey --- if I go on Facebook and badmouth my boss or my company's CEO -- chances are I will get fired. This is NOT about freedom of speech. The guy badmouthed his CEO. He wasn't forced to join the military, he volunteered. As a civilian he has the right to criticize President Obama. As a member of the military -- he runs the risk of being fired for doing so just as I run the risk of being fired it I criticize my boss.

well, here we go again; reading all the above comments, i get the impression "we" have more freedom of speech here to voice our opinion than that poor marine! freedom of speech is allowed for all, military or not!

i may not agree fully with his statements, but i do agree with his intent. it is loud and clear. earlier this year there was a judge who also bad-mouthed the president, he was then politically circumcised.

we should be able to call a spade a spade, in the military, in a judges seat, or in the whitehouse, where, incidently, most of this bad - mouthing takes places. instead, we set up our own private citizens to take the fall when "somebody" feels statements, opinions, rumors and all are inappropriate and offensive.

Logic, this isn't a Liberal view. It's Military Law. This man took an oath to obey the orders of the President of the United States.

Now while I may agree with him on his views of the current administration, I have the freedom to make such statements openly. HE does not.

Freedom of Speech does not mean freedom of the consequences. I am free ridicule my boss online or to others openly. But if my boss finds out, I can be canned. Those are the consequences.

I know many military with similar views, but they are smart enough to keep their mouths shut in a public forum. They know the rules. So did this man.

It is clear to any soldier that you don't have the freedom to speak against your chain of command. It has always been that way, nothing new. When I was in the military at the end of the Nam era, it was VERY clear that you could get in some serious trouble for dissing the leadership. That's how the Marines (and all other services work). It's called sedition, encouraging others to not follow commands. I wouldn't want to fight alongside someone who thought it was ok to decide for themselves whether to follow orders or not. Except there was no Facebook, same thing could have happened in George Washington's army. Does ANYONE who has been in the military think you have any right to say this kind of thing?

one other thing. This is not the same as criticizing your boss and getting fired. In the military you take an oath. Violate it and you may be jailed at hard labor, a consequence you don't face in civilian life. In my opinion he wanted out, or at least to jeopardize his military career to make a political point. Fighting units need cohesion. There's no room for people who think they can go their own way. As for acting with others to protest the CIC at a time when our troops are in combat, that's pretty close to treason.

Google the name "Ehren Watada" and you will find how liberals had a completely different view when Bush was in office. What this Marine did doesn't even compare to what Watada and many, many, other service members did (with the support and backing of the liberal media and elite).

Freedom of Speech does not mean freedom of the consequences

I never said what he did wasn't wrong, I said "The Marines have rules and when you break those rules there are consequences, but there could have been a million different punishments that included him serving out his contract." My point is that the punishment is very heavy handed and although I would agree there needs to be a punishment this goes to far and should be opposed by everyone. The reason it is not opposed by everyone is because one side wants blood for his actions and the worse the punishment the better the message sent to never oppose Obama. The guy had years of excellent service, put him on potato duty, take away pay and rank, but throwing him out is to much and a real pathetic display of how politics is out of control.

I have read through many points of view here and understand where everyone is coming from. However, I feel strongly that as a citizen of a Democratic society, the very one which sends them to other countries, to give their lives for those peoples right to democracy and free speech, he should be able to express his political opinions "freely". Afterall he is a democratic citizen.

I hope some open minded boss, who's not afraid of petty criticism offers him a job.

Can we all look at this in the right context for one minute? Stein's INITIAL post read that he would not follow orders of the President. He later corrected it to say he would not follow UNLAWFUL orders given to him by the President. Either way, he was speaking in reference to the NDAA, the bill signed into law by President Obama that allows the government to detain American citizens without due process. I for one, applaud this Marine for having the bravery to stand up and say what a lot of our military personnel wish they could say but are too afraid to lose their jobs or worse, their lives. No matter how you spin it, our government has made a mockery of our fine military, using them as pawns in a global power grab, sending them overseas to defend their investments, ordering them to police the world. How do you think the Holocaust would have turned out had Nazi soldiers banded together right from the beginning and said, "We will defend this country but we will NOT harm its people." For those of you thinking this world is all rosy and that orders must be followed no matter what have their collective heads so far up their butts they can't see the light of day. Stop reading what you see on the front page of MSN and taking it as gospel truth that this is the way the world is. There is a whole lot more going on than what mainstream media would have you believe, and we are all doomed if the people that actually have the power to do something about it don't speak up and make a difference.

The ONLY thing wrong with what the Marine said about Obama is when he labeled Barby a 'Domestic Enemy'. After we finally get Barby's birth certificate fixed then he will be labeled a 'Foreign Enemy'. Funny how that will work out!

Boo Hoo! Now you can go work at McDonalds for being stupid and putting your comments on-line. When are people going to learn that Email, Facebook, Twitter, texts etc. are PERMANENT! You can burn paper and it's gone forever.

People don't seem to understand the First Amendment here.

The First Amendment prevents prevents people who disagree with the government from being arrested and prosecuted for treason. However, the First Amendment does not mean you can say what you want, when you want, about who you want and not expect consequences outside of prosecution.

A person who says something that is contrary to his or her job can be fired. The First Amendment does NOT protect a person from this. That was never its intention. A schoolteacher who posts a picture of herself holding a beer on her vacation to Belgium on Facebook CAN BE FIRED. No First Amendment protection. She will not be arrested for it. That might be parallel to Nazi Germany, but her employer making the decision to fire her is not.

Even aside from the fact that an employee is not protected by the First Amendment from the consequences of his speech to his employment, a member of the US military has agreed that his duty is to obey the President of the United States. A member of the US military has even less of a right to free speech than a private citizen, and this is for valid reasons regarding national security. He should consider himself lucky he is not being tried for treason for saying he would disobey his Commander in Chief. He's a Marine, or he was a Marine. He has rightfully lost that position for not following the rules and respecting his duties.

I would have him shot as a traitor.

He should consider himself very fortunate to walk away from his sworn commitment with only the loss of military benefits. You, I and he knows that his 15 minutes of fame will be handsomely rewarded with a lucrative career as spokesman for the extremely partisan television network that first sparked his traitorous behavior. They can have him. We can rid ourselves of this vermin forever by merely clicking the remote control.

I totally agree, commonsense. Very well expressed.

President Obama has been disrespected more than any other president in U.S. history. It's thinly veiled racism in action, and this a**hole deserves to pay the price for his bigotry and stupidity.

President Obama has been disrespected more than any other president in U.S. history. It's thinly veiled racism in action, and this a**hole deserves to pay the price for his bigotry and stupidity.

Even though there was NEVER anything about RACE mentioned, even though it was all POLICY disagreements, it doesnt stop you from playing the race card. HOW BOOORING. Just keep all this in mind when a Republican is president in someone in the military whispers a criticism and goes on Democracy Now TV to talk crap.

Barack Obama has been a stellar Commander in Chief.

Racial prejudice doesn't have to be stated out loud to exist.

LOGIC required. INTELLIGENCE required.

Thank you DXM from saving me from some serious typing. If I criticized my CEO, I would expect to be looking for a job. And, I am not the biggest Obama fan.

Since when did Military policy for good order and discipline that has been around since George mothafkn Washington was President become something "liberal" lol? Really, how delusional can you be? How is that a 'liberal' policy? That's as traditional conservative as it gets.



even though it was all POLICY disagreements,

"Obama is the economic enemy," he wrote in the post. "He is the religious enemy ... He is the 'fundamentally change' America enemy … He IS the Domestic Enemy."

Sounds like a bit more than a 'policy disagreement.' You don't go calling your Commander in Chief the "domestic enemy" - he's lucky that wasn't contstrued as a threat.

Seriously, what's with this vacant meme that regardless of what someone says, that they should be applauded and immune from criticism for exercising their freedom of speech? What, are they like 4 years old and need encouragement? LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME, I'm Free Speechin it!

Kaybee,

Obama has not even touched the disrespect offered to Carter and Bush Jr.

zoroaster, if you're referring to disrespect in regard to performance as Commander in Chief, I agree with you.

The fact is that President Obama has been a far more effective military leader than either Carter or Bush 43, so there is no valid reason to disrespect him as CIC.

That's kind of the reason why so many people are outraged at this traitorous Marine.

This isn't matter of free speech. He flat out said he wouldn't comply with the Commander Chief's orders. That is the particularly troublesome part for the military. If they let this "free speech" slide, then they open themselves to all sorts of insubordination and at-will defiance of command. It is one thing to not comply with an order that goes against one's conscious but another to make a blanket statement as he has. No one cares if he likes Obama or not especially the military. But you have to obey orders none-the-less or face the brig. This guy was discharged because in addition to his defiance he repeatedly expressed points of view that had no business being said as a member of the military. Look at what happens when generals openly criticize and defy command? Why should a soldier escape penalty. Sorry buddy, if anyone knew the rules...

Granted people in military don't have the same constituional protections that civilians enjoy, (ironic that that document is the essence of what they are defending) however I have noticed a trend in recent years whereby people that express an opinion are later punished somehow for expressing that opinion.

You have no clue. I get extremely tired of trying to make people who have not understanding of the military, understand the military. I'm sorry, but playing "Call of Duty 2" does not make you a soldier. Your comment regarding expression of opinion is completely idiotic, if you are referring to the military. Ask any number of Generals who were "relieved for cause" or retired early to "spend time with their families". I simply do not understand why people who know absolutely nothing about the military or the UCMJ post their ignorance all over the internet.

sounds to me like he isnt sorry bout lambasting the pres. he just wants to go back and re phrase all the stuff he said.

Naomi Reed Watterson said:

Either way, he was speaking in reference to the NDAA, the bill signed into law by President Obama that allows the government to detain American citizens without due process. I for one, applaud this Marine for having the bravery to stand up and say what a lot of our military personnel wish they could say but are too afraid to lose their jobs or worse, their lives.

And that might also have been in response to the new legislation coming up through the House and Senate called the Enemy Expatriation Act which will give the government the right to strip you of your citizenship, whether you were born here or naturalized, if you're suspected of engaging in or advocating any act that runs counter to the US or its allies' interests---aka 'terrorism'.

I ask everyone on here, if you are a soldier and you are told to arrest a citizen because they funded an organization that has been declared 'terrorist' by a country that is the US's ally, would you do it?

Let me give you one example: the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

If you've seen the show Whale Wars on Discovery Channel, you know they are an international group who go out in boats and try to impede and stop the progress of Japan's whaling fleet. Commercial whaling has been banned for a while; the Japanese continue to kill whales under the guise of research, but meat from the whales they kill ends up in Japanese fish markets, making it commercial. Last year one of the Sea Shepherds used his boat (an experimental craft called the Ady Gil) to ram a whaling boat and stop the slaughter of a whale. His boat was destroyed and the Japanese picked him out of the wreckage and took him to Japan to stand trial as a terrorist. They did cave to international pressure and release the man, but the Sea Shepherds were declared terrorists by Japan.

So since they are deemed terrorists by a US ally, under the EEA and the NDAA any member of heir organization is now also a terrorist and anyone who donates money to their cause, by this law, is supporting terrorism. Would you, as a soldier, follow an order to arrest someone who had their citizenship stripped and will now be held in military prison without charge or trial until the War on Terror is over, just because they sent money to this 'terrorist' organization?

"even though it was all POLICY disagreements"

Since when did Military policy for good order and discipline that has been around since George mothafkn Washington was President become something "liberal" lol? Really, how delusional can you be? How is that a 'liberal' policy? That's as traditional conservative as it gets.

Shuklack, do you have a reading comprehension problem? I mean really what the hell are you talking about? My "even though it was a policy disagreement" comment was IN RESPONSE TO THE RACISM CHARGE Kaybeetoy made, which is why I had her quote right above my statement so everyone knows what I'm responding to. My complete quote was "Even though there was NEVER anything about RACE mentioned, even though it was all POLICY disagreements, it doesn't stop you from playing the race card." I was not saying he should not be punished because it was a policy disagreement, in fact if you read anything else I posted you would of seen I said " "The Marines have rules and when you break those rules there are consequences". Seriously dude, your lack of comprehension makes you look like an idiot, and the fact a bunch of people voted for your post is just sad.

When u sign up to go to other peoples country and kill them you also give away your rights to say and do what you want. Heck, even if you just said about your unit commander that he was the enemy and you wouldn't follow his orders, then you are going to get in big trouble. But when you publicly diss the commander in chief and say you refuse to follow his orders, you deserve to be court martialed or worse. I haven't much sympathy for people who volunteer to go shoot people in other countries though. Since the Korean War there hasn't been a "righteous" war, so anybody who has been in the military since then and thinks they were defending freedoms, think again. What you were doing was serving the corporations that profit from war!! And you were killing people in their own country, people who had never done anything to you.

Naomi Reed Watterson,

Obama was strongly against the indefinite detention provision. In the signing statement, he stated that he shall not authorise application of this provision.

This is not a matter of Freedom of Speech. He should be glad he's just getting the boot, and not some cell time in Leavenworth. From what I've observed during my time in the Army, when your chain of command turns their back on you it's because you turned your back on them first. He had been warned by his chain of command and he chose to ignore them. I'd be surprised if the warnings weren't documented.

So let's look at this:

He's an NCO, and his actions could have a detrimental effect on his subordinates

He's now become a security risk because he's broadcasted himself as being against the CiC. Don't think for a minute that foreign operatives don't scour Facebook and other social networks for people like him.

He's in no position to pick and choose which of his superiors he takes orders from. The only question in his mind should be 'is it a lawful order?' If the answer's YES then you follow it. I think everyone who has served can think of at least one time when they were give an order to do something that they knew was totally stupid, but lawful nonetheless.

Now if you want to talk about freedom of speech go right ahead, but it has nothing to do with this dumbass.

Alex,

I implore you to do your research. Obama refused to sign the NDAA UNLESS the provision was included, not DESPITE it. A quick YouTube search of Carl Levin, a Democrat btw who supported the bill and was a co-sponsor, speaking to Congress on CSPAN about that very thing will tell you what you need to know. This is also not the worst that has come out of the Executive Branch in the last few months, but it certainly isn't something to take lightly.

Lil bit of anger issues here?

Nanci-2110481,

No anger there that I can see. This is how Vet's think as do active duty service members. You learn to shut up, just grit your teeth, follow the orders and exit when you are authorized to do so. No grey areas, just black and white, clear as day and night.

Who is Raygun? or did you mean President Reagan? atleast he could spell lol

Who is Raygun? or did you mean President Reagan? atleast he could spell lol

Couldn't be sure whether he could spell or not, He wasn't awake that often or very long. I do agree, he was well preserved for a relic.

Back when it counted - he was eager to turn in 3/4 of his friends as communist to keep his own sorry butt of the menu. Hey, he did get a Carrier named after him ... so it wasn't a total loss.

Beoweolf..........................too bad you didn't like the greatest Pres we ever had. Oh well, your loss. He did carry 49 states in the biggest landslide victory in history so others must have liked him too.

Did you get a BCD too?

Umm, That was the Republican Saint Ronny Reagan who put the 'These colors don't run' to shame when he tucked tail and ran from Lebanon in the 1983/1984 and left UNIFIL to clean up the mess? That Reagan?

Absolutely!

usa1967- are you referring to Pres. Richard Nixon? Both Reagan and Nixon won states but one and the District of Columbia.

Instead of listening to the right wing hate mongers, how about reading some of the writings of past Commanders in Chief like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt or Dwight Eisenhower ?

yuuuuuuup!

Ironic that this guy is a marine and fighting for the freedom we all have, but obama is taking away his (and all of our) freedom of speech. obama is a huge threat to everything positive this country stands for.

Yep... If you don't want to follow the chain of command and protect/serve the president, his cabinet and the rest of the governing body with your very life then you better pull yourself out immediately. THEN you can say whatever you want.

It's called TREASON. He's lucky this is all that is happening. In another era he would have been shot.

Raygun refers to the President who had alzheimers while "leading" the country. The guy who justified huge increases in the military budget because they "have to pay for costumes." Raygun was a good actor and POTUS was the role of his life.

It's used because of Ed Mease's (the puppetmaster,) dream of Star Wars defense- ray guns in space.

Sarah...

Agreed. !4 years in service and I couldn't accept that Reagan was my CIC. I didn't bitch, I left and I still feel it was the right thing to do. This creep should have had the cojones to realize the right thing to do was to shut up and vote with his feet.

The guy who justified huge increases in the military budget because they "have to pay for costumes." Raygun was a good actor and POTUS was the role of his life.

Yea increases in Military "for customes", we'll just forget about that whole COLD WAR thing going on during his two terms.

Oh and his whole "Star Wars" thing that everyone laughed at but is now actually a reality.

Disagree with Reagan all you want but the spelling of presidents name wrong for political junk is tired and disrespectful. You will see dozens of posts I have written critical of Obama, and none of them misspell his name which I have seen people do because I find it disrespectful, and childish.

It's called TREASON. He's lucky this is all that is happening. In another era he would have been shot.

What a bunch of $h!t. If John Walker Lindh, and Ehren Watada weren't guilty of treason this guy hasn't even come close. What B.S. Rhetoric!

LogicRequired...have you seen one single military person, either active duty or retired, who supports this a**hole?

No, because he let down the military and all his fellow soldiers.

He's a brainwashed twit who has no business wearing the uniform of the United States Marines.

Deal with it.

When this story first broke I read that his facebook page said he would not follow unlawful orders from the President. At the time I thought that this was rather clearly in response to the recent signing of the NDAA and the upcoming Enemy Expatriation Act.

While I may not approve of the forum in which he said it, I do approve of the sentiment that he would refuse to follow an order given him to detain under military authority any US citizen the government deemed to be 'acting in a manner counter to the US or its allies interests.'

Jeff, Chicago

Ironic that this guy is a marine and fighting for the freedom we all have, but obama is taking away his (and all of our) freedom of speech. obama is a huge threat to everything positive this country stands for.

congratulations! You have won the "Idiotic Post of the Day"! You should be proud...your parents should be proud. You have actually put you fingers to the keyboard and showed the world your ignorance. The Marine you are speaking of did not have his rights taken away by President Obama. He voluntarily agreed to abide by the articles of the UCMJ. He even signed a contract. Personally I am sorry he let his political fanaticism override his common sense and his oath, but that was his choice.

bet he wishes your opinion mattered.

LogicRequired...have you seen one single military person, either active duty or retired, who supports this a**hole? - I've seen many who believe the punishment was to much. I myself have said he broke the rules but should not have been punished in such a heavy handed way.

No, because he let down the military and all his fellow soldiers. - He did the exact same thing many did when Bush was President but is facing a much greater punishment. I believe they all should be punished and punished equally, not one standard for one guy and a different standard for another.

He's a brainwashed twit who has no business wearing the uniform of the United States Marines. You think he is brainwashed becuase you love Obama so much you think your OPINION of the guy is somehow fact. I've read many of your post and they're all a joke. Because you like Obama, and becuase you think he's great anyone who thinks anything different is a traitor, racist, or just stupid. Arguing with people like you is impossible because anyone who disagrees you just call names. Maybe there is actually smart people, who aren't racist, who haven't been brainwashed who have disagreed with the president, but that would distroy your little world wouldn't it.

Deal with it. - Deal with what? The fact the guy was punished for critizing the president? I said HE SHOULD HAVE been punished. READ FOR GODS SAKE.

Maybe there is actually smart people, who aren't racist, who haven't been brainwashed who have disagreed with the president, but that would distroy your little world wouldn't it.

Arguing with people like you is impossible because anyone who disagrees you just call names.

"Maybe there is smart people..."?

It is unnecessary to respond to that. It is unnecessary to call anyone names.

Your comments display all that one needs to know about the validity of your opinion.

I find this very entertaining that the Obama administration go after a poor Marine enlisted man for telling the truth about a failed administration hoping to draw attention away from gas prices, no jobs and a dying economy under Obama's socialist administration. Then he goes after Ted Nuggent for also speaking up getting his appointments at the US Fish and Wildlife Service enforcing a little know game law on Ted. I hope Obama is proud of the Gestapo tactics that he always beat up on the Bush administration about. He certainly knows the "Chicago Way" of doing business. Does Obama have no shame? He is not only an embarrassment to the office of President, but to the whole USA.

wow! no sympathy here- or anywhere for that matter- what do you do with the rest of your life when at 26 when you have done the most stupid act of your life?

LET HIM GO FREE!!! He is a US citizen with freedom of speech. He is in the military. His duty is to protect the Constitution. NOT PROTECT AND SERVE the guy playing president. Sometimes this means fighting against the CIC. From where I am sitting, it looks like someone is not holding up the Constitution by allowing full freedom of speech. I think someone has attacked the wrong guy here. This guy is exercising his rights. Are we going to sit back and let his rights be stripped because he is serving the country???

Stein needs to give President Obama a genuinely sincere apology for his gross lack of respect and for shaming the Marines and code of Honor

Quit watching FAUX and listening to crappy madman Ted Nugent music!

dont like the president? get ottha the army and find a job somwhere else. this country and army doesnt need a disrespectful moron

Perhaps a review of the UCMJ might temper your obviously civilian outlook. When you enlist, yes, certain "civilian" rights are relinquished, relinquished to wear the uniform and be able to state,"Yes, I have served my country". But maintenance of a certain consistency of strength is necessary in a military force, and altho I wasn't personally pleased with the actions of my C-in-C, I served, because that was my duty. I recall being instructed early on that when we open our mouths, we'd better know we were speaking for the entire military.

slg6514 - it's obvious you never served your country! For the record, I am a veteran and also the daughter of a career Marine.

This character is a disgrace to the uniform. He intentionally disobeyed orders when he was told to stop posting his inane dribble on social media by his superiors and should have been court martialed. He got off easy with an other than honorable discharge. Yes he has the right to an opinion, but in the military, you have to follow the rules and he knew what he was doing was wrong.

The Marine Corp is honorable, this man is not. I would not want to be next to him on the battlefield! God Bless America!!!!

Um, slg, it's a volunteer service. He signed up. He took an oath. On Facebook he outright rejected his oath with no substantiation. He declared the President his enemy, certainly a treason as he provided no bonafide reason. This is what emotional hate based action gets you......or gets him. Too bad for his kid (s).

Excerpt of the oath of enlistment....

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

slg6513, what part of having to obey the President don't you get?

This was the oath we all swore when we joined. Freedom of speech doesn't include breaking an oath.

pfft figures liberal speech police out in force again. you say freaking everything under the sun about a republican president and its all gravy with the media and should said naysayer be criticized for said comments they get a poor him rallying cry from the media. but woe betide the man who criticizes a liberal/socialist president for his failed actions then the media and government come down on him like a sack of bricks. gtfo liberals and your openly socialist view of America. you guys cant handle logic only the rhetoric of your freaking party-line will suit you

Are we the people not obama's boss he always goes against want we want. I don't think you should be sorry about telling the truth. obama is a big cry baby!! he is a good example of why stupid people should not vote!!! Don't forget everyone watch for the movie 2016 coming this summer. That will tell all. obama needs to go HOME to his own country in the middle east!!! Then he can be a dictator!!!

Seems to me in my day, you were given the do's and don't of being in the military; plus you had to sign-up to them. Political activism was a "don't" but this guy took it one step farther, he bordered on mutiny by encouraging others not to follow orders. Maybe he was in the middle of his own Shxx lol. Either way, he was very lucky to only get what he got

isn't this some bull @!$%# of Americas constitution, aren't we supposed to have the ight of freedom of speech and free press?

slg ..

They are letting him go free unless we read different articles. Free right out of the Marines. When one enlists for the Armed Services of this Country they do so of free will, the sign promises of conduct and also waivers to certain civil rights of their own free will. That means he agreed to curtail a number of liberties you and I take for granted, an oath however is more then a simple so-called promise to a friend. It does us no good to have a serviceman in the field who refuses that oath and the myriad of responsibilities that come with it just for some out of service popularity. You ask if 'we' are going to sit back, when 'we' have no rights to intervene in this case, it is a Military matter not a civil court matter. This Marine is fair lucky no one in authority wishes my recomendation when one regards the number of service people who have died on the same battlefields this once Marine served on. I have no stomach or love for a grunt who doesn't know their place in the chain of command, perhaps something a lay person needs never care about yet in the military world is the key to everything and no seat is higher then Commander-in-Chief, the President.

That he dares be let down by the Marine Corp. just sickens the whole matter, he is the one who let down the Marines, the Country and the People.

slg6513 - Yep we are going to sit back and let this happen BECAUSE it should happen. When you are in the military you have an oath to keep and that includes following your CIC as long as the actions are not against the constitution. This marine had no right to say that he would not follow the orders of his CIC. He broke his oath to the government; therefore, the government is breaking their contract with him, plain and simple. People need to remember that just because you disagree with the presidents policies doesn't mean you do not follow his orders. I especially do not want someone like that protecting me. This person is very weak minded and will listen to anyone ie. faux news. Don't let Al-Queda get a hold of him or he might just decide that america is not worth his time.

obama supporter! but this guy is being railroaded I see the usmc has not changed.

the president is fair game to lash out at. everyone does it what happen to the guy in congress nothing,

what about the govnor of arizona, the house speaker no one gets into any trouble this guy at the maximum should maybe be schooled that the brass don't like it. hey general eat me...

People are so quick to throw the term "free speech" around.
Everyone does NOT have the right to say any damned fool thing they want, wherever and whenever they want.
The military happens to be one of those places in which you can't.
Whatever happened to discipline and respect and responsibility?

The UCMJ violates Constitutional rights. Does the Constitution even provide for a standing army? Beside knowing that you don't have the right to political speech, know also that you will be told to go around the world killing innocent poor brown people, who haven't done anything to you. If you have a conscience get out of the military as soon as you can, because you will surely be asked to violate it.

See what happens can't say anything any more. every since the current present toke office he has been doing everything in his power to take freedom away any way he can waits until congress leaves then he apoints so one . The marine take orders. follow them put he still has a head an knows when the order is a forest to the america people he should not be discarged put maybe sent to a different command

Opinions:

There are multiple sides of any view point, it's called an Opinion.

With that in mind, "There is no right Opinion, and no wrong Opinion", simply a different view point.

Srgt. Stein, and his Commander are people with Opinions.

They may choose to agree and share the same Opinion, and they may choose have different Opinions.

In this case, it appears "The Commander" had an Opinion handed down to him. And, as a Commander must do, "It was his job to pass that Opinion on to Srgt. Stein".

But...

In a court of law the question would be; "Is an Opinion just cause for firing a man from his job"?

Or, "Is this an Undue Hardship for having an Opinion"?

Where should justice balance the scale for having an Opinion?

Good Night America, Sleep well with your Opinion.

Flounder you are floundering. Here is the thing that pisses me off. My son joined the Army when Little Bush was in office. I begged him to not join. I knew Bush and Cheny lied to get us into Iraq and I didn't want my son to put his life on the line for a lie. I knew we had to go into Afghanistan, but in 2000 years no one has been able to do anything with that country. We should leave right now. I want to know what this tool thought when Bush/Chaney dropped the ball in the first war to put all effort into Iraq. How did he feel when Bush let OBL go when he was cornered. Bush/Chaney started these wars so that the fat cats could get richer. Chaney's old company Halliburton made tones of money from the wars. They just trough money at them. Well they had to get that money they promised Chaney when he left to be VP.

I feel sorry for this young man. Our freedoms are being taken away from us little by little. It's his facebook not the world's. He should be able to say whatever he wants on it. Freedom of speach is our right. Men died to help us maintain it. For all you Obummer lovers, god help you and I pray for you.

SYMPATHY? OMG. This guy commits an act of treason after he swore a solemn oath that spells out what will happen to him if he commits treason and you want sympathy?! Huh?

I guess this goes hand in hand with kids sports where there are no winners/losers because you don't keep score and all that sort of nonsense.

Real life has consequences. You think the 18 year old kids who died in Vietnam got a second chance? This is what is wrong with this country! Etch-o-Sketch thinking. No one being held accountable for anything. Glorification of criminals and antisocials. I guarantee you this guy is only sorry because it turned out bad for him. He's not really sorry for what he did. He's a narcissist antisocial personality with no thought for anyone else but his own self. His only motivation is in getting away with what he did.

He should be in jail for treason.

So what the majority of you are saying is we can't disagree with the president?? WOW! That is scary stuff when we cannot disagree with the leader of our country...that sounds like North Korea! That is where we are headed and I think Obama would be just fine with that. You people can be brainwashed all you want by him but don't come crying to all the sane people that realize he is not president material. OH whoops! I think I just disagreed with the president of the United states...I should probably watch my back I could lose my job! (But then I guess I would have a lot of company if that's what it takes to lose it)

22cents, there is a reason why this young man is getting booted out... He posted that stuff when he was working at his desk suposedly doing his job... He kept it up when told to take it down... He was warned... There are rules for a reason... He admitted he would committ treason! He admitted it!! He could have cost a lot of lives by refusing to do his duty... He agreed to it when he signed up!!!

I think he is an insult to all the fine men and women who have served our country with honor and dignity... He is an insult to all who have layed their lives on the line to protect us... This type of behavior is Treason... I hate to say... He isn't worthy of polishing Army boots...

22cent. Don't bother preying for me. You so called Christians make me sick.

the fab five. You say your sane. You had to have voted for Bush. And you have the nerve to call yourself sane. What a joke.

Righttosay above has an OPINION and whether or not to get fired for that opinion---hell yes you get fired for your opinion, especially after you've been warned - 'sleep well' with your ignorant rant that once again proves that so many have no idea about the 1st amendment or what it actually says

WHY IS IT...?

That the ONLY people DEFENDING a fool are those who

wrap themselves in patriotism

have never served

& are GOP-TEA PARTY swallowers ?

We have RACISTS & EXTREMISTS posing as Americans & Conservatives

I DEMAND an INVESTIGATION !!

Jim Dent said:

Excerpt of the oath of enlistment....

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

slg6513, what part of having to obey the President don't you get?

This was the oath we all swore when we joined. Freedom of speech doesn't include breaking an oath.

One of the original articles that were written when this story first broke it said that this Marine wrote that he would refuse to obey unlawful orders from the president. If, as I believe, this was in reference to the recent signing of the NDAA and possible adoption of its companion bill the upcoming Enemy Expatriation Act, then the act of saying he would refuse to follow unlawful orders from the president would NOT be an act of treason since in the oath provided above, defending the Constitution, comes above obeying the president.

What do you do when the government and the Constitution no longer stand on the same side of the line? Do you continue following the orders? We saw what happened after WWII when German officers who were 'just following orders' used that excuse in front of a war crimes tribunal at Nuremberg. They were convicted of war crimes anyway.

slg6513Expand Comment Comment collapsed by the community

LET HIM GO FREE!!! He is a US citizen with freedom of speech. He is in the military. His duty is to protect the Constitution. NOT PROTECT AND SERVE the guy playing president. Sometimes this means fighting against the CIC. From where I am sitting, it looks like someone is not holding up the Constitution by allowing full freedom of speech. I think someone has attacked the wrong guy here. This guy is exercising his rights. Are we going to sit back and let his rights be stripped because he is serving the country???

Go back to playing "Call of Duty" and leave the real thing to the professionals. He was not exercising his rights, he was exercising his lack of judgment. As a Non Commissioned Officer in the United States Marine Corps, that extreme lack of judgement is unacceptable. The choice was his; express his political opinion while representing himself as a Marine or honor his Oath of Enlistment. He chose to violate his oath, he now pays for his choice.

maddasl

The UCMJ violates Constitutional rights.

...Then why is it authorize in the Constitution (United States Constitution in Article I, Section 8, which provides that "The Congress shall have Power . . . To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval forces.")

Does the Constitution even provide for a standing army?

...See above answer (...of the land and naval forces).

Beside knowing that you don't have the right to political speech, know also that you will be told to go around the world killing innocent poor brown people, who haven't done anything to you

.

...really? Just brown people? Tell that to the British, French, Japanese, Germans...etc. that American soldiers have killed throughout history. War is hell...people die. If you don't have the stomach for it don't whine to those who step up and do what's necessary.

If you have a conscience get out of the military as soon as you can, because you will surely be asked to violate it

.

...You're pathetic. You pass judgement on members of the Armed Forces and have no idea what you're talking about. You have the freedom to write your crap...who do you think protects that freedom?

You have a nice, comfortable day.

Why cant some people understand. That social media and a webpage IS PUBLIC. He is in the military. Then he also on a government network posted to not Follow the presidents orders. And Screw him That's mutiny by law so actually he is getting off light. He should be locked up. We are still actively in combat in the middle east. AKA a WAR And mutiny is also a crime that carries the death penalty in peacetime as well to service members.

When he enlisted, he took an oath. Like every other service member does. To go against the CIC at anytime in a public venue is against military law. Look it up do some research. The first amendment does not apply to active duty service members due to security. And for good reason. He was not forced into joining. He enlisted.