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

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

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

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

"I think that it's been pretty well established for a long time that freedom of speech is one area in which people do surrender some of their basic rights in entering the armed forces," said former Navy officer David Glazier, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

"Good order and discipline require the military maintain respect for the chain of command," Glazier said. "That includes prohibiting speech critical of the senior officers in that chain of command — up to and including the commander in chief."

According to Pentagon directives, military personnel in uniform can't sponsor a political club; participate in any TV or radio program or group discussion that advocates for or against a political party, candidate or cause; or speak at any event promoting a political movement.

Commissioned officers also may not use contemptuous words against senior officials, including the defense secretary or the president.

I saw that story as well. A birther site was saying "they're starting to refuse to take orders" or something like that. I saw a link to the guy's facebook page in one of the news posts, but I didn't go over. I wondered if he spouted birthism. Or just the regular RWNJ stuff.

As any member of the armed forces will tell you, you sign on the dotted line you give up your right to free speech. This guy is toast.

Better make up a cot in Leavenworth??

I hope you're right, but I don't know, Britty. If you read the whole article at the link, AP reports that the authorities are debating whether he crossed the line in expressing his opinion and they have not asked him to take it down yet. Additionally, an officer who "liked" his Tea Party FB page acknowledged that the post might have gone a little overboard but described it as a refreshing change and stated that everyone should realize that the military is not a bunch of zombies who only say yes and no.

Welcome to the all volunteer military...and its unintended consequences. A self-selected population rising through the ranks over the years until they are the ones running the show. Look to the Air Force Academy for an example of "group think" run amok (at times).

I have a great deal of respect for members of our volunteer military. Nonetheless, and for many reasons, I think we need a national service requirement. Not the least of these is to prevent our armed forces from becoming home to only one world view. That way lies a military that may chafe under the bonds of subservience to political authority.

These people who want to be individuals need to be returned to the civilian world where they are free to be individuals again.

This fool marine (and really, I say that with all respect being that my father is a career marine), is wrong on so many levels. One, he does not receive orders from the POTUS. The Commandant of the Marine Corps issues orders, so does the commanding general of the forces that this marine belongs to. He will not be convicted of disobeying an order of the POTUS, rather, he could get a contempt of officials charge OR disobeying a lawful order from one of those generals who will be issuing them.

I hope the fool marine takes a look at case history. Marines from the time of the birth of the Corps in Tun's Tavern have been convicted of disobeying a lawful order. None from a civilian POTUS, and he cannot use the defense of President Obama being in the POTUS as a basis of defense.

I would rather this fool marine leave the corps and kick rocks. As a member of the Armed Forces, I find his lack of duty, honor and country undeserving of his position and, should he continue on this vein of foolish haymaking, I'll find him in an airport and spit on him.

Stein's FB page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gary-Stei ... 7993929079

Another member of the Armed Forces goes after him:


Chris Salinas Traitor of the USMC is more like it. Traitor to your soldiers, traitor to your duty and a traitor to our founding fathers. You need to study history little man, you would have been shot for treason during the founding of our country.

IIRC armed forces personnel are not allowed to make disparaging comments about a list of folks, including president, vice president, governors, sec of defense, navuy, etc., sec of transportation. Personally I see this as falling under that category -- it doesn't get more disparaging of CIC than to state that you will not follow their orders.

Hey, where's Dwight? He must have some excellent insight and possibly some inside information on this one.

That isn't exactly true. It were a terrible thing to say that soldiers do not enjoy the very rights they're risking their lives to ensure for the rest of us. However, they certainly have voluntarily surrendered some rights, by agreeing to obey orders from a chain of command, and it is at the very core of military service to obey orders.

Whatever rights soldiers do have do not include rights to defy lawful orders, or to decide unilaterally that clearly lawful orders are unlawful based upon a fantasy. Lakin should have learned this, but did not. This assclown should be taught Lakin's lesson. He has no business being in any uniformed service.

Oh yeah, this is his other site:

http://www.facebook.com/ArmedForcesTeaParty

Guess he figures the disclaimer will protect him:

"We do not represent, and are in no way affiliated with the military, or United States Armed Forces. If you are trying to reach Gary Stein please email ArmedForcesTP@gmail.com "


We shall see.

Another anti-Obama hate site.

He thinks President Obama is going to order troops to round up Americans and take their guns.

Several of posters claiming Obama isn't eligible because his father wasn't a citizen, several mentions of the CCP report and flat out birfing.

He's asking about a good lawyer. Hope they throw the book at him.

Mr. Neal Puckett, Esq is real expensive but worth every penny. He has defended a couple of guilty pleas.

No let's direct him to Paul RolfJensen. I notice Jensen's web site is not up any more. I wonder if he still practices law?

Maybe he got bitten by a dog.

Interesting juxtaposition on the front pge...this topic is right next to the thread about the murderous soldier in Afghanistan.

License is still active.

Doubt it. The dog receiving the summons would have made local TV (interviewed by William Wagener). One of our CA Fogbowzers would have heard about it.

From Stein on both his FB pages approx. 2 hours ago:

Unfreakingbelievable! Someone in the media needs to nail Issa on this. Contact info for Weigel or Maddow, anyone?

Issa is a corrupt, soulless bastard.

No s#*#t, Sherlock? Don't be shy, 'Dawg. Tell us what you really think.

FYI, you're preaching to the choir on idiot Issa. From his attempt to get Spanish language instruction taken out of California classrooms to getting Grey Davis recalled, Issa has been on our radar for a long time. Thank doG we moved to Hawaii from California in 2003, when Issa the Infamous thought he was going to walk right on into the gov's house. (Wrong, rabbit breath!)

Looks like the Marines have had enough:

Marine sergeant being dismissed for criticizing Obama