Tea Party Marine’s speech “chilled”

TSO sent this link to an article about a Marine at Camp Pendelton who has been counseled by his supervisors about his Facebook group “Armed Forces Tea Party Patriots“.

After his superiors at Camp Pendleton learned of it and that he was slated to appear on MSNBC to talk about it, they directed him to sit down and review Defense Department policy that governs what political activities are acceptable for members of the armed forces.

Stein said he agrees with that policy and will abide by the limits it sets, which include barring troops from taking part in partisan political fundraising or using the uniform to influence an election. They also prohibit soliciting votes for a particular party and taking part in any radio or television broadcast as an advocate for or against a candidate or cause.

“The last 24 hours has been a learning experience and I know a lot more about the directive and will continue to moderate the page and stick within the guidelines,” he said.

The Marines emphasize that SGT Stein is not being disciplined or investigated. But the ACLU was prompted to weigh in;

“The ACLU strongly supports the First Amendment rights of service members to discuss and critique the government’s policies and conduct,” the organization said in a written statement. “Speech on issues of social and political concern is recognized by the courts, including military courts, as “the core of what the First Amendment is designed to protect.”

The Marine Corps was prompted to curtail Stein’s activities after an interview in TPMMuckraker during which Stein declared;

“People in the military need to be heard,” the group’s prime organizer, Gary Stein — a Marine Corps sergeant stationed at Camp Pendleton in southern California — told TPMmuckraker in an interview. “Our opinions do count.”

Many people in the military “feel like they can’t speak out against Obama or Congress,” said Stein. “The armed forces should have a little bit more say than we think we do,” he said.

Stein also mentioned that he is a firm supporter of Oath Keepers.

ADDED: I don’t really fault Oath Keeper members for their membership in the organization. Oath Keepers’ basic message is seductive to members of the military, LEOs and First Responders. I fault Stewart Rhodes for not being upfront with his intentions and political aspirations. If he were, the membership would flee in droves.

Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Military issues, Oath Keepers