Be thankful, Adam
Adam Kokesh, an IVAW member and Ron Paul supporter complains that the military is enforcing their policy of prohibiting members of the military publicly supporting a presidential candidate during the Ron Paul Rally he’s scheduled for Monday morning – the rally that specifically announces themselves as members of the military who support a presidential candidate;
The letter reads;
Subject: [ETHICS] Partisan Political March
Importance: HighIt has come to our attention that a partisan political march targeting military personnel is being organized for February 20, 2012.
As a reminder, active duty personnel are prohibited by DoD Directive 1344.10 paragraph 4.1.2.10 from marching in a partisan political parade regardless of whether they are in uniform or civilian clothes. Reservists not on active duty and retirees may not march in uniform pursuant to paragraph 4.1.4. Reservists not on active duty and retirees may march in civilian clothes provided that they do not otherwise act in a manner that could reasonably give rise to the inference or appearance of official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement.
The directive is a lawful general regulation. Violations of paragraphs 4.1. through 4.5. of the Directive by persons subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice are punishable under Article 92, “Failure to Obey Order or Regulation.”
In addition, DODI 1334.01, paragraph 3.1.2 prohibits the wearing of the uniform by members of the armed forces (including retired members and members of reserve components) during or in connection with political activities.
You may wish to advise your command regarding this particular event because of the apparent solicitation of active duty personnel.
Joel A. Weger
Senior Attorney
Department of the Navy
Office of the Assistant General Counsel (Ethics)
It’s a law, Adam. it’s not like the military had a choice whether or not they had to advise members of their responsibilities to their oaths. It wasn’t written just to victimize Ron Paul supporters. It pertains to members of the military who want to support the President, too.
Your march is named as members of the military, which is “apparent solicitation of active duty personnel”.
Adam should be thanking the Navy for the letter, now he has an excuse when participation is quite a bit less than he expects. Regardless, I’ll be there to photographically record the rally for posterity on Monday morning.
Thanks to Carolyn for the link.
Category: Iraq Veterans Against the War, Ron Paul
As a Civil Servant I have a similar letter although I can take part as long as I don’t qualify myself as a civil servant but as a private citizen.
A lawful order is a lawful order, dumbass. Now if only they would enforce the hatch act with Government Civilians
“In addition, DODI 1334.01, paragraph 3.1.2 prohibits the wearing of the uniform by members of the armed forces (including retired members and members of reserve components) during or in connection with political activities.”
How come troops, in uniform, are sometimes seen positioned behind the podium during obummer political speeches then?
Is this event being planned or sanctioned by the Paul campaign? If so, we are getting into the realm of a member of Congress inciting members of the military to disregard regulations and disobey orders.
I wonder if they plan a mass court’s martial or individual for the idiots who feel that this LAW/REGULATION is just a suggestion?
It is interesting to hear all the comments from the Barracks Lawyers who are saying “It’s never happened before, so why should it start now?” What they do not realize, is the Service Members appearing behind political candidates in uniform did so with the permission of their Commanding Officers. I had to go through several layers of red (and green) tape just to allow my unit to appear behind the First Lady (Laura Bush) when she was in Salem, Oregon for a talking event.
Finally, when was the last time a psychotropic medication was prescribed for PTSD or depression? Last time I checked, altering the perceptions of reality were dangerous for someone with PTSD as the ‘trip’ could give them flashbacks or worse.
What a crock! Like David says “A lawful order is a lawful order”. As a municipal employee, I am prohibited from having ANYTHING to do with a city election. I couldn’t put a ‘my candidate’ sticker on the was of my cube, I couldn’t donate to his campaign, etc. Hey, I wanna keep my job, I obey the rules.
Like Kokesh gives a shit about lawful orders. Just ask him about that AK he tried to smuggle back which got his ass busted down.
@4 & Jonn… One thing to look out for at the event is to see if the Paul people solicit funds for the campaign. If the campaign is sanctioning an event that clearly involves some level of illegal activity, then this can be a campaign finance violation if they are gathering funds from the same event. I think a complaint can be seriously levied against the campaign if they are soliciting funds from an event specifically designed to convey active duty military support, because by there own definition they are encouraging illegal activity. Covering it by saying they act at their own peril would not protect the campaign from campaign finance violations.
Is it just me, or does that shot of the video show his eyes to be MAJORLY bloodshot, like he was either on a long crying jag or had just had about 4 bongloads of the hippie lettuce?
Dear Adam,
Something tells me you haven’t quite thought your cunning plan completely through.
@NHS-Is Kokesh the “Baldrick” of the Paul movement? I just wonder if he’s been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University?
Nah, but he’s about as smart as Baldrick.
As a municipal employee, I am prohibited from having ANYTHING to do with a city election.
I AM CONFUSED WHY ONE CANNOT DONATE TO A COMPAIGN…WHO WOULD KNOW & IT IS A “PRIVATE” ACT…AND A MONEY ORDER DOESN’T NEED TO HAVE YOUR OWN NAME ON IT…YET SO MANY ALLOWANCES WERE MADE FOR “MILITARY” PERSONNEL IN REGARDS TO DADT…BUT WHEN IT COMES TO A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THEY “ENFORCE” THE RULES…
I GUESS IT IS THE SAME THING WHERE OFFICERS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE “ABOVE” THE TROOPS, ACTS LIKE AND SPEAKS AS A JUVENILE DELINQUENT OR WORSE ACTS LIKE A “TROOP”…SO THE “TROOPS” ARE SUPPOSED TO “AGAIN” RISE ABOVE AND BEHAVE WHEN OUR SUPERIORS DO NOT BEHAVE PROPERLY.
MONKEY SEE MONKEY DO – DOESN’T FLY
AND
IS DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO…THOUGH I SHOULD BE LEADING BY EXAMPLE…
And, right on cue, the Paultards arrive.
I guess you didn’t see that DoD directive above you, little moRON.
Gotta love how they get all butthurt when it’s rules they don’t like.
Regarding my previous post… I should clarify that the campaign finance violation would not be against the troops who are donating. Instead, the violation would be against the campaign itself for soliciting (or accepting solicited) campaign contributions) from what is tantamount to an event based on campaign sanctioned illegal activity.
Can anybody please make what 11 said into an actual coherent thought please? I mean, the grammatical syntax in that comment is pretty much non existent! And, #2, Kokesh never really was one for following the Regs, hence his General Discharge and reduction in both rank and pay.
Lucky, Kokesh says in the video that no one is a “real Marine” unless they’ve been busted at least once. Of course, that’s just his excuse for being busted for smuggling an Iraqi pistol back.
What ever happened to that double-dipped moron Thorsen who outed himself as a Paulistinian in uniform?
And as a former serving flight surgeon, why is it that Paul ALLOWED him to violate regulations?
Hahaha, wow, so my Old Man, 22 years in the Corps, no disciplinary issues in those 22 years, top of the selection list for every promotion, Force Recon, etc isn’t a “Real Marine” What a fraking turd burglar! WOw, just wowwwwww. Jonn, wtf are they putting in the Kool Aid these days?
OldCavLt: PRIVATE Thorsen has been reduced in rank, is pending an Article 32 hearing, and serves as an example to the rest of the Reserve of what NOT to do. Because of his happy ass, I and the rest of my Brigade had to waste an entire day of Drill learning about having to have PAO present when talking to the media, instead of conducting tactical training, like the NCO’s had planned. PRIVATE Thorsen failed to live up to the NCO Creed and is paying the price.
I’might wear my old uniform for working in the yard or something like that…
“It wasn’t written just to victimize Ron Paul supporters.”
Everything was written to victimize Ron Paul supporters. Believe me, I know some of them. Everything is a conspiracy to keep a good man (Ron Paul) down, and of course to prevent them from speaking their mind about the New World Order Welfare/Warfare Fed Illumanati Bilderberg CIA Military Industrial Complex.
Ben – you forgot the chemtrails!!
Thanks for the update, Lucky! I too had been wondering what happened with “Private” Thorsen. The Paulians will have to update their FB page for him now, LOL.
Not a problem StreetSweeper, the Green Machine by the end of the day, had the entire Brigade never wanting to speak to the media after that briefing, and most of us being Vets, are already distrustful of the media due to embeds such as Michael Yon…..
Ben: considering Paul’s chief staffer is also in the employ of the Bilderburgers (Build a Bear-ers?), I’m not worried about Paul being kept down. He is a bought tool of the Illiminati.
Wait, we bought him? I wasn’t brought in on that part! I would have black balled that purchase!
What Kokesh and the rest of the slack jawed Ronulan military personnel that are whining forget is that when you sign your name on the dotted line and raise your right hand, you voluntarily agree to abide by the UCMJ, which overrides your Constitutional “rights” as you think that they apply to you. Unfortunately, several of the rocket surgeons that commented on the one member of the Navy’s facebook comment, they still haven’t mustered enough brain power to understand that. They are acting like I figured they would; a bunch of spoiled brats that aren’t being allowed to get their way, because what they want is more important than the agreement they signed. Suck it up, or get the fuck out of the military so you can whine and cry like the diaper wearing brats you are.
Everyone on this blog seems to hate Ron Paul so much…I mean the man has some great ideas. The gold standard for one.
While I disagree with his forein policies, the man is all about the Constitution. I think we can all agree with that, right?
He’s pretty good for the first five minutes or so during one of his speeches. After that, and I don’t know how or why it happens, he suddenly shoots off into space.
I personally like Rand myself.