Navy SEAL running for Congress kicked off his campaign in the wrong district
And apparently in the wrong attire, too. I’m glad to see Vets run for public office- wish there were more. But like most things there’s a right way and a wrong way to do this. ChipNASA sends us an example of a Vet doing it the wrong way.
Floyd McLendon, a retired Navy SEAL.
By David Choi
- Floyd McLendon, a retired US Navy SEAL running for a House seat in Texas, was spotted at his campaign kickoff wearing the Navy’s dress white uniform.
- McLendon’s choice of attire likely violates Navy regulations. Both the Navy and the Marine Corps prohibit wearing a uniform at political events, even for “retired members and members of reserve components.”
- McLendon’s inaugural campaign event was held in the 30th Congressional District. He’s running in the 32nd District.
- Political strategists in Texas described the venue as highly unusual for a House candidate.
A retired US Navy SEAL running for Congress wore a Navy dress white uniform at a recent campaign event, Business Insider has learned.
Floyd McLendon, a Republican House candidate in Texas, spoke to an audience at his campaign kickoff event in November wearing a Navy uniform adorned with numerous medals, including what appeared to be the SEAL Trident, the insignia reserved for members of the elite community like McLendon.
The inaugural event in Dallas was held in the 30th Congressional District, while McLendon is running in the 32nd District. Political strategists in Texas described the venue as highly unusual for a House candidate.
“I don’t know if I can think of a time where somebody kicked off their campaign in some place that wasn’t in their district. And then it would be really outrageous is when they didn’t realize it was in their district,” Matt Angle, a Democratic strategist with the Lone Star Project, told Business Insider. “They need to have a pretty darn good reason for kicking off their event in a district in another one they’re running in.”
McLendon’s choice of attire would appear to violate Navy regulations. Both the Navy and the Marine Corps prohibit wearing the uniform at political events, even for “retired members and members of reserve components.”
McLendon’s campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Come on, Chief. You know better. Hat tip to ChipNASA for the link.
Category: Guest Link, Navy
“Come on, Chief. You know better.”
^This^ Like you I’m proud to see fellow Vets run for office, but this is something he should know. And he should know where his district boundary lines are. Now if there was no “proper venue” in his district to make his announcement, that’s one thing. Hell, you could have picked a sidewalk/corner business, anywhere. Showing up in uniform was the wrong way to go about it tho.
Dumbass move.
Wait, there’s rules regarding wear and appearance of the military uniform?!
That explains why I got yelled at after payday activities for wearing A’s at the gentlemen’s cabaret.
I r infan tree, may bees picturr buk four rulez, pees?
Seriously, the Chief shoulda known gooder.
Seriously, what’s wrong with wearing a suit like a normal person? Something like a tie clip or small lapel pin if you want to show your service, you know, keep it classy and in regs.
Sad, isn’t it?
But then you said “normal” person.
Did the Chief fail map reading and land navigation during SEAL Qualification Training?
One of the objects of war is to keep the enemy in the dark and confused as to what you are doing. One of the objects of politics is to keep the sheep in the dark and confused as to what you are doing. The Chief is just applying these principles. Well done Chief!
The story is that Lyndon Johnson got the Silver Star he received (perhaps the medal awarded under the weakest of circumstances in American history) pinned on his chest at one campaign stop after another. Using the uniform for political advantage is clearly out of bounds, but emphasizing one’s service is clearly not. It might be something of a fine line, and the Chief probably crossed it, but it’s hard to get worked up about it so long as he didn’t lie about his service.
LBJ and the Silver Star.
What a joke.
Go Army. Beat Navy.
🐎🏈🐐
I believe that was hopefully the last time the SS was awarded as a participation medal for an airplane ride where nothing happened.
I hate to ask the obvious, but has anyone verified this guy is the real deal SEAL or not?
WW<
That second photo is supposedly one of his Official photos and he's *all over* the Googles (and legit news outlets) so…I'd say yeah, pretty much.
Thanks Chip, just wanted to make sure we didn’t have a phony pony on our hands?
Pretty likely the Hair would have outed him if he wasn’t for real.
Nancy Pelosi wants her White Pantsuit returned.
Go Army. Beat Navy.
🐎🏈🐐
Bwwaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha gasp gasp hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahaha
Her pant suits have got to have cooties.
KoB: Trying to imagine if she will last another 10 years in Congress.
One can only have so many Facelifts and Botox.
Do you remember Strom Thurman? I saw him in person before he passed away. He gave the prayer before Orin Hatch got up to speak in Congress.
It was so sad. Two men had to hold him on each side to help him walk to the Podium. One had to hold his hand when he used the Gavel. The men also had to assist him in leaving the Podium.
Just trying to imagine that with Pelosi.
And in the meantime, San Franscisco is getting worse, so worse that private citizens are using their own money and time to clean their city of human feces, needles, etc.
Yep, hard to forget ol’ Strom down heah y’all. Party switcher, career politicians before it became the in thing, Presidential candidate, closet racist, probable rapist. “Byrd” of a feather with others of his ilk. Pissed off a lot of NE Georgians when SC was changing the name of Clarke Hill Lake to Thurmond. (Clarke Hill being named for a true hero of freedom Elijah Clarke Rev War Fame) But I digress. I feel that there should be term/age limits on Congress critters and judges alike. San Fran Nan, DiFi, Maxie Pad, et al need to go to the home, retired. They and other career pols show that it is all about the control of power. They have ALL stolen enough money to live very comfortably on. Drain the swamp.
Well familiar with the whole clean up in Sodom by the Bay Gomorohfornia. Niece, nephew and their 3 babies are in the heart of that God Forsaken Place with the Church Ministry. They feel that the God Fearing Christians in Lower Alabama are covered, but the heathens of Cali need the Ministering. It is a daily struggle for them to keep the tiny bit of front yard they have clean so the kids can play there. She finally gave up and they play in the even tinier, fenced back yard. It’s sad. I could get nephew a preaching gig here in Georgia and there were all types of spots between Semmes and Mobile where they would have family.
Ewwwww. THANKS!!
And it probably smells like old BO, cheese, drool, MD 20/20, and desperation like someone’s old stretched out Spanx and Spandex and rotting Jaguar upholstery
We had an AF reservist run for Sheriff here a few years back. I snapped a pic of him in a billboard campaign pic featuring him wearing his AF uniform and sent it to the legal office at Shaw. Pic was gone off the billboard the next day.
Damn… even an “even numbered Chief” knows better that doing that shit.
Floyd… you better know better than doing that shit… giving us a bad name.
DAMN…
Plus, the uniform shift in his district from whites to blues was Nov 1, so he is definitely out of uniform. Is he that stupid? Texas voters be careful.
Wow, how did he become so senior and not know you can’t run for office in uniform?
Makes me wonder what else he doesn’t know.
I can’t wait for the inevitable, “You can’t say that to me, I’m a Senior Chief!”
Sorry, but occasionally some weak sauce makes its way into the Mess. God knows I ran into a few in the skimmer fleet and recruiting.
I had an E7 platoon sergeant that was a proud “Project 100,000” member. Dumbass couldn’t lead a turd down the bowl.
Ah, yes… the CRF’s. Knew a few that were an embarrassment to the Mess and the Navy.
BTW – CRF = Can’t Remember the Fleet
Then you’re familiar with the subject matter.
First major issue I encountered: our CR got fired in the same fiasco that brought down Admiral Watson.
Wrong district? I guess our squidly colleagues need a land nav refresher.
Has any one verified this man was in fact a SEAL? I can understand kicking off a campaign in another district if that is where he grew up or has strong family ties. Question I have, in addition to his being what he claims and was awarded the ribbons on the uniform, is does he live in the district in which he filed. Also has to be somewhat of a dumb ass wearing the uniform for a partisan political event. So if he is bona-fide and wins, he will fit right in with the other dumb shits.
This is basic sh*t about when, when not to wear your uniform…