SAN DIEGO (AP) â The Marine Corps on Wednesday notified a sergeant who has been openly critical of President Barack Obama that he is violating Pentagon policy barring troops from political activities and that he faces dismissal.
Camp Pendleton Marine Sgt. Gary Stein started a Facebook page called Armed Forces Tea Party to encourage fellow service members to exercise their free speech rights. He declared a few weeks ago that he would not follow the unlawful orders of the commander in chief. Stein also criticized Defense Secretary Leon Panetta for his comments on Syria.
Stein, a nine-year member of the Corps, said he did nothing wrong and planned to fight the charges. He had applied to extend his service, which was set to expire in a few months.
"I'm completely shocked that this is happening," he said. "I've done nothing wrong. I've only stated what our oath states that I will defend the constitution and that I will not follow unlawful orders. If that's a crime, what is America coming to?"
The Marine Corps said in a statement Wednesday that Stein's commanding officer ordered a preliminary inquiry on March 8 after receiving allegations that Stein posted political statements about Obama on Facebook in violation of the Pentagon's directives.
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Former Member
Once you join the Armed forces, free speech is limited...
Dat is why David Ramnarine should consider himself very lucky.
Former Member
folks dont read the fine print they sign. Once in the service of a country you are not allowed to be critical of the govt or president .
Former Member
Originally Posted by Nehru:
Dat is why David Ramnarine should consider himself very lucky.
Nehru,
There is a big difference in the case of David Ramnarine. Henry Greene 's declaration that funds were not budgeted for the in-lined ranks and his directive that commanders should canvass the business community for support was shameless, unethical and a despicable act tat undermine moral, ethics and independence of the GPF and should have been vigorously resisted by those commanders in the first place. However having acquiesced to this immoral directive and having subsequently learned through the media of the 90 million dollar caper, Mr Ramnarine, having gone out with tin cup in hand, found himself in a disgraceful and personally embarrassing situation . Hence, he had a moral and ethical obligation to set the record straight and defend his personal integrity and no narrow departmental Standing Order could or should muzzle or stifle those rights.
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