Oh, hell. RWers are caling for disciplinary action against Army Nat'l Guard major at Biden rally

[highplainsdem]

Link to the earlier DU topic with video of what she said to Biden:


https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287257954



I'm seeing lots of RWers saying on Twitter that she violated regulations about political activity and should be punished to the fullest extent possible.

Never mind that Trump regularly does his best to turn appearances with the troops into campaign rallies. If a soldier shows support for Biden, she has to be punished.


Stars & Stripes link with an article from the Washington Post:

https://www.stripes.com/news/army/army-major-faces-scrutiny-for-appearance-in-uniform-at-biden-campaign-event-1.596528

[turbinetree]

1. Let me see if I get this straight......................right wingers, see below picture ........

?itok=m0wLV6yI


This is just fine and fucking dandy with these / you right wingers.......................hey asshole right wingers, did you know that these "GUY'S" are fucking "RUSSIAN SPIES" and your "GUY" didn't tell anyone in this country and they were in the oval office having a laugh..............................the only way this country found out about it was that his RUSSIAN handlers published this picture ..........................so fuck you and your support for a TRAITOR..........................

[bluewater]

2. Do you really want uniformed military officers endorsing political candidates?

I would not.

The military should not be allowed to exert political pressure on civilian politicians who ultimately direct the military.

And it's also bad for the military itself, since it can damage unit cohesion.

[cwydro]

3. Yeah, gotta agree there.

I remember those sailors with their MAGA hats/patches.

[bluewater]

8. Yes. Have to draw a hard line...

No politics in the uniformed military.

It's too slippery a slope to fascism.

[highplainsdem]

7. I'd agree only if the military hadn't been allowing troops to show political support for Trump. I'm

not aware of any disciplinary actions taken against Trump supporters.

[bluewater]

10. They should definitely be disciplined too. No politics in the uniformed military.

[highplainsdem]

13. But they haven't been. And if the major is, then the message being sent to the troops is that

political support for Trump, including while in uniform, is fine, but political support for Democratic candidates is NOT allowed.

[bluewater]

15. Whataboutism? Sorry, but no politics in the uniformed military.

As Democrats, we should not sink down to the low level of Trump.

No politics in the uniformed military.

No whataboutism making excuses for politics in the uniformed military.

[MarcA]

20. Magat troop display was allowed. It is not whataboutism, it's double standard. n/t

[bluewater]

22. No politics in the uniformed military. Zero tolerance.

Period.

Just because the magats got away with it under Trump, doesn't mean we should act the same way.

Let's elect a Democratic President who as Commander-in-Chief will keep all politics out of the uniformed military.

[cwydro]

14. It should not be allowed. Period.

As bluewater said, there should be a hard line.

But I hear your point.

[bluewater]

16. Let's elect a Democratic President who will be Commander-in-Chief

And get all politics out of the uniformed military.

None of this whataboutism.

[cwydro]

17. Hell to the yeah.

OF course, they’ll have political views, but shut the hell up about them in public!

I was in the Air Force years ago; it was made clear to us.

[Blue_true]

25. I agree. When I saw that I cringed.

The military should discipline any soldier that endorses a politician. It is ok for veterans to endorse people, but they also are not active military.

She should get a letter of reprimand, but nothing beyond that unless she has other incidents.

[Bradical79]

31. Agreed

Though punishing only those who don't support support a specific party is even more dangerous.

[exboyfil]

4. She can't do that

She can appear in civilian clothes though.

[Polybius]

11. Major Ginger Tate is a she

[exboyfil]

12. Thanks - I have corrected it

[LincolnRossiter]

5. I'm a Biden supporter who spent over 10 years as a Naval Officer.

The Major was wrong. Military Service comes with pretty strict limitations on political activity. They can attend political rallies as spectators, donate, sign petitions, and vote of course. But they can’t lead an advocacy group, act as a fundraiser or bundler, speak at a rally, or in anyway associate their personal preference with DoD.

We absolutely cannot engage in any public political activity while in uniform.

And yes, I know that some knuckleheads in uniform have MAGA shit all over their barracks and humvees and even their unit patches. That’s wrong and merits discipline as well.

[exboyfil]

9. Thank you

and thank you for your service.

[bluewater]

18. Well said.

[uponit7771]

26. ..👍🏼

[Hortensis]

32. The way it should be because it needs to be.

[Polybius]

6. Can't blame them for this one

High-ranking military officials can't go to political rallies, at least in uniform. I'm sure many others can't stand Trump, but they can't say it until they retire.

[mn9driver]

19. This has been the rule for a very long time.

I was active in the 1980’s and everyone knew better than to do this. I totally agree with her sentiment, but I’m not sure what she was thinking. It’s common knowledge.

[pecosbob]

21. Not in uniform...a vet.

This would have brought disciplinary action during my service in the late seventies. I could attend protests, and I did, and I'm pretty sure that info found it's way into my BuPers file...but never in uniform.

[whistler162]

23. Hopefully she is punished the same as the soldiers in Germany!

[Blue_true]

27. There is no doubt that she should be punished.

But it should be in proportion to others that have crossed that line. Unfortunately she is a pretty high ranking officer, so her punishment may be severe.

What she did, though passionate, was a bad idea. Other military officers likely despise Trump, but they salute and focus on their jobs.

[Cha]

24. Oh No.. I didn't even think about

that.

I hope she's okay.

[YOHABLO]

28. It would seem she wanted to give him a coin she'd been waiting to give to the Obama/Biden team.

Perhaps she didn't know it was unacceptable to be in uniform. I forgot my USMJ rule book.

[Iggo]

29. Why do they hate our military?

[myohmy2]

30. I don't know...

" The military wants its personnel to participate in our democratic process, just within limits. The DoD encourages active duty military members to vote and has established several programs to help active duty personnel register and cast absentee ballots.

But when it comes to actively campaigning for a specific political candidate or partisan objective, the military draws the line. "

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/military-folks-and-politics-3332818

…