After suspension for nodding at Obama, drum major quits

[Sequoia]

An Ohio man who was suspended as the drum major of a band for giving President Obama a nod during last week's inaugural parade is calling it quits.

John Coleman resigned from the Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes & Drums a week after the parade in Washington. Publicity about his suspension had gotten to be too much, he told CNN affiliate WEWS.

"It's come to a point where I don't want embarrassment anymore between the pipe band and myself," Coleman, who is a firefighter, told WEWS on Tuesday.

Coleman was seen during the nationally televised January 20 parade nodding toward the new president while marching with the band. A few steps later, he appeared to wave briefly.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/27/inauguration.drum.major/index.html

That was a great band marching by. What moron thought he should be suspended? I know...a Bush supporter most likely.

[Barack_America]

1. Oh yes, how dare he acknowledge his Commander in Chief.

Boo Cleveland Firefighters Memorial Pipes & Drums!

Hopefully your policy of disrespect towards the President will mean you're never invited to another Inaugural Parade.

[stillcool]

2. So sad....

"The 'afterglow' of participating in the inaugural parade is gone," he said.

[KittyWampus]

3. One more time> Marching Bands and Color Guards compete according to rules.

You wouldn't object to a ref putting a hockey player in the box for slashing.

As a group or team, when one member makes a mistake it reflects on the whole group.

[Sequoia]

4. Right, the whole band sucks now.

Obama should invite him to the White House. It was a firemen's band, how can it be military? When bands marched in front of Hitler and acknowledged him they were shot I bet.

[Blaze Diem]

6. Maybe Obama can give him a position within his Whitehouse/Govt

somewhere. He merely honored his President. Perhaps Obama could return this favor by honoring him.
Wish him good luck and a better job to display his patriotism.

[FSogol]

7. But that wasn't a competition, it was a parade, right? n/t

[ensho]

10. wow, we are both #3

nt

[ensho]

12. disregard the post, I'm losing my mind :)

nt

[FSogol]

13. I'm much older than three.

;-)

[ensho]

8. but this parade wasn't a competition?

nt

[WI_DEM]

17. It's stupid regardless of the rules to suspend someone for a nod.

[TWiley]

5. REPUBLICAN BASTARDS !

I got republican fuck-nuts where I work also. They are ALWAYS trying to get the liberals fired so they can hire NRA / Racist / Conservative / Religious folks. To them, even employment is a war, and the wrong color skin or politics is cause for attack.

[Dreamer Tatum]

16. And you're just SURE this is yet another Republican issue?

How interesting that Obama can spike Citi's $50MM plane with a phone call, but he can't call the band director or whomever and
put the arm around them?

Someone is going to look like an ass here, and it sure isn't guy who nodded. Obama can call out Limbaugh, but he can't deal with this situation?

[TWiley]

21. Do you really think it is an issue that requires presidential attention?

Myself, I think it is far to trivial for Mr. Obama to get involved in. And YES. I am sure that a group of liberal democrats would more likely join in rather than kick the "offender"

[TWiley]

22. oh, please let me re-iterate ...... REPUBLICAN BASTARDS !!

[misanthrope]

19. Unfortunately, you're correct. It's war to those folks...

...and the sooner liberals come to grips with that, the better off they'll be.

[krispos42]

9. I'd love for President Obama to call this guy's boss

Just out of the blue. And say "Hey, I'd like ot hear your explanation as to why this drum major was suspended for returning my wave. Go ahead, I'm listening."


Or better yet, an unannounced visit at his place of work. :evilgrin:

[ecstatic]

15. "Fix it!" nt

[ecstatic]

11. Also, his band was getting a lot of angry phone calls

I suppose from people who were upset by the initial suspension. The band didn't handle this well. I hope Obama bans them from future parades.

[WI_DEM]

14. How absolutely stupid to suspend a guy for nodding an acknowledgement to the president.

[ecstatic]

18. It's amazing. After 17 years leading the band, he

was thrown under the bus for something so silly. I suspect his band mates were extremely jealous of him and/or bitter republicans.

[chrisa]

20. Who gives a shit?

In other news, man sent to jail for blinking during the inauguration.

[Bombero1956]

23. like I said in another thread

I've worked with guys like this Engle person during my 31 year career in the fire service and they were always little chickenshit martinets who demanded absolute adherence to rules and regs to the detriment of the organization. We're talking about firefighters here, not an actual military unit. Most of them probably got stinking drunk on the bus ride home if not immediately after the parade. For this Engle guy to expect strict military dicipline was asking way too much.

[GreenPartyVoter]

24. I am so sorry to hear that. :^(