Posted on 01/04/2011 7:12:12 PM PST by Signalman
The famous Marine drill instructor who created a stir last week when he said President Obama was trying to implement socialism has released a statement apologizing for those remarks.
R. Lee Ermey said today that his comments were “misguided” and “emotionally based” and for that he is “truly sorry.” His full statement, which is posted on his website as a splash page, is below:
A Message from the Gunny
“I recently appeared at a fundraising event designed to collect toys and raise awareness for underprivileged children. While that event succeeded in raising thousands of dollars and hundreds of toys for this cause, I regret that I delivered a monologue that was inappropriately critical of the President. I was trying to be entertaining and simply went too far in this instance. I am mindful that my success as an entertainer relates in part to my experience in the Marine Corps, my devotion to its members, and the deep respect I have for members of all our Armed Forces. My comments should not be seen as reflecting on them or their views. I was just very disappointed in the amount of success that we were having raising toys and money for the underprivileged children this season. The poor economy has greatly hampered our efforts. My comments were misguided, and emotionally based, and for that I am truly sorry.”
Semper Fi
Mediaite wonders if the apology is a move to appease the insurance company GEICO. As many know, Ermey has had a resurgence as a GEICO commercial star. But recently, another GEICO voice actor was fired for a foray into political talk:
A few months ago, GEICO fired voice actor Lance Baxter AKA D.C. Douglas for being critical of the Tea Party and Freedomworks. Not only did they fire him, they fired him for a political outburst on his own free time. Will they now fire Ermey?
That could be the reason. But some may just wonder if this is Ermey crossing into “mamby pamby land”:
There goes another of my heroes.
That was my read also. Whether or not he believes President Obama is a socialist jack-wagon, he realized it was not the right place or time (representing the US Marines during a toys for tots drive) to make that statement, and he rightfully apologized.
Prolly had his military benefits threatened.
Well,just damn.I sure as hell am disappointed in the gunny.
I go with the mammby pamby.
GEICO is probably the worse insurance company in the U.S. as they employ thousands of people to make damn sure they pay as few legitimate claims as possible...This company goes out of it’s way to avoid paying claims and will delay claim payments for as long as they can legally get away with it.
I believe a request came from Ermey’s military contacts to do the mea culpa.
The way it went down was probably like this: Some White House political thug called the Commandant, who then called Lt. General Kelly, who then sent word down the 4th Division chain to get somebody to ask Ermey to “apologize”. Maybe Kelly himself called Ermey. Whatever. So Ermey did what he was asked. Anyway, a Toys for Tots fundraiser was indeed not the appropriate place to call that scumbag Ubama a scumbag.
Big deal.
He was no doubt shamed into making the apology for whatever reason.
I applaud his initial criticism which is the quote that counts.
I believe you’re right. Not at all the appropriate place for political remarks.
One had an accident in Albuquerque while visiting from several states away. The officer on the scene asked him who his insurer was, he replied "GEICO" and the officer said "oh, no problems then." He had several very old printers in the back seat. The GEICO agent asked him their cost. He said they weren't worth much as they were old dot-matrix printers. This was about '98. The agent said "no, I want to know the full replacement cost if they were new today." My friend told him "you can't buy them new today." Agent - "What would you guess?" Friend - "(gave him a price well adjusted up for inflation and told him he was guessing at it.)" Agent - "That's what you're getting. Here's your check."
Another friend who lives in ABQ moved from the crowded west side to a semi-rural spot just a mile over the city line. A couple of months later their GEICO agent called out of the blue. Asked them if they had moved. "Yes, why?" Agent told them they were due a rate cut for living outside the city.
My experience is only that I signed up on the phone in about fifteen minutes. The guy couldn't have been more helpful. I had insurance when I hung up. I pay about $400 a year and I have well more than the minimum coverage that the state of CO requires. No coverage for vehicle damage of course, it's an old truck, but plenty of liability for medical and property.
After blaming the Obama administration he said, "they're not gonna quit doing it until they bring this country to its knees..."
Well I think he was wrong to say this in the context of a Toys for Tots fund raiser. It is counter productive to getting money out of Libs.
He was also wrong in saying "they're not gonna quit doing it until they bring this country to its knees..." because they will never quit. They will keep on destroying the country until there is no USA because that is their true goal
I have to admit, when I first watched the video of his remarks, they seemed way out of context to the event he was at. I noticed that his apology is not for the remarks he made, but for the context in which he made them. I actually agree that a Toys for Tots fundraiser is not the place to make those remarks.
I belong to numerous organizations and while many people feel the same way I do concerning our current Commander in Chief, we would not be making remarks like that at our events. It’s just not smart. There’s a time and a place to make those remarks. I’m sure the Gunny meant everyone of those words and again, notice he’s not taking back the words he said. Just the context in which he said them.
I haven’t watched O’Reilly in about 4 months. He cuts obama waay too much slack.
You know what make me sad...
Yea, that was my read on this too. Just an inappropriate place to be getting political.
Jackwagon.
I haven't had the need to make a claim
You'll find out....My information comes from people that worked within that company, and several others that actually filed claims.
And my information came from someone who filed a claim.
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