Administration Speeches Put Military in Tough Spot

Fox News ^ | December 6, 2005

[strider44]

WASHINGTON

[armydawg1]

I recall sitting in my kitchen in Frankfort KY, while assigned to the ROTC at UK and watching the election returns come in when Clinton was elected. The first state the networks called for Clinton was my own Georgia. The tears rolled down my face because it sent a loud and clear message to me that my own neighbors back home didnt care about me or our Army. They would elect a draft dodger to be our Commander in Chief. I will never forget that night, the pain and hurt. What the people back home do and say DOES matter to our soldiers, it matters a lot.

[tarheelswamprat]

***JANUARY 2, 2004 : (AS OF THIS DATE THESE ARE GOV. HOWARD DEAN'S FOREIGN POLICY ADVISORS : ) ....Admiral Stansfield Turner (USN, Ret.)

The man who presided over the destruction of the CIA.

Oh, goody.

[kabar]

"This is a very bad sign," said retired Marine Gen. Joseph Hoar, who led Central Command in the early 1990s and is an administration critic. "This is the sort of thing that you find in other countries where the military and political, certain political parties are aligned."

Hoar is the one politicizing the military. He is a partisan Democrat who has been a critic of the war from the get-go. It was John Kerry who trotted out the generals and admirals at the Dem convention and reported for duty. Hoar was one of them. The fact that this was not noted is indicative of the MSM's ignorance or partisanship. Shame on Fox News.

12 Generals and Admirals Endorse John Kerry; Military Leaders to Speak and Take Part in Video Tribute in Boston Wednesday

[Raycpa]

I just think he shouldn't do it in front of a bunch of active duty soldiers in uniform.

Do you think the soldiers are too fragile? I wouldn't respect a man that didn;t confront lies about the mission. The troops need to hear the president confront this crap. I know my Marine son sure appreciates it.

[Raycpa]

If Clinton did this in front of the troops, called out the Republicans over some issue...we would have crucified him.

i'm calling you on this. I think this "if clinton did this" form of arguing is not only childish, its almost always dead wrong. I have never ever recall reading any Freeper that cried about Clinton's speeches to the troops. We all appreciated his attention to them. We did take issue with his comments but never his commenting in front of troops.

My pet peve is the argument "if Clinton" its stupid, juvenile and virtually always a lie.

[Fedora]

Thanks for the ping!

[SergeantsLady]

The huge majority of those Active Duty Soldiers in Uniform are proud to have the President's back on this issue. Look at their faces when he speaks, the admiration & pride they have in having President Bush as their Commander-in-Chief. He's speaking out for them... They've been fighting and winning a war both against Terrorists & for the hearts of the Iraqis...and they're achieving their mission. The MSM doesn't cover it. It covers Abu Grahib. The Soldiers know exactly who uses them for political opportunity and who holds their lives as a sacred trust not to be risked lightly. This is an article "about nothing" to "stir up" something because they needed some filler on the website.... as the last comment shows In recent decades, rank-and-file military members have generally become decidedly more Republican. That's part of the reason why this president is so popular with the troops. Many asked in an unofficial survey told FOX News that they don't have a problem from when or where this president attacks Democrats

[Soul Seeker]

Not really.

If Republicans had been trashing our military in full, encouraging the enemy to keep fighting in wartime, calling our troops broken down, saying they are the enemy, saying they couldn't win and that they terrorized Iraqi children... I'd have no problem with Clinton calling them to the carpet before an audience of those worthy of their Commander-In-Chief's defense.

Difference is that scenario would be extremely unlikely.

Partisanship is reserved for a debate over tax cuts.

National security, defense of our troops and success in the WOT isn't partisan. The Democrats have made it partisan on their end, but I still see it as something that should be policy universally embraced by every American. And, was, till the hippie generation.

I don't see the Republican President when he gives these speeches. I see the Commander-In-Chief voicing disgust felt by Americans over how a Party has chosen to target our troops and threaten our security for partisan gain.

And from the response of the troops at these speeches, I think they agree and welcome the defense since the MSM refuses to talk to them.

[VeniVidiVici]

Yet I can see how this is something a president should not do.

Why? Because it may hurt someone's feelings?

Amazing, isn't it? The Democrats keep bashing this president, this military and its objectives, and yet the troops still love this guy.

[Edit35]

We don't give up our right to vote and participate, but we can't be in uniform or use our position when endorsing a candidate.

You are correct. --- I overstated what I was trying to say in regards to military personnel having or not having the right to get involved in politics.

What I meant to say was that soldiers, sailors and Marines don't give up their right to vote or to cheer their Commander-in-Chief during a speech.

No, they cannot legally speak to the media (without permission from their CO, or whomever), but I do not agree that military personnel should be prohibited from voicing ANY views which might be construed as political.

For example, can a soldier or Nat. Guardsman speak out if Congress decides to slash the defense budget by 50-percent? Or if Congress cuts a soldier's pay, or family housing subsidy?

It can get dicey if you prohibit any political voice, does it not?

[usmcobra]

Any sort of Political endorsement is in violation of the UCMJ as is using your position in the military to influence the votes of anyone in your command.

When you join the military you give up almost all your rights as americans especially the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.