Obama Reminds Troops They Have the Right to 'Protest Against Authority' and 'Criticize Our President'

[mystery-ak]

Obama Reminds Troops They Have the Right to 'Protest Against Authority' and 'Criticize Our President'
By Susan Jones | December 7, 2016 | 6:29 AM EST

(CNSNews.com) - In a speech at MacDill Air Force Base, in Tampa, Florida on Tuesday, President Obama focused on his eight-year effort to protect the homeland, fight terrorism, and strengthen U.S. allies. He said he wanted to "talk about the foundation that we will leave for the next administration."

On the way to Florida, Obama's spokesman Josh Earnest said told reporters, "This is a speech that President Obama was prepared to give before the election." But at times, it didn't sound like it.

At one point, Obama reminded the troops "that each of us has...the universal right to speak your minds and to protest against authority; to live in a society that's open and free; that can criticize our president without retribution."

more
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/obama-reminds-troops-they-have-right-protest-against-authority-and

[Oceander]

What a piece of shit. 

[libertybele]

..hmm... I must have missed something.  Did the Solder's Oath change?


"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

http://oath-keepers.blogspot.com/2009/03/soldiers-oath.html

[Wingnut]

What a piece of shit.

Lower than whale shit.

[cato potatoe]

Obama sees himself as a statesman.  He employs the intellectual stammer as if he's the smartest guy in the faculty lounge.  Truth be told, he's an untactful celebrity like Trump, and he set the precedent for this campaign.

[txradioguy]

Mr. President...the UCMJ and the people prosecuted under its statutes for criticizing you would beg to differ.

Article 88 Comtempt Toward Officials

Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”
Elements

(1) That the accused was a commissioned officer of the United States armed forces;

(2) That the accused used certain words against an official or legislature named in the article;

(3) That by an act of the accused these words came to the knowledge of a person other than the accused; and

(4) That the words used were contemptuous, either in themselves or by virtue of the circumstances under which they were used. Note: If the words were against a Governor or legislature, add the following element

(5) That the accused was then present in the State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession of the Governor or legislature concerned.


There's also Article 80 and 89.

[Night Hides Not]

Thanks tx. I left active duty over 30 years ago, and I still remember all the times we were reminded that you don't speak ill of our civilian leadership while in uniform. The military must remain free of partisan politics.

Now that I'm out, I'll say what I want, at least when I'm not at work. The workplace also needs to be politics free.

I avoided violating the UCMJ during the 1980 election, when I was explaining to my German neighbors why Reagan would be a better President than Carter. I spoke FOR Reagan, rather than against Carter, during our many discussions at the neighborhood gasthaus. They all believed that Reagan would start WWIII, all the way up to Inauguration Day when Iran released the hostages.