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Friday, May 24, 2013

A Minor Point — Or Not

Obama and Erdogan, with two Marines in dress uniform, in the Rose Garden during a news conference on May 16, 2013:


Regulation MCO P1020.34F of the Marine Corps Uniform Regulations chapter 3, rules out any use or carrying of an umbrella while a Marine is in uniform.

Please watch the short video below, and note Obama's choice of words:

Could not the President have ordered White House aides or members of the Secret Service to hold those umbrellas?

Have we ever before seen a Marine holding an umbrella over the head of the President of United States? I don't recall any such occasion.

52 comments:

  1. He's CinC. You follow orders. Period.

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  2. Thersites,
    I do not dispute that Obama can exert his power as commander-in-chief. But SHOULD he really have ordered Marines to hold and umbrella over himself and Erdogan?

    I wonder how the image of a United States Marine holding an umbrella over the prime minister of Turkey played in Islamic nations?

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  3. We never have heard who his food taster is. Another marine?

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  4. Obama despises the military and aims to destroy it as do all true leftist/commies.

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  5. Obama was not thinking about anything but himself at the time. Normal for him.

    Debbie
    Right Truth
    http://www.righttruth.typepad.com

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  6. When there is a Supreme Being, as Obama, all rules and tradition are canceled out.

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  7. I have no problem with a Marine holding an umbrella over the Turkish PM. He's a NATO ally. There even a symbolic truth to the picture.

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  8. If there is any "dishonor" in the picture, it is ALL in the "men" being sheltered.

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  9. NEWS FLASH:

    COMANDER-IN-CHIEF DENIGRATES OUR NATION'S FINEST TO SERVITUDE, AS THE WORLD LOOKS ON!

    This high profile puke...........

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  10. De. Maistre, St. Petersberg Dialogues

    This formidable prerogative of which I have just spoken results in the necessary existence of a man destined to inflict on criminals the punishments awarded by human justice; and this man is in fact found everywhere, without there being any means of explaining how; for reason cannot discern in human nature any motive which could lead men to this calling. I am sure, gentlemen, that you are too accustomed to reflection not to have pondered often on the executioner. Who is then this inexplicable being who has preferred to all the pleasant, lucrative, honest, and even honorable jobs that present themselves in hundreds to human power and dexterity that of torturing and putting to death his fellow creatures? Are this head and this heart made like ours? Do they not hold something peculiar and foreign to our nature? For my own part, I do not doubt this. He is made like us externally; he is born like us but he is an extraordinary being, and for him to exist in the human family a particular decree, a FIAT of the creative power is necessary. He is a species to himself. Look at the place he holds in public opinion and see if you can understand how he can ignore or affront this opinion! Scarcely have the authorities fixed his dwelling-place, scarcely has he taken possession of it, than the other houses seem to shrink back until they no longer overlook his. In the midst of this solitude and this kind of vacuum that forms around him, he lives alone with his woman and his offspring who make the human voice known to him, for without them he would know only groans. A dismal signal is given; a minor judicial official comes to his house to warn him that he is needed; he leaves; he arrives at some public place packed with a dense and throbbing crowd. A poisoner, a parricide, or a blasphemer is thrown to him; he seizes him, he stretches him on the ground, he ties him to a horizontal cross, he raises it up: then a dreadful silence falls, and nothing can be heard except the crack of bones breaking under the crossbar and the howls of the victim. He unfastens him; he carries him to a wheel: the shattered limbs interweave with the spokes; the head falls; the hair stands on end, and the mouth, open like a furnace, gives out spasmodically only a few blood-spattered words calling for death to come. He is finished: his heart flutters, but it is with joy; he congratulates himself, he says sincerely, No one can break men on the wheel better than I. He steps down; he stretches out his blood-stained hand, and justice throws into it from a distance a few pieces of gold which he carries through a double row of men drawing back with horror. He sits down to a meal and eats; then to bed, where he sleeps. And next day, on waking, he thinks of anything other than what he did the day before. Is this a man? Yes: God receives him in his temples and permits him to pray. He is not a criminal, yet it is impossible to say, for example, that he is virtuous, that he is an honest man, that he is estimable, and so on. No moral praise can be appropriate for him, since this assumes relationships with men, and he has none.

    And yet all grandeur, all power, all subordination rests on the executioner: he is the horror and the bond of human association. Remove this incomprehensible agent from the world, and at that very moment order gives way to chaos, thrones topple, and society disappears. God, who is the author of sovereignty, is the author also of chastisement: he has built our world on these two poles; for Jehovah is the master of the two poles, and on these he makes the world turn.[1 Samuel 2:8.]

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  11. I don't wish to denigrate the USMC with a comparison to the executioner. For the Marine meets the criminal in a fashion which is much different... with the criminal equally equipped and able to achieve an opposite outcome.

    And yet, the Marine still does his duty. A much braver and sturdier stock, is he made of.

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  12. Irrespective of Marine Corps regulations, the Marines should obey the orders of the Commander in Chief, since he "outranks" any Marine Corps regulation. In complying with the president's desires, or those of his staff, including aides-de-camp, they are being professional Marines.

    Should the president expect this kind of servitude from his Marines? Probably not ... but Obama isn't the first to do so.

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  13. This is, at least, the 2nd time in my liftime that Americans have elected a Commander-in-Chief that loathes the very Military under his charge. My take on this is a haughty and disdainful display of such. Am I alone in this outrage?

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  14. nixnixinixon says,

    funny much as i dislike our president i would not have given this image any thought.

    don't african tribal leaders and oriental potentates usually show themselves in public held up high above their subjects fanned by servants and shielded by hand held canopies or umbrellas?

    images like that from old china, india and the jungle nations are pretty common.

    it must be in the blood.

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  15. My heart goes out to anyone serving in the military under this president.

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  16. As First Lady, Hillary Clinton asked the Air Force to dress the airmen aboard Air Force One in civilian clothes because their uniforms offended her.

    Where do these people come from?

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  17. It's not too difficult to locate the media photos of the exact same thing occurring with Ford, Reagan and GW Bush....among others.

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  18. At the ABC News web site today:

    Did Obama Forget to Salute?

    The president may have forgotten something as he boarded Marine One this morning.

    On his way to the U.S. Naval Academy graduation ceremony on Annapolis, Md., President Obama didn’t return the salute of the marine standing guard at the door of Marine One, as he climbed the steps to the helicopter cabin.

    Obama soon ducked his head out, waved to the pilot, and jaunted back down the stairs to address the marine, shaking his hand. In the short video clip, one can’t hear the two men talking, so it’s unclear what exactly was said. A faint smile appeared to cross the marine’s face as the they exchanged brief words.

    Obama jogged back up the steps, still not having saluted....


    More at the above link -- including video.

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  19. The man obviously has issues with assuming his symbolic and titular responsibilities...

    damn plebians!

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  20. Sam H.: "As First Lady, Hillary Clinton asked the Air Force to dress the airmen aboard Air Force One in civilian clothes because their uniforms offended her.

    Where do these people come from?"

    Better question, Sam, where do people who spread deliberate lies come from. What you posted is completely false.



    From an article in Slate Magazine discussing an interview with disgraced House majority leader Tom Delay in which he spread the lie:

    What sent me over the top about Clinton is that his brand of liberalism had an almost anti-American feel to it. Because it received scant treatment in the press many Americans don't know that when the Clintons first moved into the White House, they seriously considered banning all military uniforms from White House grounds. From the generals briefing the president to the Marines guarding the front door, no one would have been allowed to wear a military uniform. Fortunately, someone talked the Clintons out of this treachery, but take a moment to think about what even considering such a thing says about them. This was the president of the United States and his wife saying that something about military uniforms offended them. Apparently the noble symbols of martial honor and sacrifice so disturbed their unpatriotic, liberal sensibilities that they wanted to forbid them in the home of the nation's commander in chief. We should have kicked them out of office right then and there!

    The only part of the preceding passage that's true is that the purported consideration of a ban on military uniforms received "scant treatment in the press." It received scant treatment because no such ban was ever considered. The few news accounts to mention this rumor did so only to point out that it was entirely false. As best I can determine, the rumor was first knocked down by Kenneth Walsh, Bruce Auster, and Tim Zimmerman in U.S. News & World Report, March 7, 1993.


    SOURCE

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  21. Shaw wrote, “The few news accounts to mention this rumor did so only to point out that it was entirely false. As best I can determine, the rumor was first knocked down by Kenneth Walsh, Bruce Auster, and Tim Zimmerman in U.S. News & World Report, March 7, 1993.”

    Wow, there are a couple of paragons of virtue, eh? Well, if Michael Kinsley’s magazine said so, it must be true.

    On the other hand, former White House Military Aide Colonel Buzz Patterson said the following to W. Thomas Smith, Jr., at NRO, himself a former Marine: “Hillary did try to ban military uniforms in the White House and we objected for national security reasons [It was important that the Secret Service and staff be able to immediately identify the military aides de camp.]. She relented only on the one point of those who were responsible for carrying the nuclear football [the super-secret black briefcase containing the nuclear launch codes]. Other than that, military uniforms were not worn in the White House per Hillary's directive issued down through the staff. In fact, the only military personnel who were permitted to wear uniforms at the White House were the Marine Guards (who were positioned outside of the White House) and the social aids — mostly captains and majors, who were there infrequently and only during social events, assisting guests, showing people where the bathrooms were, that kind of thing.”

    Beyond this, I can give you first hand knowledge that military officers through general were asked to wear business suits as much as possible inside the beltway, excluding duty at the Pentagon and at the Arlington Annex. So is the military aide to the president a liar, Shaw?

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  22. nixnixinixon says

    the former first vagina is was and always will be a virago. she's a lesbian with he biggest case of penis envy on record. her fans and defenders probably read the vagina monologues as decent folks used to read the bible.

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  23. I watched live when the Marine came up with the umbrella and took note that there wasn't a flicker of acknowledgement on Obama's part. I couldn't imagine someone doing that and my not naturally just saying 'thank you' quickly and instinctively...knee-jerkedly. I think most of you would, too.
    That said a lot to me. sad.

    It looks positively stupid and demeaning to our military to hold umbrellas but you can't have two people standing there with rain pouring on them. They're not Mary Poppins.

    Hey, I wonder what the press were doing? I suppose they were sitting there with rain pouring on them...you don't suppose the Marines were told to send their best and brightest to hold an umbrella over the NYTimes journalist, do you? :-)

    And yes, Sam...if those guys negated what other journalists have said, they win :=)

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  24. OKay, Sam.

    Where's the link to the evidence that the Clintons did that?

    Not what someone said someone said.

    Hard, irrefutable evidence.

    I'll wait to hear from you...

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  25. Rank has its privileges and some are more rank than others.

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  26. Shaw, your problem is that you are never interested in a serious conversation—or intellectual honesty, either. So after accusing me of spreading lies, you base your refutation on an article appearing in Slate Magazine, written by individuals who harbor a pro-Clinton bias. In return, gave you the direct testimony of Clinton’s military aide at the time, and my own testimony from having worked in Washington during that period.

    Whether or not you are convinced interests me not at all. I simply think that you should refrain from visiting other people’s blogs, and accusing them of spreading lies or misinformation, when you obviously do not know what you are talking about. Doing this only discredits you.

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  27. Sam and Shaw,

    One thing that you can't deny is that the Coward-in-Chief skiped out on his Military service, while lying to everyone involved Commander-in-Chief?). I will give Clinton some credit, however, unlike this POS that we now have in office, Clinton was not out to destroy this country! Check this out: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/etc/draftletter.html

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  28. Shaw,
    You said:

    Where's the link to the evidence that the Clintons did that?

    Not what someone said someone said.

    Hard, irrefutable evidence.


    Did not Sam say, "I can give you first hand knowledge that military officers through general were asked to wear business suits as much as possible inside the beltway, excluding duty at the Pentagon and at the Arlington Annex"?

    Sam is not blowing smoke with that statement.

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  29. CI,
    I didn't find any such photos. Links, please.

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  30. Ed,
    Scattered storms were forecast here in the D.C. area on the day of this news conference. Typically, Presidents do not hold outside conferences when we have these forecasts. There certainly are plenty of other venues that are sheltered. Furthermore, better planning could have been used; that is, others could have held those umbrellas. Not as much of a photo-op without Marines in dress uniform, of course.

    The above said, the Rose Garden may have been in bloom at that time. Apparently, an outdoor conference was irresistible.

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  31. I have seen members of other branches of the military hold umbrellas over the President. More often, I have seen members of all branches of the military tasked with holding umbrellas over the First Lady.

    BTW, several wags have pointed to THIS 2010 PHOTO of Obama holding an umbrella. Fodder for Saturday Night Live -- or should have been. I myself would have found the photo funny no matter which POTUS were involved.

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  32. Z,
    Is Obama accustomed to thanking people other than those who applaud him?

    They're not Mary Poppins.

    Yes, the Mary Poppins reference is inevitable, isn't it?

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  33. "Did not Sam say, "I can give you first hand knowledge that military officers through general were asked to wear business suits as much as possible inside the beltway, excluding duty at the Pentagon and at the Arlington Annex"?

    Sam is not blowing smoke with that statement."

    I did not see any link to Sam's "evidence." It's still his word against the reports that say the charge is false.

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  34. If Shaw were in fact interested in honest discussion she would not act so shocked when she is readily identified as a blithering idiot. Instead, she has to waste our time disputing the obvious.

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  35. Sam, it doesn’t take a medical degree to know that Shaw is seriously psychotic—a polite term for someone who is deranged. There is nothing about her world that falls into the realm of “real.” In her delusional world, Hillary Clinton is the Queen of Hearts. And what Beamish said, too.

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  36. The issue at hand is a violation of regulations. Having stood in rank many a time for a uniform inspection, I can assure you that Marines in rank with umbrellas would have suffered severe repercussions.

    To have a weapon at the ready to protect and defend, is always the goal. Navy nurses are taught that Marines arrive wounded from the battlefield clutching their weapons and refusing to give them up. I have never seen an image of a battle-injured Marine clutching an umbrella. smile

    The action of the POTUS is demeaning to the men who have earned the right (and you DO earn the right) to wear the cloth of the nation.

    Tammy Swofford

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  37. Jack Whyte said...
    " Sam, it doesn’t take a medical degree to know that Shaw is seriously psychotic—a polite term for someone who is deranged"

    Good point Jack, let's face it, after reading her garbage, it doesn't take more than a few minutes to realize that she's a pathetic blowhard and a deranged Crackpot!

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  38. I wonder what America would look like today if in 1775 Boston had been populated by the liberal, reality challenged people who live there today?

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  39. AOW - "I didn't find any such photos. Links, please."

    I'm confused....not long after you posted this, you wrote: "I have seen members of other branches of the military hold umbrellas over the President."

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  40. CI,
    I meant branches of the military other than the members of the USMC.

    I think that it is quite unusual for any member of the military to be holding an umbrella over the POTUS. Aren't aides to the POTUS supposed to do that?

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  41. Thersites,
    The inconsistency of human beings is quite something to behold, huh?

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  42. Shaw,
    I did not see any link to Sam's "evidence." It's still his word against the reports that say the charge is false.

    Do you have the same kind of firsthand experience as Sam? I assure you that I know for a FACT that he does have such firsthand experience -- not that you'll believe me as a source, I'm sure.

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  43. AOW - I wasn't segregating my initial post by military branch, but to note that other POTUSs have had uniformed members of the military engage in the same sort of umbrella event that Obama did. I don't remember any outrage then; but it was mostly in the age before the blogosphere.

    I agree that Aides are a better fit for this role, but you'd be surprised at the tasks the White House Military Office has had to ensure, over the past few decades at least.

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  44. CI,
    When members of the military have held umbrellas over the heads of Presidents, have those occasions been at the White House or under circumstances at airports and the like?

    It seems to me that if the weather forecast is iffy, the venue of certain outside events should be moved elsewhere.

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  45. I know the event with President Ford was at the WH.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/200764318807

    The shots I've seen with GHWB and GWB are C-SPAN shots, and I can't determine where they are located.

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  46. CI,
    Thank you for taking the time to look up the photos. It must be a bit unusual for this It must be rather unusual for this kind of umbrella holding, huh?

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  47. hey Anonymous, Please, you're confusing actual conservatives with the right wing fringe jerks who reside here. Your description certainly does apply to these people, but true conservatives ARE conservative, they moderate their views and aren't a bit like AOW, Sammy, Tree Shrinke and the other clowns who infest this blog.

    Take a wider perspective, please. No conservative wants to be in the same company as these people.

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  48. No conservative wants to be in the same company as these people.

    Then there's this one that continues to post anyway after being asked to leave, because he's not conservative.

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  49. Shaw attacks conservatives?
    What Shocking news!

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  50. Beamish,
    WHEN did I ask you to leave???

    Or maybe you meant something else in your latest comment.

    ReplyDelete

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