Posted on Feb 23, 2017
Does openly and aggressively berating or insulting people who voted for Hillary or Trump warrant an Article 134 violation under UCMJ?
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*First Edit*
There seems to be some misunderstanding: the nature of my question isn't about disrespecting or defying the POTUS, it's about when service members berate, insult or lash out at civilians, friends, peers or family members on social media or otherwise, simply because they voted for the opposite candidate.
*Second Edit*
Also, to clarify, I believe the behavior in question is wrong. I think some folks interpreted my question as asking for justification to be a jerk, but that couldn't be further from the case. I just wanted to generate discussion about people's opinions regarding whether being aggressive or hateful towards voters because of their choice was just being a crappy person, or a legitimate punitive breach of military bearing and discipline.
When President Obama won, there was a deluge of complaints, the birther movement, a different brand of "Not my president." Now that President Trump has won office, there's similar sentiment. On either side, there is a lot of aggression being thrown around. Do you feel Service Members have a higher responsibility to be respectful of the American voters, regardless of their choice?
Respect of the POTUS is a given, we're expected, as service members, to render that. My question is more in line with respecting the fellow Americans that voted; it seems antithetical to me to be aggressive and hurtful to fellow Americans, especially those that have dissenting opinions from ours, for exercising one of the fundamental rights we swore to uphold and defend.
There seems to be some misunderstanding: the nature of my question isn't about disrespecting or defying the POTUS, it's about when service members berate, insult or lash out at civilians, friends, peers or family members on social media or otherwise, simply because they voted for the opposite candidate.
*Second Edit*
Also, to clarify, I believe the behavior in question is wrong. I think some folks interpreted my question as asking for justification to be a jerk, but that couldn't be further from the case. I just wanted to generate discussion about people's opinions regarding whether being aggressive or hateful towards voters because of their choice was just being a crappy person, or a legitimate punitive breach of military bearing and discipline.
When President Obama won, there was a deluge of complaints, the birther movement, a different brand of "Not my president." Now that President Trump has won office, there's similar sentiment. On either side, there is a lot of aggression being thrown around. Do you feel Service Members have a higher responsibility to be respectful of the American voters, regardless of their choice?
Respect of the POTUS is a given, we're expected, as service members, to render that. My question is more in line with respecting the fellow Americans that voted; it seems antithetical to me to be aggressive and hurtful to fellow Americans, especially those that have dissenting opinions from ours, for exercising one of the fundamental rights we swore to uphold and defend.
Election 2016
UCMJ
Leadership
Character
Office of the President (POTUS)
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 205
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I think it is wrong for anyone to berate someone else for having a different opinion. I don't care whether they are in the military or not. I have friends on the opposite side of my political beliefs and I like to discuss issues with them just to see if I can understand why they believe what they do. Many people take these things way too seriously and actually get upset at others that have different opinions. We actually need different opinions to make our democratic system work better.
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It depends on whether the berating includes including the "why", which can easily slip into contemptible words easy enough. And what business is anyone to ask who someone voted for, it's a secret ballot after all. One could treat it like the Internet, don't feed the trolls. If need be, send it up the chain - if you don't stand up for yourself, who do you expect will?
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I stood up & raised my right hand , for them. They did not even let me know who was running , or when to vote. They did not want my vote . So I just fallowed the orders I got.
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There is a very old adage that appears to have been forgotten in the modern era:
"In the Military NEVER discuss Religion or Politics!" As true now as it has ever been. I learnt it from my Dad who served in both WWI & II.
"In the Military NEVER discuss Religion or Politics!" As true now as it has ever been. I learnt it from my Dad who served in both WWI & II.
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COL., I agree with your Two cent, even though it's worth more to me!!!
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Your vote is a private issue and no one else's business, I'd tell them to keep it themselves.
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If aggressively behaving like the ANTIFA organization, they yes, that person deserves an article 134. It best to either ignore who they voted for or simply say I voted for (NAME) and leave it at that.
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I don't berate anyone for how they vote, even now that I'm out of uniform. Voting is a personal choice, and while I may not agree with the choice and even tell a person why I don't agree with their choice, the simple fact is that they have every right to cast that ballot for the candidate they feel best represents their interests... even if that choice is the candidate they feel stands the best chance against the one they feel is most detrimental to their interests (as most voting is based on these days). That's a right I helped to protect when I raised my hand and swore the Oath, and I would be a hypocrite to bash someone for exercising that right.
It may not necessarily be a violation of 134, especially after an election is held. You aren't campaigning for candidate then. It might be construed as campaigning for a candidate prior to an election (part of why this whole secret ballot is a thing, and ought to be maintained as such), and an SM member needs to be cautious about how they are projecting or publicizing political opinions. But if you're in the uniformed service and insulting someone for exercising their personal right and civic duty in whatever manner they wish, you need to reconsider whether you're in the right profession.
It may not necessarily be a violation of 134, especially after an election is held. You aren't campaigning for candidate then. It might be construed as campaigning for a candidate prior to an election (part of why this whole secret ballot is a thing, and ought to be maintained as such), and an SM member needs to be cautious about how they are projecting or publicizing political opinions. But if you're in the uniformed service and insulting someone for exercising their personal right and civic duty in whatever manner they wish, you need to reconsider whether you're in the right profession.
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Your final edit tells us where you are coming from. As far as your basic question, we all have 1st amendment rights and can fairly well say what we please, within those regulations written in the UCMJ and official DOD regulation.
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