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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It’s hard for me to understand how someone could be that unprofessional in the first place. Do these idiots understand that we sign on the dotted line to defend our rights and freedoms and then how ignorant it is to try and take always someone else’s just because they don’t see things the same way they do? It doesn’t matter anymore who someone voted for, it’s over let it go! In 4 or 8 years they can try again. You can’t make everyone happy.
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Article 134 of the UCMJ deals with Adultery, it has nothing to do with what you are all talking about.
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When someone, in this example a voter, is faced with two poor choices as we were faced with in 2016 and they don't want to write in a candidate which might as well be not voting at all, all one can do is examine what qualifications each of the candidates has or doesn't have and vote for the person who they believe will do the least damage to the Republic. I think it was James Madison who wrote in THE FEDERALIST "four years is insufficient time to do irreparable damage to the Republic". You have to choose the candidate who is least likely to consider that a challenge.
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If some one is Berating or insulting people in Unaform for the way somone voted ( Eather way ) They should be Given The Art 134. If the Person doing this is of a higher rank or position they should in my mind be busted in rank. One more grade the the 134 calls for. I have seen this kind of crap for years in the Army and on the out side. It is stupid. I have freinds that are lefty dems to hard core right. we all have agreed to talk politics with each other, But no one is allowed to be a Jerk about it. Now if you get BUTT hert over some one ideas that is on you. Talking politics on duty is a big NO NO any ways. After work fine.
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I would say it depends on the beration. If the SM decides to take it too far and harass an individual then it could lead to a UCMJ violation. A polite discussion however should lead to that.
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If you're a leader in the US Military and you berate a service member for exercising the rights we swear to uphold, then you should face some kind of consequence for it. I don't care who you voted for or why. It has little bearing on whether you're good soldier. I have a friend(former crew chief flight trainer/squad leader) who is a democrat and voted for Hillary. Aggressively berated Trump, his followers, and his policies. We debated. We're still friends. He still served honorably and so did I. I would still go on missions with him if we were called upon to do so, and would trust him with my life as I have so many times before.
Do NOT let politics divide our armed forces. The American people, who are our bosses, demand better than that, and it is our duty to ensure we deliver.
Do NOT let politics divide our armed forces. The American people, who are our bosses, demand better than that, and it is our duty to ensure we deliver.
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Has the military really gotten so bad that this is even a question ? If so then we as a country are done . Very very sad .
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while you should vote to openly support or oppose a political party while on active is a no no and always has been rules of the game simple
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I believe on post and now with social media as an active service member you should be aware of what you say about political leaders can be punishable. However there is normal heckling and then disrespect. There is a fine line. I remember at ft Bragg when the anti Pres Clinton stickers were popular. All soldiers were told to remove them
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