How do you feel about veterans or Soldiers criticizing our President?

The OFFICE of the President of the United States is one to be respected. &nbsp;However, it is the freedom of ALL American citizens to express their opinion freely and openly. &nbsp;When it comes to Service Members expressing that opinion, so long as they are not presenting themselves as a member of the United States Armed Forces, there is nothing wrong with their expressing that opinion. &nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Most of the time, people confuse criticizing POLICY with criticizing the individual. (even those who are criticizing the policy) &nbsp;There are FAR too many people that will say, "I HATE President, Senator, Governor___________", the reality is that they have no foundation to actually "hate" that individual, what they MAY "hate" is the policy. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Criticism of policy is not unpatriotic. &nbsp;If you consider what our nation itself was founded upon, you would see dissent as the most pure form of patriotism. &nbsp;While you personally may see what our president is doing as good or "right", there are a lot of people, even within his own party, that do not. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The larger concern SHOULD be, 1) do these people even know what they are talking about, or are they just "parroting" someone else (typically the case); 2) are these people just complaining and not doing anything to change it (do they vote? &nbsp;Who did they vote for? Did they make that decision based on research of positions, or on the letter that follows the name (R) or (D)?)</div><div><br></div><div>As a career Soldier myself, during my career I was allowed the opportunity to testify to congressional field committees in ways that may or may not have been seen as "critical" of policy and regulation. &nbsp;I was also interviewed several times by local and national media (with the authorization of my PAO) and asked for MY view of certain circumstances (one being Soldier Suicide, the other being the end of the Iraq War). &nbsp;Again, some of the answers may or may not have been seen as "critical", depending on ones particular take on the answers. &nbsp;It is a VERY fine line, and MOST Service Members should avoid the practice without some serious time with Public Affairs folks.</div><div><br></div><div>IF that Service Member steps out of line, the UCMJ speaks quite well to it, and what actions can be taken. &nbsp;If a Member is so convinced that he/she is right, and within their rights; they should make sure they know what the limitations of what they say are. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>As for Veterans...Well....We get to say whatever the hell we want. &nbsp;We are out, and that stuff doesn't matter any more......And when there is an administration that stops robbing us of our benefits, and a congress that stops paying debts out of our wallets, then maybe we will stop speaking out against them.</div>

<p>Here's my opinion of things, I think people often express certain feelings towards him merely out of hearsay.&nbsp; Many people honestly don't understand how a government is ran so if something happens that they absolutely disagree with, they immediately blame the President.&nbsp; Now, I'm not going to sit here and say that the incumbent POTUS is God gift to the U.S.&nbsp; However, not EVERYTHING happening in D.C. is directly because of his leadership.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I recently got into a political debate with a friend on Facebook a few days ago regarding the Veteran's Benefits reduction bill (which I am extremely against) and he, along with his extremely conservative friends, blamed "Obama and the Liberal Democrats."&nbsp; Since when is a President, the head of the Executive Branch, responsible for passing bills in Congress?&nbsp; I know it's been over ten years but from my recollection of my&nbsp;high school government class, the Legislative Branch (Congress) is responsible for bills.&nbsp; Even if the President vetoes a bill, it only takes 2/3&nbsp;of Congressional votes to overturn a Presidential veto and becomes law anyway.&nbsp; So yes, the POTUS does sign the bill but bills can become laws with or without a Presidential signature.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Regardless of what goes on, no one will ever be happen with their government but as uniformed service members, we as a whole, need to uphold the creeds in place and respect our superior officers up to the governing body.&nbsp; We may not like what is going on but we all took a solemn oath to follow the orders of our elected official(s) and respect for those positions must come with it.&nbsp; It is unprofessional to speak ill of those who command us although many of us do it.&nbsp; Still does not make it right.</p>

For those still wearing the uniform, when in uniform a big no-no. More so for officers. Veterans have the right and the obligation to say something if they see something amiss. Many vets find themselves inadvertently in "quasi leadership" roles in a circle of friends. Rightly or wrongly, people look to vets as people who have more of a worldly and mature view. We know before many when things are on their way to FUBARville.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

The very best men and women I have known have been vets.

Veterans definitely have the right and perhaps the responsibility to criticize the President if they feel that the decisions being made by the White House negatively affect the performance and esprit de corps of the veterans and the active military as a whole.

Publicly Disagreeing With YOUR Commander In Chief, Or ANY Superior In Rank, Is Covered Under The UCMJ. Veterans Have ALL The Rights Of A CITIZEN!

Throughout my 28 years of active duty I and my fellow Officers criticized every lousy politician who adversely impacted our men’s health, welfare or their survival. And, that goes for the health and financial welfare of my men’s families! We just never did it in public.

Gee, the last Commander in Chief was robustly ridiculed by elected officials. He was subjected to lies, innuendo and outright hostility; no one seemed to whine about THAT. This is still a free country; and calling an incompetent son of a bitch an incompetent son of a bitch is still a protected right (in a veteran's case, it is a DUTY.).

I'm retired. I don't like his policies. And I don't like being called a racist from his minions in the media. And I don't like how he plays the victim and the race card.

I think it two different groups with different criteria being lumped together here. Active duty personnel and current reserve/national guard members fall under the Commander In Chief and public remarks disparaging him would be just like disparaging remarks about anyone else in your chain of command. Supporting can also be inappropriate in uniform. However, retirees/other vets, no longer are in that chain of command and may disparage or support to their heart's content.

I have been critical of Obama's policies & think he came into office fully unprepared and was not served well by his staff.. I also read comments by Bob Woodward, Bob Gates and Leon Panetta who wrote that in his term he was misguided and naïve. He also tried to please Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Valerie Jarret and Susan Rice and that was a big mistake. Basically he was elected to a job that was way above his level of expertise and experience.

However when I was on active duty 1953 - 1961 we had Ike and JFK as our Commanders in Chief and I thought they were excellent Commanders of the Armed Forces. Back in that time I never had a critical thought about either men..