Posted on Jan 2, 2014
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Recently I've been hearing countless remarks, and seeing posts from soldiers and veterans alike. Down talking our commander in chief. How do you feel about this? Should this be allowed within our ranks? Does freedom of speech really play a part?<br><br>
Posted in these groups: 
Barack Obama
Respect
Barack Obama Respect
Edited 12 y ago
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 929
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This should never happen in public. Our commander in-chief deserves respect, regardless how you feel.
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SPC Lyle Montgomery
Respect is a quality that has to be earned. I will never respect Biden. I'm a veteran and a civilian and am free to say whatever I want about the president, or for anyone else for that matter
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No problem. I criticize Trump everyday. What I can't deal with is those who support Trump's treason.
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I've read many of the answers to this question and quite frankly, I am appalled as to how many Senior NCOs and Officers ascribe to the idea of bashing the President of the United States. I would like to know how many would stand for your own soldiers talking about you in that manner in public. You wouldn't have it. Most of you sound like privates. Here is the bottom line, you have a Commander in Chief. He is in Charge, unless what he is asking you to do is illegal or immoral, shut up and execute. That is what you would tell a whining new recruit, so follow. I can't even belief this is even a question...
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SFC (Join to see)
PFC Serati,
As my favorite Democrat President, Harry Truman said, "the buck stops here". Our current POTUS, does not take responsibility for anything negative. If I have a NCO who does not take responsibility for everything his team or squad does or fails to do…..I'd fire him on the spot.
As far as the President we have laws which we have to follow, elections which have consequences. We are reaping what we have sown.We have political class which no longer seems to follow the laws of the country or the will of the people. My prayers are that the United States survives these times.
As my favorite Democrat President, Harry Truman said, "the buck stops here". Our current POTUS, does not take responsibility for anything negative. If I have a NCO who does not take responsibility for everything his team or squad does or fails to do…..I'd fire him on the spot.
As far as the President we have laws which we have to follow, elections which have consequences. We are reaping what we have sown.We have political class which no longer seems to follow the laws of the country or the will of the people. My prayers are that the United States survives these times.
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CWO2 Shelby DuBois
Comparisons to Bush is a last resort retort. When you have nothing left you say..'well.. Bush did this and that". It is not the number of Executive Orders that is the focal point...it is the reasoning and lack of oversight and the mere fact that for most of them, there is no valid reason for them other than going around Congress knowing that they would not pass the smell test. Congress, admittedly, is polarized as is the Supreme Court. Votes run along party lines and Obama ran on the premise he'd bring them all together. If you pay any attention to current events, Obama has widened the trust gap between Wash DC and the American people, our allies and our enemies now are emboldened to the point of mockery. You can try, but you cannot defend this administration.
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SPC Lamark Young
it not tge President that has done this it is tge Republican s that mafe up their minds that they was and will disagree with anything the President says or does.
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SFC Luis Austin
It amazes me how every one feels justified to disrespect the President because they disagree with him. Regardless of what you feel or think, the man is in charge, if you are active, that means that you keep good order and discipline up and down the chain by refraining from attacking your CDR in Chief or any other leader in the chain. Executive orders are legal, that is his right as President just like they were for every President before him. And no President before him has had such a bad Congress to work with, you should be mad at Congress for doing nothing at your expense for five years. But anyway, that notwithstanding, it still boils down to discipline and good morale, which you cannot foster if you openly oppose the man in charge, we all know that. So lets cut the nonsense. No serious NCO can tell me that whining about the boss, whomever he happens to be, is good for the military. Disagree, that's fine. But you shouldn't condone disrespect, that might be you trying to lead someday
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This response is to SSgt James Stanley, who wanted to know if those soldiers that spewed negativity towards our President while involved in an active combat operation, ever let me down in such a violent situation, well the answer to that question is, "I never let them down!" This is because their level of performance was about half of what it was supposed to be and not with the rest of us. That little negativity spawned a little group that operated within themselves with almost total disreguard for the rest of the task force. Yeah I, along with my other loyal battles had their backs and made up for their lack of detail that could have ruined the mission or got us all killed. With the loss of two of us, we all made it back with the foot prints of the President haters on our shoulders where we carried them through our tour! I guess performing that same mission was fine and with no questions asked or opposition, before President Obama got the seat.
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With former Secretary Gates new book being released it is more evident why military members and veterans have gotten the impression that the President does not fully respect and support our military. The recent proposed cuts to military and veteran benefits are a result of Presidential appointees carrying out the President's policies. The extremely tight rules of engagement that endanger our military in combat are another example of policy implementation from the top. There is also the proposed closing of stateside commissaries.<br><br>Our military takes an oath to defend the Constitution and that is senior portion of the oath but many of the Presidents policies directly conflict with that Constitution forcing causing questioning of his sincerity in his own oath of office twice taken.<br><br>Respecting of the office and watching your words while on active duty are critical. It is also very critical that all of us respect our own oath above all else. We even have senior officers now being queried if they would implement orders to fire on Americans.<br><br>http://investmentwatchblog.com/obama-to-military-will-you-fire-on-americans/<br><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://investmentwatchblog.com/wp-content/themes/atahualpa346/images/logo.png"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a target="_blank" href="http://investmentwatchblog.com/obama-to-military-will-you-fire-on-americans/">Obama to Military – Will you FIRE on Americans? | InvestmentWatch</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">Military litmus test. Obama asking officers if they will shoot an American if the command was given. Some officers stepping down. Government buying enuff</div></div><div style="clear:both"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>
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1SG (Join to see)
<p>Hold on, those proposed cuts are coming from the generals who want to protect their projects, not the administration itself. You don't see republican representatives lobbying for a reduction of the F35 do you? Generals only care for themselves and their projects, they supported the reduction of COLA for retirees even though they were exempt. As for you unknowledgeable claims about the president, continued changes to the post 9/11 GI Bill to help improve it, 600 million to help combat veteran homelessness, the VRAP program for older veterans, and a multitude of other initiatives pushed by the white house to help veterans. Was he less than supportive of our mission in Afghanistan (as claimed by Gates), yes, for sure - that's kind 'a why he got elected (to end the wars). Just remember this, which is why generals and Gates (who I actually still like) can't be trusted, generals only want to win wars and keep their jobs. Generals and republicans would keep us in Afghanistan for decades if they could, even though we will never "win" (no outsider ever could) and they have done a great job of screwing it up for years.</p><p> </p>
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SSG Dave Rogers
People are easy to blame the president for budget cuts, but we forget that congress controls the budget, the only thing the president can do is veto a bill, but congress can override that. If you want to stop the cuts to the military get involved with your congressman..
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Veterans can say anything they want, short of physically threatening the president.
Anyone on active duty or reserves Shouldn’t say anything thing against their chain of command.
No one should do what the six representatives and senators did. No matter who the president is!!!!
Anyone on active duty or reserves Shouldn’t say anything thing against their chain of command.
No one should do what the six representatives and senators did. No matter who the president is!!!!
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@cpl paul buck I was a bit young, but I remember the adults had respect for the President from Kennedy to Reagan. No matter the current event issue, the adults in my life did not disrespect the President, the flag, county officials, teachers, etc. I am responding to this post in December 2025 and Donald Trump is the Commander In Chief. I felt loyalty was due President Obama, as do I for President Trump.
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I believe that evil thrives where good people stay silent.
Using UCMJ as a threat on SMs exercising their freedom of speech or saying that people on active duty essentially don’t have the luxury to speak out, is the same reason, lots of SMs don’t exercise their right to vote as some have long concluded that regardless of what happens in society, they will have a pay check.
I believe that all leaders are subject to rules, regulations, and especially the Constitution. We all take an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.
As far as obeying orders, we pledge to obey all lawful orders. The idea that all orders are presumed to be lawful, is to rewrite the Constitution. While we are at it, what is the essence of insider threat training, ethical training, the code of conduct, …….?
At every turn of our profession of trust, are guard rails to ensure that individuals, both the person giving orders and those required to follow or execute, do so with a clear mind and of sound judgment.
We all have the right to disagree on certain grounds as personal believes and maybe, when complex interpretations exist but when leaders start to use fear mongering or seek to silence individuals who may have a difference of opinion instead of educating and correcting the specific misguided opinion, especially when it is not a matter imminent danger, we no longer are a profession of trust.
Gone is the days when the military was said to be A-political. Maybe the difference is that more and more SMs have become educated and are involved with things going on in society such that certain actions or treatments of certain parts of society raise a red flag, leadership at the very top have become much more extremist political appointees, or maybe we have just become too polarised as many more in society are emboldened to openly portray characters which were otherwise displayed in hidden and only to light with those of likemind.
Ultimately, everyone should be able to engage in respectful dialogue. Where we disagree, we can explain our position.
SMs are not sheeps and no one is perfect.
Using UCMJ as a threat on SMs exercising their freedom of speech or saying that people on active duty essentially don’t have the luxury to speak out, is the same reason, lots of SMs don’t exercise their right to vote as some have long concluded that regardless of what happens in society, they will have a pay check.
I believe that all leaders are subject to rules, regulations, and especially the Constitution. We all take an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.
As far as obeying orders, we pledge to obey all lawful orders. The idea that all orders are presumed to be lawful, is to rewrite the Constitution. While we are at it, what is the essence of insider threat training, ethical training, the code of conduct, …….?
At every turn of our profession of trust, are guard rails to ensure that individuals, both the person giving orders and those required to follow or execute, do so with a clear mind and of sound judgment.
We all have the right to disagree on certain grounds as personal believes and maybe, when complex interpretations exist but when leaders start to use fear mongering or seek to silence individuals who may have a difference of opinion instead of educating and correcting the specific misguided opinion, especially when it is not a matter imminent danger, we no longer are a profession of trust.
Gone is the days when the military was said to be A-political. Maybe the difference is that more and more SMs have become educated and are involved with things going on in society such that certain actions or treatments of certain parts of society raise a red flag, leadership at the very top have become much more extremist political appointees, or maybe we have just become too polarised as many more in society are emboldened to openly portray characters which were otherwise displayed in hidden and only to light with those of likemind.
Ultimately, everyone should be able to engage in respectful dialogue. Where we disagree, we can explain our position.
SMs are not sheeps and no one is perfect.
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They’re fair game for veterans or people no longer serving. As far as active duty…do not disparage the commander in chief while in uniform, or representing the military.
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------ 11/15/2025 ------
- I Think This Should Sum It Up -
-- YUP That'll Do It --
- I Think This Should Sum It Up -
-- YUP That'll Do It --
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