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Gregory Bull / AP
The Marines say Staff Sgt. Gary Stein will be discharged for criticizing President Barack Obama on Facebook. He has since apologized to the president.
Sgt. Gary Stein, the 26-year-old Marine who learned Wednesday he would be discharged for his online comments criticizing President Barack Obama, wishes he could take it back.
“People ask me, ‘Would you go back and change those words?’ I would most definitely,” Stein told msnbc.com. “I would articulate my point better.”
On March 1, Stein wrote on a closed forum for active-duty meteorologists and oceanographers that he would say "Screw Obama" and not follow all orders from him, according to Courthouse News.
“Obama is the economic enemy,” he wrote in the post. “He is the religious enemy ... He is the ‘fundamentally change’ America enemy … He IS the Domestic Enemy.”
Marine who criticized President Obama on Facebook to be discharged
Five minutes later, another Marine took down his post, but not before someone Stein knew took a screen shot and forwarded the comment to Stein’s superiors.
Stein had already been warned about a Facebook page he had started in 2010, which he named Armed Forces Tea Party.
“They said, ‘All we ask is that you write that the views are not that of the Marine Corps or the Department of Defense,’” Stein said. He said he put up the disclaimer that day.
The Facebook page, which had six moderators, including Stein, included posts about contraception, gays in the military, pundit Keith Olbermann and Obama. One post included a photo of Obama with the word, “Jackass” written underneath. Stein said that was not his post.
Service members are, according to Directive 1344 of the Department of Defense, allowed to express personal opinions on political candidates, but not as representatives of the Armed Forces.
Last month, a three-member military panel recommended that he be booted from the Marine Corps. On Wednesday, Brig. Gen. Daniel Yoo accepted their recommendation that Stein be dismissed for violating military law.
Stein said he repeatedly told Marine Corps officials he would shut down the Facebook page and not speak with the press if they allowed him to complete his contract, which ends in three months, but they refused.
“I think they’re trying to use me as an example,” Stein said. “Senior officers don’t want to hear, ‘You were the person who let this Gary Stein situation get out of hand. I think there might have been peer pressure among the senior enlisted.”
Maj. Michael Armistead, a Marine Corps spokesman at Camp Pendleton, could not confirm whether this negotiation took place.
Stein, an Arizona native, has been a Marine for nine years and was deployed to Iraq from 2005 to 2006. Although he regrets his post, he still believes his online activity should be protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. Still, he said he would caution other service members to think before posting their opinions.
“I’m not telling them to zip it up or shut up; be conscious of what you post,” he said. He said he believes the Marine Corps should clearly rewrite the rules for social media in the wake of his dismissal.
In a phone interview Wednesday, Stein sounded tired. A former weather forecaster, he lost his security clearance and started working as a scheduler on a rifle range at Camp Pendleton. He said his wife’s grandmother died Tuesday night and he was diagnosed Monday with a throat disease. He said the Marine Corps is waiting to discharge him so that he can go through treatment.
“It’s been a rough day,” Stein said. “I’m disappointed. Not only in the Marine Corps, but in myself.”
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He said he plans to go through treatment and tend to his wife and 4-year-old daughter. He has been a licensed real estate agent for two years; last night he posted a house for sale on his personal Facebook page.
He also wrote on Facebook that he would not accept racist or vulgar posts.
“I will ban you and you will never be on the page again,” he said.
And he said he has also apologized to the president.
“If he was in front of me right now, I would salute him, say, ‘Yes, Mr. President, No, Mr. President,’ and when I walked away, I would still disagree with his policies. But those are two separate things.”
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Every four years our soldiers see who will be their Commander-in-Chief. Sgt. Stein a career officer knows and has followed the Military rules with many Presidents. With the Tea Party using people to disrespect and attack the President it cost Sgt. Stein his career. Stein has heard others attack the hold Obama family and many people are starting to do the same. America has always respect our President and this is the first time that isn't done. But when Mitt Romney gets in office respect will come back.
Jackie:
That is hilarious. Respect over economic justice, respect over equal and fair taxation, respect vs. medicare? One person gets caught up in the Tea Bag Nonsense, and is punished because the military is not democratic, that is just how it is.
Yes, let's hope the rich guy gets elected, to restore respect with the whacky 15% of the US Population. Sounds like a plan.
Exactly why do you think that romney would garner more respect?
Be honest and candid and list all the reasons for us.
The lack of respect shown to President Obama says far more about the hateful, faux Kristrian, cheat to win at any cost of the right than it does about Obama.
Gary Stein is just one of many a fool who has lost their job posting a stupid comment or picture on Facebook. He has no one to blame but himself. What an idiot!!!
Jon-30650143 YOU sir are an idiot, and Gary is no true marine, what he said on face-book is his opinion about the dumba$$ big joke of a US president, being marine or any armed force soldier, he should know that he has the privilege to express his opinion, that's what supposedly they are fighting for. Well supposed, but soldiers are not fighting for our freedom anymore , they are fighting and wasting they're life's for BIG AMERICAN CORPORATE GREED. I would have rather gone to jail than apologise to the whimpy, apologetic, full blooded muslim commander in chief,out to ruin this country, he promised change and he did!!!
WE the people have lost all the rites we use to have, and we sit by doing nothing about it.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
1967-69, Viet-Nam, vet
OH YEAH.........................that's just my opinion and a million others
@#80.1
Week one of basic training for every soldier includes an introduction to meaning and purpose to the "Chain of Command".
There is a reason this guy was discharged, and every US service member knows why....except you.
Wow, dumbass ditgman1, as if you weren't fighting like an idiot for corporate greed in Nam! Man, lay off the drugs, dude...you were probably even more of a patsy than those fighting in Iraq or Afg, because you didn't know it!
We've lost all the rights we used to have? You and your ilk say things just for the sake of saying them; what rights have you lost, digtman?
Go ahead, vote Republican. Make your stand against Big American Corporate Greed. *eyeroll*
he is in violation of the ucmj. period.
he has dishonored the corp and the men and women who have, for more than two centuries, protected our freedoms while wearing the globe and anchor.
he is a disgrace.
marines follow orders. the cic is the boss. you don't criticize the cic in a public forum, it's called insubordination. you go to the brig. you get tossed out with a dd. he knew this. he's lucky he's not in the brig and looking at a dishonorable discharge.
there is more at stake here than a simple idiot who violated his oath of service and dishonored the corp. this is why we do not have, nor ever have had, a military coup in this country. honor, service and country are what matters not petty politics. when that changes, and this sort of crap is tolerated, our basic liberties are threatened.
i am proud that the marine corp has once again protected our freedoms and liberties by doing the honorable and correct thing. good riddance to a bad apple.
semper fi.
Thank you patriot! I'm with you. God Bless America.
Thanks for your post and your service.
Another fine example of Socialism being displayed by the Black House and it's soon to be ousted leader
Wow. Your comment is so racist you use the name "Black House". You are anti American and should probably leave. Go to Pakistan, they hate our President too.
Good example for others about shooting your mouth off on FaceBook or other social media.
Well....how about respect for our President and our country. Anywhere, not just social media. Have respect.
respect who? An uknown? a man that his citizenship is in question? A man we knew nothing about?
And still know nothing about. Someone with big corporate backing? Don't make me laugh
Do you want to get the respect you deserve from us? Post your real name.
No disrespect to Obama but I don't believe he has represented my interests effectively during his term. I hope it's his last term too.
He never had problem with Bush sending him to Iraq to find WMD which was never there but he has problem with the man who is taking him out of there to safe his life. There is no democracy in the military, dude. You didn't do your homework before going in? Stein took an oath to respect those appointed above him. The president is the CIC. Whether he's Black, White, Latino, Chinese or whoever, Stein is obligated to respect the position as CIC and the office the president is holding as head of state. Stein has problem with authority not just Obama. He didn’t listen to his commanders and it all started from where Stein was raised. Character begins from home.
You don't mess with God boy!!
The people on here defending this ex-marine are probable the same people that bash Sen Kerry and Rev Wright, see free speech only counts if you are a right-winger. Rev Wright was also in the military, and served his country. The same people that called Kerry a flip-flopper are defending Mittens. Who served his church in France!
When you sign up for military duty and take your oath, it doesn't come with a disclaimer, only if I agree with the CIC policies! But this guy was a fan of Bush's? Amazing!
It's that pubby type logic.
Let's throw out 300 years of Military History, Rules and Regulations.
all because they don't agree with the president.
that's brilliant!
It's no wonder the south lost the war!
The last time I looked on and into the Constitution of the United states it gave us the right to free speech you dummy
Bet you've never read it, Mike.
When I was in basic training, I was taught that in the military you no longer have a right to free speech. It was replaced by chain of command. In the military, you follow orders of those above you in the chain of command without comment or question. If everyone in the military had the same rights of free expression that civilians have, how could our military function? When it comes to the Commander-in-Chief, you don't get to question his authority no matter who you are. Remember General Douglas MacArthur, hero of WWII in the Pacific, who was fired by President Harry Truman for insubordination to the orders of his Commander-in-Chief?
You are talking about serious war, not conflict that big corporation are waging because of greed, and has nothing to do with freedom, that we are losing day by day. How sad this USA is becoming,
#87.1, remember the phrase in the sixties and seventies..."love it or leave it". For you, it should be shortened to just ..."leave it".
digtman1
Digtman - I cannot make sense out of your posts. You are bashing Obama like a true blue Fauxer but then saying that Obama is backed by the corporations. Now I'm not saying Obama doesn't have any big corporations backing him, but are you implying that Mitt &Tea Party don't have corporate backing? Seriously? Or are you suggesting complete anarchy - Wikileaks style?
Oh my God, when did I move to russia or cuba?
This individual does not deserve the title of United States Marine. He is a disgrace to all those who previously served honorably and especially those who sacrificed everything. I hope he someday gets a chance to read Richard Tregaskis' excellent book "Guadalcanal Diary" and appreciate what a real Marine is.
I really thought the guy was human... didn't know that you can be killed by an opinion. DIC @!$%#in TATORS
Not a good idea to have someone like this in the military. If he can't even think before he posts something on facebook, then I can't see how he would be trustworthy to make the right decisions on the battlefield.
say what u believe and dont back down. why is this guy backing up, because he lost his job. so be it. he is telling the truth about this obamma guy. if he gets another 4 years the only military we will have is the ones who are subjected to him and against the people.. fk this sht. obamma is the worst thing that happened to this country. ww2 cant compair to him.. so come on liberals get on me i want a good laugh . u so called educated class that know more than we the people. the working class is what made
this country and will hold it togeather when u whoosss crawl under a rock and hide.
"say what u believe and dont back down" .
In the military, it's lot closer to "STFU and give me 50". I f you don't do what "Sarge says", your quality of life disappears rapidly. It has to be that way.
ken-1072539
Hysterical like a scared old woman Ken? Over 400,000 Americans were killed in WW2 so how exactly is Obama worse that that. Our soldiers don't get to follow thier own impulses Ken, they follow the CIC who is elected by the people, no matter who that person is. Any soldier that can't abide by that simple principle should get out.
TO ExSgt Stein
Next time put your brain in gear before engaging mouth.
it is a very sad day in america when a person has no freedom of speech> reguardless of whom it offends
i say this young man is not wrong on all accounts
See: Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Eat: Crow
Even in the corporate world, you DO NOT bad mouth your employer in a Social Forum and expect to be able to keep your job. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. In the military, more so. Like it or not, the President is your Commander and Chief and what he says go or else quit and find another job.
Exactly
Are we in Iraq, Afghanistan, Cuba?? Since when did Americans loose the right of freedom of speech? Come on is it not supposed to be just in a dictatorship that you are not allowed to not speak your mind about the leader. WELCOME TO COMMUNIST AMERICA AND HAIL TO DICTATOR OBAMA!!!!!!!
See: Uniform Code of Military Justice
When you sign up to serve your butt is no longer yours. You are what they want you to be. You will follow directions. You ask no questions. You say nothing offensive. You have no family. The military is your family. It is your Mother and your Father. Get the idea. When you get your final discharge. That is when you are a person again. Not till then. That is the way it is.
I am so glad I'll never have to teach somebody like "thinkstraight" to march, much less think for himself.
Whatever happen to freedom of speech? Or is this one of the things obama trying to do away also? You and I both know if this was said about to a white president this would never happen.
See: Uniform Code of Military Justice
Eat: Crow
Are you nuts? This kind of anti American talk is going on lately because our President is not white. You can disagree with policies, etc but the kind of hate going on lately is bad for our country. Respect the President.
If he did anything that earn our respect he would get it, being white, black, red green or blue. I just hope this election people put on their sunglasses to vote, knowing good and well they didn't last election. You and I both know this, if obama wasn't black he wouldn't never been elected. Vote for what is best for America and we all know obama isn't. This redneck needs to go in four years. However I give him credit for one thing, he made President Carter look good.
You must be welfare recipient and lazy louse.
Lets , he's serving his country already , willing to go in a war zone and get killed. But yet he's unable to use freedom of speech. If I was him I wouldn't want to stay in the marines, .
Well...his comments were anti American and he should be disciplined. I hope the message gets out, there are a lot of people that have these kind of feelings and they need to be straightened out. America is a great place and negative attitudes drag us down.
Damn, what was this guy thinking, he had 10 years in, and was probably a good soldier until he got snake bit by Pee Party serpent dogma.
A marine is tough as tough can be.Never,Never back down.What you said was true and jo ann this is quickly becoming a Muslim country
@100
That's one of the stupidest comments I've seen this evening. Didn't any of you ignoramuses serve your country?
Glad I can't lose my job because I said Odumo is a moron...........
To a serviceman the pres. of the US is the comander and chief. That is it, that is all there is. No questions, no comments, no thoughts, they just are. Reguardless of who they are, male, female, any color, or even if a monkey is voted in. They are still the commander and chief.
I'm pullin something many do on these little chatter box insulting pages....IF HE WERE BLACK WOULD THIS BE HAPPENING? FOOD FOR THOUGHT....HOW YOU LIKE IT NOW THOSE WHO THROW THAT CRAP OUT?
As a black person, yes I am sure it would happen, but it would have been done swiftly to where the media wouldn't have picked this up. Why should I feel sorry for an idiot who is told repeatedly not to do this and then when he does, he gets upset because he is busted. I don't feel sorry for this idiot. He deserves to be kicked out if he is that stupid.