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Obama-Hating Marine Gets Sympathetic Platform On Huckabee

Posted by Ellen -7842.60pc on May 13, 2012 · Flag

Gary Stein, the ex-Marine who received an Other-Than-Honorable Discharge from the military after posting hostile and insubordinate comments about President Obama on Facebook, got a friendly welcome from Mike Huckabee this weekend to discuss his appeal. Not only was Huckabee sympathetic throughout, as if it were an unfortunate technicality that got Stein ousted, but Huckabee failed to mention some of the aggravating factors that also led to Stein losing his job.

As AP reported (via Huffington Post):

During a hearing, a military prosecutor submitted screen grabs of Stein’s postings on one Facebook page he created called Armed Forces Tea Party, which the prosecutor said included the image of Obama on a “Jackass” movie poster. Stein also superimposed Obama’s image on a poster for “The Incredibles” movie that he changed to “The Horribles,” military prosecutor Capt. John Torresala said.

…Tom Umberg, a former Army colonel and military prosecutor, said Stein persisted even after being warned.

“The Marine Corps gave him the opportunity to think about his actions, yet Sgt. Stein continued to undermine the chain of command,” said Umberg, who was not involved in Stein’s case. “I think his purpose was to leave the Marine Corps in a dramatic fashion in order to begin a career in talk radio or what have you.”

But Huckabee helped Stein give the impression that he had gotten the axe for one hot-headed statement that he later regretted. Huckabee never questioned whether any ulterior motives lay behind Stein’s actions.

In his introduction to the interview, Huckabee said, “One of the really great freedoms that we enjoy in the United States is the right to criticize our leaders. But do those liberties extend to the men and women of our armed forces who have committed themselves to protecting our country? Former Marine Sergeant Gary Stein was discharged for being critical of President Obama, saying, he wouldn’t follow orders from the Commander in Chief.”

“Gary, you got in a lot of trouble for speaking your mind,” Huckabee said, as if Stein had been caught in a prank and not deliberately undermined the chain of command he had sworn to serve and uphold.

Huckabee went on to make Stein’s case for him. “Nine years in the Marines and you posted some things, not only on Facebook but in a private chatroom… and you thought that this was just going among a few people. Someone took a screen shot and got you in a little trouble.”

One of Stein’s comments was posted on the screen. It read:

As an Active Duty Marine I say “Screw Obama” and I will not follow all orders from him… Will do my job better than the next guy… But has (sic) for saluting Obama as commander-in-chief… I will not!”

Huckabee allowed as how “that might get you into a little trouble with the Marine Corps.”

Stein agreed his words “were somewhat tasteless” but that he thought they had been made privately.

In other words, he wasn’t really sorry for undermining his Commander, just that it went public.

Not that that seemed to matter to Huckabee. Instead, he probed “what does it mean” to get an other-than-honorable discharge.

“Did you say these things because you really meant them or were they said heatedly? I mean, would you truly not salute the president if he were to walk in the room?” Huckabee prompted, I mean asked. You can guess how Stein answered.

Huckabee had a fatherly tone as he told Stein that when you join the military, “you kind of give up a lot of rights… and obviously, if the military ever became a democracy where people voted on the orders, it would be chaos and utter disaster. So do you understand where the Marine Corps comes from in saying, ‘You know, Gary, it’s one thing to have an opinion, but you just don’t get to express it once you put that uniform on?’”

Stein said he disagrees and that voicing his opinion (or fomenting hatred for the President) did nothing to impact his service to the country. He also said the ACLU is helping him in his case.

Huckabee said he’ll watch the case with great interest.

Think Huckabee will be hosting the Dixie Chicks for the same kind of friendly chat any time soon?

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Ellen commented 2012-05-15 20:47:46 -0400 · Flag
Turns out our guy already has a talk show – and he’s now a birther.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/15/gary-stein-birther_n_1517736.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003
Kevin Koster commented 2012-05-15 12:14:32 -0400 · Flag
Stein’s comments fall under the idea of “contemptuous words” and under the UCMJ have correctly resulted in his removal from the service. He can complain all he wants about it, but he took an oath and then violated it. Open and shut case.

I agree that he’s actually trying to get himself a nice little speaking/talk radio gig where he can sit and opine all day. Good for him. I’m sure there are plenty of KFI-like stations where he can peddle his wares and make nasty comments about Democrats to a receptive audience.

I also agree that if he had done this under Bush, Fox News and the radio pundits would have pilloried him. Just as they did various military people who refused deployment to Iraq or came out against the wars. Interesting that those were bad people for opposing Bush, but this guy is gold because he doesn’t like Obama.
Antoinette commented 2012-05-15 02:55:46 -0400 · Flag
We applaud the Marine Corps commanders for tossing this ungrateful fool out of the corps. He should have been thrown in the brig.

He’s an insult to the good men and women who serve our nation.

Gary Stein, post this on your Facebook page: “I’m a loser.”
mlp ! commented 2012-05-14 18:50:09 -0400 · Flag
Absolutely, Brian!
And it’s not just the military…..
I wonder how old Huck would feel if one of his employees started posting insults and derogatory comments about him on Facebook?
I imagine Huck’s feigned understanding attitude would come to a screeching halt.
mj - the same one commented 2012-05-14 14:59:45 -0400 · Flag
Stein agreed his words “were somewhat tasteless” but that he thought they had been made privately.

Earth to Gary Stein: want to express your opinion privately? DON’T POST IT ON FACEBOOK.

.
truman commented 2012-05-14 10:17:30 -0400 · Flag
Gomer the Huckster is generally apoplectic when the satanic ACLU is involved. But it is apparently OK for the ACLU to support an ex-Marine who, in complete violation of military law, openly disrespected his Commander in Chief.

With his military career now ended in disgrace, Stein can pursue his real objective of becoming the next Olly by Golly North on hate radio and Fux Noise.
Jay Diamond commented 2012-05-14 03:34:41 -0400 · Flag
Huckabee’s economic positions started in 2008 by emulating what William Jennings Bryan said was Applied Christianity, which Bryan, a staunch fundamentalist minister said was socialism.

Yes, Bryan described socialism as Applied Christianity !

After about two months of this, the Huckster got the word, and overnight he morphed into Ayn Rand, with zero explanation, as if he had not changed his views 180 degrees on economics in the middle of a campaign to be president !

Huckabee is a contemptible lowlife.
NewsHounds posted about Obama-Hating Marine Gets Sympathetic Platform On Huckabee on NewsHounds' Facebook page 2012-05-14 00:08:12 -0400
Think the Dixie Chicks will get the same kind of friendly welcome any time soon?








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