Tempest over Obama's tea cup salute: Commander-in-chief sparks anger by saluting US Marines with drink in his hand

[LibCampFireClub 635]

A salute is inappropriate for military personnel when their head is 'uncovered', meaning not wearing a hat. It's for this reason that many former military officers are not comfortable saluting when they are not in uniform or wearing a hat as a civilian president must do. For example, the short clip showing Five Star General and President Eisenhower aboard ship. Notice the clip of Eisenhower as he passes the armed sailors holding the rifles. Note that the rifles are held, butt down, with the barrel centered between the eyes. This is the salute position when holding a weapon.

When an officer enters the room, enlisted personnel must rise from their seats and all stand at attention; no salute. If the officer is in good spirits, they will state: "as you were" and the men should resume what they were doing. Salutes are very uncommon indoors as the hat is removed once indoors.

Edited September 24, 2014 by ExExpat

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

http://crooksandliars.com/2014/09/wingnuts-lather-coffee-cup-salute-edition

Wingnuts In A Lather, Coffee Cup Salute Edition

By karoli September 23, 2014 7:37 pm - 49

317Share0 6Share1 329

On a day where President Obama gave two significant speeches about climate change and airstrikes, wingnuts are losing their minds over...a coffee cup?

I offer this story not as some legitimate tale of righteous outrage, but as a shining example of how the right wing uses non-events to blow something out of proportion and blow smoke over the really important issues. Another name for this is the Fox Effect.

Obama's salute with a coffee cup in his hand earlier today was caught by the NRCC, who tweeted it right away in order to be sure their fundraising gambit had some legs.

That set off all the stupid wingers: Breitbart, Gateway Pundit, even Allen West:

Fox News contributor Todd Starnes piled on:

And they were off to the races.

Never mind that we're dropping bombs in Syria and Iraq. Never mind that the President gave a pretty strong speech at the United Nations today. Never mind that unemployment is still kicking the out of people and Congress has taken seven damn weeks off to vacation while the rest of us just glean whatever tidbits are tossed our way.

Never mind all that, because the President had a coffee cup in his hand when he saluted.

With all disrespect intended, wingnuts, where were you when this happened?

Credit: Media Matters

Or this?

I'm sure Judge Jeanine Pirro is already writing her five minutes of enraged ranting for the week about it.

These people really are idiots.

[Dan and Judy 614]

http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2008/12/24/to-salute-or-not-to-salute-thats-obamas-question/

John Kline, then Reagan’s military aide and now a Minnesota congressman, advised him that it went against military protocol for presidents to return salutes.

Kline said in a 2004 op-ed piece in The Hill that Reagan ultimately took up the issue with Gen. Robert Barrow, then commandant of the Marine Corps.

Barrow told Reagan that as commander in chief of the armed forces, he was entitled to offer a salute — or any sign of respect he wished — to anyone he wished, Kline wrote, adding he was glad for the change.

[LibCampFireClub 635]

Whether saluting with a non-eco-friendly coffee cup during a climate change catastrophe, or carrying your lap dog while saluting, 0bama's apology tour was one of the more humiliating events since the Pyramids:

[Dan and Judy 614]

Whether saluting with a non-eco-friendly coffee cup during a climate change catastrophe, or carrying your lap dog while saluting, 0bama's apology tour was one of the more humiliating events since the Pyramids:

That could certainly be worse, He could be vomiting on their shoes.

[Rob L 3,811]

Personally... i think G.W had it all over other presidents in the greeting department

[Darnell 8,478]

I know. It does seem petty. I get both sides. I also get that that this president is in his second term and is finally getting his share of criticism. Our fighting men and women spend months learning proper salute protocol. Making a mistake or missing a salute is a very serious offense. As the Commander in Chief, saluting in this manner shows everything it should not. Improper poster or position of hand and fingers, even forgetting to salute altogether does not register on the disrespect meter like this does. These little simple things matter to the young men and women who put their lives on the line every day.

where's his aide, to carry his shyt? that's just wack, all the way round.

as a member of the Green Team, I feel bad for my fellow Marines.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

[Rob L 3,811]

All things being equal, rather have a beer with W

[JohnR! 5,495]

But the topic being a military salute, W was no exception to the rule...

All things being equal, rather have a beer with W

[Teddy B 17,251]

A president is not required to salute. Some say it goes against protocol to do so.

Longstanding tradition requires members of the military to salute the president. The practice of presidents returning that salute is more recent — Ronald Reagan started it in 1981.

Reagan’s decision raised eyebrows at the time. Dwight Eisenhower, a former five-star general, did not return military salutes while president. Nor had other presidents.

John Kline, then Reagan’s military aide and now a Minnesota congressman, advised him that it went against military protocol for presidents to return salutes.

http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2008/12/24/to-salute-or-not-to-salute-thats-obamas-question/

[UncleBeer 244]

Re: the "latte salute": O'bama was finally 'cornered' into using the military against ISIL, but he still wanted to show his base that he shows no respect for the troops. Win-win (for him, at least).

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

where's his aide, to carry his shyt?

when he has others carry his shyt, then that's wrong too. face it, this president can do or not do whatever and the right wing nuts will be outraged about it.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

_{He would have been better off to not Salute}

_{U.S. Marine 'Customs and Courtesies'}

_{'In some situations, the salute is not appropriate. In general, do not salute when ... carrying articles with both hands or being otherwise so occupied as to make saluting impractical.'}

Same goes for the army. And prolly all services. A simple nod and a "Thank you, Marine" or "Good morning, Marine" would have been just fine.

[UncleBeer 244]

I like Erick Erikson's take on this:

From Army Field Manual 7-21.13, The Soldier’s Guide:

4-7. The salute is not simply an honor exchanged. It is a privileged gesture of respect and trust among soldiers. Remember the salute is not only prescribed by regulation but is also recognition of each other’s commitment, abilities, and professionalism.

In a way we shouldn’t be surprised. After living through the dark years of the Clinton regime and thinking that we had reached the nadir of disgrace with the Beverly freakin Hillbillies in the White House we have had the current crop of low-bred grifters imposed upon us who have actually managed Bill and Hillary Clinton look cultured and accomplished.

The President isn’t required to render a hand salute, since Reagan, though, it has become customary. This salute by Obama may serve as a useful metaphor for his entire administration: sloppy, ill thought out, inappropriate, callous, selfish, and disrespectful. Though, in his defense, he may have been running from that thing covered in a red bag that seems to be pursuing him down the stairs.