Sometimes Obama gets it right (apologizes to slighted Marine guard)

[ChristianProgressive]

Obama has a bit of a tin-ear on occasion doing things that needlessly piss off and enflame people ("bitter clingers", lecturing police about brutality at a memorial service, etc).

But once in a rare while he realizes he's done something wrong and makes up for it, such as when he recently forgot protocol and didn't return a Marine's salute while boarding Marine One. Stopping in the middle of what he was doing, he made sure to correct his error.

http://social-hut.com/president-obama-made-amends-for-forgetting-to-salute-a-marine-so-touching

Edited by Agatha: 

Some people are reporting malware from the above link; my AVG is not reporting any problem but please only click the link at your own risk and make sure you have up-to-date virus protection.

 

[MikeG]

If anyone thinks Obama has a tin-ear, and "needlessly piss(es) off and nflame(s) people", then boy, what fun that same thin-skinned person is going to have with Trump.

 

[Jungle Jim]

There is a virus in the link posted above.

 

[Meadmaker]

How long does the custom of the presidential salute go back?

Here's why I ask.

A lot of people think that as commander-in-chief, the President is the nation's highest ranking military man. That's not actually correct. The point of putting the President in charge of the armed forces was that a civilian was directing the military.

And since the President is a civilian, he shouldn't salute. Civilians don't salute military people, and soldiers don't salute civilians.

I remember when Reagan started doing it, people made a big deal about it, but he was the first President of my adult life, so it may have just been the first time I noticed.

The answer to this is not incredibly important, and I'm not trying to make a political point pro or con of any given President. I'm just interested in historical trivia and obscure ceremonial stuff.

 

[Ziggurat]

If anyone thinks Obama has a tin-ear, and "needlessly piss(es) off and nflame(s) people",

He absolutely does.

then boy, what fun that same thin-skinned person is going to have with Trump.

Obama has a thin skin. That's the point. And yes, Trump is remarkably thin-skinned too, and will piss off people left and right as well. It's not one or the other, they're both like that.

 

[TheL8Elvis]

There is a virus in the link posted above.

I think the issue is with with malware in one of its advertising partner links.

I'd think twice before following the link - it's a redirect to one of those sites that continually opens a JS alert saying you are infected.

 

[Pope130]

And since the President is a civilian, he shouldn't salute. Civilians don't salute military people, and soldiers don't salute civilians.

I remember when Reagan started doing it, people made a big deal about it, but he was the first President of my adult life, so it may have just been the first time I noticed.

President Reagan was a military veteran, having served in the USAAF during WW-II (he fought the Battle of Hollywood). As such he retained the privilege.

 

[Meadmaker]

President Reagan was a military veteran, having served in the USAAF during WW-II (he fought the Battle of Hollywood). As such he retained the privilege.

Was he an officer? If not, there's no saluting done.

(I don't know if he was. I did see one of the training films he made, though. The title was "Jap Zero".)

Also, do active duty enlisted men salute discharged officers?

 

[Meadmaker]

I looked it up.

Ronald Reagan started it.

And yes, Reagan was in the military.

So were Carter, Ford, Kennedy, Eisenhower. I don't know about Johnson or Nixon. I don't think so. None of them saluted. Nor did any of the other presidents before them. The president is a civilian. Civilians don't salute.

Well, now they do, because people would put them down if they didn't, but according to protocol, they really shouldn't.

 

[ehcks]

Was he an officer? If not, there's no saluting done.

(I don't know if he was. I did see one of the training films he made, though. The title was "Jap Zero".)

Also, do active duty enlisted men salute discharged officers?

Not even former General Eisenhower returned salutes as president. It only started with Reagan.

Active duty enlisted only salute active duty officers, Medal of Honor recipients, and the president.

 

[Emily's Cat]

If anyone thinks Obama has a tin-ear, and "needlessly piss(es) off and nflame(s) people", then boy, what fun that same thin-skinned person is going to have with Trump.

Trump being worse doesn't make Obama's behavior more palatable, really.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Trump being worse doesn't make Obama's behavior more palatable, really.

But it does make it HUMONGOUSLY funnier.

 

[casebro]

How many years does it take to become "protocol"? 30 enough?

On the other hand, the Pres is so many levels above the Marine, he can do whatever he wants. Like the way God hasn't answered any of my prayers either.

 

[TragicMonkey]

I thought whether you saluted or not also had to do with whether you were wearing a uniform at the time?

 

[shuize]

I looked it up.

Ronald Reagan started it.

And yes, Reagan was in the military.

So were Carter, Ford, Kennedy, Eisenhower. I don't know about Johnson or Nixon. I don't think so. None of them saluted. Nor did any of the other presidents before them. The president is a civilian. Civilians don't salute.

Well, now they do, because people would put them down if they didn't, but according to protocol, they really shouldn't.

Both President Nixon and President L.B. Johnson served in the Navy during WWII. I believe (but am not completely sure) they both started in the reserves and then were activated during the war.

Edit: Yes, wikipedia says I'm right about their starting in the naval reserve. A lot of former navy guys. Presidents Kennedy, Carter, and Bush as well. Clinton, draft dodging hippy, was the first president in a long time (since Roosevelt, I believe) not to have served in the military.

 

[Trebuchet]

H.W. Bush also served in WWII, but since he got shot down like McCain, he's a loser. According to some guy who's about to give a speech.

 

[Meadmaker]

H.W. Bush also served in WWII, but since he got shot down like McCain, he's a loser. According to some guy who's about to give a speech.

Yes, but he saluted, because he came after Reagan.

 

[Pope130]

Also, do active duty enlisted men salute discharged officers?

In some circumstances, yes. For example, while the retired or honorably discharged officer is in uniform for a ceremony such as an award presentation, military wedding, retirement or funeral.

 

[Meadmaker]

In some circumstances, yes. For example, while the retired or honorably discharged officer is in uniform for a ceremony such as an award presentation, military wedding, retirement or funeral.

So if in uniform (appropriately), then there's a salute, even if not currently serving.

I noticed that the color guard saluted my father in law's casket, and he was only a PFC. I guess you get one salute per lifetime even if you aren't an officer or medal winner. (We weren't sure that he would have wanted the military honors, really. He spent World War II playing the saxophone at USO shows, after doing everything he could to first avoid the draft and then avoid combat, but he talked about playing for Bob Hope and as the warmup band for Glenn Miller a lot, so we decided it was an important part of his life.)

 

[Pope130]

So if in uniform (appropriately), then there's a salute, even if not currently serving.

I noticed that the color guard saluted my father in law's casket, and he was only a PFC. I guess you get one salute per lifetime even if you aren't an officer or medal winner. (We weren't sure that he would have wanted the military honors, really. He spent World War II playing the saxophone at USO shows, after doing everything he could to first avoid the draft and then avoid combat, but he talked about playing for Bob Hope and as the warmup band for Glenn Miller a lot, so we decided it was an important part of his life.)

That's correct. Saluting is not just enlisted saluting officers. Officer to officer as well (junior saluting first), rendering honors to heads of state, and, of course, saluting the flag. In the case of your father, a salute was quite proper. The passing of anyone who served honorably rates a ceremonial salute.