The latest right-wing "scandal" - Umbrellagate!

[tyr_13]

Give me a break! These people seem to get outraged at any old thing!

Why can't they have a more measured response, like those on the left? They only get outraged when there is really something going on. Like that time Marco Rubio took a drink of water.

Umm, what?

 

[NoahFence]

Give me a break! These people seem to get outraged at any old thing!

Why can't they have a more measured response, like those on the left? They only get outraged when there is really something going on. Like that time Marco Rubio took a drink of water.

That was hardly a "scandal". The right - well, the idiot portion of the right - is trying to make this a scandal.

Big difference between that and "Dude, you look like a dolt".

 

[Sam.I.Am]

You've seriously never seen anyone hold an umbrella over a POTUS? It isn't all that uncommon, though usually it's done by a Secret Service agent rather than a Marine. I have never seen a POTUS carrying an umbrella (which doesn't mean that it's never happened, since I don't watch the POTUS 24-7).

I highlighted the place where there is a (very minor) issue. It's not so much about the what, it's about the who and what it portrays about the presidents attitude towards his troops (whether that attitude is real or not). There's a reason that you won't see other presidents having uniformed people holding his umbrella for him. It belittles the person holding it.

There are of course exceptions to that rule, for example coming out of Marine One where the landing pad area is hazardous and as such people around it are restricted to people trained to be there (and the passengers of course). A press conference is decidedly not one of those exceptions.

There are rules that every member of the armed forces have to follow while in uniform and out in public, and most of them have to do with not reflecting poorly upon the service that the uniform represents. For background I will point out that I used to be at a duty station that can best be described as one step below the guys who stand duty at the White House (My detailers words, not mine). Roughly 100,000 visitors per year, and doing menial tasks (especially ones for someone with a higher rank) was always kept behind the scenes and as far away from the public as possible (when they happened at all, which was rare in itself).

 

[Sam.I.Am]

So only the commandant of the Marine Corps can alter the regulation, not you know, the commandant's BOSS?

Sure he can, if he tells the Commandant to change it ahead of time. Only then of course it would be explained as to why it might not be a good idea to change it in the first place. The regs are there for a reason.

 

[uke2se]

I highlighted the place where there is a (very minor) issue. It's not so much about the what, it's about the who and what it portrays about the presidents attitude towards his troops (whether that attitude is real or not). There's a reason that you won't see other presidents having uniformed people holding his umbrella for him. It belittles the person holding it.

There are of course exceptions to that rule, for example coming out of Marine One where the landing pad area is hazardous and as such people around it are restricted to people trained to be there (and the passengers of course). A press conference is decidedly not one of those exceptions.

There are rules that every member of the armed forces have to follow while in uniform and out in public, and most of them have to do with not reflecting poorly upon the service that the uniform represents. For background I will point out that I used to be at a duty station that can best be described as one step below the guys who stand duty at the White House (My detailers words, not mine). Roughly 100,000 visitors per year, and doing menial tasks (especially ones for someone with a higher rank) was always kept behind the scenes and as far away from the public as possible (when they happened at all, which was rare in itself).

In your opinion.

I disagree.

 

[uke2se]

Sure he can, if he tells the Commandant to change it ahead of time. Only then of course it would be explained as to why it might not be a good idea to change it in the first place. The regs are there for a reason.

But apparently these particular regs aren't there.

 

[Sam.I.Am]

In your opinion.

I disagree.

In my informed opinion based upon what I used to do for over 2 years.

You are free to disagree.

 

[tyr_13]

That was hardly a "scandal". The right - well, the idiot portion of the right - is trying to make this a scandal.

Big difference between that and "Dude, you look like a dolt".

I had forgotten about that, so I googled it. Turns out he made a bunch of money for the mockery.

Yes, mocking something and calling it a scandal, treating it as a legitimate criticism, are completely different. However, I'm sure there was probably someone somewhere who tried to make the drink a legitimate criticism.

Tu quoque are so fun! Especially when you throw a false equivalency in too.

 

[NoahFence]

Sure he can, if he tells the Commandant to change it ahead of time. Only then of course it would be explained as to why it might not be a good idea to change it in the first place. The regs are there for a reason.

Just so we're on the same page...

You actually think this is a problem?

 

[Checkmite]

It is not an "issue". Nobody appears to be bothered in any way at all by this incident except people who continuously search for reasons to be bothered by Stuff Obama Does.

 

[uke2se]

In my informed opinion based upon what I used to do for over 2 years.

You are free to disagree.

I agree.

In my extensive career of holding umbrellas for other people, I have never felt demeaned, so I'd say my authority rivals yours.

 

[Sam.I.Am]

But apparently these particular regs aren't there.

Carrying an opened umbrella for someone else is against uniform regulations. In particular:

>Ch 5 a. Marines are not known just for their battlefield prowess, but for their unparalleled standards of professionalism and uncompromising personal conduct and appearance. It is a Marine’s duty and personal obligation to maintain a professional and neat appearance. Any activity which detracts from the dignified appearance of Marines, is unacceptable. The use of chewing gum, chewing tobacco, cigarettes or the consumption of food while walking in uniform or while in formation are examples of activities that detract from the appearance expected of a United States Marine.

There is nothing professional looking in the pictures from the press conference.

PDF Page 53

 

[Sam.I.Am]

Just so we're on the same page...

You actually think this is a problem?

As I said earlier, very minor.

 

[Sam.I.Am]

I agree.

In my extensive career of holding umbrellas for other people, I have never felt demeaned, so I'd say my authority rivals yours.

>Ch 5 a. Marines are not known just for their battlefield prowess, but for their unparalleled standards of professionalism and uncompromising personal conduct and appearance. It is a Marine’s duty and personal obligation to maintain a professional and neat appearance. Any activity which detracts from the dignified appearance of Marines, is unacceptable. The use of chewing gum, chewing tobacco, cigarettes or the consumption of food while walking in uniform or while in formation are examples of activities that detract from the appearance expected of a United States Marine.

My "Authority" comes from the rules that all service members (at least in the navy) have to follow. Take it up with the people who wrote it, not the people that have to follow it.

 

[A'isha]

I highlighted the place where there is a (very minor) issue. It's not so much about the what, it's about the who and what it portrays about the presidents attitude towards his troops (whether that attitude is real or not). There's a reason that you won't see other presidents having uniformed people holding his umbrella for him. It belittles the person holding it.

 

[applecorped]

retarded thread is retarded

 

[Sam.I.Am]

Images of US Army personnel holding umbrellas

An umbrella is a part of the Army uniform, they even get issued one. The Navy and Marine Corps do not get issued one and it's driven into you starting in boot camp that using one is against the uniform regulations.

It's mentioned several times in the regulations (PDF).

 

[A'isha]

An umbrella is a part of the Army uniform, they even get issued one. The Navy and Marine Corps do not get issued one and it's driven into you starting in boot camp that using one is against the uniform regulations.

You said "you won't see other presidents having uniformed people holding his umbrella for him. It belittles the person holding it."

You went on to say in that post "There are rules that every member of the armed forces have to follow while in uniform and out in public, and most of them have to do with not reflecting poorly upon the service that the uniform represents."

Are you claiming now that you were only referring to the Marines there, and were specifically excluding every other uniformed member of all the other armed forces?

Is holding an umbreIla for the President of the United States of America only demeaning when a uniformed Marine does it, but not demeaning when a uniformed soldier in the Army does it?

 

[TellyKNeasuss]

An umbrella is a part of the Army uniform, they even get issued one. The Navy and Marine Corps do not get issued one and it's driven into you starting in boot camp that using one is against the uniform regulations.

It's mentioned several times in the regulations (PDF).

Ummm, the 2 Marines are not USING umbrellas, they are holding umbrellas for OTHER people.

Are you claiming that if there was a pouring rain and a Marine's elderly, frail grandmother was having trouble with her umbrella that the Marine would be court martialed if he held her umbrella for her? What if there was an accident and the EMS personnel asked a uniformed Marine to hold an umbrella over a patient while they assisted the patient. Would that merit a court martial?

 

[elbe]

You said "you won't see other presidents having uniformed people holding his umbrella for him. It belittles the person holding it."

You went on to say in that post "There are rules that every member of the armed forces have to follow while in uniform and out in public, and most of them have to do with not reflecting poorly upon the service that the uniform represents."

Are you claiming now that you were only referring to the Marines there, and were specifically excluding every other uniformed member of all the other armed forces?

Maybe Marines are the only ones who's appearance can be detracted by an umbrella?

I wonder if that's more an insult to the Marines or to all the other branches.