Republican Using the Troops as Props — continued

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Republican Using the Troops as Props (continued)

Organizations from both parties have been
asking military members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to attend their
events to be honored, and the Marine Corps will turn down those requests if
the troops are expected to speak, act in an official capacity to assist with
the event or endorse a party or candidate, the spokeswoman said.

Strictly being honored at an event, however, is not
against regulations, she said.

(snip)

John Jones, who served in the military and is chairman of the
Larimer County Democratic Party, however, questioned the Marine Corps’
interpretation of the code.

“I would want to know exactly why they think it’s
OK, because the military code of justice I read says it’s illegal,”
Jones said. “It was inappropriate even for them to be invited to a partisan
event. These soldiers fight for American people, not just the Republican Party.”

The Larimer County Republican Party removed the photos of the
Marines from their Web site on Monday at the behest of the men, who did not
want to be harassed, said Larimer County Republican Party chairwoman Nancy
Hunter.

From
the We Still Don't the Answers Department

Okay, so Josh
Marshall has the latest on Republicans using troops as props, which I wrote
about here
and here,
following his lead.

The bottom line is what the DoD
military regulations say. Here are the rules, people. It's really simple,
the Republicans broke them, which could have gotten the troops in trouble. That
is if there were any rules still in force from the president and his rubber
stamping Republicans.

4. POLICY

It is DoD policy to encourage members of the Armed
Forces (hereafter referred to as “members”) to carry out the obligations
of citizenship. While on active duty, however, members are prohibited from
engaging in certain political activities. The following DoD policy shall apply:

4.1.1. A member on active duty may:

4.1.1.1. Register, vote, and express his or her personal
opinion on political candidates and issues, but not as a representative of
the Armed Forces.

4.1.1.2. Make monetary contributions to a political
organization.

4.1.1.3. Attend partisan and nonpartisan political
meetings, rallies, or conventions as a spectator when not in uniform.

4.1.2. A member on active duty shall not:

4.1.2.1. Use his or her official authority or influence
for interfering with an election; affecting the course or outcome of an election;
soliciting votes for a particular candidate or issue; or requiring or soliciting
political contributions from others.

4.1.2.2. Be a candidate for, hold, or exercise the
functions of civil office except as authorized in paragraphs 4.2. and 4.3.,
below.

4.1.2.3. Participate in partisan political management,
campaigns, or conventions (unless attending a convention as a spectator when
not in uniform).

This matters, because Republicans always infer that they own the
military, while their policies obliterate their strength and their benefits.
Josh is right. This story deserves more attention.