Umbrella Gate...Marines asked to violate dress code protocol so President doesn't get wet

To me, part of the ultimate irony here is that this was a press conference that was intended to try to make some of the recent scandals go away but it appears to have only spawned a new one.
pic

The internet beat on this is that
1. Male Marines are not allowed to carry an umbrella while in uniform unless it is to cover a lady that they are escorting
2. Regulations prohibit a standing marine order being countermanded without proper channels. Commander in Chief or not what I am reading from those who have served is that the President can't just order them to do so.
3. Because this is a violation it goes in career jackets and could interfere with promotions (given the circumstances I certainly hope that isn't the case for these Marines)
4. It was a narcissistic display by the President who thinks so little of those who serve that they should be on umbrella duty OR shows how little he knows about the services of which he is Commander in Chief
5. Holding an umbrella could interfere with the duties the Marines actually are supposed to attend
6. If the President really needed someone else to hold his umbrella there were others who would have been better suited and not placed the uncomfortable situation of committing a violation or refusing their Commander in Chief

There is a pic circulating in which Ronald Reagan is standing next to Nancy in the rain. She has an umbrella. He does not. She is holding it herself.

Sarah Palin wrote an open letter which ended with her comment that at least he finally called in the Marines (Benghazi reference) shame it was just to hold him umbrella.

Many message boards are expressing disappointment and outrage.
I am not comfortable with it. As I have been uncomfortable with a lot of what's come out the last little while...
Full disclosure: I voted for him.

I searched and didn't find. That surprised me. If already up please forgive the duplicate.

non issue

Wow! This could be the answer to the Benghazi lack of response. Was it raining in DC that night so the marines were otherwise preoccupied?

This president has shown nothing but disdain for the military (and the majority of the American people) so not surprising.

reply to post by muse7


Really? Exactly what part is a non-issue. The apparent arrogance toward or ignorance of operating protocol? While spending the last few days outraged and apologetic for what he doesn't know about myriad other aspects of the country he is leading? The anger this has stirred in those who have served and their families? Or the loss of support he has scored in those, like myself, who voted for him but are increasingly asking what the hell is up with all this nonsense.

It's an issue.

It's not a big issue, but I think it reflects poorly on Obama's judgment. I'm not really upset about it because he doesn't have a working knowledge of the military or it's role. Instead of specifically asking for Marines, he should have asked an aide to get them without specifying anything. Or, even moved it indoors to provide shelter for the guests and reporters. But, overall, small potatoes. I was more upset when he referred to military medics as "corpse men." Appropriate maybe, but really dumb.

By the way, the Marine Corps regulations specify that no officer or official may modify the dress code without the approval of the Commandant of the Corps. Again, nothing all that serious, and it will be promptly forgotten. But if you didn't like Obama before, this doesn't win him any points.

There is just something so off, about an able bodied man, of Obama's age and supposed athletic vigor, to summon another able bodied man to "shelter" him from a gentle rain. A United States Marine, in full dress uniform being "used" for such a low task. That Marine was trained to PROTECT and uphold our Constitution and to place himself in harms way for his Country...to shelter an able bodied, grown man from a light shower.

Either the Administration has "given" up on optics or if this was a visual affront to the Military, it just looks wrong.

Weren't any of those now infamous "low level government employees" available?

reply to post by charles1952


I understand where you are coming from but I think it shows the kind of out of touch mentality that is increasingly incensing the American people. It may cycle out of the news pretty quickly but that doesn't mean that it will be forgotten.

reply to post by muse7


You would say that but I disagree and suggest that it is an issue.

FACT: MCO P1020.34F of the Marine Corps Uniform Regulations chapter 3 states a male Marine is not allowed to carry an umbrella while in uniform. There is no provision in the Marine Corps uniform regulation guidelines that allows a male Marine to carry an umbrella.

So to order a Marine to disregard a basic protocol in favor of his own personal comfort is just another sign of Obama's willingness to thumb his nose at the rules for his own personal gain.

However, let us suppose this was simply an innocent mistake, which I believe it to be, then that is actually a different issue. It would go to show that the President, the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of this Country, has no clue of the rules of his own troops that he commands and in actuality I think this is a much bigger issue than if he had ordered the Marine to hold the umbrella.

Other Presidents have used umbrellas, they have carried it themselves. They have had any member of their staff hold it. They have had Secret Service hold it. Interns have done so. The President has many options to choose from if he needs someone to hold his umbrella. Even the Queen of England holds her own umbrella, so in some ways I think having a Marine do so is a bit insulting.

Marines are a different breed of Military. They have a long history of tradition. They are very very proud, and as far as the armed services goes, they are what one could describe as more exclusive. Not everyone can join the Army, but even less can become a Marine. Of all our Armed Forces, the Marines are the smallest group.

reply to post by watcher3339


had barracks duty during my time as a marine.
the order had to come from the commanding officer of the presidential guard.

who probably got the order, from one of two members of the joint chiefs of staff

being the Chief of Naval Operations or the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

you just cant disobey one of these guys. and by holding the umbrella if the order is given from this high up their service record will not show any negative pros and cons

The Joint Chiefs of Staff consist of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The collective body of the JCS is headed by the Chairman (or the Vice Chairman in the Chairman's absence), who sets the agenda and presides over JCS meetings. Responsibilities as members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff take precedence over duties as the Chiefs of Military Services. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the principal military adviser to the President, Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council (NSC), however, all JCS members are by law military advisers, and they may respond to a request or voluntarily submit, through the Chairman, advice or opinions to the President,

reply to post by hounddoghowlie


I agree.

This is the Commander in Chief.

Edit - It is sad but true. (My opinion.)

reply to post by CB328


Respectfully asking for a bit more - as in your reasoning for that opinion?

www.niagarafallsreporter.com...

Umbrella gate? Are you kidding me?

What a petty petty thread.

Originally posted by muse7
non issue

I'm a lefty liberal, and would have voted for Obama if I were American, but even I can understand how this is wrong.

It's nothing to do with the way this is being presented by the usually rabid right-wing nut bags, but about the arrogance of rich men in power having their "workers" (I was going to put another word there and decided against it, despite its ironic appropriateness) protecting them from drizzle!

For me this has nothing to do with who it is, the stupid "dress code" argument (seriously right wing? This is what you're going with? ) or the fact that the men are military (in fact, there's far worse things a military man could be doing for their president - murdering innocent people, torturing detainees, directing drones to kill people "accused" of something...)

It has everything to do with rich people using others as menial "umbrella holders", like they are too important to hold their own. I see this as no different to Obama having someone kneel before him while watching TV so he has a foot stool.

That is the problem.

Originally posted by HauntWok
Umbrella gate? Are you

kidding me?

What a petty petty thread.

Apparently if it was a female holding the umbrella it would have been fine....

Obama haters just have to hate!

I'd make this a non-issue the second someone can post a photo of a marine holding an umbrella for Bush(s), Reagan, Ford.

. . . waiting. . .

This thread reminds me of the popular "First World Problems" Internet meme...

Meanwhile in the USA: "Our President asked a Marine to hold an umbrella up while he gave a speech".
Meanwhile in Zimbabwe: "Our President kills our children and live in luxury, while we all are starving; begging; dying.

Folks seems to be stretching and reaching like no contortionist or Yoga Instructor could ever manage.

If only they had someone from the Coast Guard around, then we wouldn't have this dramatic crisis on our hands...

Not really an issue with me. Are the optics bad? Not the greatest IMHO but that is just me. President Obama has stood in some driving rain before after all so we know he doesn't melt.

I wonder how the Marine feels about this. I wonder if he will add this picture to his mantle as a "proud moment" of his military adventure or does he feel shame? Being a veteran myself (of the 11B "grunt" caliber) I would have been OK with it. It is the CiC after all and I am definitely no fan of President Obama.

As for the comment about Nancy Reagan. I get the feeling that if this would have been President Obama in that situation the same sewing circle of people would be on here declaring how President Obama hates women and maybe the arguments would have stretched on how much he disrespects his wife and so on.