Umbrellagate

[SnowCal]

So here's my take on this whole Umbrellagate. The optics of these Marines (some of America's most highly trained warriors) being used as umbrella holders was terrible. Not only is it disrespectful to the Marines themselves it just looked completely absurd. It makes the President look really wimpy when he can't withstand a slight drizzle and needs a Marine to hold an umbrella for him.

Another question, if it was going to rain why didn't the White House move the event indoors or get a canopy set up? Are the highly educated members of the White House staff incapable of checking the weather aps on their phones or do they not consider such trifles?

The bottom line is this whole event just makes the White House looks amateurish.

Why not set up a canopy or go inside? I'm not sure what the details are but it looks like a quick presser during inclement weather. The logic probably went 'it isn't raining now and this is only going to take 5-10 minutes'.

As for the need for an umbrella in a drizzle, would you like to read the headlines if Obama had let stand in the rain a visiting prime minister from a country whose cooperation we sorely need right now. We'd have raingate.

As for why the Marines got picked? I doubt too much thought went into it. Obama thinks 'it's raining, I need to get an umbrella for the PM and me' and then turned to the closest persons and requests that. Aides would have been better but I doubt Obama was even aware of the military thing against umbrellas.

This is just such a silly thing to get in a fuss about. It's comical to me that some conservatives are. Not all for sure. But some are.

 

[Merope]

So, let me see if I have this straight. It was rude and disrespectful for Obama to ask the Marine to hold the umbrella for him but it would not be rude and disrespectful for the Marine to tell him to hold his own dang umbrella? Seems to me that regardless of your dress code or whatever, common human courtesy would compel you to help another person. Not to mention that the Commander in Chief could you know...ORDER you to.

 

[Crusader05]

Why not set up a canopy or go inside? I'm not sure what the details are but it looks like a quick presser during inclement weather. The logic probably went 'it isn't raining now and this is only going to take 5-10 minutes'.

As for the need for an umbrella in a drizzle, would you like to read the headlines if Obama had let stand in the rain a visiting prime minister from a country whose cooperation we sorely need right now. We'd have raingate.

As for why the Marines got picked? I doubt too much thought went into it. Obama thinks 'it's raining, I need to get an umbrella for the PM and me' and then turned to the closest persons and requests that. Aides would have been better but I doubt Obama was even aware of the military thing against umbrellas.

This is just such a silly thing to get in a fuss about. It's comical to me that some conservatives are. Not all for sure. But some are.

Exactly, not much thought went into it, just like Benghazi, the IRS etc. This event is emblematic of this administration's attitude towards a lot of issues.

 

[Merope]

Exactly, not much thought went into it, just like Benghazi, the IRS etc. This event is emblematic of this administration's attitude towards a lot of issues.

Yup. The weatherman is famously ALWAYS accurate after all.

 

[Crusader05]

So, let me see if I have this straight. It was rude and disrespectful for Obama to ask the Marine to hold the umbrella for him but it would not be rude and disrespectful for the Marine to tell him to hold his own dang umbrella? Seems to me that regardless of your dress code or whatever, common human courtesy would compel you to help another person. Not to mention that the Commander in Chief could you know...ORDER you to.

It just strikes me as more than a little demeaning to have Marines (or any servicemember) doing the job of an inanimate object. Also, why couldn't they have held their own umbrellas?

 

[TLK Valentine]

It just strikes me as more than a little demeaning to have Marines (or any servicemember) doing the job of an inanimate object. Also, why couldn't they have held their own umbrellas?

Why should they?

 

[Rion]

Am I the only one who is reminded of the dude interviewed on NPR who thought Obama made it stop raining during his speech?

NPR Hosannas: Obama’s Voice ‘Clears Up The Weather’ | Publius Forum

 

[SolomonVII]

I don't think we want an intern holding Obama's umbrella

Bill Clinton was the one that was not to be trust around interns.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

LOL, when that happened to Clinton it caused quite a ruckus.

 

[Blackguard_]

I think I recall something about how a Marine can violate the USMC uniform code if ordered by his Commandant or higher ranking official... somehow, I suspect the Commander-in-Chief qualifies.

I'm sure, or at least that violating such a minor ordinance on the Commander-in-Chiefs say would be something they'd turn a blind eye to. I mean, refusing the request might have gotten the guy in more trouble, and the President can't be expected to know the obscure regulations of every service branch.

But it would seem according to some, and this picture posted by TLK that it wasn't some USMC code thing

Why should they?

The guy holding the umbrella for Obama seems to be a corporal, but those are general Officers. If it was a real issue, you'd think they of all people could have let the president know.

I'd say that's pretty good evidence this is a non-issue. Or maybe about the internets effect on scandals/minor gaffes? I mean, c. 1991 a photo of a gaffe, actual or not, wouldn't have been plastered to millions and millions of people unless the TV and newspapers ran with it.

 

[DianeRhea]

It just strikes me as more than a little demeaning to have Marines (or any servicemember) doing the job of an inanimate object. Also, why couldn't they have held their own umbrellas?

You know very well if he had you'd be whining about how wimpy Obama was for trying not wanting to get wet. Just admit you will criticize anything he says or does only because you're butthurt your guy lost.

 

[MSBS]

The Marine in that picture is probably thinking to himself "I went through basic training, extensive weapons and tactics training, and got myself in peak physical condition to do this?!?"

No he's not. He's doing his job. His function is the be there and look pretty and do what he's told. When I was in the military, I was stationed in the DC area and used to interact with the presidential honor guard guys pretty regularly. They do stuff like that all the time. It's as hard as hell to even get that gig, and the training is tough. They stand parades, the open doors, they hold umbrellas. It's what they're there for. And they know it damned well before they ever take the job.

I'm no fan of Obama's, as you can see if you go back and look at my posts, but this is just petty.

 

[TLK Valentine]

I'm sure, or at least that violating such a minor ordinance on the Commander-in-Chiefs say would be something they'd turn a blind eye to. I mean, refusing the request might have gotten the guy in more trouble, and the President can't be expected to know the obscure regulations of every service branch.

Except that Obama didn't violate the ordinance -- as Commander-in-Chief, he has the authority to have a Marine hold an umbrella.

Articles that are not authorized for wear as a part of a regulation uniform will not be worn exposed with the uniform unless otherwise authorized by the Commandant or higher authority.

But it would seem according to some, and this picture posted by TLK that it wasn't some USMC code thing


The guy holding the umbrella for Obama seems to be a corporal, but those are general Officers. If it was a real issue, you'd think they of all people could have let the president know.

I'd say that's pretty good evidence this is a non-issue. Or maybe about the internets effect on scandals/minor gaffes? I mean, c. 1991 a photo of a gaffe, actual or not, wouldn't have been plastered to millions and millions of people unless the TV and newspapers ran with it.

And, under Title 10 of the United States Code,

"In addition, the Marine Corps shall provide detachments and organizations for service on armed vessels of the Navy, shall provide security detachments for the protection of naval property at naval stations and bases, and shall perform such other duties as the President may direct. However, these additional duties may not detract from or interfere with the operations for which the Marine Corps is primarily organized."

So, if one of those duties includes, "hey, hold this umbrella," the proper response is "Yes, Sir!"

In other news, here's a quote floating around from USMC Eric Steinberg, which sums up the genuine outrage at the fake outrage pretty well: "I GUARANTEE YOU! IF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF GIVES YOU A LAWFUL ORDER YOU FOLLOW THE [censored] LAWFUL ORDER. IF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF WANTS AN UMBRELLA YOU BETTER BELIEVE A WHOLE [censored] GRIP OF JARHEARDS ARE GONNA BE HIGH-STEPPING TO BRING HIM A [censored] UMBRELLA!”

(P.S. is it wrong that I hear R. Lee Ermey's voice saying that?)

 

[TLK Valentine]

The Marine in that picture is probably thinking to himself "I went through basic training, extensive weapons and tactics training, and got myself in peak physical condition to do this?!?"

Or... he could be thinking, "The other day I was scrubbing latrines, and now here I am standing next to the Commander-in-Chief!"

 

[MSBS]

Or... he could be thinking, "The other day I was scrubbing latrines, and now here I am standing next to the Commander-in-Chief!"

And without a doubt, everyone that guy knows, family, friends, old school teachers, probably called him or sent an email about how they saw him on TV next to the president.

There are plenty of reasons to not like Obama's policies. Having a member of the presidential honor guard hold an umbrella at an official function isn't one of them.

 

[MachZer0]

I knew something about this picture was awry, and I just figured it out.

Why don't we see the Marine(s) holding the umbrella(s) for TOTUS?

 

[iluvatar5150]

I knew something about this picture was awry, and I just figured it out.

Why don't we see the Marine(s) holding the umbrella(s) for TOTUS?

as you can see in this video, TOTUS was not present:

Obama breaches Marine umbrella protocol | The Daily Caller

-Dan.

 

[TLK Valentine]

as you can see in this video, TOTUS was not present:

Obama breaches Marine umbrella protocol | The Daily Caller

-Dan.

And as you can see from the article, the author doesn't know the first thing about Marine protocol:

Not even the President of the United States can request a Marine to carry an umbrella without the express consent of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, according to the Marine Corps Manual.

Forgetting the fact that I already quoted the exact text from the Marine Corps manual which contradicts the above, are we to understand that the Commander-in-Chief needs to ask the Commandant's permisison to give a lawful order?

Well, at least the video was useful.

 

[iluvatar5150]

And as you can see from the article, the author doesn't know the first thing about Marine protocol:



Forgetting the fact that I already quoted the exact text from the Marine Corps manual which contradicts the above, are we to understand that the Commander-in-Chief needs to ask the Commandant's permisison to give a lawful order?

Well, at least the video was useful.

Oh. I didn't even read the rest of the article. I just saw that the video showed the whole wide shot w/ both umbrellas and no TOTUS.

-Dan.

 

[MachZer0]

Oh. I didn't even read the rest of the article. I just saw that the video showed the whole wide shot w/ both umbrellas and no TOTUS.

-Dan.

TOTUS wasn't there to tell him what to do so he just went with the flow to allow the Marine to hold the umbrella. Leading from behind as usual