New Bush ad violates military rules.

[blm]

The latest Bush-Cheney TV ad "Forward" http://www.georgewbush.com/tvads/
features several military personnel performing duties while wearing
their official uniforms. There are several shots of soldiers carrying
rifles, a shot of seaman launching a plane from a flight deck, a shot
of a soldier flying a helicopter, etc.

It's a blatant violation of military regulations for any military personnel
to promote any sort of political message while wearing an official US
uniform. And as Commander-in-chief, it's a violation of military regulations
for President Bush to direct or cause any member of the military to violate
those regulations.

The specific Army rule that covers this issue can be found on page 8
of Chapter 1 in Army Regulation 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms
and Insignia:
http://www.usapa.army.mil/pdffiles/r670_1.pdf
Army Regulation 670ú1
1ú10. When the wear of the Army uniform is required or prohibited
...
j. Wearing Army uniforms is prohibited in the following situations:
(1) In connection with the furtherance of any political or
commercial
interests, or when engaged in off-duty civilian employment.
The specific Air Force rule that covers this issue can be found in
Table 1.3 on page 8 of Chapter 1 in AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 36-2903,
DRESS AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF AIR FORCE PERSONNEL:
http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/pubfiles/af/36/afi36-2903/afi36-2903.pdf
Table 1.3. Wearing the Uniform.
Members ... Do not wear ... When
...
furthering political activities, private employment,or
commercial interests.
I'm certain there are similar regulations and rules that apply to
the other branches (Navy and Marines).

[seabeyond]

1. they are daring

dems to say anything about that. crooked, lying or just plain assholes.........wink

ah piece of cake. call them on it, in humor and man guys you cant follow any of the rules huh dudes. yup well leave it, but we all know once again you are breaking rules

[librechik]

2. they're probably actors, not real military

but that doesn't make it any less insulting...

[htuttle]

4. If they are actors...

...make the Bush administration have to say that they are actors.

:evilgrin:

Keep them on their heels.

[blm]

6. Right...wouldn't there be disclaimers that no actual military personnel

were used?

[G_j]

16. somebody here said that the firemen

in their ad were actors.

[PsN2Wind]

7. Whatcha suppose

the rent was on the aircraft carrier?

[htuttle]

8. Where do you rent one of those?

I checked here in town, but no luck.

[Lindsay]

3. I'm thinking that in a closed-door meeting

with his closest advisors, Shrub has declared himself emperor. So he gets to make ALL the rules.

[seabeyond]

5. i think it is beyond that.

i think a sec of christianity has annointed him second coming

[TacticalPeek]

9. Impersonation or violation, take your pick.

How typical of the prancing, AWOL bastard!

[sybylla]

10. This is good news in more ways than one for me.

That is if it also applies to the National Guard. My puke state assemblyman just joined the National Guard because he opened his big mouth after 9/11 and couldn't get out of it. This means if he uses his National Guard Service to help himself out politically by appearing it his uniform, he may be in violation of regulations.

Hmmmmm. I'll have to do a little more research on this.

[MO_Dem]

17. Repigs will try anything--here in MO

a repig state congresscritter is also in the NG, and was stationed in Guantanamo. (Repigs own MO congress) There was a close vote coming up for their beloved right to carry concealed firearms in MO, and miraculously, this dude was flown to Jeff City just in the nick of time to cast his vote for it. (it passed) I think maybe there's an investigation going on, but I'll be mighty surprised if anything comes of it.

[Bromd]

11. Can anyone honestly claim surprise?

Really, can anyone out there say they are honestly surprised by anything and everything that G.W.Bush says or does... then again, I believe that GWB.'s greatest opponent is Governor GWB since he's done the exact opposite he claimed other than lowering taxes for his buddies and giving his buddies plenty of oil and restriction breaks. I have a good feeling that once he's on the way out he'll be pardoning all his ENRON, HALIBURTON and any other exec friends who have gotten in trouble.

[cmf]

12. Just jotted off my LTE

Thanks for the heads-up. I don't watch TV, so I probably would have missed this. I think there needs to be as much public outcry over this as there was about the one that exploited 9/11.

[blm]

14. It hasn't been on TV yet.

Hopefully we can get it on with calls and letters.

[Generic Other]

13. I read he's down to 104 million dollars

Those crappy commercials are sucking the money!

Do you realize how much money they lose everytime we bring one of those ads down by ridiculing it to pieces?

[MercutioATC]

15. Actually, it's any federal employee, not just the military...

I'm an air traffic controller and I'm not allowed to use my position to promote any political candidate.

[rdfi-defi]

18. you did not really think the pentagon was paying $800 for that toilet seat

did you?

[Sinistrous]

19. I am not sure we have an issue here.

The military personnel were not engaging in political activity; they are doing their duties. The military personnel shown in these ads are not violating the cited regulations. The regulations prohibit personnel from making political speeches, attending rallies, handing out political leaflets, etc. while in uniform.

If there is a problem here, it is the use of the photographs by a candidate in a political campaign. While such use is sleazy (i.e., typically bush), the original poster did not cite a law or regulation that prohibits doing this.

A stronger case could be built for the illegality of military personnel wearing their uniforms while attending one of Commander Bunnypants blatantly political speeches that he has to make from within the controlled environment of military bases.