Some Iraq Veteran

I was cruising the list of blogs Hope has listed on her site and came across this video over on A Soldier’s Perspective. The video was apparently created by something called the 545 Project (no clue). I usually hate those crappy YouTube videos put together with crappy music and ham-handedly designed to send some kind of political message with all the subtlety of a fart in church, but this one kinda grabbed me. Just make sure you turn your speakers off.

Cheers,
-Dacker

Hey, I want to help get the word out on this.  Matt Burden of www.blackfive.net fame is running for state representative, district 41, Illinois.  I have to give a disclaimer: I don’t know Matt personally, but I have come to know his character and personality through his writings, as well as the writings of others that know the man.

The fact is, he’s one of us.  But don’t take my word for it, go check him out at Matt Burden for State Representative and BlackFive.

Remember, it takes cash to win an election.  If you Illinoisians want real “change” then people are going to have pony up some money.

-Dacker

With the recent events of the D.C. Tea Party, I thought I’d take a moment to reiterate the Department of Defense’s policy on Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces.  Military politics (or, rather, military and politics) can be a little confusing, and asking your chain of command can sometimes result in … well … answers just being made up.  For example, I once had a major tell me my GOP bumper sticker violated policy and had to be removed.  I didn’t even bother trying to educate him, but I didn’t remove it either.  Political activity by service members is permitted, but there are constraints.

Without getting all “legally,” here’s the basics (Active Duty only):

You CAN

1. Register, vote, and express a personal opinion on political candidates and issues, but not as a representative of the Armed Forces.
2. Promote and encourage others to exercise their voting franchise, if such promotion does not constitute use of their official authority or influence to interfere with the outcome of any election.
3. Join a partisan or nonpartisan political club and attend its meetings when not in uniform (but you CANNOT serve in any official capacity with or be listed as a sponsor of a partisan political club).
4. Serve as an election official, if such service is not as a representative of a partisan political party, does not interfere with the performance of military duties, is performed when not in uniform, and the Secretary concerned [i.e., the Secretary of your service] has given prior approval.  The Secretary concerned may NOT delegate the authority to grant or deny such permission.
5. Sign a petition for a specific legislative action or a petition to place a candidate’s name on an official election ballot, if the signing does not obligate you to engage in partisan political activity and is done as a private citizen and not as a representative of the Armed Forces.
6. Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper expressing your personal views on public issues or political candidates, if such action is not part of an organized letter-writing campaign or a solicitation of votes for or against a political party or partisan political cause or candidate.  If the letter identifies you as on active duty (or if you are otherwise reasonably identifiable as a member of the Armed Forces), the letter should clearly state that the views expressed are those of the individual only and not those of the Department of Defense (or Department of Homeland Security for members of the Coast Guard).
7. Make lawful monetary contributions to a political organization, party, or committee favoring a particular candidate or slate of candidates.
8. Display a political bumper sticker on your private vehicle.
9. Attend partisan and nonpartisan political fundraising activities, meetings, rallies, debates, conventions, or activities as a spectator when not in uniform and when no inference or appearance of official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement can reasonably be drawn.  
10. Participate fully in the Federal Voting Assistance Program.

You CANNOT

1. Participate in partisan political fundraising activities, rallies, conventions (including making speeches in the course thereof), management of campaigns, or debates, either on your own behalf or on that of another, REGARDLESS of whether you are in or out of uniform and REGARDLESS of any inference or appearance of official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement.  However, you CAN make contributions to a political organization, party or committee, and you CAN attend partisan and nonpartisan political fundraising activities, meetings, rallies, debates, conventions, or activities as a spectator when not in uniform and when no inference or appearance of official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement can reasonably be drawn, both as set forth above.
2. Use official authority or influence to interfere with an election, affect the course or outcome of an election, solicit votes for a particular candidate or issue, or require or solicit political contributions from others.
3. Allow or cause to be published partisan political articles, letters, or endorsements signed or written by you that solicits votes for or against a partisan political party, candidate, or cause.  This is distinguished from a letter to the editor as permitted under the conditions noted above.
4. Serve in any official capacity with or be listed as a sponsor of a partisan political club.
5. Speak before a partisan political gathering, including any gathering that promotes a partisan political party, candidate, or cause.
6. Participate in any radio, television, or other program or group discussion as an advocate for or against a partisan political party, candidate, or cause.
7. Conduct a political opinion survey under the auspices of a partisan political club or group or distribute partisan political literature.
8. Perform clerical or other duties for a partisan political committee or candidate during a campaign, on an election day, or after an election day during the process of closing out a campaign.
9. Solicit or otherwise engage in fundraising activities in Federal offices or facilities, including military reservations, for any political cause or candidate.
10. March or ride in a partisan political parade.
11. Display a large political sign, banner, or poster (as distinguished from a bumper sticker) on a private vehicle.
12. Display a partisan political sign, poster, banner, or similar device visible to the public at your residence on a military installation, even if that residence is part of a privatized housing development.
13. Participate in any organized effort to provide voters with transportation to the polls if the effort is organized by or associated with a partisan political party, cause, or candidate.
14. Sell tickets for or otherwise actively promote partisan political dinners and similar fundraising events.
15. Attend partisan political events as an official representative of the Armed Forces, except as a member of a joint Armed Forces color guard at the opening ceremonies of the national conventions of the Republican, Democratic, or other political parties recognized by the Federal Elections Committee or as otherwise authorized by the Secretary concerned.
16. Make a campaign contribution to, or receive or solicit (on one’s own behalf) a campaign contribution from, any other member of the Armed Forces on active duty.

Note that the above only applies if you are on active duty, which is defined as:

“Full-time duty in the active military service of the United States regardless of duration or purpose.  Active duty includes full-time training duty; annual training duty; and attendance, while in the active military service, at a school designated as a Service school by law or by the Secretary concerned.  For purposes of this Directive only, active duty also includes full-time National Guard duty.”

Also, the above does not apply to local nonpartisan political activities.  You can take part in such activities provided you don’t:

1. Wear the uniform, or use government property during your participation,
2. Allow the participation to interfere with your military duties, or
3. Act in such a way as to imply the DoD or any component thereof has taken an official position or is involved in the local political campaign or issue.

All of the above is contained within DoD Directive 1344.10 (Feb. 19, 2008).

And remember, kids, it’s never okay for a commissioned officer to talk bad about the president – even this one.  Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 88 prohibits commissioned officers from using contemptuous words against the President, Vice President, Congress, Secretary of Defense, Secretaries of the military departments, Secretary of Homeland Security, or Governor or legislature of any State, Commonwealth, or possession in which you are on duty or present.  Although UCMJ Article 88 does not apply to enlisted members or warrant officer on its face, the military has on occasion used Article 134 to prosecute such action: in 1962 a Soldier was convicted under that article for using obscene language in regards to President Kennedy.  But, the discussion of free speech and the military is better left for another day.

So, rather than running off at the gibs, get involved within the parameters of policy and vote!

-Dacker