Free speech? Apparently not.

http://rt.com/usa/news/marine-stein-page-president-219/

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57410342/marine-sgt-gary-stein-should-mgo-for-criticizing-obama-on-facebook-board-says/

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/0...after-obama-criticism-on-facebook--74634.html

What do you guys think? I think its absolutely disgusting and there should be no way any American should be prosecuted for speaking out against the president. I don't care that he was a member of the Armed Forces, the Constitution doesn't exempt them from their rights. The fact that he is being prosecuted is unconstitutional in and of itself and I sincerely hope this goes all the way to the Supreme Court so Obama can see he is not above criticism.

This is absolutely outrageous. Military Personnel should be able to express whatever view they like. End of discussion.

All I have to say, is that when you join the armed forces, expect such shit to happen. You are in the army, and you answer to the president (Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces). He was warned of the consequences, but continued to publicly attack his superiors. While it may be a violation of free speech, we kinda fucked free speech with the Patriot Act.

Well, I still think he shouldn't be prosecuted for this. I don't see why soldiers can't criticize the government. I can see why they aren't allowed to criticize their generals publicly, but seriously, everyone should be able to criticize the president. Its his right, and you shouldn't be forced to forgo your rights by our military. In my opinion, a good publicity move by the president would be to give the guy a pardon and publicly announce that he values criticism.

But Obama technically is a general. He is in command of all the armed forces of the US, and thus, is this soldier's superior.

Obama is a politician. Modern day politicians don't fight wars. Generals fight wars. I do not think Obama should be a general, or considered as the commander in chief. I think the commander in chief should be made a position which Obama can appoint for a term. Because the president should not be allowed to have the soul power over military forces.

I agree, but the Constitution states that the President is the Commander in Chief of all armed forces.

So is free speech, and the Constitution nor none of its amendments exempts the military from that law.

But criticizing your Commander in Chief is insubordination, and there for, he was rightly punished.

Well generals don't exactly fight in trenches either(anybody over the rank of colonel is not allowed to go into combat), they plan and give orders and washington gives orders to them. And what would be the point in giving the position of commander in chief away? The general that gets the postion would still have to answer to the president.

You don't have to join the military. But if you do, you agree to not speak about certain things. As pedro said, it's a contractual obligation, much like a non-disclosure agreement.

Though there is also a federal law, the name of which I can't remember, that more or less prohibits federal employees (at least the State Department and Department of Homeland Security) from being politically active.

Under the US system of government the President is the highest command in the armed forces. As pedro pointed out, as a soldier you voluntarily limit your free speech in order to serve. In effect, this soldier was both committing insubordination by insisting that he not follow his commander (Pres. Obama) and violated the contract that he signed with the United States' military.

While it may be strictly legal, or rather illegal that this guy should not have been criticizing Obama. But, don't you guys agree he should be pardoned at least? Its wrong that he should be prosecuted for criticizing his commander. If commanders didn't get any criticism then they would be absolutely terrible at their jobs. Commanders need to know what their soldiers think. Its less morally damaging to an army if someone is loudly and vocally proclaiming their opinions, rather then grumbling under their breath and hating their commanders.

As i read it he isn't prosecuted under law. To use a term from the free-market world, he just got fired!
If a store clerk of apple goes on his facebook page, talking crap about Tim Cook, you can bet your ass he will get fired!
Same applies here, free speach does not safe you, from being fired, if you insult your highest boss, same goes for the military if you piss on the leg of the man! This is specialy true for the military, they can't have their personell behave in this manner, it sets a verry bad example for other soldiers and it is really bad for moral and discipline. The fact that the highest military is a public figure and a politician, does cut people generaly some slack, but i guess he pissed of to many of his superiors allready, so they just used it to put the final nail in the coffin. But this is just a guess.