Eric Alterman: Possible Actual News Alert

[dennis4868]

Possible Actual News Alert: Is the Republican Party in violation of the US military’s rules on the participation in party politics by active duty military?

It sure looks that way. The RNC convention week is boasting that it has 144 active duty military delegates at the convention or three percent of the total. That information can be found here.

Meanwhile, according to DOD Directive 1344.10, which can be found here this is a violation of the code of military conduct. It explicitly says:

A member on active duty shall not
...
Participate in partisan political management, campaigns, or conventions (unless attending a convention as a spectator when not in uniform).

But the Republican Party itself is claiming that the active duty personnel are not spectators but delegates. What’s going on here? Why are the Republicans encouraging our soldiers to violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice and its stated rules of political engagement? And why for goodness sakes, aren’t these rules being enforced? Hey MSNBC.com, can we put a reporter or two on this story please?

More....http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3449870/

Hey Eric, Bush is allowed to violate the law....where have you been the last 3 1/2 years my friend?

[lottie244]

1. Republicans have no regard for the UCMJ or any law for that matter.

They are above it all. Laws are only made for the powerless.

[dennis4868]

3. I would bet my first born.....

that if Kerry was violating the law in this regard the media would be pounding that man without end!

[Fridays Child]

2. Oh, please! The rule of law must be obeyed only by Democrats.

Everybody knows that.

[Doctor_J]

4. compared to the rest of their crimes for the last 3-1/2 years,

this one is a misdemeanor

[DeepModem Mom]

5. kick

[Skinner]

6. This was posted on DU FIRST!

From August 27:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x678991

We rule.

[slinkerwink]

7. that's right!

[tomfodw]

8. Like the Bush Administration will really investigate itself

Or the Republican-dominated Congress will reverse 4 years of lying for the President now.

Or the lapdog press will stop gazing adoringly at the RNC long enough to take notice of the fact that the entire world is going to shit on Bush's watch and it's partially their fault.

Or the military itself will finally assert some pride and honor and neutrality and protest the way Bush has mockingly used and traduced them for his own glorification.

Don't hold your breath waiting for any of this to happen.

[Atman]

9. My letter to one of the media whore outlets....

Dear CNN;

It would seem that if you actually considered yourself a REAL news outlet, you'd cover news, not just create it. This story is a great case in point of an item we will never see from the CNN wing of the Bush campaign. I used to like you, actually trusted you a little bit, trusted that what I saw being reported was an acurate representation of current events. Sadly, that can no longer be said. I don't know who is making the money there, or why you think it more valuable than the futures of your children and my children, and the families of the soldiers killed in Iraq, but you guys really, really disgust me.

(Link and clip attached)

[Mortos]

10. GOP has removed their press release

Related to this post. It is gone.

I wonder why they would remove it? Check the original post, I wrote it based on my brother's research. The link in the Alterman piece and the original DU post, to the official press release by the GOP, has been completely removed from their website.

It appears that they still have a release on one of the reservist members they are touting. Carey Baker, is listed as still serving the US in various capacities and has just returned from 1 year of active duty service in Iraq. This would make him active duty. Here is a link:

www.2004nycgop.org/features/infocus/veterans.shtml

Look at it quick before the GOP destroys more evidence.

Way to go Robby. It looks like you may be on to something and because of it, the GOP is now trying to hide their violations of their own self serving policy.

[blondeatlast]

11. Afraid it's gone now. nt

[rob-ok-vin]

12. Here is a link to the cached AP release

Thanks googles cached records

http://www.gop.com/News/Read.aspx?ID=4557