Navy: SEALs should not have been recognized at RNC

[sabra]

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Two Navy SEALs attending the Republican National Convention were there in a private capacity only and should not have been publicly recognized during the event, a Navy spokesman told CNN Thursday.

The men were acknowledged from the podium at the Xcel Energy Center Wednesday evening by Orson Swindle, a former POW cellmate of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who pointed them out and asked them to stand.

They did so, but appeared to be visibly uncomfortable.

The men, wearing civilian clothes, had been given permission to attend the St. Paul, Minnesota, event to support the family of their close friend and fellow SEAL Michael Mansoor, who was killed in action in Iraq, said Navy spokesman Cmdr. Jeff Davis.

There are very strict rules about active duty military personnel not attending political events or appearing to publicly support candidates.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/04/navy-seals-should-not-have-been-recognized-at-rnc/

[skooooo]

1. Another Republican fuck up!!!

And the hits keep coming!!!!

[gateley]

2. I hope Orson Swindle (what a name!) takes the heat on this -- if there is any,

and not the SEALs.

[dipsydoodle]

21. Was that a joke ?

Orson Swindle ? Did he change his name from 'Orson Cart ?

[pegleg]

27. Swindle was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

[KansDem]

3. This is reprehensible!

The men, wearing civilian clothes, had been given permission to attend the St. Paul, Minnesota, event to support the family of their close friend and fellow SEAL Michael Mansoor, who was killed in action in Iraq, said Navy spokesman Cmdr. Jeff Davis.

They were there for a fallen comrade, and the Repubs use their presence for a photo-op??!!!

The Repubs are the lowest of the low and know no shame!!! :grr:

[Plucketeer]

19. Yeah - they can embarrass these guys

but we can't see the flag-draped coffins coming home!

[KansDem]

4. self deleted

double post...sorry :blush:

[DogPoundPup]

5. McSame the POW, Navy guy doesn't know what the protocol is?

Geez....

[YDogg]

25. hell, he was proudly fifth from last in his class. he probably didn't pay attention to shit.

[Bob Dobbs]

6. If republics do it, it's not against the rules.

Just like if republics get pregnant out of wedlock, torture people, are war profiteers, commit election fraud, solicit sex in a public restroom, cheat on their injured wives, lie about their resume et al ad nauseum.

[avaistheone1]

8. Republicans do not respect the law or the rules.

This is just one of the latest examples.

[kwolf68]

7. Just when you think it can get no worse

The laundry list of insidious non-sense coming from the REICH is just breath-taking and we are still two months out. I expect this type of idiocy to continue as they hang onto their last grasps of power.

[unblock]

9. they know the rules. they used them and abused them.

the rules apply to navy personnel, not to civilians and politicians regarding treatment of navy personnel.

swindle or any other republican operative could point them out without consequence; it's the the navy personnel who are now in trouble.

in other words, the republicans got to "celebrate" some military people and displayed absolutely no regard for how much harm they're doing to them in the process. they got their photo-op, what do they care?

[Blue State Bandit]

11. This may jeopardize their safety in the field!

These guys may not be able to work because their pictures are now public. Covert opps are now out of the question for them. The Republicans have exposed 2 of our most highly trained war fighters to possible harm.

DISGUSTING!!!!

[unblock]

14. these are the people who blew the cover on our wmd eyes and ears in the middle east

the blew brewster-jenning's cover so that they could operate in the middle east without anyone knowing. trying to plant wmd's in iraq, trying to pretend iran has them, etc.

anyone who believes that getting back at valerie plame's husband is the REAL reason they outted her is a fool. that was just the cover story.

[drm604]

17. Exposing covert operatives seems to be a habit with them.

They obviously place political expediency over national security.

[knitter4democracy]

20. Now they can be recognized, you're right.

So, for a few political points, let's put these guys' lives in danger. Great idea! :eyes:

[99th_Monkey]

10. Wow! Now they've pissed-off the Navy too!! ... the M$M ...and community organizers everywhere ..

who HAVEN'T they pissed off yet? ... America's simply not buying their bullshit anymore. Pinch me.

[Muttocracy]

12. so much for the national security party. What day does Palin's son leave? nt

[catzies]

29. September the Eleventh. Of course. No joke.

And did you know his dad made him join the Army when he didn't get a hockey scholarship to go to college?

[truthisfreedom]

13. Everybody's just a prop for the RNC.

The rules and laws be damned. They attack others for doing what they're doing WHILE THEY DO IT.

[frylock]

15. why would you go to the RNC to "support" your friend who was KIA?

perhaps I've missed something, but wouldn't attending a service be a more appropriate way of showing your support? of course, compared to the DNC, the RNC is kinda like a funeral.

[Ian David]

16. After nearly 8 years, they finally decide to start enforcing this? A little late, isn't it? n/t

[yardwork]

18. I guess Orson Swindle wants them to be POWs too.

[Greyskye]

22. rules are for the masses

Republicans have carte blanche to ignore them. :grr:

[Nambe]

23. The RNC is culpable.

"The RNC was asked and agreed not to recognize or identify the SEALs at the convention," he said, adding that the Navy believes Swindle ad-libbed when he pointed them out.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

24. Here's another reason:

SEALs operate, a lot, "black". IE: covert. They do not want their name and picture out there. There is also a long tradition in the SEALs of not seeking or accepting any public recognition for their specialized service.

Mr. Swindle is a moron. The SEALs should have not stood.

[bertman]

26. "There are very strict rules about active duty military personnel not attending . . or appearing

to publicly support candidates."

Yes, I always thought this was the policy, so I was quite surprised and astonished when Swindle recognized them as Seals.

This brings up the question I asked myself the night Beau Biden, who I believe is an active-duty Army Captain about to deploy to Iraq, spoke at the Democratic Convention. I was surprised and astonished when that happened too, but I just figured it was because he was Biden's SON that they let him do that. Also, I may be wrong about this, but I don't remember them mentioning anything about Beau's military affiliation.

It just scares the shit out of me when we start letting the active-duty military types get involved in elections in any way other than contributing money and voting. I'd really prefer that we do not allow these types of precedents to be set. For any reason.

[yellowcanine]

28. Orson Swindle? - Didn't he work for Ross Perot on his presidential campaign?

Ah yes - found it - he was spokesperson for Perot in 1992.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Swindle

[judasdisney]

30. the "Playing Dumb" card -- "whoops, gee, a mistake"

[Bake]

31. Pukes don't give a shit about the military OR its rules.

They're just convenient props to the GOP.

Bake

[glitch]

32. Hardly surprising, Republicans know very little about the military and its protocols.

And that includes McCain.