Chief of Staff of the Australian Army is not kidding around when it comes to sexual harassment

[DonViejo]

TPM Editor’s Blog

Wow

JOSH MARSHALL JUNE 14, 2013, 6:13 PM

Man, the Chief of Staff of the Australian Army is not kidding around when it comes to sexual harassment

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2013/06/wow_20.php?ref=fpblg

[Bigmack]

1. Seen it, love it, passed it on...kick for Big Brass Balls. nt

[MuseRider]

2. This should be sent to every single

elected official in this country. EVERY one.

They need to see what a spine and conviction for the people means.

[MichiganVote]

3. Yup. And what do our pampered Generals do-not a Goddamn thing.

[enlightenment]

4. Wow is right.

I'd love to see that kind of commitment from some of our military leaders.

[Whisp]

8. not only military - everyone. loud and clear: this is not acceptable!

stand up and not accept racist, sexist or homophobic speech or actions.

you might lose a moron friend or two, but you will gain self respect and respect of others that witness this.

[niyad]

5. now WHY hasn't our own military said exactly this, AND MEANT IT?? and why do we have the

disgrace of the senate just this week caving in about dealing with sexual abuse in the military? too bad we can't hire this guy to come in and do the right thing.

[Number23]

6. I thought about posting this in one of the Feminist forums a few days ago

I thought they'd enjoy it but then I changed my mind.

Glad to see this posted. He is getting serious props for his statements.

[freshwest]

9. He gets 'serious props,' while Obama says same but it's called 'unlawful' per OP last night:

Last edited Sun Jun 16, 2013, 01:09 AM - Edit history (1)

Judge: Obama sex assault comments unlawful command influence.

Two defendants in military sexual assault cases cannot be punitively discharged, if found guilty, because of “unlawful command influence” derived from comments made by President Barack Obama, a judge ruled in a Hawaii military court this week.

Navy Judge Cmdr. Marcus Fulton ruled during pretrial hearings in two sexual assault cases — U.S. vs. Johnson and U.S. vs. Fuentes — that comments made by Obama as commander in chief would unduly influence any potential sentencing, according to a court documents obtained by Stars and Stripes

On Wednesday and Thursday, Fulton approved the pretrial defense motions, which used as evidence comments that Obama made about sexual assault at a May 7 news conference:

“The bottom line is: I have no tolerance for this,” Obama said, according to an NBC News story submitted as evidence by defense attorneys in the sexual assault cases.

‘I expect consequences,” Obama added. “So I don’t just want more speeches or awareness programs or training, but ultimately folks look the other way. If we find out somebody’s engaging in this, they’ve got to be held accountable — prosecuted, stripped of their positions, court martialed, fired, dishonorably discharged. Period.”

Continued in article:

http://www.stripes.com/judge-obama-sex-assault-comments-unlawful-command-influence-1.225974

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3021078

I posted on that thread. Obama and the Australian man reflect my views. The perception is being created that Americans have no one leading on this, despite Obama being on the case. I posted what Obama said in May, but no one wanted to hear it. The full story below from then is below, but this new one where they use Obama stating his policy to deny enacting it is disgusting.

We need to toss out those who don't give sexual assault the attention it deserves. We need more Gillenbrands, McCaskills and Murrays in office and less who kowtow to the old ways. I love the Australian using the words, 'brothers and sisters.' We have a long way to go to respecting those who try to move this country forward.

Obama: 'No tolerance' for military sexual assault

By Michael O'Brien, Political Reporter, NBC News


News Conference, East Room, White House, May 7, 2013.

...The president said he had spoken today with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to urge him to “exponentially step up” efforts to identify suspects in assaults, and aggressively prosecute those cases.

“The bottom line is: I have no tolerance for this,” Obama said at a press conference following his meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

‘I expect consequences,” Obama added. “So I don’t just want more speeches or awareness programs or training, but ultimately folks look the other way. If we find out somebody’s engaging in this, they’ve got to be held accountable – prosecuted, stripped of their positions, court martialed, fired, dishonorably discharged. Period.”

“For those who are in uniform who’ve experience sexual assault, I want them to hear directly from their commander in chief that I’ve got their backs,” the president said. “I will support them. And we’re not going to tolerate this stuff, and there will be accountability...”

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/07/18107743-obama-no-tolerance-for-military-sexual-assault?lite

Our President speaks powerfully, but it's not news...

[Number23]

10. Wow. That is astonishing. The only thing that makes sense is because Obama's not in uniform, maybe?

Although that really shouldn't matter.

[freshwest]

13. Some people misread the name 'Obama' as 'Obstruct!' Tea Party spelling strikes again.

The fact that Obama is not in uniform, doesn't take away from his being Commander In Chief. Although some in the military are Birthers and Dittoheads who don't want to see any change from the Bad Old Days.

The only way to stop them is to load all the committees with people who are going to fight them on this. They pass the regulations for the military, the armed forces are under civilian control, but too many regressives are being allowed there, but that's not the majority, I bet.
Seeing the posts of our DU veterans and active service people, I can't believe the bad apples get their support.

Those who think the Tea Party's Koch mouthpieces are going to give women or the vulnerable in any regard any rights, really need to get their heads out of the Koch litter box. We need more people in Congress to change this, and they can rewrite those codes.

I don't fault the attorneys for pulling this complaint out of their hat, but do fault the judge. McCaskill voted against a person who overturned the verdict that found someone guilty for assault. That is one of the military judges like this one. Gillenbrant wanted to move these prosecutions to other courts, IIRC, if they are going to continue down the road Obama says is unacceptable.

We can still do this, it's not impossible by any means.

[niyad]

15. I would say unbelievable, but the sheer hatred for women so openly expressed by so many

in this country is beyond appalling and obscene.

[MrModerate]

7. One admirable Aussie trait is cutting through bullshit without fuss.

And this guy does it in spades.

I would not like to find myself standing in front of his desk after having screwed up.

[MadrasT]

11. This is what a *leader* looks like.

Edit to add: fuck that... this is what a decent human being looks like.

[Mushroom]

12. "If that does not suit you,

then get out."

This wasn't directed at the victims of sexual harassment. Wow. There you go, sexual harassers. Not only does it matter what the Chief of Staff of the Australian Army thinks of you, it matters what women think of you.

[niyad]

16. unlike the american military, where the VICTIMS are the ones thrown out.

[JNelson6563]

14. Wow. That was superb!