ABC i-view with soldier:"I don’t want to bad-mouth the President at all. I mean, to me it’s treason"

[sabra]

http://newsbusters.org/node/10816

ABC Showcases Take from Soldiers in Iraq on Anti-Surge Resolution: 'Sick' & 'Treason'

<snip>

Jake Tapper took up the challenge: “ABC News asked these Army Sergeants in Ramadi what they thought of the resolution.”

Army First Sergeant Louis Barnum: “It makes me sick. I was born and raised a Democrat, but when I see that it just kind of makes me sad.”

Sergeant Brian Orzechoski: “I don’t want to bad-mouth the President at all. I mean, to me it’s treason.”

Tapper concluded his story: “It is a very simple resolution, Charlie. It basically just says that the Congress supports the troops but opposes the President's plan. It is not binding, it does not cut off any funding for the troops. But simple or not, Charlie, the debate, as you heard, was passionate.”

[aquart]

1. Treason to disagree with the President?

That would be President Saddam, right?

[Rosemary2205]

16. It IS treason for a soldier, I do believe.

I'm pretty sure soldiers can be court martialed for disagreeing with the President about a war.

[aquart]

19. Yes, but he was applying it to civilians.

[Hobarticus]

2. Sergeant Useful Idiot, reporting for duty...

Bet you can find a dozen within earshot of these two who say, get us home now.

[Ishoutandscream2]

3. Again, Bush is not America

He works for us, not the other way around. At least, he's supposed to work for us.

[frogcycle]

4. But this article does not get picked up by national news...

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/wheatonsun/news/249114,6_1_NA09_SOLDIER_S1.article



"Kevin had served as an infantry platoon leader since he was sent to Iraq six months ago.

During the online conversation, Rich asked Kevin for a front-lines perspective on the effectiveness of President Bush's highly debated and controversial 21,500 troop surge.

Kevin replied that sending more troops to Iraq is useless since the operation's success is dependant on the help of the Iraqis.

"He went off on me like a rocket ... he had to vent," Rich recalled. "He said their hands are tied. He said it doesn't matter how many troops they send here, they're still going to get cut to pieces unless the Iraqis start cooperating."

Kevin told Rich and Jennifer that he was doing all he could to avoid being re-deployed after his yearlong tour was over in six more months. Disillusioned with the war, he also wanted to be with his wife, Bethany, who is a second lieutenant in the National Guard."

Kevin died a few days after that conversation

[meegbear]

10. NewsBusters is a conservative Media Matters ...

so anything pro-Bush, anti-Dem is gonna be "newsworthy".

[momster]

5. Handpicked

I sincerely doubt they randomly found two guys -- one of whom just 'happens' to be a 'sickened Democrat' -- to put on the air. The manipulation of the troops in this whole mess for purely partisan political purposes is disgusting. (And Sgt. Orzechoski needs to read a copy of the Constitution, pronto.)

[sabra]

8. ABC used Barnum in a report last week:

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2861195

<snip>

"The more we have here the better we'll be able to control the situation," said First Sgt Louis Barnum.

[Richard Steele]

20. Nice catch. Looks like Sgt Barnum is assigned to the 101st Propaganda Catapult Brigade.

[Hobarticus]

9. Oh come now....

He took an oath to protect it....you actually expect him to READ it?

[Jack Rabbit]

6. I quote Patrick Henry

If this is treason, let us make the most of it.

[deutsey]

7. Coming from ABC, does this surprise anyone?

Especially after "Path to 9/11"...

[mmonk]

11. Send them a constitution.

The power to declare war, including the power of judging the causes of war, is fully and exclusively vested in the legislature.

~James Madison

That we are to stand by the president, right or wrong is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.

~Theodore Roosevelt

[SammyWinstonJack]

12. It might be "treason" for Sgt. Orzechoski to "bad-mouth" his CinC,

I wouldn't know about that. But it isn't treason for any American to "bad-mouth" the President. Oh and Army First Sgt. Barnum, It makes me sad that your CinC would so brazenly put you in harm's way and do so with lie after lie after lie! It should make you sad to know that you and your buddies are nothing more than cannon fodder to this pResident, that he would lie and continue to lie too you all, for his power and profit goals. It should piss you off!

[CoffeeCat]

13. I guess ABC took Karl's story-idea advice...

This is such a farce.

What are active-duty higher-up military members supposed to say? They are under such
pressure to keep quiet and to follow the insanity.

If I was a soldier in Iraq--I wouldn't say a thing. If I was asked,
I'd probably say that I disagreed with the Democrats--because I wouldn't
want to be murdered by my own government.

There are plenty of soldiers--who have returned from Iraq---who will never
go back--and they are marching in the street and fighting against this war.

Where are those quotes? I guess Karl picked the sources too.

[screembloodymurder]

14. It's simply stupid.

It's weak, it's political, and it's a mistake. What they should be investigating is how this administration manipulated intelligence to push us into war. What they should be doing is impeaching Bush/Cheney for crimes against the state.

[hatrack]

15. Your oath is to the Constitution, not the President, Sgt. Dumbass

'I swear by God this sacred oath: I will render unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, the Führer of the German Reich and people, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and will be ready as a brave soldier to risk my life at any time for this oath.'

[originalpckelly]

17. Isn't Jake Tapper the guy who slept with Monica Lewinsky and milked it for everything?

:shrug:

[originalpckelly]

18. And may I ask what a political reporter is doing in Iraq?

:shrug: