Are your political allegiances subject to what your commanding officer tells you?

Question

When being sworn in to the military, you state you will protect and uphold the Constitution of the United States. No where does it state a political party. A person in the USNavy told me during the last election when they received their absentee ballots, they were instructed to vote for the current administration by their commanding ships officer amd when questioned, it was stated that yes, it was a direct order subject to discipline. Also, should a person's vote be their vote, and does this constitute tampering with a vote?

As to this being, and I quote "bullchit", I can name the ship, and more than one sailor who told me this. But then, since I am registered as a Democrat, that automatically makes me a liar and out to overthrow the United States of Republican America, doesn't it? It happened, right or wrong, for or against the UCMJ, it happened and telling me that I am spouting bs is inflammatory and insulting to say the least. I wanted to know if this is 'common practice'.

While hurling epithets, are you looking in the mirror, dittohead?

Answer 1

If it's true, then the troops followed an illegal order, which is certainly not defending and protecting the Constitution.

Answer 2

Lets have the name of the ship and a few of the names of the people that told you this. This is a crime and punisable by law. Personally, I think you made the whole thing up. I was never told who to vote for, and I have never heard of anyone that was ever told who to vote for. There is no way to tell who vote for except to open the ballot and check it. And any discipline done to a sailor because of his vote would draw massive media attention. So lets have some evidence.

"As to this being, and I quote "bullchit", I can name the ship, and more than one sailor who told me this. But then, since I am registered as a Democrat, that automatically makes me a liar and out to overthrow the United States of Republican America, doesn't it? "

I would say YES! You have made the accusations, now back them up. OR SHUT UP!

Answer 3

If this did indeed happen, then the person who was wrong was indeed the commanding officer. I cast absentee ballots while in the military and at no point was I told who to vote for nor were the ballots open to scrutiny by the chain of command. Finally, voting laws should make this sort of behvior not only illegal but a federal offense.

Answer 4

Have never heard of such a thing happening. During my 20 years in the Navy, never had a CO or any officer tell us who to vote for. One command, while overseas, did make information available on how to get absentee ballots, but never made any suggestions on who to vote for.

Answer 5

I call BS. If a CO gave instructions of that type tat any time he would have been _immediately_ relieved of command.

It is technically an offense for any person in the military to endorse any political position to another service member of a lower rank.

Personally - I suspect that you made this up.

Answer 6

I have never heard of such a thing

Never filled an absentee ballot, but i am quite certain they are as confidential as going to a voting both

Answer 7

This is Bullchit and you know it. You need to give me some proof or keep your lies to yourself.
You are making charges against military personnel that have criminal ramifications. You had better be able to back this up. If you can't, then it is just bull chit.

Answer 8

I would have voted for whoever I was already going to vote for, and when they attempted to discipline me over it, I would tell them to f**k themselves, and take whatever discipline came with that too.

You can tell why I got thrown out of the Marines can't you?

Answer 9

nope.