The practice of the President saluting military officers and returning their salutes–THAT is an entirely modern innovation. Civilians do not salute officers, nor do officers salute civilians. A civilian who mistakenly salutes an officer or an enlisted man should not have his gesture returned.
The status of the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and the Navy was created BECAUSE the President is a civilian. NO President prior to Ronald Reagan ever saluted officers or enlisted men attending him for precisely this reason (that’s also why commissioned officers didn’t vote until FDR, paranoid about the outcome in 1944, authorized the practice).
No President should presume the military honor which the salute conveys. Even General of the Army Dwight David Eisenhower stopped saluting and receiving salutes when he became President. The logical continuation of the Reagan precedent would be for Obama to design a six-star dress uniform for himself, and start wearing a saber.
Be glad that he’s not saluting.
You’re probably right. Mr. Obama would be more honest if he did not salute rather than his half-hearted stabs of showing respect for women and men in the armed forces. Thanks for your thorough response.
Bob Zimmermanon September 28, 2014 at 6:01 pm
At least he’s not bowing in subservience to corrupt Saudi Kings… oh wait…. never mind.
I give this cartoon only 1 star and here is why:
The practice of the President saluting military officers and returning their salutes–THAT is an entirely modern innovation. Civilians do not salute officers, nor do officers salute civilians. A civilian who mistakenly salutes an officer or an enlisted man should not have his gesture returned.
The status of the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and the Navy was created BECAUSE the President is a civilian. NO President prior to Ronald Reagan ever saluted officers or enlisted men attending him for precisely this reason (that’s also why commissioned officers didn’t vote until FDR, paranoid about the outcome in 1944, authorized the practice).
No President should presume the military honor which the salute conveys. Even General of the Army Dwight David Eisenhower stopped saluting and receiving salutes when he became President. The logical continuation of the Reagan precedent would be for Obama to design a six-star dress uniform for himself, and start wearing a saber.
Be glad that he’s not saluting.
You’re probably right. Mr. Obama would be more honest if he did not salute rather than his half-hearted stabs of showing respect for women and men in the armed forces. Thanks for your thorough response.
At least he’s not bowing in subservience to corrupt Saudi Kings… oh wait…. never mind.