http://instagram.com/p/tS2r-hwina/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=video Disrespectful?
No it's not disrespectful, he's a civilian, he's not really expected to know what he's doing. The way I see it, at least he tried and managed to use the correct arm.
He's part of the civilian command structure, sure he's over the military, but he's not a part of it. If one of the Bush presidents, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, Eisenhower, or Truman had a poor salute or were holding a latte while saluting it would be a big deal because they are from the military and know better, there's no reason to expect anything like that from Obama or any president without military service. Speaking of that, there have been only 12 presidents without any military service at all, can you name them?
Read this it clears things up a bit. http://www.texasgopvote.com/military-salute/it-proper-president-render-military-hand-salute-002816
i could guess a few- FDR probably, Adams & Jefferson, O, Clinton...Wilson? no idea about the rest. and you might have a point if this were 5 years ago. but theoretically, he's had time to practice. and it's not the form that's problematic, but that he couldn't even be bothered to put down his damn latte (probably tea, ironically.)
All correct except for Jefferson, he was a colonel in the Virginia Militia. I see what you are talking about, but IMO I'm just glad he tried to begin with, it's not a part of his job and it's not like he knows the rules and regulations of the military concerning hand salutes.
People shouldn't make this into a huge deal, but yes, I do think it's disrespectful. Put your damn cup of coffee down and make a proper salute. You are the Commander in Chief.
Again, I don't want to start an argument over something as benign as this, but you don't think the President of the United States has etiquette and decorum preparation for every situation imaginable?
I know a few people here served and might be able to vouch for me.....but if you think that is bad, try working in a Command Level environment where everyone is an Officer and it gets old as hell saluting every 2 minutes. I once had a Lt Col (Army) return a salute with a cigarette in his right hand. Disrespectful? Yeah. I agree. But it becomes so mundane after a while......really can't blame him. I know I salute like crap having to salute 70% of the people I interact with....
Well in that he's not a member of the military, it's not proper etiquette to salute in the first place and even if he was, it's not proper etiquette and decorum to salute out of uniform. Like the link that someone else posted says, saluting is just something that presidents have done since Reagan and wasn't something that Eisenhower, who as we all know was a retired 5 star General, did while he was president. A year ago there some some big deal about how instead of saluting he shook hands with the Marine as he got on the chopper. Obama doesn't have the best track record with the military, but he certainly wasn't being disrespectful.
