# Birther U.S. Army officer to be court-martialed **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 15, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157 "2010-04-15T02:33:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/101 "2010-12-15T04:30:27Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > What do you propose we do? Give them each a political test? Yes, that’s precisely what we should do. For as we all know, whether Barack Obama was born in the United States is simply a matter of political opinion. There’s no way to tell for sure! ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/102 "2010-12-15T16:55:48Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Yes, that’s precisely what we should do. For as we all know, whether Barack Obama was born in the United States is simply a matter of political opinion. There’s no way to tell for sure! Absolutely correct. No amount of paperwork, birth certificate, newspaper notices or personal testimony can make it a fact. That info is balanced by right wing opinion ,Limbaugh and Beck. You know how trustworthy and fair they are. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/103 "2010-12-15T17:07:38Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Is there no end to this idiocy? The guy’s risking his career over this: [http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/04/14/army-to-court-martial-officer-who-doubts-obama-was-born-in-u-s/](http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/04/14/army-to-court-martial-officer-who-doubts-obama-was-born-in-u-s/). Would he feel better if Joe Biden signed his orders? What an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/104 "2010-12-16T16:46:22Z")
Sad that this guy threw away his career over some crackpot conspiracy theory ravings. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/105 "2010-12-16T16:59:14Z")
Note that this is an old thread, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/106 "2010-12-16T19:18:57Z")
The most recent development, though, is that the guy just this week pled to one of two charges. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/107 "2010-12-17T00:50:59Z")
_Stars & Stripes_ article on the sentencing [here](http://www.stripes.com/news/birther-sentenced-to-six-months-in-prison-kicked-out-of-army-1.128924): > [@](#): > > Lakin, a 17-year Army physician, was sentenced to six months in prison and dismissal from the service on Thursday after being found guilty of disobeying orders and ignoring his deployment orders. _Stars & Stripes_ article on “Birthers’” reaction to the conviction [here](http://www.stripes.com/news/birthers-see-victory-despite-soldier-s-conviction-1.128865): > [@](#): > > Supporters of the “birther” movement are labeling the court-martial of Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin another success for their cause, even as their latest hero faces dismissal from the Army and jail time — and the judge blocked any real mention of their message. > > “This isn’t a failure. Any news is better than no news,” said Charles Kerchner Jr., a retired Naval Reserve commander who identifies himself as a “constitutionalist” instead of a birther. Wow. The WONJCTs really are whacked-out. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/108 "2010-12-17T14:31:20Z")
WOJNCTs? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/109 "2010-12-17T16:36:57Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Note that this is an old thread, everyone. No it is not. He was just sentenced last week. He got 6 months for disobeying orders and was dismissed from the Army. I believe he lost his pension too. He claims he acted under bad advice from his first attorney. Now he seems to regret his decisions. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/110 "2010-12-17T16:39:58Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > WOJNCTs? best guess-Whacked Out Just Nuts Conspiracy Theorists. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/111 "2010-12-17T16:46:08Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > WOJNCTs? I think he was a not terribly bright detective on _Barney Miller_. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/112 "2010-12-17T16:49:54Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > No it is not. He was just sentenced last week. Yes, it is. **Quartz** and **Ludovic** ’s posts are responses to posts from April. **EH** bumped it, but some people didn’t notice, so I am making it clearer. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/113 "2010-12-17T17:30:04Z")
Looks like he got off easy because he changed lawyers. Does anyone know if his association with WOJNCT fund raising was brought up in his trial? (WOJNCT based on\*\* runner pat\*\*'s interpretation) Will he be able to sue his previous lawyer for malpractice? He has stated he regretted his actions, has he stated that he was wrong in his patently false unsupportable politically motivated asswipe inspired assertion? Why wasn’t he executed like Eddie Slovik? (Ok, that may be a wee bit over the top) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/114 "2010-12-17T17:50:20Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Will he be able to sue his previous lawyer for malpractice? Doubtful, unless he refused to deploy based on the lawyer’s advice, and probably not even then. Presumably he didn’t retain a lawyer until after he was threatened with a court martial. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/115 "2010-12-17T18:11:55Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Doubtful, unless he refused to deploy based on the lawyer’s advice, and probably not even then. Presumably he didn’t retain a lawyer until after he was threatened with a court martial. I was under the impression that a lawyer could be sued for malpractice for providing inadequate or incompetent defense. I don’t know the terminology, but it seems reasonable (something not necessarily applicable to law), that the steps taken in a legal defense are equivalent to legal advice or opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/116 "2010-12-17T19:22:10Z")
Losing an argument isn’t malpractice. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/117 "2010-12-17T19:54:55Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Losing an argument isn’t malpractice. This lawyer may have had a conflict of interest. And according to a JAG officer on the news gave him bad advice, and may not have been qualified to represent him in a military procedure. This question doesn’t relate to the OP, so I’ll take it up elsewhere if I ever care about the answer. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/118 "2010-12-17T21:13:56Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > WOJNCTs? You misspelled it. It’s “WONJCT”… whacked-out nut-job conspiracy theorists. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/119 "2010-12-17T21:35:15Z")
Ah. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to open a Korean restaurant called Won Junction. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157/120 "2010-12-17T21:54:28Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Is there no end to this idiocy? Wow. :eek: :mad: I’ve been saying America’s political climate has moved beyond tragedy to farce. But I’ve run out of laughter by now. Reading this story, I don’t know whether to cry or to throw up. Am I the only Doper who feels this way? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birther-u-s-army-officer-to-be-court-martialed/536157.md?page=7)