# Obama does his best to degrade a couple of Marines. Next episode: Wipers! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 16, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538 "2013-05-16T18:51:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/1 "2013-05-16T18:51:53Z")
Being tewwibwy afwaid of getting his hair wet, during a press conference President Obama summoned two Marines to hold umbrellas over himself and the Prime Minister of Turkey. Just looking at the [picture](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/marines-beckoned-shield-president-obama-turkish-prime-minister-erdogan-rain-press-conference-interupted-shower-article-1.1345980?localLinksEnabled=false) makes me want to kick…um…someone in the throat. Fuck you, you arrogant, condescending fucker. There’s _no_ reason that you couldn’t just suck it up like a score of press attendees are doing, and towel off and change your fucking suit later. Or move the goddamn thing indoors. Nope, you decided instead to look around and find a couple of what you must consider peon scum to trot over and hold your umbrella like fucking servants. This is about one step up from Obama stepping out of the shitter, and Biden clapping and calling for [wipers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ5rbPlsdHw)clad in dress uniform. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/2 "2013-05-16T18:54:04Z")
Maybe because he had to ask for the umbrella for the PM (it’s not being a good host to let a guest get wet, after all) and having an umbrella over the other guy and not him would’ve looked kind of silly? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/3 "2013-05-16T18:55:32Z")
Just when you thought complaints about Obama couldn’t get any stupider, this happens. **Sicks Ate** , rest assured Darrell Issa has already formed a committee to investigate this crime. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/4 "2013-05-16T18:57:39Z")
Obama haters are really getting desperate. I never would have thought to believe a person who has sworn to serve his country could have to get wet while holding an umbrella for the commander-in-chief and his guest. That is truly beyond the pale of sacrifice. ---
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/5 "2013-05-16T18:58:18Z")
Is this satire? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/6 "2013-05-16T18:59:48Z")
Well, this is nice to see. There are about 1,000 staffers and interns who could have shagged their ass out there and held an umbrella. The Marines are there for ceremonial purposes, this is degrading and comical. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/7 "2013-05-16T19:01:03Z")
Man, and I thought _I_ seethed with petty ire. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/8 "2013-05-16T19:01:07Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Well, this is nice to see. There are about 1,000 staffers and interns who could have shagged their ass out there and held an umbrella. The Marines are there for ceremonial purposes, this is degrading and comical. Actually, your ire and pathetic pit is comical . ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/9 "2013-05-16T19:01:16Z")
I fail to see any point in the OP’s outrage. Of the possible choices Obama could have made, I think this was the correct one - continue without pointless delay over some varying rain, but keep an honored guest from getting wet. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/10 "2013-05-16T19:02:21Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Well, this is nice to see. There are about 1,000 staffers and interns who could have shagged their ass out there and held an umbrella. The Marines are there for ceremonial purposes, this is degrading and comical. Wait, so having them there as mere decoration is ok? ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/11 "2013-05-16T19:03:17Z")
I had been given the impression that Obama had some real scandals on his hands. Guess not. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/12 "2013-05-16T19:03:34Z")
Consider this: the OP is just one of the hundreds of people who also read whatever conservative blog or FOX News affiliated site that the OP did who feel exactly the same level of outrage. Frankly, using those Marines as political tools against their Commander in Chief strikes me as much more degrading than anything Obama could do to them, short of shipping them out to a needless war to get them killed. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/13 "2013-05-16T19:04:03Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > this is degrading and comical. Just to clarify, you’re referring to this thread you started, right? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/14 "2013-05-16T19:05:40Z")
Men should never use umbrellas. They are for ladies and children. Real men get soaked to the bone in the rain, and preferably die from hypothermia. And if a real man does find himself desiring an umbrella, he should hold it himself, not have some nancy guy in fancy dress hold it for him 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/15 "2013-05-16T19:06:00Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Consider this: the OP is just one of the hundreds of people who also read whatever conservative blog or FOX News affiliated site that the OP did who feel exactly the same level of outrage. I roll my eyes at most ‘outrages’. This one just pushes one of my particular outrage buttons. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/16 "2013-05-16T19:07:46Z")
Oh, c’mon, OP, it’s not like the Prez threw up in the Prime Minister’s lap or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/17 "2013-05-16T19:09:15Z")
You can push 'em out of a plane, you can march 'em off a cliff, you can send 'em off to die on some God-forsaken rock, but for some reason you can’t ask 'em to hold an umbrella. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/18 "2013-05-16T19:10:30Z")
Thereby creating a new word in Japanese: to “_busharu_”. Its a verb. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/19 "2013-05-16T19:11:08Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Being tewwibwy afwaid of getting his hair wet, during a press conference President Obama summoned two Marines to hold umbrellas over himself and the Prime Minister of Turkey. > > Just looking at the [picture](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/marines-beckoned-shield-president-obama-turkish-prime-minister-erdogan-rain-press-conference-interupted-shower-article-1.1345980?localLinksEnabled=false) makes me want to kick…um…someone in the throat. > > Fuck you, you arrogant, condescending fucker. There’s _no_ reason that you couldn’t just suck it up like a score of press attendees are doing, and towel off and change your fucking suit later. Or move the goddamn thing indoors. Nope, you decided instead to look around and find a couple of what you must consider peon scum to trot over and hold your umbrella like fucking servants. > > This is about one step up from Obama stepping out of the shitter, and Biden clapping and calling for [wipers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ5rbPlsdHw)clad in dress uniform. You’re what’s wrong in America. And the thought that a furious neckbeard could kick anyone in the throat is pretty funny. ---
**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:** [May 16, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/20 "2013-05-16T19:11:19Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You can push 'em out of a plane, you can march 'em off a cliff, you can send 'em off to die on some God-forsaken rock,\*\* but for some reason you can’t ask 'em to hold an umbrella.\*\* Because they can’t salute holding an umbrella. > [@](#): > > The sight of uniformed Marines holding umbrellas is “extremely rare” due to regulations that prohibit cadets from using the devices while in uniform, Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Greg Wolf told CNN. > > The regulation exists because holding an umbrella makes it more difficult for Marines to salute. > > The Marines were allowed to handle the umbrellas Thursday, however, because the President requested it, Wolf added. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538.md?page=2)