# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/161 "2013-05-17T10:44:52Z")
Every time the Conservative Entertainment Complex trots out a new _poutrage du jour_, I’m reminded that, “Hey, this Obama guy must be a pretty damn good President, if \*this \*is the sort of crap they’re complaining about.” ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/162 "2013-05-17T11:11:36Z")
Like ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/163 "2013-05-17T11:24:53Z")
I wasn’t a Marine (I served in the Navy), but being asked to hold an umbrella for the President (even if was the President I served under, George W. Bush, whom I strongly disagreed with on most policies) would have been a great honor. I bet those Marines were proud to contribute, as I would have been. **Sicks Ate** - you’re wrong, and your outrage is absurd. Out of curiosity, did you serve in the military? ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/164 "2013-05-17T11:34:08Z")
This OP is another great example of someone too brain-washed by the lamestream liberal media to see the clear truth that is right in front of him. The whole notion that that lazy-ass Obama would ever ‘do his best’ at anything is completely ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/165 "2013-05-17T11:36:30Z")
If you want to get outraged, get outraged over Marines who got sent to die in a war that never should have been started. Starting a war based on lies that you planned even before becoming president, THAT’S abusing the Marines. Asking someone who’s otherwise just standing there to hold an umbrella, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/166 "2013-05-17T11:39:00Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > Every time the Conservative Entertainment Complex trots out a new _poutrage du jour_, I’m reminded that, “Hey, this Obama guy must be a pretty damn good President, if \*this \*is the sort of crap they’re complaining about.” Yep. I suggest the CEC continue to give Umbrellagate their full attention. It is sure to dwarf all of the other stuff they are trying to stick on him! The more they focus on the umbrellas, the worst the president’s poll numbers are sure to get. How can they lose? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/167 "2013-05-17T12:01:56Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I wasn’t a Marine (I served in the Navy), but being asked to hold an umbrella for the President (even if was the President I served under, George W. Bush, whom I strongly disagreed with on most policies) would have been a great honor. I bet those Marines were proud to contribute, as I would have been. > > **Sicks Ate** - you’re wrong, and your outrage is absurd. Out of curiosity, did you serve in the military? IIRC he was in the Marines. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/168 "2013-05-17T12:12:22Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > IIRC he was in the Marines. Ok, if so, I still strongly disagree with him. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/169 "2013-05-17T12:42:15Z")
The OP may be shocked to learn that not only do senior officers often (usually) get junior officers to do menial chores like run errands, drive the car, and hold their hat while indoors (not joking), there’s also the even _more_ menial “[enlisted aide](http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/afjobs/bl8a200.htm)” program. [QUOTE=Enlisted Aide Job Description] Assists with the care, cleanliness, and order of assigned quarters. Performs routine interior quarters maintenance and seasonal cleaning directly related to the areas of the home used to fulfill the officer’s official social obligation. Performs exterior quarters maintenance such as mowing, edging, pruning, and caring for flowerbeds, raking leaves, and snow removal. Assists with the care, cleanliness, and maintenance of the general/flag officer’s uniforms and military personal equipment. Keeps all uniform combinations and military personal equipment current and ready for wear at all times. Maintains uniforms to include in-house washing, drying, ironing, and polishing as well as delivery and pick-up when necessary. [/QUOTE] That’s right, there are enlisted folks (up to E-7) whose job it is to do laundry and clean. That’s not for the president; random 3- and 4-star generals get that treatment. And people _volunteer_ for it. I would bet a lot of money that the marines in question didn’t feel degraded in the least. I know I would have felt starstruck and honored, which is usually how people act when they get around senior leaders. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/170 "2013-05-17T12:59:20Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Of course it doesn’t rise to the level of a scandal; it’s just disgraceful and pisses me off. Which only highlights the complete lack of disgraceful incidents in this administration, when the bar must be lowered so far to get any action on your Indignograph®. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/171 "2013-05-17T13:07:03Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > 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. One has to ask why somebody wasn’t smart enough to bother to look at a weather report, see that it might rain, and hold the function indoors. Then one remembers that it is the Obama administration. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/172 "2013-05-17T13:14:26Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > One has to ask why somebody wasn’t smart enough to bother to look at a weather report, see that it might rain, and hold the function indoors. Then one remembers that it is the Obama administration. Do you and the OP know how crazysauce you sound? You’re the angry weirdos in line behind me at the post office who pop a forehead vein and start ranting to strangers when you spot an Obama bumper sticker in the parking lot. Also, this rant is evidence that no matter how paranoid, irrational, and tempest-in-a-teapot those nutter shit stirrers at Fox News are, somebody is still watching unironically and eating it up with a spoon. Long live The Nuge, you two! ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/173 "2013-05-17T13:36:16Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > One has to ask why somebody wasn’t smart enough to bother to look at a weather report, see that it might rain, and hold the function indoors. Then one remembers that it is the Obama administration. Oh, that’s right- this is the Obamessiah we’re talking about! Sure, he could have just turned the rain off, but obviously he’d rather just insult a couple of Marines. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/174 "2013-05-17T13:38:20Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > One has to ask why somebody wasn’t smart enough to bother to look at a weather report, see that it might rain, and hold the function indoors. Then one remembers that it is the Obama administration. Or they could hold it outside with umbrellas ready in case it rains. Are you trying to parody yourself here? ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/175 "2013-05-17T13:56:41Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > One has to ask why somebody wasn’t smart enough to bother to look at a weather report, see that it might rain, and hold the function indoors. Then one remembers that it is the Obama administration. Oooooooooof ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/176 "2013-05-17T14:03:20Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > One has to ask why somebody wasn’t smart enough to bother to look at a weather report, see that it might rain, and hold the function indoors. Then one remembers that it is the Obama administration. How about some hearings to figure out why the weather reports were so wrong, or why–despite being warned–the administration concealed the chance of rain, (yet, somehow, had umbrella carrying Marines standing by) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/177 "2013-05-17T14:11:59Z")
Some of you may remember a now-banned poster named **reeder** , who, during the G. W. Bush administration, would post every few days about some imagined outrage or other committed by the office of the President. The one most reminiscent of the OP demanded that we get all frothy because a temporary walkway had been built for some outdoor Presidential ceremony, to prevent Bush from getting his shoes muddied. To the board’s credit, it got about the same reception as the OP is getting here. Sorry, I’ll stop prattling on about the olden days and go back in the house to watch _Matlock_ reruns now. ---
**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:** [May 17, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/178 "2013-05-17T14:40:07Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > You’re not the first one to say it in this thread, but you’re the first one I’ll tell to suck it. The definition of “what’s wrong with America” always seems to be strangely similar to “people who don’t worship the President like I do.” You say you’re not a racist, but I sense a lot of “doth protest too much.” I hope for your sake you’re just a secret racist moron. To spout the gibberish we see in this thread and _not_ oppose Obama primarily because he’s black, you’d have to be a bonafide imbecile – very unlikely since you can spell words and place commas correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/179 "2013-05-17T15:00:52Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > One has to ask why somebody wasn’t smart enough to bother to look at a weather report, see that it might rain, and hold the function indoors. Then one remembers that it is the Obama administration. Or why didn’t he turn on the secret weather making machine that he had installed uner the Lincoln Monument? Hmmmmmm? Is it because Obama is a crypto-muslim fascist communist atheist? ---
**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:** [May 17, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538/180 "2013-05-17T15:11:11Z")
> [@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. This is a whoosh, right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-does-his-best-to-degrade-a-couple-of-marines-next-episode-wipers/658538.md?page=10)