# R. Lee Ermey dissing Obama
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [February 4, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706 "2012-02-04T00:42:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/1 "2012-02-04T00:42:38Z")
Isn’t it a bit out of place for him to [do that](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H75P5MkUJio) more or less in uniform and with two Marines in dress blues standing behind him?
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### Author:  [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/2 "2012-02-04T00:51:52Z")
That’s not a uniform.
And where do you see Marines in dress blues ? 😕
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### Author:  [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/3 "2012-02-04T00:59:38Z")
Ever since every word he spoke in _Full Metal Jacket_ became a cliche, he can’t stop speaking in cliches.
“… their driving us into bankruptcy so they can impose socialism on us …”
I didn’t know they stacked shit that high.
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### Author:  [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/4 "2012-02-04T01:00:51Z")
As Kobal said, he’s not in uniform and I don’t see any Marines I’d Dress Blues.
Furthermore, he’s no longer in the Marines.
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### Author:  [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/5 "2012-02-04T01:02:33Z")
> [@Kobal2](#):
>
> That’s not a uniform.
> And where do you see Marines in dress blues ? 😕
They’re on the stage behind Ermey but in front of the band. Not surprising they’d be there, it was a fundraiser for the USO and Toys for Tots at a venue in Indianapolis. I’ve often seen uniformed Marines representing Toys for Tots.
Partial transcript - **Ermey** : "I got to tell you folks, we’re having a big problem this year. The economy really sucks. Now I hate to point fingers at anybody but the present administration probably had a lot to do with that. And the way I see it, they’re not going to quit doing it until they bring this country to its knees; so I think we should all rise up and we should stop this administration from what they’re doing because they’re destroying this country.
They’re driving us into bankruptcy so they can impose socialism on us. That’s exactly what they’re doing, and I’m sick and damn tired of it and I know you are too.
But I know the Marine Corps will be here forever. This administration won’t. Semper Fi. God bless you all."
I have no doubt he was paid for his time, so no, he wasn’t out of place any more than Rush or Beck or any other Obama-Hater-For-Rent. The Marines were in place as well, they did nothing but stand there; they made no statement while in uniform.
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### Author:  [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/6 "2012-02-04T01:28:03Z")
So, anyone else militantly unsurprised that a former Marine Corps DI has political views opposed to Obama, and he’s not exactly on board with what the current administration is doing? 😛
(He’s not in the Corp anymore, so whatever he says it’s simply as a private citizen. He can say anything he likes. If there were Marines there, they might or might not agree with him, but they are going to stay completely out of it, officially…unless they want to get spanked later by their officers)
-XT
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### Author:  [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/7 "2012-02-04T01:30:51Z")
He’s a dick for using a Toys for Tots/USO fundraiser as a platform for making political statements, but it’s not terribly surprising. Meh.
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### Author:  [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/8 "2012-02-04T01:44:39Z")
> [@kenetic](#):
>
> He’s a dick for using a Toys for Tots/USO fundraiser as a platform for making political statements, but it’s not terribly surprising. Meh.
It’s dickish wherever he says it. But, yeah, meh. Never heard of this guy before today and probably never will again.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/9 "2012-02-04T01:48:30Z")
> [@xtisme](#):
>
> (He’s not in the Corp anymore, so whatever he says it’s simply as a private citizen. He can say anything he likes. If there were Marines there, they might or might not agree with him, but they are going to stay completely out of it, officially…unless they want to get spanked later by their officers)
>
> -XT
Of course, but I’m surprised and disappointed that he did it at a Toys for Tots thing.
And yes, there were two Marines there. 🙂
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/10 "2012-02-04T01:50:02Z")
> [@Procrustus](#):
>
> It’s dickish wherever he says it. But, yeah, meh. Never heard of this guy before today and probably never will again.
He is a retired DI who played his profession in the film _Full Metal Jacket_. He has some programs on the History Channel.
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### Author:  [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/11 "2012-02-04T01:53:05Z")
Yeah, I dislike using such a function as a pulpit for political speechification. I’m no big fan of his, though his Lock and Load show is amusing sometimes.
I believe you, though I haven’t looked into it. But if Marines were there, that in no way gives his words any sort of Corp endorsement. I’d be surprised if they didn’t agree with him, privately, though that’s no sure thing…but just because they were near him at such a function doesn’t constitute their endorsement of his dissing the prez. While the Marines might privately think Obama is wrong or whatever, remember who is guarding him besides the Secret Service…and I guarantee any of those jar headed stubborn sons of bitches (no love lost between the Marines and Navy, trust me :p) would take a bullet for Obama or go to war for him without a seconds thought…bottom line is Obama IS the Commander in Chief, and the Marines take that shit seriously.
-XT
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### Author:  [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/12 "2012-02-04T01:53:38Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> He is a retired DI who played his profession in the film _Full Metal Jacket_. He has some programs on the History Channel.
Yeah, I goggled. Still a nobody with dickish views. Fuck him.
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### Author:  [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/13 "2012-02-04T01:57:33Z")
When you’re a DI or DS, being a dick is a solemn responsibility entrusted you by the United States Government. After you leave that position, being a dick is entirely your own choice.
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### Author:  [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/14 "2012-02-04T02:12:37Z")
I couldn’t find who hosted the fundraiser itself but I personally know a Marine who found himself very well cared for showing up at Christmas functions in his uniform to collect Toys for Tots. He didn’t care whose party it was; for them he was a handsome Marine as a decoration and rich people at ritzy parties gave him a ton of donated toys he turned over to T4T. As far as he was concerned everyone won.
For all we know Fox hosted this fundraiser and invited some Marines to be stage decorations; what’s to stop them doing it if they know all they have to do is stand there and be handsomely uniformed?
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/15 "2012-02-04T02:14:56Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#):
>
> For all we know Fox hosted this fundraiser and invited some Marines to be stage decorations; what’s to stop them doing it if they know all they have to do is stand there and be handsomely uniformed?
Fear that he would demand, “DROP AND GIVE ME FIFTY!”, perhaps. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/16 "2012-02-04T02:17:06Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> Fear that he would demand, “DROP AND GIVE ME FIFTY!”, perhaps. 🙂
Which they could politely decline w/o fear of reprisal.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/17 "2012-02-04T02:27:09Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> Isn’t it a bit out of place for him to [do that](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H75P5MkUJio) more or less in uniform…
Jeans and a quasi-flight jacket doesn’t even qualify as “more or less” in uniform. It’s less than less.
But I’m definitely for a constitutional amendment banning bad renditions of _Paint it Black_!
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### Author:  [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/18 "2012-02-04T02:42:35Z")
Hell, I agree with his general sentiment concerning Obama, but I think his doing that was very inappropriate. He was there with Marines trying to raise money for kids. He could easily have made the point about times being tough while leaving Obama pout of it.
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### Author:  [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/19 "2012-02-04T02:45:47Z")
I swear I am getting full blown deja vu about this.
Free speech is free speech, especially political free speech.
I disagree with the self-appointed guardian charade, but as long as he is a citizen I can’t fault him for it.
Now mind you, I wholly disagree with him, but that is another matter altogether.
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### Author:  [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)
#### Post date: [February 4, 2012, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-lee-ermey-dissing-obama/611706/20 "2012-02-04T02:48:27Z")
> [@magellan01](#):
>
> Hell, I agree with his general sentiment concerning Obama, but I think his doing that was very inappropriate. He was there with Marines trying to raise money for kids. He could easily have made the point about times being tough while leaving Obama pout of it.
For all we know he was reading from a script; he’s just an actor, like Chuck Norris who’s become a Right Wing hero for some damn reason or another.
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