KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2010 / NEWS
9A
MILITARY
Marine defends online criticism of heath care
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN DIEGO — A Camp Pendleton Marine has removed his Facebook page after his comments fueled a free-speech debate about whether troops are allowed to criticize President Barack Obama's policies while serving in the military.
Sgt. Gary Stein said he was asked by his superiors to review the Pentagon's directive on political activities after he criticized Obama's health care reform efforts and then was asked this week to talk about his views on the MSNBC cable TV channel.
Stein said his supervisor told him of his right to an attorney about the matter. He said he decided to close his Facebook
page and review his military code obligations. He also contacted private attorneys who told him he had done nothing wrong.
"There's this illusion that when we sign our contract and voluntarily commit, that we lose our right to speak
out," Stein told the San Diego Union-Tribune in a story published Wednesday.
"There's this illusion that when we sign our contract ... we lose our right to speak out."
visor was concerned that his activities could give the appearance or impression that the Marine Corps is endorsing the group and its messages."
Stein, 24, a meteorologist for the base's 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, said it was irie over Obama's health care reform efforts that pushed him to launch the Facebook page, "Armed Forces Tea Party Patriots," three weeks ago.
The tea party is a grass-roots political phenomenon that supports lower taxes and less government involvement. It formed in part as a reaction to public bailouts of the banking and automotive industries. The recently passed health care law is another popular target of the movement.
The local American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement Wednesday that it had sent a letter to Camp Pendleton's commanding officer urging the Marine Corps to protect Stein's right to freedom of speech.
SGT. GARY STEIN Marine
Camp Pendleton spokeswoman Maj. Gabrielle Chapin said the Marine Corps was not considering filing charges and simply wanted him to be aware of the rules so he did not break them.
The Pentagon's directive states that military personnel are not allowed to write anything to solicit votes for a political cause, sponsor a political club or speak before any gathering that promotes a political movement.
"Marines take care of Marines," Chapin wrote in an e-mail. "Sergeant Stein's super-
Stein, who lives in Temecula with his wife and their 2-year-old daughter, said he had not commented on military matters on any social-network site.
News of the military's response to his comments sparked an
intense debate among Stein's more than 400 Facebook "fans" about whether troops have the right to speak out about the policies of their commander in chief.
Former Marine Corps attorney Patrick Callahan, who now specializes in military law as a civilian lawyer in Texas, said the Pentagon's directive was aimed at preventing military members from appearing as if they are trying to thwart the public process or plot a coup.
"There are restrictions on time, place and manner. For instance, service members can't go to political rallies in uniform." Callahan said.
But he added: "I have never seen the military go after a junior service member for making disparaging remarks about any politician."
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Sarah Phillips, a graduate student from Overland Park, runs down Jayhawk Boulevard Thursday. "I am training for a half marathon, so I am basically running every day," Phillips said. "I work for KU Endowment and during my lunch break I for a run." Phillips said she killed on RUNning because there was a good variety of hills and flat areas.
RUNNING (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
also noticed the increase in runners this spring. Johnson said running had become a bit of a fad on her floor of GSP Hall because everyone's trying to lose weight.
"I don't want to gain the freshman 15." Johnson said.
Johnson also said that she used running as a stress reliever and that she was a happier person when she got to workout.
Amber Long, fitness coordinator at the Amber Student Recreation Center, said running was great for reducing stress because it allowed people to take time for themselves.
Long said even though running might be the preferred mode of exercise, runners should not disregard the importance of cross training, the combining of exercises to work various parts of the body.
Taylor Smith, a junior from Wichita, said he avoided running everyday as he trains for the Wichita River Run, a 10-kilometer race, on May 8. Smith said he ran three days a week and lifted weights on his off days. He said he runs for his own enjoyment and for racing.
"I'm kind of a fitness person these days," Smith said. "I just run for fun and friendly competition."
Smith said he liked to run inside
UPCOMING AREA RACES:
NYC passes new rules for carriages
"Most people have very busy schedules," Long said. "Anytime that works best to fit in exercise is best. Just do it."
Edited by Michael Holtz
Habueltzel won't be seeing Johnson or Smith on her morning runs; they both said they prefer running in the afternoon. However, Long said workout time didn't matter.
April 18:
Animal welfare advocates have long campaigned to shut down the Central Park carriage horse industry, which has been featured in movies and shows such as HBO's "Sex and the City"
Haddadin says the agreement calls for Suleman to continue making monthly payments of $4,000 until the balloon payment is due.
to protect his knees. Jill Urkoski, associate director of fitness at the Ambler Student Recreation Center, said that running inside did not make too much of a difference, but that running on a treadmill was easier because speed and incline can be controlled. Urkoski said when running outside the type of surface made a big difference. Cement is harder on joints because it has less give than asphalt or grass.
The bill also has safety requirements. Carriages must have emergency brakes and reflective material.
NEW YORK — New York's City Council has passed regulations requiring carriage horses to have larger stalls, five weeks off per year and blankets in cold and wet weather.
Associated Press
Her lawyer, Jeff Czech, said Wednesday that Suleman's mortgage holder, Amer Haddadin, has agreed to a six-month extension.
NATIONAL
Suleman faced foreclosure after missing a March 10 deadline for a $450,000 balloon payment.
April 24:
Indian Creek Half Marathon and 5K: In Overland Park Braden's Race for Life & Miracle Mile: Includes 10K, 5K and 1-mile run/walk, in Shawnee
Lynn Electric Marathon: Includes marathon, half marathon and SK, in Lawrence
NATIONAL
Indian Creek Half Marathon and 5K: In Overland Park
JayDoc 5K: In Kansas City, Kan.
LA HABRA, Calif. — Octuplets mother Nayda Suleman has reached an agreement with her mortgage holder that will allow her and her 14 children to stay in their Southern California home for at least six months.
Free State Trail Runs: Includes 100K solo, 100K relay.40 mile run and Trail Marathon, in Lawrence
For the entire list of local road races, visit www.mararun-
ning.org/schedule2010.
Octuplets mother avoids foreclosure
Associated Press
Jenny Terrell
Spend $20 or more & receive a FREE Sml. order of Pokey Stix