Celestial Lands The Religious Crossroads of Politics, Power, and Theology

Electioneering and the Military

As this election season continues, becomes more heated, and touches deeply on issues that are of vital concern to me, I have begun to look closely at what I can and cannot do as a Reserve Army officer and a Chaplain Candidate.  In that search, I came across this amazing list from About.com.  Though as a reservist this does not directly apply to me, for my career I think it best that I follow it, as if I were on active duty.

I would love your all’s opinions on this list, and how it relates to the restrictions already upon many of us as clergy and congregations. 

Yours in Faith,

David

What Active Duty Members Can and Cannot Do

taken from http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/militarylaw1/a/milpolitics.htm

Can – Register, vote, and express a personal opinion on political candidates and issues, but not as a representative of the Armed Forces.

Can – Promote and encourage other military members to exercise their voting franchise, if such promotion does not constitute an attempt to influence or interfere with the outcome of an election.

Cannot – Participate in any organized effort to provide voters with transportation to the polls if the effort is organized by, or associated with, a partisan can you buy imitrex over the counter political party or candidate.

Cannot – Speak before a partisan political gathering, including any gathering that promotes a partisan political party, candidate, or cause.

Cannot – Participate in any radio, television, or other program or group discussion as an advocate for or against of a partisan political party, candidate, or cause.

Can – Join a political club and attend its meetings when not in uniform.

Cannot – Serve in any official capacity or be listed as a sponsor of a partisan political club.

Cannot – March or ride in a partisan political parade.

Cannot – Sell tickets for, or otherwise actively promote, political dinners and similar fundraising events.

Can – Serve as an election official, if such service is not as a representative of a partisan political party, does not interfere with military duties, is performed when not in uniform, and has the prior approval of the Secretary concerned or the Secretary’s designee (example, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Air Force, ect.).

Can – Sign a petition for specific legislative action or a petition to place a candidate’s name on an official election ballot, if the signing does not obligate the member to engage in partisan political activity and is done as a private citizen and not as a representative of the Armed Forces.

Cannot – Conduct a political opinion survey under the auspices of a partisan political group or distribute partisan political literature.

Can – Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper expressing the member’s personal views on public issues or political candidates, if such action is not part of an organized letter-writing campaign or a solicitation of votes for or against a political party or partisan political cause or candidate.

Cannot – Allow or cause to be published partisan political articles signed or written by the member that solicits votes for or against a partisan political party, candidate, or cause.

Can – Make monetary contributions to a political organization, party, or committee favoring a particular candidate or slate of candidates, subject to the limitations of law.

Cannot –Make monetary contributions directly to a political candidate.

Cannot – Make a contribution to another member of the Armed Forces or a civilian officer or employee of the United States for the purpose of promoting a political objective or cause, including a political campaign.

Cannot – Solicit or receive a contribution from another member of the Armed Forces or a civilian officer or employee of the United States for the purpose of promoting a political objective or cause, including a political campaign.

Cannot – Solicit or otherwise engage in fundraising activities in Federal offices or facilities, including military reservations, for a partisan political cause or candidate.

Can – Display a political sticker on the member’s private vehicle.

Cannot – Display a large political sign, banner, or poster (as distinguished from a bumper sticker) on the top or side of a private vehicle.

Can – Attend partisan and nonpartisan political meetings or rallies as a spectator when not in uniform.

Cannot – Attend partisan political events as an official representative of the Armed Forces.

Cannot – Participate in partisan political management, campaigns, or conventions (except as a spectator when not in uniform), or make public speeches in the course thereof.

Cannot – Perform clerical or other duties for a partisan political committee during a campaign or on an election day.

Cannot – Use official authority or influence to: interfere with an election, affect the course or outcome of an election, solicit votes for a particular candidate or issue, or require or solicit political contributions from others.

Cannot – Use contemptuous words against the officeholders described in 10 U.S.C. 888 (10 U.S.C. 888 lists the following officeholders: President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which the military member is on duty).

5 Thoughts on “Electioneering and the Military

  1. In response to this post, I received the following question from someone I do not allow to post directly to Celestial Lands due to his abusive behavior across the internet… but I thought I would answer his question anyway.

    Here was the question.

    So how does your recent post equating Sarah Palin to Yzma fit into those parameters?

    Minus any identifying information, here is the email that I sent him. It also mentions how I understand freedom of speech on the internet:

    Due to abusive posts on your part across the web, I do not allow you to post on Celestial Lands. Freedom of Speech allows you to operate and maintain your own web presence, but does not mean you have the right to post on a private website owned and operated by me. I wish you luck in exercise your freedom of speech on your own website.

    That being said, I thought I would answer your specific question. According to the military rules, I can critique elected officials of states in which I am not on duty. Read below…

    Cannot — Use contemptuous words against the officeholders described in 10 U.S.C. 888 (10 U.S.C. 888 lists the following officeholders: President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which the military member is on duty).

    I am not, have not been, and have no prospect in the near future of being on any kind of duty in the State of Alaska. Gov. Palin is not a Federal officeholder.

    Thank you for your interest, but I do not forsee the ban on your participation in Celestial Lands changing at any time in the future. I am glad you have sought to avail yourself of your freedom to speak on the sections of the web that you control.

  2. IMHO citizens of the United States should be able to speak their mind freely whether they are in the military or not.

  3. Aaron,

    The restrictions on partisan political activity are in place for at least two reasons:

    (1) prevent commander and/or supervisor influence on the voting decisions of subordinates.

    (2) promote the ideal that the men and women in uniform serve the Constitution and all citizens — not just one political party.

    The restrictions on what is said in uniform are very similar to the restrictions on churches and other non-profits.

    These restrictions are voluntarily taken on — no one in the US is forced into military service against one’s will.

    And these restrictions don’t limit speech on issues — when I was on active duty, I wrote an opinion column for the Air Force Times speaking out against the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. This was legal and within the policies covering political involvement.

  4. Fair enough. 🙂

  5. As a rare UU with several military members in my family, I understand that there is a purpose in the services that would be undermined by partisan politics; though I have no doubt that opinions do get shared. Further, I find it usually doesn’t take long to learn where people stand politically if you work closely together.

    We also struggle in our UU congregations to keep the partisan politics in their proper place, which is not in the sanctuary. We have well-meaning people of all, and no, political persuasions, and as we strive to be accepting of diverse spiritual beliefs and practices, we should be likewise with other philosophical, political, religious, etc., differences.

    Having said all that, I do think we are always able, if not always willing, to make our ethical positions clear. Most of us are showing what we believe in myriad ways.

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