The widespread coverage of this story is proof that the mainstream media is liberal. Can you just imagine if a uniformed servicemember had shown up at a Democrat fund-raiser? MAYBE you would find it in two newspapers. All the rest would pretend it never happened. So PLEASE! stop picking on the poor, defenseless Republicans!

Marines: Two troops did nothing wrong
By LINDSAY RENICK MAYER
Fort Collins Coloradoan

The uniformed troops who appeared at the Larimer County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner last weekend did not violate military code, said a spokeswoman for the Marine Corps Headquarters’ public affairs office.

“I don’t think there’s any trouble to be had,” said the spokeswoman, who declined to give her name, citing protocol. “It’s a touchy issue because lots of honorees are being invited to things like this. It’s a shame people are trying to turn it into more than that.”

Organizations from both parties have been asking military members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to attend their events to be honored, and the Marine Corps will turn down those requests if the troops are expected to speak, act in an official capacity to assist with the event or endorse a party or candidate, the spokeswoman said.

Strictly being honored at an event, however, is not against regulations, she said.

Officials at the Pentagon deferred to the Marine Corps for a ruling on the appearances.

The Fort Collins Coloradoan ran a photo on Saturday of U.S. Republican Rep. Marilyn Musgrave introducing Marine Sgt. Brandon Forsyth, in uniform, at the organization’s Lincoln Day Dinner on Friday night.

Political writers and bloggers across the nation are accusing Forsyth and the other uniformed Marine at the event of violating a Department of Defense directive that limits their participation in partisan political events while in uniform. Many have pointed to this incident as evidence that the Republican Party is making a collective effort to use U.S. military members as public relations props.

“The thunderous sustained applause (the troops) received was just a way for these people to thank them for all they’ve done for the country,” said Ed Haynes, former chairman of the Larimer County Republican Party, who attended the event. “No politics came up in any conversation I had with them.”

Skip Morgan, a retired Air Force colonel and military law attorney based out of Colorado Springs, agreed that as long as the two Marines did not endorse a candidate or a party, they were not violating any rules or regulations.

John Jones, who served in the military and is chairman of the Larimer County Democratic Party, however, questioned the Marine Corps’ interpretation of the code.

“I would want to know exactly why they think it’s OK, because the military code of justice I read says it’s illegal,” Jones said. “It was inappropriate even for them to be invited to a partisan event. These soldiers fight for American people, not just the Republican Party.”

The Larimer County Republican Party removed the photos of the Marines from their Web site on Monday at the behest of the men, who did not want to be harassed, said Larimer County Republican Party chairwoman Nancy Hunter.

Neither Marine could be reached for comment.

Originally published March 9, 2006

that marine should be court-martialed. i’m a vet. i KNOW he knew it was against regs.

Same result for Google News search for “Marilyn Musgrave”. This may not be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, but it’s a pretty stout straw, IMHO.

Unless Google is now cooperating with the United Snakes to censor results a la China.

What a wonderful world this would be ...

Google News for “uniformed military” “political events” and this is the ONLY article that appears.  I don’t know why it is or how to change it, but it appears no media sees this as a story.

Very sad.