Unbrella gate, Really?

"Corporal, you will hold this umbrella for the President and his guest."
"I would be honored sir, but I cannot touch an umbrella while in uniform."

Does anyone really think that the Marine would be justified in refusing a request from the President because he is prohibited from carrying one for himself? Or do we think that immediate disciplinary action would be taken against the Marine? There are times and places when even a seemingly lawful order can be refused. I myself as an enlisted man was once able to refuse a Colonel in front of his entire staff, but military personnel doing so do it at their peril. Obviously this was not the case for the Marines in the Rose Garden, they knew that a request for the President was one that they should honor, if possible, and they did just as untold service personnel have done in the past, they obeyed a lawful order (and let us be clear even an informal request from the President is an "Order").

Conservatives who have felt powerless in the wake of several non scandals lately have jumped on this non issue to vent their rage and it is to the same avail as the attacks on Benghazi coverups. Clearly had the Marines used the umbrellas for their own protection their stripes would roll, but that was not the case. the Marine Manual so often quoted in this non debate is talking about uniform protocol - what accessories can be used and worn by the service member, not what they can and can't do in the line of duty. We could easily see the problems if the rule was as strict as the conservative pundits make it sound. We could litter a field on Camp Lejuene with the things and the Marines couldn't clean it up without calling for help? I doubt if anyone would make a call to the Commandant of the Corps. "Pick up the blankity blank umbrellas and get rid of them now!" would be the order and the umbrellas would be gone, at least I hope so. It is rather disconcerting if the Marine Corps is unable to touch those pesky things. Use as a personal item, never. Hold one as a convenience for two heads of state, it is a honor to be chosen.


"Corporal, you will hold this umbrella for the President and his guest."
"Yes, Sir! Thank you, sir."