Comments on: To salute or not to salute, that’s Obama’s question

By: LaughingVulcan

LaughingVulcan — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:39:20 +0000

Either way is fine. I think every soldier is taught one doesn’t salute out of uniform (or indoors unless under arms, not on a flightline or in enemy range, etc.) But the last protocol of saluting I was taught in Basic, “When in doubt, Salute!”

By: toajaller99

toajaller99 — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:09:02 +0000

I don’t care if it goes against military protocol, for a president to return a salute. It is a matter of respect! IT SHOWS RESPECT! Saying it goes against protocol for a president to return a salute would be like saying a general shouldn’t return a salute to a private or something…..it is a matter of respect to the people who risk their lives for our country.

By: NukeRun

NukeRun — Mon, 28 May 2012 17:52:38 +0000

I’ve thought all of the saluting presidents, from President Reagan on the Obama look out of place. I’m a retired Naval Officer and was trained not to return a salute in civilian clothes. I lived on base and was saluted by the Marine Corps guards frequently, but no one returned the salute. The protocol was to acknowledge the salute verbally with a greeting.
There were many presidents before Reagan with much more serious military experience who never saluted while in office. I’m surprised G.H.W. Bush didn’t end this practice, but I guess the shadow of Reagan was just too strong.

By: SeenMyPaw

SeenMyPaw — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 01:25:00 +0000

Well, O bows to any foreign official he finds. Might as well salute our military.

By: georgeargo

georgeargo — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:39:26 +0000

I’m a Viet Nam vet 1967, I was taught that if you are not in uniform your not suppose to salute. As for the president if he returns a salute in respect for the uniform I do not have an issue with that, even though he is not suppose to. I do object to the president especially a president in civilian cloths to salute the bodies of dead soldiers returning from war. He suppose to place his hand over his heart in respect for the war dead or any military who died in any conflict or tragety while in uniform. The current president does not know any better becuase the numb nuts advising him aren’t any better. Recently the president Obama saluted dead soldiers coming off of a plane fron Iraq and saluted their coffins. He should have asked if that was proper. He should have had his hand over his heart, we know he does not have a brain

By: georgeargo

georgeargo — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:33:46 +0000

I’m a Viet Nam vet 1967, I was taught that if you are not in uniform your not suppose to salute. As for the president if he returns a salute in respect for the uniform I do not have an issue with that, even though he is not suppose to. I do object to the president especially a president in civilian cloths to salute the bodies of dead soldiers returning from war. he suppose to place his hand over his heart in respect for the war dead or any military who died in any conflict or tragety while in uniform. The current president does not know any better becuase the numb nuts advising him are’nt any better. Recently the president Obama saluted dead soldiers coming off of an plane fron Iraq and saluted. he should have asked if that was proper. he should have had his hand over his heart, we know he does not have a brain

By: sue

sue — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:19:38 +0000

I do not think a President who has never served in the military to salute any soldier, let alone any human for that matter.

By: Steve Garrison

Steve Garrison — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:47:59 +0000

Was prepared to be irritated when I recently saw POTUS ascending the helicopter and did not return the salute of the Marine guard. Now I understand the multiple facets of the issue. There should be a clear policy so that the “right wing loonies” don’t have a tizzy claiming he’s disrespecting the salute by not returning. I’d vote for no salute return in keeping with de-militarizing of the Presidency.

By: hoolietta

hoolietta — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:37:11 +0000

Raised in a military family, I understand the protocol regarding who salutes who and when. I would like to see the President(s) show respect for the protocal and the military by NOT saluting! DDE knew better and he was a “real” soldier.

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:59:05 +0000

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Any president coming into office that has not served should be trained to perform the salute in a manner in which the armed services would be comfortable with… it’s a courtesy, but much more… it’s about Respect.