Board: Ax Marine Who Put Obama on Jackass Poster

A military board has determined that a Marine sergeant committed misconduct and should be dismissed because he posted derogatory comments and Facebook photos of President Obama. Marine Sgt. Gary Stein launched a Facebook page called the Armed Forces Tea Party, in which he slammed Obama, violating Pentagon rules banning criticism of superiors, including the commander in chief, the board decided. Among the attacks on the president, Stein superimposed Obama's face on a poster for the movie Jackass, and on a poster for The Incredibles, changing the name to "The Horribles," prosecutor Captain John Torresala revealed to the panel in a presentation yesterday.

The digs were "prejudicial to good order and discipline," Torresala argued. The board recommendation—which also urges a "less-than-honorable discharge" for the nine-year Marine—has been forwarded to a general, who will decide what action to take, reports AP. Stein's attorney had argued that his client "broke no law," and Stein has insisted all along that he has a right to free speech even while serving in the military. A military policy dating to the Civil War limits the free speech of service members. Members of the military may not support a political party, candidate, or cause while in uniform, nor speak contemptuously about their superiors. (More free speech stories.)