Is the Republican Party fomenting rebellion among the armed forces as a political tactic?
Alan Keyes' rant that soldiers should refuse orders given by President Obama has produced at least one tangible example. World Net Daily reports that Scott Easterling a U.S. soldier on active duty in Iraq has called President Obama an "impostor" in a statement in which he affirmed plans to join as plaintiff in a challenge to Obama's eligibility to be commander in chief.
The statement was publicized by California attorney Orly Taitz who, along with her Defend Our Freedom Foundation, is working on a series of legal cases seeking to uncover Obama's birth records and other documents that would reveal whether he meets the requirements of the U.S. Constitution.
"As an active-duty officer in the United States Army, I have grave concerns about the constitutional eligibility of Barack Hussein Obama to hold the office of president of the United States," wrote Scott Easterling in a "to-whom-it-may-concern" letter.
"Until Mr. Obama releases a 'vault copy' of his original birth certificate for public review, I will consider him neither my Commander in Chief nor my President, but rather, a usurper to the Office – an impostor," his statement said.
WND
reported yesterday that U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., said during a meeting with constituents in Cullman County he has never seen proof the new president was born in Hawaii.
"Well, his father was Kenyan and they said he was born in Hawaii, but I haven't seen any birth certificate," Shelby said. "You have to be born in America to be president."
Recently President Obama’s
picture was removed from a base commissary in Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, prompting a challenge by employees as it was allegedly removed after one customer complained noting Obama’s race.
While this may not be a trend, it is noteworthy that the hostility is so openly practiced by those sworn to uphold the Constitution. As President, Ronald Reagan started the practice of treating the military as an adjunct to the Republican Party. Senator Jesse Helms warned President Clinton that if he visited a military base in North Carolina he may be shot and President George W. Bush routinely used members of the military as props during public relations tours.