Emails reveal Marine Corps commandant's early attempt to ban Marine Corps Times

[txradioguy]

The initiative to ban or bury the independent newspaper Marine Corps Times originated in May “on a rather tight timeline” at the behest of Gen. Jim Amos, the service’s commandant, newly obtained emails show. The exchange occurred just days before Marine Corps Times published an investigative report spotlighting allegations Amos abused his authority.

Marine Corps Times authenticated the internal discussion from May 15, 2013, that contradicts official statements offered recently in response to the service’s abrupt and questionable decision in December to relocate the newspaper away from checkout lines at Marine Corps Exchange stores worldwide. Officials have described the move as an effort to “professionalize” checkout counters, refuting the suggestion it was retaliation for the newspaper’s ongoing coverage of allegations surrounding Amos.

On Feb. 12, amid growing criticism from Marines and other media outlets, officials ordered the newspaper returned to store fronts, saying there was a “clear misunderstanding of intent.”

The email’s subject line reads “CMC OPTIONS,” which stands for commandant of the Marine Corps. It originated with Col. Chris Hughes, deputy director of Marine Corps public affairs at the Pentagon, and is addressed to two senior executive service employees, Sheryl Murray, the assistant deputy commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, and Robert Hogue, the commandant’s top civilian attorney. Brig. Gen. Paul Kennedy, then the public affairs director, is copied on the message.

Hughes wrote the following:

“We are working a rather tight timeline to respond to CMC on an item. Every couple of years, we have a falling out with Marine Corps Times that warrants consideration of some level of ‘ban’ from our facilities. We believe that we may be close to such an impasse, and we want to present the Commandant with options. We believe it becomes a ‘good order and discipline’ issue if CMC believes he is being misrepresented by them. On such grounds, could he prohibit their sale in our [Marine Corps Community Services] facilities? Or, could he place them somewhere less prominent?”

In a followup exchange about three hours later, Hogue told Hughes, “I recommend we try to talk the boss off the ledge here. That said, to respond to your specific question, there are authorities we can use to move the MCT from a position of prominence in our facilities.”

Maj. John Caldwell, the media branch head at Marine Corps public affairs, issued a brief statement in response to questions from Marine Corps Times. It says: “The matter at hand remains under review; therefore, we cannot respond in detail at this time.” Asked who is conducting the review, Caldwell said: “Appropriate leadership within the headquarters are reviewing the matter. Formal next steps are to be determined.”

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20140223/NEWS/302230016/Emails-reveal-Marine-Corps-ommandant-s-early-attempt-ban-independent-newspaper

[txradioguy]

MC Times is using a pretty liberal sense of thwe word ban. It looks like what the CMC was proposing was to move them away from the check out lines on base Commissaries. *shrugs* I have no problem with that. Put them over in the Magazine Racks in the PX or in a pay box outside like Stripes. I'd have no problem if we did this in the Army too. Their claim about being "Independent" is a joke.

Honstly...I can't blame the Commandant. The "Times" Papers are owned by Gannett.

[formerlurker]

Liberal military bashing rags.  I can't blame him from wanting them moved.

[txradioguy]

Liberal military bashing rags.  I can't blame him from wanting them moved.

I found the story link on a Public Affairs page on FB...I seem to have baffled them by my agreement with what the Commandant was doing.

[Eupher]

What does the MCT expect?

Free subscriptions to every Marine who walks in the Base Exchange to buy a bottle of water? 

On the other hand, if Amos has a serious problem with something that the MCT has said, whether in an op-ed or story, he has options available to him. He can write a rebuttal, refute the story with facts, or otherwise tell the MCT that they're all hosed up.

Putting the newspaper somewhere besides the checkout line doesn't constitute "covering up" or "stifling" the news. That said, Amos has got to realize that when he put his big boy pants on (those 4 stars are awfully heavy), he lives in a glass house and everything he says, does, or touches is scrutinized, often by people who hate his guts.

He's got to act accordingly.

[Crazy Horse]

That said, Amos has got to realize that when he put his big boy pants on (those 4 stars are awfully heavy), he lives in a glass house and everything he says, does, or touches is scrutinized, often by people who hate his guts.

He's got to act accordingly.

Above all else he's a MARINE, they don't act accordingly, they act like MARINES!!!!!  As they should.

I do get and quite realistic point.  He didn't get those 4 stars being politically naive.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Marine Corps Times authenticated the internal discussion from May 15, 2013, that contradicts official statements offered recently in response to the service’s abrupt and questionable decision in December to relocate the newspaper away from checkout lines at Marine Corps Exchange stores worldwide.

An American military institution lie to keep a senior general who stepped on his crank from looking like a dope?  Shocking.   

I have no use for the Times publications, whether Defense, Army, MC, or whatever.  They do have some useful info in them from time to time, but nowhere near enough to make routinely buying them worthwhile, and the stupid bullshit in them heavily outweighs the good.

[NHSparky]

About the only thing I ever read or bought the Navy Times for was to see the promotion lists and the occasional BROADSIDE cartoon.

Aside from that, meh.

[J P Sousa]

MC Times is using a pretty liberal sense of thwe word ban. It looks like what the CMC was proposing was to move them away from the check out lines on base Commissaries. *shrugs* I have no problem with that. Put them over in the Magazine Racks in the PX or in a pay box outside like Stripes. I'd have no problem if we did this in the Army too. Their claim about being "Independent" is a joke.

Honstly...I can't blame the Commandant. The "Times" Papers are owned by Gannett.

That answers a big question for me.
.

[txradioguy]

That answers a big question for me.
.

You'd be surprised how many military members don't know that and think that the Times papers are in in house publication.