Did he though? Has anyone actually read this piece?
He made a slight caveat. That’s it. It’s not political. It’s not at all “lamenting” about anything.
“I know some of you may have strong feelings about this mission. That’s okay. You are citizens first, but you’re also service members who took an oath to support and defend the Constitution and follow the orders of the President and the Governor. That oath doesn’t come with an asterisk that says, “only when I agree with the mission.”
“I’ll be honest with you — I know this isn’t easy. Some people in Oregon won’t understand or won’t support this mission. Some might even be hostile about it. But we’ve been through tough situations before. We are professionals who do our duties, regardless of how it’s received.”
“Don’t post about unit movements, mobilization details, or operational information. Please don’t get into political arguments online while wearing the uniform or identifying yourself as a member of the Oregon Guard. Understand you represent something bigger than yourself, and the public is watching. Show them the professionalism I know you’re capable of.”
Almost posted this myself til I realized the headline was bullshit. In fact, quite the opposite, this reads as browbeating, condescending, and insulting. Hardly a passionate expression of grief or sorrow, Ken Klippenstein.
Definitely. He’s on board and appears to be counseling folks they need to do their mission whether it’s illegal or not.