Lee Ermey--class or coward?

[NIFT]

Lee (Gunny) Ermey, ripped into Obama on the following clip for ruining our country:
YouTube - Semper Fi..R. Lee Ermey tearing into President Obama.

A few days later, he issued the following apology:

"I recently appeared at a fundraising event designed to collect toys and raise awareness for underprivileged children. While that event succeeded in raising thousands of dollars and hundreds of toys for this cause, I regret that I delivered a monologue that was inappropriately critical of the President. I was trying to be entertaining and simply went too far in this instance. I am mindful that my success as an entertainer relates in part to my experience in the Marine Corps, my devotion to its members, and the deep respect I have for members of all our Armed Forces. My comments should not be seen as reflecting on them or their views. I was just very disappointed in the amount of success that we were having raising toys and money for the underprivileged children this season. The poor economy has greatly hampered our efforts. My comments were misguided, and emotionally based, and for that I am truly sorry."

Was the apology a class act, or was Ermey groveling before Obama's throne?

 

[BillyT]

Some one let the good ole Gunny off his leash his apology appears to be damage control on part of his masters.

 

[Tactical Dave]

Some one let the good ole Gunny off his leash his apology appears to be damage control on part of his masters.

This.

 

[Leadeye]

When you make a living from being on TV you can expect that the people who own TV will be telling you what to do. He gets a paycheck just like the rest of us.

 

[spearheadersarge]

Well, everyone can have an opinion, and you know what they say about that. R.L. was probably just calling it like he sees it. Once a Marine, always a Marine! Kudos to him. I wouldn't apologize for anything and happen to agree with his assesment!

 

[ReSSurrected]

Ermey only said what most of the free-thinking population of the country already knew. He got called out on it, and rather than say "I'm an American with the right to free speech, something the Armed Forces I am supposedly so proud of fought long and hard for. That's how I feel about it, and I don't give a rip if you don't like it or agree with me. Get over it, Jackwagon", he chose to stick his tail between his legs like a scolded dog in order to protect his paycheck, which apparently in more valuable to him than his right to free speech. Not only is he a coward, he may as well be a democrat liberal.

ETA: I have more respect for the democrat liberal entertainers and celebrities that made Bush-bashing a new sport. At least they had the balls to stick to their guns.

 

[Arm America]

Political correctness wins again.

We are doomed.

 

[SemperFiUSMC]

He went off the reservation and then someone drug him back on it. Nothing to see here.

 

[spec4]

None of us know all the facts behind his recent statement. Sometimes there are a lot of shades of gray a person has to deal with.

 

[Tactical Dave]

Everyone knows how he really feels now so who cars if he had to say he was sorry for saying it for the world to hear.

 

[Lucas156]

I don't think he is a coward. Maybe he went off on a tangent at an inappropriate time and realized afterwards that he made himself look goofy. Its ok to dis Obama but you preach it every where you go and its all you talk about it could be viewed in bad taste.

 

[pinshooter45]

NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR! But I suppose it was recomended thet he do that, from farther up the chain of comand, so like a good Marine he followed his orders.

 

[PappyD]

I don't think he is a coward. Maybe he went off on a tangent at an inappropriate time and realized afterwards that he made himself look goofy. Its ok to dis Obama but you preach it every where you go and its all you talk about it could be viewed in bad taste.

 

[jbombelli]

The gunny called it like he sees it. I guarantee he was forced to apologize by the people who sign his paycheck, who probably all voted for Obama.

 

[ghostinthewood]

I don't think he is a coward. Maybe he went off on a tangent at an inappropriate time and realized afterwards that he made himself look goofy. Its ok to dis Obama but you preach it every where you go and its all you talk about it could be viewed in bad taste.

This. Freedom of speech also means you have the freedom to apologize, I dont see a conspiracy here...I have more respect for him since it seems like he doesn't want to just be viewed as one of those people. I bet this won't be passed around as much as the video though, and thats too bad since I'm sure more people were critical of him than supporting him.

 

[Principal Skinr]

I like Ermey. I think he's a great American, whatever his opinions.

I also think he's a great entertainer.

 

[Lobo]

.

 

[ghostinthewood]

Wonder how many people would be singing a different tune if it was Matt Damon ripping on Sarah Palin during a similar event?

 

[Bigum1969]

But the big hollywood types are always ripping folks like Palin... at all types of events.

 

[dross]

The Marines don't want Toys for Tots to be political. Someone probably told him that his political statements might hurt the program.

No matter how right you are, there's a time and a place for everything. Apologizing for an impropriety is not cowardice, in fact, it's the opposite: moral courage.