US military board calls for dismissal of Marine who criticized Obama on Facebook

Washington, Apr 7 (ANI): A US military board has recommended that a 26-year-old Marine should be dismissed from service for criticizing President Barack Obama on Facebook.

According to a Los Angeles Times report, the three-member Marine Corps administrative board at Camp Pendleton found that Sgt. Gary Stein had committed misconduct by posting anti-Obama comments on the social networking site.

Stein, a nine-year veteran, posted comments on Facebook calling Obama a coward and "the economic and religious enemy," the Administrative Discharge Board was told.

Stein urged Obama's defeat in the fall election, writing "screw Obama" and superimposed Obama's face on a poster for the movie " Jackass ."

The board called the comments "contemptuous," and demanded Stein's suspension, Politico reports.

Captain John Torresala, the government prosecutor, argued that Stein's behavior repeatedly violated Pentagon policy limiting the free speech rights of service members, and added that he should be dismissed after ignoring warnings from his superiors about his postings.

The commanding general of the Marine Corp Recruit Depot San Diego will make the final decision on Stein's status

Meanwhile, Stein has said he is fighting for his constitutional rights and should be allowed to stay in the military. (ANI)