Petraeus Stars In McCain Fundraising Letter

** UPDATE BELOW **

Jake Tapper at ABC News notes:

On Monday, Memorial Day, Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen wrote an open letter to troops in uniform that "the U.S. military must remain apolitical at all times. It is and must always be a neutral instrument of the state, no matter which party holds sway."

"The only things we should be wearing on our sleeves are our military insignia," Mullen wrote.

Three days later, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, sent a fundraising solicitation using an image of him and Gen. David Petraeus.

"Something is wrong with your judgment when you want to sit down unconditionally with Raul Castro and Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but you don't take the opportunity to sit down with General Petraeus and learn about the situation in Iraq firsthand," the letter reads. "My friends, this is not the 'change' we need in our next president."

Petraeus' spokesman told ABC, "By no means does the use of his photo mean he has endorsed anybody. He has not. He won't. He remains apolitical." Does Petraeus object to the use of his photo? "He has no comment on that one way or another," the spokesman said.

A sample of the reporting on Mullen's letter:

The highest-ranking U.S. military officer has written an unusual open letter to all those in uniform, warning them to stay out of politics as the United States approaches a presidential election in which the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be a central, and certainly divisive, issue.

"The U.S. military must remain apolitical at all times," wrote Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "It is and must always be a neutral instrument of the state, no matter which party holds sway." ...

The statement to the armed forces is the first essay for the journal Mullen has written as chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and veteran officers said they could not remember when a similar "all-hands" letter had been issued to remind military personnel to remain outside, if not above, contentious political debate.

The essay can be seen as a reflection of the deep concern among senior officers that the U.S. military, which is paying the highest price in carrying out national security policy, may be drawn into politicking this year.

UPDATE: McCain said at a press conference Friday that his campaign shouldn't have used the image of Petraeus and pledged it wouldn't happen again. Watch it:

Comments

[SirReal1]

12:02 PM on 06/01/2008

Just in case no one else has pointed it out:

(I read many of the posts, but I might have missed it as I skimmed through many others)

IF Petraeus consented to this picture being used in a political ad, or IF he knew the campaign's intent to use it and DID NOT PROHIBIT THEM from using it

THEN he is guilty of a violation of Military Regulation, AND SHOULD BE PUNISHED!

To the best of my knowledge (I'm not in advertising, so I might be wrong on this), I do not think that the McCain Campaign could use this picture WITHOUT Petraeus' explicit permission (because of the implication that the image is showing HIS support for McCain, which is what the campaign wanted to imply) in an advertisement. The picture may be culled from an archive of images during Petraeus' visit to the Senate, but to use it in a campaign ad, without Petraeus' permission is likely illegal, and if he didn't give them permission, he could likely sue them.

Which is what he should do, and would have to do if he were brought before a Court Martial, and was trying to prove his innocence.

If Adm. Mullen DOES NOT prefer charges against Petraeus, he's just as much a hypocrite as McCain.

[SirReal1]

12:17 PM on 06/01/2008

In essence Adm. Mullen is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

The statement from "Petraeus' spokesman" the the General "has no comment on that one way or another" is damning. The General MUST OBJECT to his image being used in a Political Ad, OR HE IS GUILTY of violating the DIRECT ORDER of a Military Superior, and DOD and UCMJ Regulations.

If someone in Congress doesn't DEMAND a full investigation, it is a dereliction of their duty.

[heal57]

02:26 AM on 06/01/2008

If this doesn't make us vote for Senator Obama and not John McCain, we deserve what we get.


Independent for Obama '08

[robeson]

10:53 PM on 05/31/2008

"Friday that his campaign shouldn't have used the image of Petraeus and pledged it wouldn't happen again..."

And by Monday, McCain will have forgotten what he said.

[crusty]

10:19 PM on 05/31/2008

"It would be wrong, that's for sure!" Remember that one?

[dadw5boys]

05:47 PM on 05/31/2008

Check the law but if a STANDING MILITARY GENERAL appears in Political Advertizments it is ILLEGAL!!!!!!!

The STANDING Military is not allowed to Publicly endorse and Political Figure!

Politicizing the Military is Illeagal also. Those who supported the war when they knew the intellengence was worong had an obligation to inform Congress,

[dr4Will]

03:35 PM on 05/31/2008

prey-on-us is a known bush clone and follower--McCaint was only showing the truth--the officers have always been right wing nuts--and this one will kiss any one's butt to get a fifth star!!!

[Anonani]

01:39 PM on 05/31/2008

I am glad that Sen McCain was called on this. He can have no more advantage in pursuit of Commander in Chief status than his opponents.

[obamanation31]

10:45 AM on 05/31/2008

McBush. McFlip. Mc Flop. McWar.

[LiberTLover]

09:33 AM on 05/31/2008

I guess McCain has to depend on the military records of others to help him since he made sure his own records were sealed up tight, while we get fed the spin. Wonder what is really in them?

http://www.usvetdsp.com/smith_mc.htm

[AnAmericanWoman]

07:45 AM on 05/31/2008

Didn't you GET it! Patraeus IS an OBAMA voter! You knew the level of respect he had for him during the Senate hearings!

He may not show an oppinion - but McCain is NOT his choice!

McCain has shown that he has FORGOTTEN the rules of the military! His rich wife life and power hungry Senate gang of five is FAR outside of military life.

[ProfessorDuh]

10:23 AM on 05/31/2008

Petraeus is a Bush shill who knows just how to get his bread buttered. The generals who told the truth have all been fired.

[BluesDogLefty]

05:19 AM on 05/31/2008

Petraeus is a politician in a uniform. He serves his master, not the people of this country.

[the964kid]

12:38 AM on 05/31/2008

We already knew Patraeus was a GOP pawn, but what is McCain thinking?? Isnt he supposed to be the foreign policy expert?? He should know better then anybody that the military should stay separate from politics, especially members of the armed forces currently serving. This is completely unethical on every level. McCain is pathetic.

[DrDemon]

11:59 PM on 05/30/2008

E-X-P-E-R-I-E-N-C-E-D H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E-S!

[unity08]

10:57 PM on 05/30/2008

This exemplifys the problem with our government. Too many so called leaders who know the rules, but dont seem to think they apply to them.

Bush, McCain, and Clinton come to mind very quickly.

Its time for a real change!

[Dingoangst]

10:34 PM on 05/30/2008

"Petraeus' spokesman" - He has a spokesman? What the hell does this guy need a spokesman for. To accompany his chauffeur? His chef? His valet? Well, that's where the 12 billion a month is going. Why doesn't the guy finish the job he was hired to do in Iraq, he said the surge would be for 6 months. He has failed, at least that's what my spokesman thinks.