Patterico's Pontifications

1/5/2011

Buzzkill: America’s Drill Instructor Apologizes

Filed under: General — Aaron Worthing @ 9:32 am



[Guest post by Aaron Worthing; if you have tips, please send them here.]

You might remember that video I showed you of R. Lee Ermey going “full metal Glenn Beck” at an event promoting Toys for Tots.  Well, his official site recently released this message:

A Message from the Gunny

“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.”

Semper Fi

R. Lee Ermey

Personally I read this as more him being sorry for doing so when performing that role in advocating Toys for Tots.  In other words, he isn’t denying that Obama is trying to bankrupt the country in order to impose socialism, he is just saying this was the wrong time and place.

Some also speculated that Geico was leaning on him.  Well, except by the nature of the commercial I didn’t think he would be returning anyway, so unless he is paid for each airing of the ad, its hard to understand what they can hold over his head.  And I just suspect that the guy has enough money and integrity not to care overly much about losing the gig.  But I could be wrong.

By the way, I was not far off about saying he was a Glenn Beck follower.  At Raw Story, they have a fuller account of the remarks that started this whole thing, with this line:

As Ermey walked off stage, one of the event’s hosts laughed and commented, “I’m so glad he has an opinion about things.”

“How do you really feel, Lee?” another asked.

“I’d been waitin’ for the Glenn Beck” to “come on Fox,” he said. “I need to have that.”

So Beck must be happy to have a fan.

[Posted and authored by Aaron Worthing.]

19 Responses to “Buzzkill: America’s Drill Instructor Apologizes”

  1. It’s an appropriate statement. If another celebrity, appearing at a fundraiser for an apolitical charity, were to have popped off about how great Obama is and how those darn Republicans are trying to wreck the economy, we’d all agree THAT was out of line.

    Mitch (890cbf)

  2. mitch,

    i am literally having trouble understanding you. did you mean to say it was an “inappropriate” statement… or? Sorry, dude, just confused.

    Aaron Worthing (1a6294)

  3. I have to happen to agree with R. Lee Ermey that it was not the time for his comment.

    I believe I made that comment on the earlier thread.

    That said, I’m a big R. Lee Ermey fan not least because of reports from friends of mine who have encountered him in person.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  4. But of course it was perfectly appropriate for some assclowns on the left to constantly criticize Bush and even make a movie depicting assassination or for one particular Air America hostess, Randi Rhodes, to call for W’s assassination. I don’t recall characters on the right ever saying nonsense like Bush gives them a thrill up their leg as Chrissie “I squat to pee” Matthews did about Obama. And what’s the legitimate press like National Enquirer doing being unable to get any info, good or bad, about the Affirmative Action Potus? You’d think someone, somewhere would open up if money were involved. Seriously, Barack’s privacy is far better protected than are national secrets.
    I don’t know about the veracity of Geico’s claims about saving consumers money on insurance either as I had Geico for many years and then when I moved to South Florida my rates went up every six months. So I switched over to the Hartford and paid 1/3 less immediately. Anyway the Marine is more entertaining than that stupid gecko.

    Calypso Louie Farrakhan (798aba)

  5. When I registered my truck in Tucson, I found that State Farm was twice GEICO so that is the only vehicle I own that is not insured by State Farm.

    I agree the setting for Ermey’s remarks was not the best. Lots of crazy lefties at Raw Story.

    Mike K (568408)

  6. 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 took it to mean he was essentially apologizing to the collective military for possibly having offended them individuals or reflected badly on the organization(s) itself.

    While he did state that his views were inappropriately critical of the President, he did not make an apology to the President.

    Dana (8ba2fb)

  7. for possibly having offended them individuals, or reflected reflecting badly on the organization(s) itself.

    Dana (8ba2fb)

  8. Hmm, do I remember Kanye West, a liberal black entertainer on a charity fund raising show for Hurricane Katrina victims saying that “Bush hated black people” and Bush had given “the military to come down and shoot blacks”. And honestly, this was not the only time celebrities have attacked conservatives and Republican politicians during fund raisers – it happens on almost every one I have ever watched…

    in_awe (44fed5)

  9. Perhaps there was pressure from the military to make an apology, their image is always a battle to maintain in the public’s cruelly critical eyes.

    Also, Rs are known to be held to a much higher standard than Ds by outside agencies (media)…and I think by nature, R’s tend to hold themselves to a higher standard as well.

    Dana (8ba2fb)

  10. Dana

    I think it was an inappropriate time and place.

    But that being said, I would love to give this man a show on, say, Fox. He could march into congress and whip them into shape.

    “Where is your honor? You are a disgrace!”

    Aaron Worthing (1a6294)

  11. And I attacked Kanye West, in_awe.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  12. I meant that Ermey’s most recent comment/ apology was appropriate. Sorry for the ambiguity.

    Mitch (890cbf)

  13. Aaron, I agree.

    Dana (8ba2fb)

  14. Does a retired Gunny lose his first amendment rights because he told the truth about the corrupt, dictatorial, anti-American Obama administration? No! there is no need for him to apologize. He’s right. The apologies are due from every simple minded twits like Mitch who voted for this communist we have in the Oval office.

    He should give one of those leftist apologies, “I’m sorry if you leftists were too stupid to understand my nuanced USMC message. If your feelings were hurt, ES&D!”

    Arch (24f4f2)

  15. Raw Story, that other outfit, that Kimberlin helped
    start up, the ultra Journolist

    narciso (6075d0)

  16. Arch, you are missing the point. He was appearing at a non-political, Marine Corps Reserve sponsored, event. He should not have made that event political. And he’s forthrightly addressed it in the style and honor I expect from Mr. Ermey.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  17. I voted for the other simple-minded twit, McCain.

    Mitch (890cbf)

  18. I got jumped on another site and condemned as an Obama-supporting liberal for taking precisely the position that Ermey has now taken.

    Rhymes With Right (31a698)

  19. Mitch:

    Me too!

    Arch (24f4f2)


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