I feel like we need to make a point to punish folks who shame a politician's relatives/family in a shitty, lazy attempt to shame thier actual target.

Maybe its a bit harsh for her to lose her job. The main problem here is a lack of understanding. She should undergo sensitivity training in the form of watching the film First Kid starring Sinbad. Then she'll understand the struggles first kids go through.

As a COMMUNICATIONS director, shouldn't she know a thing or two about the way that information finds its way around, once dropped? I know, not quite the same thing, but when venting about things related to your work, you should do it a) under a super locked post, b) under a fake name, or c) at an anonymous board. Because the internet is not like your bartender.

And innocent or no, it was out of line. If she has a problem with President Obama and the First Lady, fine. But it's shitty to use the kids to attack their parents. Even if she has a genuine problem with the girls' conduct and attire, there are better ways to deal with it. Like with tact. Or just letting it go.

And honestly, considering what she was doing at their age, she has a lot of nerve telling a couple of teen girls to show some class.

When your job is doing communications, Facebook actually IS part of your work. Not only was Little Miss Shoplifting-Conviction-at-17 completely out of line, she was also proving she was crap at her job.

It goes beyond communications people, but pretty much into the entire scope of government employees. I remember a few years ago a Marine got discharged for starting a Tea Party group on Facebook and posting that he wouldn't follow The President's orders.

Yeah, this person deserves to be out of a job, not so much because questionable moral judgement but for sheer incompetence. In other words, I wouldn't expect her to be fired for a bitchy private tweet in almost any other kind of job, but a COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR? Get her outta there, before she REALLY fucks up!

"I remember a few years ago a Marine got discharged for starting a Tea Party group on Facebook and posting that he wouldn't follow The President's orders."

Well...if you're a Marine and you publicly state that you won't follow orders why would you be allowed to remain a Marine?

For the camaraderie and bro-grabs!!

You're right those are on two very separate levels. He later tried to back track and say he wouldn't follow The President's "Illegal orders" but the damage is done.
What I'm getting at is social media be it government work or even private sector can get people into all kinds of trouble in their jobs. It doesn't even have to be treasonous stuff, you can get in trouble just for making your employer look bad.

Technically speaking, a serviceman's first duty is to the Constitution and to the people of the United States. (informally, I'd place the people of the country you're bombing third, your battle buddies fourth). Obeying your current Chain of Command, while important, is noticeably lower down the list. We aren't the Waffen SS, we folow principles rather than personality cults, which is one of the many reasons why the American military is so awesome.

That said, even with Cena's caveat about "illegal orders" (and the Marine would be right: illegal orders should not be followed), that is NOT the sort of thing you say while on active duty; it never has, and it never will be. Wait until *after* you come home from Vietnam to grow your hair out and chuck your medals in a lake!

*"Innocent" people of the country you're bombing, I should say. Anyone shooting back at you is moved to the bottom of the list, one step up from Hanoi Jane.