President Obama's 'Starbucks salute' brews discontent

Sept. 23, 2014 7:20 PM PT

On a day President Barack Obama talked about airstrikes in Syria and Iraq and the "dangerous consequences" of climate change, some critics and reporters focused instead on a military faux pas of his -- a salute of two Marines with a cup in his hand.

The so-called "Starbucks salute," as Twitter dubbed it, nabbed international news stories and attention on social media when video of the gesture was posted on the official White House Instagram account shortly after the president exited the helicopter Marine One in New York to speak about climate change.

Here is the salute.

So it was that his more serious messages had to compete Tuesday with a series of news stories (like this one) about the "Latte salute," as it was also named, even though no one seemed to know whether he was drinking coffee, tea (which he prefers) or something else. How did other outlets play Obama's less-than-solemn salute? Playfully.

Politico: Barack Obama roasted over 'Starbucks Salute'

The Telegraph: Storm in a teacup: Barack Obama draws fire for hot drink salute

TMZ: President Barack Obama -- Opinions On Coffee Salute ... Split Half and Half.

The Washington Post: Obama salutes a Marine while holding a cup.

Some enterprising news outlets even shared the pertinent passages of a U.S. Marine Corps officer candidates' school training manual that went into great detail about the military salute.

The manual called the salute "the most important of all military courtesies" and explained, "Over the centuries, men-at-arms have rendered fraternal and respectful greetings to indicate friendliness. This gesture survives as today's hand salute, which is the traditional greeting among soldiers of all nations. Regulations require th at all officers be saluted by their juniors, and that they return such salutes. The salute formally recognizes the officer as a military superior, and returning the salute expresses the officer’s thanks for the junior’s support."

Doing some research of my own, I found a 2008 Reuters report that said the presidential practice of saluting military members is much newer than the "longstanding tradition" of military members saluting the president, and that some people even think the president shouldn't salute at all because it militarizes a civilian office and because the president doesn't wear a uniform.

Reuters reported that Ronald Reagan started the military salute in 1981 and added:

"Reagan's decision raised eyebrows at the time. Dwight Eisenhower, a former five-star general, did not return military salutes while president. Nor had other presidents. John Kline, then Reagan’s military aide and now a Minnesota congressman, advised him that it went against military protocol for presidents to return salutes. Kline said in a 2004 op-ed piece in The Hill that Reagan ultimately took up the issue with Gen. Robert Barrow, then commandant of the Marine Corps. Barrow told Reagan that as commander in chief of the armed forces, he was entitled to offer a salute — or any sign of respect he wished — to anyone he wished, Kline wrote, adding he was glad for the change. Every president since Reagan has followed that practice, even those with no military experience."

The conversation continued percolating on Twitter all day Tuesday.

Cup of woe

Critics called it patronizing.And shameful.And painful.And nuts.And worse.Meanwhile, reporters sought perspective and were reminded Obama isn't the only president to offer an awkward salute.Some defended the president.Others found humor in the situation.No, this wasn't the first time President Obama has been criticized over a military salute. In 2010, the president saluted a Marine with a cell phone in his left hand. And last year, he neglected to salute a Marine while boarding his helicopter then rushed out and talked to the Marine while shaking his hand.