A Camp Pendleton Marine whose Facebook posts ignited a debate about whether active duty troops are allowed to criticize the president of the United States says he intends to keep posting his views on the Web.

By Joshua Rhett Miller – FOXNews.com

A Camp Pendleton Marine whose Facebook posts ignited a debate about whether active duty troops are allowed to criticize the president of the United States says he intends to keep posting his views on the Web.

Sgt. Gary Stein created the Facebook group “Armed Forces Tea Party Patriots” three weeks ago as a way to voice his opposition to President Obama’s health care overhaul. On Tuesday, prior to a cable TV interview, superior officers asked the 24-year-old Marine to review the Department of Defense directives on political activities. Stein then removed the Facebook group, only to see it revived by a civilian member of a local Tea Party group hours later.

According to Department of Defense directives, military personnel are prohibited from sponsoring a political club, writing anything that solicits votes for a political cause or speaking at any event that promotes a political movement.

Stein says he respects Obama and will follow any order handed down by his commander in chief, but he plans to continue to voice his opinion on Facebook. He said he has contacted an attorney who told him he has committed no wrongdoing.

“I’m speaking as Gary Stein, not as Sgt. Gary Stein,” he told FoxNews.com. “I just want to give my daughter the greatest country that we can, just like my parents gave me. I want her to inherit the America I know we can be.”

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