Seriously. Shawn Sage, a 17-year-old currently being fostered, has long dreamed of joining the Marines. His goal was early acceptance in Marine sniper duty. But now an anti-war judge, who actually took the time to express her political opinions, has shot down those early dreams.

But last fall, a Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner dashed the foster teen’s hopes of early enlistment for Marine sniper duty, plus a potential $10,000 signing bonus.

In denying the Royal High School student delayed entry into the Marine Corps, Children’s Court Commissioner Marilyn Mackel reportedly told Sage and a recruiter that she didn’t approve of the Iraq war, didn’t trust recruiters and didn’t support the military.

“The judge said she didn’t support the Iraq war for any reason why we’re over there,” said Marine recruiter Sgt. Guillermo Medrano of the Simi Valley USMC recruiting office.

“She just said all recruiters were the same – that they `all tap dance and tell me what I want to hear.’ She said she didn’t want him to fight in it.”

So because Mackel is a moonbat who doesn’t support the military, young Shawn has no right to serve his nation at 17. Sage begged Mackel to be allowed to serve, saying:

“Foster children shouldn’t be denied (an) ability to enlist in the service just because they’re foster kids…Foster kids shouldn’t have to go to court to gain approval to serve one’s country.”

This judge’s level of moonbatiness is astounding.

Mackel said she denied delayed enlistment to an eager Navy recruit as well, Medrano said.

She expressed concern that recruiters treat recruits “like another warm body,” he said. “She said, `All you care about is your numbers.”‘

The story says the bailiff is equally as batty, at that point backing the judge’s perception of the Marine Corps.

It should be noted that Shawn’s foster parents and social worker support his decision, but of course the judge’s interest isn’t the child’s welfare. It’s about doing whatever she can to work against the military at a time of war, by blocking a young man’s dream to serve his nation.

Legislation has now been introduced to allow foster children to join up, being sponsored by Assemblyman Cameron Smyth.