Democrats Make Big Gains Among Military Voters

An interesting subtext to John McCain's defeat last week is what it means for the future of the Republican Party with respect to veterans and military voters. With McCain facing a diminished role in the GOP, and Chuck Hagel retiring from the Senate, there are few prominent Republican leaders left with military bona fides. This is in stark contrast to the Democratic Party, which has seen the emergence of a new generation of veteran leaders.

In the past two election cycles, Democrats have added ten new Democratic veterans to Congress. Last week, President-elect Barack Obama helped close the gap among military voters, winning 44 percent of veterans as opposed to John F. Kerry's 41 percent in 2004.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[BillMelater]

I have a problem with this picture. Why is this guy standing over this soldier while he is filling out his ballot? Is he telling him who to vote for? WTF?

http://billmel8er.wordpress.com

[Collielady]

No surprise to me. I wouldn't support the party that sent me into an unjust, unprovoked, illegal war that has nothing to do with protecting my country and everything to do with enriching profiteers. I'd pull a W and go AWOL.

[Chironomid]

The Chickenhawk masquerade is finally breaking down. The Dem's leave hearts and body parts all over the battlefield. Bush and Co. run like p*ssies when the guns go off.

[Eric8869]

I always wondered why the troops would support Republicans who use them up like kleenex and don't give the proper money for body armour or proper military vehicles etc.

[sammdphd]

true! And then when they come back, they can't get the proper healthcare they need. They have to go into the VA system, which is definitely "cut-rate" health care. Republicans have done nothing in beefing up the VA system and I have always wondered why the majority of the military support this party, a party that clearly does not support them.

[Eric8869]

RIGHT! They don't "support our troops" the Republicans support the Military Industrial Complex. It's all about the money.

[Grunty1]

That wouldn't have something to do with Bush and Cheney getting thousands of soldiers killed for the personal gain of oil companies, would it?

Naw must be my imaginiation...

[MajorKong]

Why do the troops hate the troops?

[iPolitics]

Military intelligence.

[FlamingLibrul]

My father, who served 27 years in the U.S. Navy voted for Obama. I was raised as a "Military Brat," and I voted for Obama, as did my the rest of my family. I spoke with the wife of a military contractor a day before the election, and she told me she and most other contractors she knew of were voting for McCain, out of fear of having their jobs cut.

She volunteered that this was a "Selfish" reason to vote for McCain- meaning she preferred Obama's political views, but out of fears for job security was voting for the Republican ticket. It will take more time to dispell the notion that the repubs are best for the military world, but I think strides are being made. Repeatedly reminding folks of how many Veterans bills Republicans have voted against is crucial in destroying what's left of the myth.

[ReallyMe]

Is that even legal? Someone standing over the 1st Lt. like that watching him vote? I had to sign a place on my absentee stating that I hadn't allowed anyone to watch me vote.

[voter42]

It's not surprising that many in the Military went for Obama. Look at how they have been treated by the Bush Adm; multiple tours of duty in Iraq, inadequate equipment, sub par health care at VA hospitals, and lack of resources to deal with life after their service ends. Bush/McCain were content to leave them in Iraq forever in a failed effort. The only future they and their families have is an Obama Adm.

[kellygrrrl]

oh, oh! wonder if they're "Fake Americans" now, just like US?

[tigris1]

I did not vote for Barack Obama because of the color of his skin, I voted for him because he consistently displayed intelligence, a sense of fairness and decency that I found sadly lacking in the present occupant of the white house.
McCain and Palin showed no consistency, no fairness has been exhibited by McCain towards any of our troups. No intelligence has been exhibited by Palin. This left only one obvious choice for me.
We have asked a great deal of our soldiers many who are serving in Iraq over a LIE!. A lie that has cost us Billions of Dollars and the mantra we are fed is "support our troups". We can show our support by allowing our troups excellent health care, proper body armour and bringing the troups home.
How long are we going to let the lie continue to add to cost in human life and human misery?

[leeman79]

It was no accident that the democrats added 10 new veterans to congress in the past two elections. This was a very effective strategy put together by Rahm Emmanuel in the 06 congressional blowout. Veterans have credibility, and generally make very effective public servants. They appeal to voters, especially service members, because these are guys with brains and guts. There's alot more to it than just walking around with a flag pin on your lapel. These guys are leaders, and anyone that's been in the military knows that leadership means never asking someone else to do something that you personally don't have the courage to do.

[SCBLUE]

I am so glad that this issue is being addressed. I come from a family of life-long Democrats that have always served in the military, including my mother, during WWll....it disgusts me to be told that Democrats are not patriotic because they simply are Democrats, or don;t wear a flag pin.
The Republicans have the same respect for our militay that they have for fetuses. Campaign like hell for what is "right" and then ignore them...

[ensure]

Obama"s support in Senate runoff still in question: http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/11/obamas-support-in-senate-runoff-still-in-question.html