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Who Gets The Troops' Votes?

ABC News   |  Martha Raddatz   |   April 7, 2008 11:42 PM

Read More: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Military Voters, Military Voters 2008 Election, Military Voters 2008 Elections, Troop Endorsements, Troops Endorsements, Breaking Politics News
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ABC's Martha Raddatz asked American soldiers in Iraq what issues are most important to them when looking at the presidential candidates.

Though the military is not supposed to engage in partisan political activity, these soldiers spoke out about their personal endorsements, and their opinions are likely to matter. In 2004, 73 percent of the U.S. military voted for a presidential candidate, and officials believe it may be even higher this time around.

PFC Jeremy Slate said he supported Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., because of his stated intention to pull out of Iraq right away.

"That would be nice," Slate said, "I'd like to be home, yea."

SFC Patricia Keller also expressed support for Obama, citing his representation for change.

Spc. Patrick Nicholls from Eggawam, Mass., pointed out that many soldiers on the frontlines frequently think about their families back home.

"We think about how our families are doing back home. That's a major concern, like how the economy is doing, also as well as where we're going to be in the future. Because really, truly, what we consider we're doing, we're doing a valuable job, we want to make sure that the efforts we make are appreciated."

He suggested he was too engaged in Iraq to keep up with politics back home. "I haven't really been following it too much since we've been over here, ma'am," he told Raddatz. "So, don't really know which issues are too important to me right now. ... I don't know who's running, ma'am."

Lt. Leah Wicks said that, tied into concerns about her family's welfare, were concerns about the economy, "where we're going to be in the future."

Read the whole story here.

 

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collapse willo See Profile I'm a Fan of willo

When the guy's that were dumb enough to volunteer to to fight an Imperialistic war for our facist ruler's, based on a bunch of lies, and a false flag 9/11 event, you know reality is starting to take grip.
Our only hope at this time is Obama, and let's pray he isn't another shill for the elite.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:03 AM on 04/09/2008
collapse TimN See Profile I'm a Fan of TimN

"Who gets the troops votes?"

Despite this lame propaganda it ain't going to be Obama.

I defy anyone to produce a poll from a responsible source that suggests Obama or any Democratic Presidential candidate could pull more than 20% of the military vote.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:21 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse momofsonofwar See Profile I'm a Fan of momofsonofwar

It is obvious that you do not talk to the troops, the troops have even renamed their gen.
gen. penis - head petraeus

the soldiers do not like the republican candidate

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:42 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse TimN See Profile I'm a Fan of TimN

It is obvious that you are not a mother and likely not even an American.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:16 AM on 04/09/2008
collapse BlackWidowPilot See Profile I'm a Fan of BlackWidowPilot

Well, well. I see the usual suspects are showing up on this thread.

Timmy, the only "lame propaganda" are the 900+ *documented* lies about WMDs and spruious claims of connections between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein used to launch and sustain the Bushevik war for oil and empire in Iraq.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:25 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse TimN See Profile I'm a Fan of TimN

I take it you are unable to produce any such poll. Figures.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:41 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse BlackWidowPilot See Profile I'm a Fan of BlackWidowPilot

I may be confusing "thin red" with another Bushevik partisan, but IIRC "thinred" asserted having done some prior military service. Too bad "thinred" clearly learned nothing from the experience, particularly how to be a *human being.*

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:15 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse julieeiluj See Profile I'm a Fan of julieeiluj

Ron Paul is getting my vote.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:31 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Binea See Profile I'm a Fan of Binea

I think that an Obama/Paul ticket would be perfect in so many ways..Both had a good grassroots campaign ( But Paul did not have the Neocon party bosses or the neocon media behind him)Both have drawn many new young voters..both anti Iraq war,both have been fighting for a more transparent and accountable government. Ron Paul is a republican that Obama can work with,Ron Paul will counter Obama's youth with his age..Ron Paul is a wiz on economics,Ron Paul has served in the military.Military love him for all the work he has done for vets,and Here is another reason...

According to the FEC reports, these are the total number and amount of military donations for each of the presidential candidates*:

Ron Paul: 1160 $249k
John McCain: 438 $83k
Mike Huckabee: 126 $37k
Mitt Romney: 126 $24k
Barack Obama: 443 $76k
Hillary Clinton: 154 $41k

IF you go strictly by these numbers,and by what the candidates are saying about this war and getting out,it's pretty clear that Obama gets the majority of military votes,should he be the nominee.
Lets assume Clinton and Paul are out of the race both are for getting out of Iraq asap ( though you can't believe hillary) add those donations to Obamas,he gets 366 K...now add all the pro war candidates together and you get 144 K

Obama/ Paul 08

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:15 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Ramirez See Profile I'm a Fan of Ramirez

Okay. So out of 30 million or so active duty and veteran military, a total of 443 of them donate to Obama. This proves that Obama is the guy the military wants.

Does that make sense?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:54 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Fightforyourrights See Profile I'm a Fan of Fightforyourrights

Wonderful Idea. And if you assume that the Earth is flat and that water actually flows uphill . . .

Pick up a few thousand nut-cake Ron Paul supporters.

Lose a million or so moderates on the fence.

Why don't you all just scurry back under your rock. You might find a place on the Nader Ticket waiting for you there.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:31 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Binea See Profile I'm a Fan of Binea

Ronald Regan actually supported Ron Paul.He spoke highly of Ron Paul ( concerning his strong national defense stand).But Ron Paul objects to pre emptive war,he is a non interventionalist.When those fence sitters know this,they will get off the fence.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:03 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse MicahBrwn See Profile I'm a Fan of MicahBrwn

And how many VOTES did Ron Paul get in the primaries?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:27 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Binea See Profile I'm a Fan of Binea

Look..go read the republican debate transcripts..you will find you are in agreement with him.There has been a media black out on him,they won't even mention that he's still on the ticket. The necons are in power,they have tight control on Fox News and conservative radio.After each debate they had a poll on who people thought won the debates..always Ron Paul won.Ron Paul would be an excellent vice president to Obama..and as far as his conservative view on some social issues,well..as Vice president he won't be picking any supreme court Judges.When people actually hear Ron Paul..conservatives as well as liberals..they like him,they agree with him on alot.I'd prefer if Ron Paul were president,I'd like to see Roe V wade overturned,but I think a heavily weighted supreme court is dangerous for many reasons.We need balance. Obama / Paul 08

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:55 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse IngeniousGirl See Profile I'm a Fan of IngeniousGirl

not even relevant

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:40 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse teahilton See Profile I'm a Fan of teahilton

Words spoken by someone who knew intimately Iran/Persia, Baghdad, Turkey, Palestine/Israel, and the difference between Shi'a & Sunni:

The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.

It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world.

Ye are all leaves of one tree and the fruits of one branch.

The well-being of mankind, its peace and security are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:14 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Binea See Profile I'm a Fan of Binea

The government and majority of people in Iraq seem to want Iran to take over or help them..why are we there ? They want Iran..as a soverign nation,that's their choice.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:48 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse LeftVetPatriot See Profile I'm a Fan of LeftVetPatriot

This is not going to sit well with out HuffGops, y'know.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:47 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse desmirl See Profile I'm a Fan of desmirl

There seem to be a few HuffGops who have strong opinions. I guess they are either loudmouthed wannabes who have never had the courage to enlist or, if they did, managed to become REMFs. The guys in Iraq who are tired of getting shot at don't seem to be big fans of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Petraeus, or Crocker.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:18 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse CommanderWhitehead See Profile I'm a Fan of CommanderWhitehead


"Troops In Iraq Want Obama, Clinton"

Too bad neither has any intention of really ending the immoral and illegal occupation of sovereign Iraq.

Hell...Clinton and Obama have even proposed a possible "preemptive strike" against Iran if it doesn't stop doing...whatever it is that it's supposed to be doing...(at least according to our "best friend" in the Middle East...the same folks who gave us the 1967 USS Liberty turkey-shoot )
...even though some sixteen of our own Intelligence agencies found nothing at all to be concerned over.

I guess we all need to believe in someone...or something.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:46 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse IngeniousGirl See Profile I'm a Fan of IngeniousGirl

Hmmm... so we fight the illegal war and get out of the moral war? Do we abandon the real perpetrators of 911 to go get oil in Iraq? Of course Hillary or Barack will keep this country safe, would you have it any other way? It is a question of choosing between "terrorism or tyranny" as Obama has said.

Obama pledged to get us out safely but he has said he will leave troops there to protect the embassy and provide ability for strike force if necessary but not 150,000 soldiers, more like 40,000 with number going down, that is a lot better than blanketing the country with permanent bases which he has pledged to remove.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:30 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse GeoLee See Profile I'm a Fan of GeoLee

Interesting that I did not read the same script I saw and heard last night last night on ABC NEWS. Did you edit out the two or three who clearly said the name "Clinton" for a reason? Nothing like Fair and Balanced news, eh?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:45 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse mojaveblue See Profile I'm a Fan of mojaveblue

I suppose now the right wing talk show blowhards will insist that the "Liberal Media" only chose to interview "Phony Soldiers" who do not represent the majority of those serving in Iraq.
I can hear it now. :-(

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:13 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Fightforyourrights See Profile I'm a Fan of Fightforyourrights

All political correctness aside, I have to say that anyone now fighting in Iraq that votes for McCain deserves exactly what they will get if he is elected:

1) 100 more years of boots on the ground (and eventually underground) and the death and destruction that comes with it.

2) Inadequate or non-existant medical coverage and educational benefits when/if they return from the war.

3) Poverty for their families at home while they are off fighting - no or little welfare and homelessness when the food stamps run out and the mortgage comes due.

Stop loss aside, this is a VOLUNTEER Military. Whatever their motivations in joining up, a job, public service, etc. they did it willingly. They also (polls and personal experience show) have voted OVERWHELMINGLY to keep current President and his minions in power.

They are Adults and need to learn that actions have consequences. Vote for McCain and you'll learn the true meaning of the old saw "Sow the seeds of discord and reap the Whirlwind". And as they know full well they will bear the immediate brunt of that whirlwind, while condemning the rest of us at home to suffer the consequences as well, my sympathy for those who do has long run out.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:52 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Binea See Profile I'm a Fan of Binea

Don't be silly..there won't be another hundred years of American presence in Iraq.We will be broke far before then.We will go the way of Rome.We need to get these neocons out of power ( that Includes Hillary)

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:45 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse gonavy See Profile I'm a Fan of gonavy

Your comments could not be more indignant, condescending, and insulting. You are a pompous ass who obviously knows nothing about the American soldiers, their motivations, their political inclinations.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:27 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse IngeniousGirl See Profile I'm a Fan of IngeniousGirl

must have learned at the knee of Karl Rove

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:26 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Fightforyourrights See Profile I'm a Fan of Fightforyourrights

Actually I do know something about the motivations and political inclinations of MANY American soldiers. While I will admit I have not been in the military myself, I grew up in a military family, have relatives close and distant who are military or who have served and have many friends who I went to school with in the military and even retired from it. I talk with them frequently about their views.

I grew up on an Air Force base and on visits to the Army hospital next door saw literally hundreds of young men who were missing arms and legs on their return from Viet Nam. THEY were draftees - they had no choice. We all saw what good that war did.

This war is NO different, and even worse as a war of aggression and CHOICE.

So if you find someone telling those who DO have a Choice on how they VOTE and chose to live their lives - killing and fighting in a war of aggression - to think about that choice and the certain consequences of it "condescending and insulting" then that's too bad I suppose.

Someone's got to tell it like it is and speak to the endless stream of right wing crap that posters like you (based on your comments to date on your profile) are spewing.

And at some point SOLDIERS need to take responsibility for their actions and the consequences of them.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:59 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse gonavy See Profile I'm a Fan of gonavy

"And at some point SOLDIERS need to take responsibility for their actions and the consequences of them."

What exactly do you think a boot on the ground soldier should take responsibility for and what consequences are you proposing?

BTW My crap is more middle of the road.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:04 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse BlackWidowPilot See Profile I'm a Fan of BlackWidowPilot

Look over to your left. I happen to be ten degrees to the *right* of center. From where this independent voter, son of a WW2 US Marine, and Military Historian is sitting, *you* are anything but "middle of the road."

More like driving on the shoulder...

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:37 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse gonavy See Profile I'm a Fan of gonavy

Your funny the way you sit there defining me, like you know me from the bits of information I have given up.

I would never presume to know any one of you or define you, yet you feel free to do so....

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:10 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse BlackWidowPilot See Profile I'm a Fan of BlackWidowPilot

By your deeds do we know thee.

By what you defend and *how* you have been defending it, one can get a pretty clear picture of someone too tightly wedded to *ideology* and *blind faith*over reason, empirical evidence, and the Scientific Method.

So yes indeed, with some due caution, one can reach some conclusions about you, and more importantly, what you're standing for and who you're standing behind.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:29 PM on 04/10/2008
collapse IngeniousGirl See Profile I'm a Fan of IngeniousGirl

they can't and they won't they need to survive, how insulting to all of troops. This is indentured servitude with Stop Loss and rotations of up to 15 months, they have no choice to speak their opinion or risk retribution or worse. Tillman is an example.

Get real, they would get thrown in the brig, forced into more dangerous missions shunned or worse. Get real.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:54 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse gonavy See Profile I'm a Fan of gonavy

Do you just make this cr@p up as you go along?

It sounds like you two went to the movies last weekend. This is a voluntary force and that is a huge difference between Vietnam and todays force.

Why would you bring Tillman into your argument? He is no example for your statement, he served with honor. His death was tragic indeed, but he was not forced to neither join or forced to stay in.

Your dillusions of troops being thrown in the brig for voicing an opinion sounds like it came from a Sean Penn movie. I can assure you that does not happen.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:01 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse BlackWidowPilot See Profile I'm a Fan of BlackWidowPilot

"I can assure you that does not happen."

Really? So when did you become Secretary of the Navy?

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:43 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse Fightforyourrights See Profile I'm a Fan of Fightforyourrights

If you think it is insulting to tell someone they will be getting what they deserve if they vote for someone who would not only be a disaster for this country but completely against their own self interest then I'd say you need to "Get Real" and stop your phoney reverence for someone just because they wear a uniform.

"This is indentured servitude with Stop Loss and rotations of up to 15 months, they have no choice to speak their opinion or risk retribution or worse. Tillman is an example."

Yeah - they were ALL drafted. Oh wait that should have been NONE of them were drafted. Sad the rules got changed on them midstream but hey, that happens when you are working for a corrupt regime. Sorry if you didn't see THAT one coming.

And the only time someone has "No Choice" is when they are dead. It's just that some choices are harder than others and take a little more courage. I'll let you think of some if you can "Ingenious"Girl - with a name like that you shouldn't you be able to?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:25 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse gonavy See Profile I'm a Fan of gonavy

phoney reverence for someone because they wear a uniform.....
-----------------------------------------------------
That's really all I need to hear from you.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:07 PM on 04/08/2008
collapse BlackWidowPilot See Profile I'm a Fan of BlackWidowPilot

A military uniform does not constitute a "get out of jail free card" anymore than being decorated for valor forty years ago. I could name more than one decorated veteran of considerable historical infamy if you'd like.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:39 PM on 04/08/2008