Deployed Troops Donate to Obama 6-1 Over McCain

"Why do the troops hate the troops?"

Honestly, after years of hearing that if you don't support the Bush military policy, you don't support the troops, you have to wonder what the neo-cons will do now. Today, a study by the Center for Responsive Politics reported that members of the military are giving more donations to Senator Obama than Senator McCain, and when you just examine those troops who are deployed, Obama attracts more donations by a 6 to 1 factor.

Troops, of course, aren't much different than most Americans, who overwhelmingly oppose the Bush military policy that John McCain would continue (the latest AP-Ipsos poll had 62 percent disapproving of the Bush policy). It's just that troops have a lot more personal experience on this particular issue. We know that those who served believe Iraq has overstreched the military, and for years that those who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan are solidly against the current policy.

Now, members of the military are speaking with their checkbooks, and reiterating just how strongly they believe we need to begin to redeploy from Iraq, and go on the offense against al Qaeda, which is making huge gains in Afghanistan.

And, yes, things are getting much worse in Afghanistan. The New York Times reports today, from Saydebad:

"Not far from here, just off the highway that was once the showpiece of the United States reconstruction effort in Afghanistan, three American soldiers and their Afghan interpreter were ambushed and killed seven weeks ago... The soldiers -- two of them members of the National Guard from New York -- died as their vehicles were hit by mines and rocket-propelled grenades. At least one was dragged off and chopped to pieces, according to Afghan and Western officials. The body was so badly mutilated that at first the military announced that it had found the remains of two men, not one, in a nearby field."

That's just one report of many coming from Afghanistan, which has been allowed to devolve into chaos.

Troops know it. News from the field makes its way through chow halls, and our men and women read it during the rare moments they get to check the internet. They know that the current course our military is on is not sustainable, and they're looking for a dramatic change. They've felt it for a long time, whether the media wants to acknowledge that or not.

I don't think this has as much to do with Obama and McCain as it does with continuing the current Bush course, or changing it. And our troops, who don't have a whole lot of money to give, are voting right now with their wallets.

So, do our troops hate the troops? No, of course not. Our troops love America, and that's the point.

Follow Jon Soltz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jonsoltz

Comments

[nomorebombs]

who counts the votes?

[bluestatehog]

This will put a dent in the oft-used slogan of McCain, Bush, and Co. that the "American troops overwhelmingly support our present course in Iraq and believe strongly in what we are doing there." Of course, never ones for common sense and realistic reasoning, the Republicans will just spin this one as another "the surge worked" slogan. Thank goodness we have great men like Jon Soltz and Paul Rieckhoff to stand up for the men and women of the armed forces, because politicians will always hide behind generalized slogans and mantras.

[knerd]

Could more common sense be far behind?

[Janelynne]

I think these soldiers are realizing a few things: The Bush administration sent them off to war with a hidden agenda. The soldiers have seen with their own eyes, that the steak did not live up to the sizzle. These brave people have put their lives on the line even while they were not told the truth of the mission. And they are beginning to know that we need big changes in Washington.

[naijaman]

Oddly enough, Fox News did not mention this story AT ALL today....nothing for the past 30 hours...

[JLee]

30 hours of Fox News? You are a brave brave man.

[Knowitall]

It's a wonder they're not carrying you off in a strait jacket!! 30 hours of that clap trap....

[rgblue]

This was great to hear. It's been difficult the past 5 years to be bashed repeatedly for not "supporting the troops" because I am AGAINST this Iraq war.

I could care less what my right wing brainwashed family and friends were saying, but I do care that the troops mostly get it. It's a relief to know that the ones who matter re this issue harbor no such illusions.

[RTOTrainer]

Except that the methodology on this may or may not have cooked the books on the result. At the very least it makes drawing conclusions from it meaningless.

They exluded donations less than $200.

[research]

"CRP's totals based on employer are limited to donors contributing more than $200, since information is not provided to the Federal Election Commission for smaller contributions. "

The article breaks it out pretty well. Worth reading.

[kuastar]

rgblue, You could quote Mark Twain to your family and friends: (paraphrase) 'I support my country always. I support my leaders when they deserve it."

[BobOnThis]

Which is nothing compared to the number of patriots who were contributing to Ron Paul during the primaries!

Ignored then ignored now... righteous writing comrads!

[FOXYLADY]

AH HA, 'TRUTH' 'CHOICE............RIGHT FROM THE 'HORSES MOUTH' SO TO SPEAK!! OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN IRAQ OR ELSEWHERE IN DANGER KNOW WHAT OF THEY SPEAK!! GOD BLESS AND TAKE CARE OF THEM............

[WillfromSF]

Sounds like the focus of an Obama ad and speaking points whenever McCain tries to sell himself as the more effective solution in Iraq.

[liberalarmyfamily]

I voted via the mail as did my husband in the primaries. I don't care if they say my vote doesn't count. We are so desparate for a democrat in office we will vote anyhow. Our ballot showed up about a month in advance for the vote. In our PX they have tables set up to register. If anything they try to help us get our vote out.

[rebelle]

We were on a military base in the middle of the pacific ocean for the 2004 elections, the base blacked out the democratic convention claiming scheduled repairs and then blacked out the first debate that bush made such an ass of himself, My parents thankfully had taped it and sent us a copy we eagerly passed around. The only news program we got was AFN's fox news, pure proof of the nick-name fox noise, and inshannity and colmbs, about as right winged programing as bush and cowhores can possibly get!!! We were literally threatened with sure death if we voted democratic, we voted democratic any way. It's really too bad America isn't yet smart enough to laugh at and dismiss the retardican scare tactics!!! GO OBAMA!! Another PROUD DEMOCRATIC MILITARY FAMILY!!!

[liberalarmyfamily]

wow that is crazy! Ours came in a sealed envelope and since we are registered demo then it only had that party on the ballot. Im not sure how it will go with the actual campaign ballot. I'm from Texas so I'm sure my vote won't matter but who knows.
As far as AFN yeah we still get Faux news but we get CNN international. Everyone I know around here is voting Democrat because they don't like McCainn's plan for the troops.

[Commoncents1]

As usual, the only thing that was gleemed from this report was something that would shine positively on BO. I recommend everyone read the actual report that shows "Contributions from US Troops Deployed Abroad"- 54% donated GOP and 46% to two Demo candidates. Then when you look at the totals for "All Military Personnel" it is 65% GOP.
Yes it is surprising that the military is giving more to Obama, but to extrapolate out that the military in general favors him or even that the military that is deployed abroad does is simply wishful thinking.

Additionally, the small set of military donors (only 323 donations) also makes the reliability of this study questionable. Since there are more than 350,000 troops stationed abroad, this study is based on the donations of less than 1%.

The bottom line is you know and I know that McCain has substantially greater support from the military.

Spin away......

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Well, it's true that McCains IS hoping that everyone is stupid...... including those troops that will continue to vote for him. That's why information flow to the troops is controlled.... if you keep 'em stupid, maybe they'll vote for you.

He has no ideas, solutions or even recommendtions..... only lies, distortions and accustions.

A truly sickening sight every time.

[captainspirou]

You must be including Ron Paul in the GOP. Normally it would be fine to line things up with dem vs gop but in this case it's more accurate to say "Staying in Iraq" vs "Getting out of Iraq". In which case they are overwhelmingly for a policy to get out.

[RTOTrainer]

You've left out that this is only comparing $200+ donations. I've never given a single donation that large in my life, instead I donate serially in $25 and $50 amounts. I notice you don't mention this shortcoming in the report.

Find a comparission that means something and we'll discuss it.

[hydenorhare]

"A former West Point professor, Jason Dempsey, noted that the small set of contributions from deployed troops at this point in 2008 -- just 323 donations -- should not be extrapolated to form conclusions about military personnel overall. "If, on a bad day, a guy gets that letter that says [his tour has been extended] from 12 to 15 months, that could spur a quick donation and expression of anger," he said. "Donating helps members of the military express their political views privately." "

323 donations?
Hey Jon, Media Matters can use you ... if they aren't already.

[usakaput]

do think the blackwater thugs are supporting obama?

[LeaderofMen]

Does anyone honestly think their mail-in ballots will be counted in this ratio?

Those ballots will be opened, examined, and discarded if Obama's name is on them. We discovered precisely how this occurs during the last election.

How do I know this? Simple. There are only a handful of post office locations where troop mail is fed into the US. That mail can be opened at will by 'authorities'.

You will NOT see this ratio coming out of the military in November. Now that this information is public it will be thoroughly scrutinized for the 'correct' voting. "Incorrect' voting will be carbonized (eg, set on fire).

[Tulka2]

I do hope you are not correct. Since you seem to know how things work with military votes, what do you suggest be done before-hand to make sure all military votes are counted? Wouldn't every American be for that?

Power corrupts, but there is no faster way to corrupt a whole population than to convince them they are powerless.

[RTOTrainer]

You speak as one who has seen this happen. If you have, or if you have other proof, as a serving NCO I have a duty to get it fixed. Please contact me and I will take this to the IG or any other channel where it can be addressed. rtoDOTtrainerATgmailDOTcom

[ReElectNoOne]

Photocopy your ballot and send a copy home ! Send a copy to any organization in your home town that monitors elections. Create your own paper trail and compare !

[RTOTrainer]

Compare to what? Unless you will then be allowed to go match up your photocopy to the original later, it's meningless. Even then, that still doesn't answer whetehr it was counted or not, only received.