Military Times poll: Troops backing McCain

[jody]

Military Times poll: Troops backing McCain

Sen. John McCain enjoys overwhelming support from the military’s professional core, though race appears to be a decisive factor for career-oriented black service members, a Military Times survey of nearly 4,300 readers indicates.

McCain, R-Ariz., handily defeated Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., 68 percent to 23 percent in a voluntary survey of 4,293 active-duty, National Guard and reserve subscribers and former subscribers to Army Times, Navy Times, Marine Corps Times and Air Force Times.

The results of the Military Times 2008 Election Poll are not representative of the opinions of the military as a whole. The group surveyed is older, more senior in rank and less ethnically diverse than the overall armed services.

But as a snapshot of careerists, the results suggest Democrats have gained little ground in their attempts to appeal to a traditionally Republican voting bloc in campaign messages and legislative initiatives, such as the recent expansion of GI Bill benefits, experts said.

[msongs]

1. all these professional killers will lose their jobs if we dont keep having more wars nt

[medicswife]

7. Hey, dumbass!!!! A lot of military men and women are only in because

the economy sucks so badly and they need to be able to support their families. That and the cost of a college education is so sky high that a lot of the young ones just want a fucking chance to go to college someday. So shut the fuck up about "professional killers" and show a little respect.

[democracy1st]

8. think with your head not with your ass

ur throwing out rightwing bs. The left doesn't hate the military :wtf:

[Captain Hilts]

11. Your ignorance about why people join the military is stunning! nt

[Bubbha Jo]

22. You need to go check the amounts of enlistment bonuses

In this economy, they hard to pass up on, especially if you have a family to support.

My daughter went in recently. Some join simply because they feel obligated to do their fair share for this nation.

[progressivebydesign]

26. Well that was disgusting. n/t

[cliffordu]

28. Maybe one can visit you and you can say that to their face!!!

That'd be fun.

[medicswife]

29. I've never had a physical altercation with anyone, but if I could

introduce this joker's teeth to his asshole, I'd do it in a heartbeat!

[cliffordu]

40. Yep, I understand the sentiment. Completely.

:patriot:

[pecwae]

41. OMG! I'm a 'professional killer'!

Whodathunk! We always called ourselves DINFOS trained killers, but now I can add the 'professional' tag to it because of this absolutely genius post at DU!!

[tkmorris]

42. That comment is completely fucktardian

Oh and btw, that poll is almost certainly not accurate.

[Bubbha Jo]

2. This poll is like a Fox one....

It's bias and unscientific.

[medicswife]

3. Let me just cut through the BS on that one.

I live on post. I see the bumper stickers, my husband talks to the guys he's deployed with. I think that the real story here is in who they polled: "a voluntary survey of 4,293 active-duty, National Guard and reserve subscribers and former subscribers to Army Times, Navy Times, Marine Corps Times and Air Force Times" Active Duty soldiers are often extremely reticent to put their support for one candidate or another out in the open. I would be willing to bet that the majority of the respondents are not Active Duty soldiers. The fact that some of them are former subscribers tells me that they're out now.

Trust me. Even though we may not be the majority yet, our numbers are swelling. And we're pissed off and sick of the Republican Party shuffling us around like we're a bunch of pawns in their dirty little game.

[Cha]

14. Yeah, I was surprised to see this poll considering all

I've heard about the military being disgruntled with everything fascist lately.

Like the military is so happy with The War On Iraq..I'm taking it with a grain of salt

[SpiralHawk]

4. "We're sick of Commander AWOL & the other republicon chickenhawks." - Troops

"And we know America has also had it with republicon chickenhawks, and their chickenhawk propaganda puppets like Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Beck, and Hannity. If we are going to have hawks, lets have real hawks, not republicon chickenhawks." - Troops

[TwilightGardener]

5. Shocking!! My husband is surrounded by these assholes, and even

if McShithead screwed a farm animal on video, they'd still support him, because at least he ain't no Black Muslim Marxist Commie terrorist-lovin' America-hater.

[my3boyz]

6. IDIOTS! My husband is active duty Navy but there are some

stupid people in the military. Vote for John McCain because he is a war hero. FORGET the times he has not supported the military with his votes! I can't believe there are so many stupid people after two wars. I hope those that vote for him are the ones that go to fight in his war if McCain is elected.

[ShortnFiery]

27. They didn't qualify that it's "The Professional Military." In the Army that's *LIFERS*

In enlisted ranks = SFCs (E7s) and above
In officer ranks = Majors (04) Field Grade and above

That's not THE TROOPS.

[Obamanaut]

36. I am a retired lifer (E9), and not only do I support Obama, ALL

of the former military that I ride motorcycles with support him as well. Granted, none are active duty (we are all old), but support him we do.

And, I was at a Biketoberfest yesterday (Oct 3) where there were a multitude of cars/trucks in addition to bikes - saw many Obama stickers, not so many McCain.

It would appear that many of us are aware of the McCain votes on veteran issues.

[ShortnFiery]

38. That's excellent news!

Thanks for helping to dispel inappropriate stereotypes.

This former L T salutes your, IMO, excellent judgement. :patriot:

[Bubbha Jo]

9. This is more indicative of what the military really thinks:

Obama, Paul net most military workers' campaign donations

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3601542

[democracy1st]

10. hell there's more democrats in washington that served than there are republicans,why post this BS

[RagAss]

12. They get one vote just like me......n/m

[EFerrari]

13. This is a poll of officers. n/t

[CitizenPatriot]

15. maybe because Fox news is the preferred

"news" station of choice on posts around the world? I was told by one National Guard member that the reason for this was that Fox was the most "impartial and bi-partisan news outlet available and our job is to be informed."

I did correct this misconception-- to no avail apparently; as it has been brought to my attention that this person has decided to vote for McCain because he supports the military spending and this person will make more money under a Republican admin than a Dem admin.

Not sure what to make of all of that....What is sad is that these are good people, doing needed service for our country and I fear their benefits and more will be drastically reduced again under McCain, not to mention necessary safety equipment, etc.

[medicswife]

19. He won't make more money under a Republican Admin.

Tell him to read the current issue of Army Times that shows the pay raise the Democrats got for the military. It shows what Bush/McCain were asking for. It was more than HALF as much as the Democrat's proposal.

[CitizenPatriot]

31. are you serious?

That is just scary. Don't people want to be informed as to their own best interests?

Another argument I've heard is that McCain knows what it is like to fight a war. I followed this up with the question, "How are you hoping that translates to the soldier on the ground?" I mean, more benefits, better strategy, what? Answer, "McCain would listen to the people on the ground. They're the ones who know what's going on."

I have no idea why anyone would assume this. He hasn't done this yet.

[Heather MC]

16. Too bad they couldn't poll the 20,000 plus soldier who have commited sucide

[BlooInBloo]

17. So basically, old white warmongers support McCain. Sooooprize Sooooprize Sooooprize!!!

:rofl:

[dennis4868]

18. Another sorry example....

of people voting against their own interest :-(

[ClarkUSA]

20. Military "voluntary surveys" are as scientific as a Drudge online poll

Funny how military contributions favor Obama over McCain by a large margin, eh?

[FrenchieCat]

21. So why post this poll, if it is clear in the body that it doesn't reflect the military as a whole?

What was the point? That's what I want to know.

The results of the Military Times 2008 Election Poll are NOT representative of the opinions of the military as a whole. The group surveyed is older, more senior in rank and less ethnically diverse than the overall armed services.

[5X]

34. The op seems to have disappeared. n/t

[progressivebydesign]

23. The poll is amongst HIGH EARNING hardcore repubs, like most officers. No shock there.

They vote with their mistaken belief that the repukes are good for their wallets. Nothing more. They fucking put that poll out every election -- and it has NO bearing on the regular troops. I have military officers living all around me (two or three bases nearby), and they ALL drive Mercedes SUVs, live in half million dollar houses, and live the high life. They are repubs thru and thru. However, their wives and voting aged kids are mostly supporting Obama.

[qazplm]

30. I'm a relatively high earning officer

and my informal poll of the 15 or so officers I work with reveals at most 3-4 McCain supporters and about 4-5 Obama supporters and the rest unknown.

I think it's more along the lines of 60-40 McCain among officers when back in the day (aka 2004) it was more along the lines of 80-20 or even 90-10.

[CitizenPatriot]

32. don't feel like you havde to answer this

but I am surrounded by a number of posts as well and I'm wondering if the location matters, in your opinion?

[ShortnFiery]

24. I'm an Army veteran and I don't believe it. No way! eom

[progressivebydesign]

25. Oh.. and it's so misleading that they use the term "Troops", why not OFFICERS? N/t

[olegramps]

33. why be surprised that Professional Killers back McCain the bomber?

[jody]

35. Posts to the OP show an amazing ignorance about those in the military both career and short timers.

I'm disappointed but not surprised at the hostility expressed by some against our troops.

[BlooInBloo]

37. Wow. You pathetically fail TWICE.

[ladjf]

39. Polls that don't identify the fundamental affiliations of the respondents

are merely anecdotal and, as such, have no scientific or valid significance.