The Military Vote: Surprising Statistic

[sunnybrook]

Just heard a great stat on NOW on PBS that Dems may win military vote. They just said that soldiers overseas are making campaign donations to Obama 5 times more than to McCain, running 5 to 1! Has anyone else heard this? This is totally awesome, are Democrats going to win military and veterans this time? This campaign is a total game changer, unbelievable! Gobama!

[SunsetDreams]

1. I wouldn't doubt it, McCain is Incapable.

[d00mzday]

2. U.S. Troops Deployed Abroad Reject McCain’s Iraq Plans, Donate 6:1 To Obama

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/14/obama_tops_in_donations_from_t.html

[Beregond2]

3. And let's not forget how many soldiers are black.

[ShortnFiery]

4. True but many serving in the military don't consider "Armageddon" as an Exit Strategy.

Voting for warmongering John McCain is not healthy to any American nor the World.

[Fly by night]

5. I hope we're better at counting soldiers' votes in 2008 than we were in 2004.

[bleever]

8. Never even got totals on the 2004 military vote,

which had always had a prominent place in the election coverage, previously.

[LynnTheDem]

11. Dems won the 2004 military vote.

Which is why george w. bush didn't mention the military votes.

[Motown_Johnny]

6. A Powell endorsement would be icing at this point

[ddeclue]

7. These people are sick to death of being deployed 5 times to a war zone

with no family life.

They feel cheated about their benefits, particularly the notion about going to college (when if you are always deployed?)

So yes a lot of them are going to stick it to the Republicans this time for treating them so badly.

Doug D.

[justiceischeap]

9. During the first Gulf War I believe Clinton got a lot of the military vote

I'd guess that when soldiers are at war, the majority want to come home and think a candidate who actually wants to get the soldiers home is more popular than one who doesn't.

Call soldier's unpatriotic if you must but my friend that was recently deployed to Iraq, though he knew it was his duty, didn't want to go (here's in the reserves). He had to leave his family for a second time within 2 years.

[sunnybrook]

12. I would not call that unpatriotic!

I don't think Patriotism means a commitment to unending war and I CERTAINLY have no right to question the patriotism of those willing to die in the name of our country, regardless whether or not we have an idiotic president or whatever. I am certain it is only human to not want to be constantly redeployed and have your life up in the air and your family making such a sacrifice.

But even with all of this, I guess I was just surprised at the military vote going our way. I guess I had the impression that the military is largely conservative. I just think this is great news!

[TornadoTN]

10. We need to get this on paper, in emails, and on the phones

This will make those independents who think if they vote for Obama, the military will hate them think twice. Might even sway a few votes.

I know of two people who were swayed by this approach when I talked to them about this very issue. It carries a lot of weight, especially since McCain claims to be a "military persons best friend".

[sunnybrook]

13. The show I was watching was about the state of Virginia

and how the large military population might no longer be a sure thing for McCain, since the military seems to be trending our direction. This should be out in the news and at the VFW halls and everywhere else. You do not have to be a Republican to be a patriot. Obvious to us here but I bet the pressure in military families and towns can be pretty intense.