# CNN: Troops abroad support Obama 6/1 **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 18, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444 "2008-08-18T16:43:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/1 "2008-08-18T16:43:33Z")
I just this minute saw on CNN that financial contributions from soldiers stationed overseas to Obama are about six times greater than those supporting McCain. Unfortunately, this story is not yet on CNN’s website. (Cite when available very welcome!) Even troops stationed in the US give a slight edge to Obama over McCain, but not nearly as overwhelmingly. Assuming this is true, does it change your opinion of Obama vs. McCain on foreign policy if you have been a McCain supporter? Aren’t you a big supporter of listening about conditions ‘on the ground?’ The people reporting this seemed to think this mostly revolved around or was based in Iraq, although whether that was their opinion or had some basis in evidence wasn’t clear to me. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/2 "2008-08-18T16:59:32Z")
My only comment is that, if true, then it’s extraordinary, Generally you’d expect the rank-and-file members of the US military to support a Republican and a veteran, so Obama starts with a double handicap there. On the other hand, being black might help with the blacks in the military. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/3 "2008-08-18T17:04:32Z")
Being the candidate who wants to bring the troops home helps too. You don’t endear yourself to troops serving in a shithole for no good reason by telling them you want to leave them there for 100 more years. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/4 "2008-08-18T17:08:50Z")
> [@](#): > > I just this minute saw on CNN that financial contributions from soldiers stationed overseas to Obama are about six times greater than those supporting McCain. Unfortunately, this story is not yet on CNN’s website. (Cite when available very welcome!) Even troops stationed in the US give a slight edge to Obama over McCain, but not nearly as overwhelmingly. Even assuming it’s true and that it’s the whole story, it doesn’t necessarily mean what you seem to think it means. Financial contributions don’t necessarily mean the same thing as broad based support…it just means that Obama’s supporters COULD be more fervent than McCain’s are. Perhaps McCain has a 10 to 1 edge in support in the military (figure just pulled out of the air for illustration), but only 1 person in that 10 send McCain any financial support. Or, maybe (for some reason), Obama supporters contribute 6 times more to his campaign because they have access to more funds or are simply more fervent in their support. Or, maybe some organization if funneling funds through the few Obama supporters in the military to disguise where the funds are coming from. The point is though that there COULD be a lot of alternative explanations to this…or, I concede, it could be that Obama has more overall support from the military than McCain does. That seems fairly unlikely to me, but I suppose it’s possible. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/5 "2008-08-18T17:19:07Z")
Of the people in my family and those whom I am aquainted who are serving in our military none of them are supporting McCain. My dad - retired military and republican, is not supporting McCain either. To me, this decision by him is more telling than those I know who are active military voting Obama. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/6 "2008-08-18T17:38:48Z")
I told all of my friends (who are deploying again in a few weeks) that I’m voting for McCain just to screw them over. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/7 "2008-08-18T18:05:10Z")
Anti-Bush sentiment is pretty strong among those serving in Iraq right now. That translates to pro-Obama sentiment. You can’t keep treating military personel like garbage the way the Republicans have and expect to retain their political support just by wrapping yourself in the flag all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/8 "2008-08-19T03:06:52Z")
Meaningless without context. How many are making contributions? I bet very few. Not at all the same as how many will vote for him or support him. I would say about 90% of those who are vocal about who they will vote for have said McCain around me. And I am currently surrounded by soldiers and we are about to head to Iraq. I certainly don’t feel a huge Obama movement going on here but I haven’t exactly taken a scientific poll. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/9 "2008-08-19T03:21:50Z")
Seems silly to try and guess from donations and “I know a solider and he’s deffinately voting for \_\_\_\_\_\_” stories. Surely some news organization must’ve actually done a scientific poll of troops posted outside the US. Certainly every other conceivable demographic has been polled by this point. Sadly google gives me nothing. Anyone have better luck? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/10 "2008-08-19T03:31:09Z")
I’ve heard the same story from another source. I believe it was a Time or Newsweek article (sorry, I can’t be more specific but I read both magazines and some newspapers back-to-back Saturday.) As I recall, they didn’t report it as high as 6-1; more like a 3-1 ratio in Obama’s favor. But they did report that troops serving in Iraq had a more pro-Obama ratio than troops overall did. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/11 "2008-08-19T03:37:43Z")
I tried finding a mored broad poll of soldiers serving abroad or in Iraq, and failed miserably. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/12 "2008-08-19T03:38:05Z")
I tried finding a more broad poll of soldiers serving abroad or in Iraq, and failed miserably. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/13 "2008-08-19T03:51:47Z")
[QUOTE=xtisme] Even assuming it’s true and that it’s the whole story, it doesn’t necessarily mean what you seem to think it means. Financial contributions don’t necessarily mean the same thing as broad based support…it just means that Obama’s supporters COULD be more fervent than McCain’s are. [/quote] I agree. People with an agenda for change are more likely to get involved financially. What I would like to know is how the present stats relate to the last presidential election. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/14 "2008-08-19T04:08:27Z")
I remember a lot of Pubs clamoring in recent elections that the absentee ballots of American military personnel stationed abroad must be fully and fairly counted – and generously credited, in any case of doubt as to authenticity. No doubt they will hold fast to this honorable line in the coming election. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/15 "2008-08-19T04:16:22Z")
No doubt they will. 😛 -XT ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/16 "2008-08-19T04:23:54Z")
It’s a big shift both from 2000 and 2004. > **[If money talks, the troops are saying, ‘Vote Obama’ - The Carpetbagger Report](http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/16555.html)** > > Way back in September, we learned that Barack Obama and Ron Paul, who don't have too much in common, were ... ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/17 "2008-08-19T14:00:23Z")
Obama may have the troops, but [McCain has the CEOs.](http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/top-ceos-give-10-times-more-to-mccain-than-to-obama-2008-08-15.html) ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/18 "2008-08-19T14:06:10Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Obama may have the troops, but [McCain has the CEOs.](http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/top-ceos-give-10-times-more-to-mccain-than-to-obama-2008-08-15.html) [/QUOTE] Well, now _there’s_ a shock! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/19 "2008-08-19T20:37:14Z")
The 6-1 edge is in contributions from troops serving overseas; the edge is smaller if troops stationed on American soil are included. The 6-1 edge (in $$, not in donors) is also based on a mere 160 people in uniform, 134 of whom contributed to Obama, and 26 of whom gave to McCain. It’s a good sign and all, but 134 Obama contributors and 26 McCain contributors out of 300,000 American troops stationed overseas sounds a good deal less impressive than 6 to 1. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444/20 "2008-08-19T20:44:16Z")
Ah, since I wasn’t able to find a written source yesterday, I couldn’t get to that level of detail. Thanks, **RTF**! Move along, nothing to see here. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-troops-abroad-support-obama-6-1/460444.md?page=2)