In light of this completely unscientific, unrealistic and extremely slanted report
(give me a break. 11 soldiers interviewed with a breakdown of:
Obama 4
Hillary 1
Undecided/didn’t say 6
McCain 0
I’m sure that’s accurate. :rolleyes: )
I’d like to know from our American military people (I’ll even include spouse/parent/child of living military members) who they endorse. Please let us know:
Military branch
Active duty? y/n
a. If yes, are you stationed at a “hot spot “ like Iraq or Afghanistan
Who you endorse
You don’t have to give your reasons why you support them unless you want to.
I’ll go first.
Army
No, honorable discharge in 1987
McCain.
I don’t trust either Clinton or Obama to take care of the country, let alone the military. I think our presence in Iraq is a mistake but I don’t think we should compound the mistake with a hasty pullout as they seem to want.
Please, this is for American military members and the immediate relatives of living military members so don’t participate just because your great-great grand-uncle fought at Ypres. And while I do appreciate the input, experience and service of the non-American military people on this board, they are not going to be participating in this election. Also, don’t jump in to say how all soldiers are idiots and murderers (you know who you are). I would like to keep this as civilized and accurate as possible. Thanks.
Me and my husband (both Navy; I got out in 1986, my husband retired in 2002) are both supporting McCain. My mom & dad (Dad retired from the Navy in 1976) support McCain, too. My son (active duty Navy, serving in Iraq right now) is also for McCain.
That said, I don’t doubt the numbers the article cited at all. Obama has strong support among young people and service members scan young – especially the types of service members whom a journalist would likely pull for a poll of this type. And, according to my son, it’s easy to believe that half of the Marines he’s serving with would respond with some version of “I don’t know” when asked who they are planning on voting for.
If the journalist had been on Nick’s base, I’m sure they would have asked him – he’s very handsome and photogenic and then they’d have had at least one McCain guy.
Seriously, though, Nick says that a lot of the Marines he knows who voice a preference do like Obama. This is young people, again. And there are plenty of guys he knows (I’m sure) who support McCain, too.
Eleven is a pretty small sample, of course. I’ll be curious to see how this poll turns out – although I do think, even among military or prior-military posters, that this board is likely to skew a bit to the left.
However as an aside, when I was on active duty I noticed a HUGE amount of soldiers that wer very much hard line republicans, which was balanced against another HUGE number of soldiers that didn’t vote. (personal observation of course)
For such a small sample, it’s not really surprising. It would have been similarly unsurprising had the survey found no Obama or no Clinton supporters, or no undecideds.
Air Force
Yes
I’ve been to Iraq twice in the last year and a half.
Obama. I hate Iraq, I think it’s worthless and I don’t want to go their ever again. I’m tired of my friends and I almost dying and I will not vote for someone else to go their in my stead.
I’m not in the military now, and never have been (although I gave it very serious thought when I was younger). Of course American servicemembers have First Amendment rights, and I hope all will register and vote… but I have to admit, I’m a little leery of asking them (either in a news story or in a Doper poll) who they support for President. Whoever wins in November will become Commander in Chief. All military personnel have sworn an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, and to obey the lawful orders of the CINC and superior officers. Anything that might tend to politicize the U.S. military - in a world full of countries under military rule, or with militaries which intimidate or pressure civilian leadership - is troubling to me.
Just a word of caution, offered FWIW. Carry on, and thank you for your service to our country.
Sen. Obama
I think we are making a mess of Iraq and are wasting a huge amount of money and resources over there. From my observations, the only ones benefiting/profiting were contractors. More on the “gut feeling” level, I feel we need an image makeover in the eyes of the world. Less cowboy, more diplomat.
Obama but I like and respect McCain. (If it comes to it, I will vote for HRC, though I have no liking for her and little respect. I just don’t want the Republicans to have another 4 years.)
and then they’d have had at least one McCain guy.