Weary warriors favor Obama (Reuters)

[pinto]

Weary warriors favor Obama

By Margot Roosevelt
Columbia, South Carolina | Sun May 13, 2012

(Reuters) - Mack McDowell likes to spend time at the local knife and gun show "drooling over firearms," as he puts it. Retired after 30 years in the U.S. Army, he has lined his study with books on war, framed battalion patches from his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, a John Wayne poster, and an 1861 Springfield rifle from an ancestor who fought in the Civil War.

But when it comes to the 2012 presidential election, Master Sergeant McDowell is no hawk.

<snip>

Disaffection with the politics of shock and awe runs deep among men and women who have served in the military during the past decade of conflict. Only 32 percent think the war in Iraq ended successfully, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. And far more of them would pull out of Afghanistan than continue military operations there.

<snip>

Romney, along with his primary rivals Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, had also accused Obama of "appeasement" toward U.S. enemies - a charge that drew a sharp Obama rebuttal. "Ask Osama bin Laden and the 22 out of 30 top al-Qaeda leaders who've been taken off the field whether I engage in appeasement," the president shot back. He has reproached GOP candidates: "Now is not the time for bluster."

If the election were held today, Obama would win the veteran vote by as much as seven points over Romney, higher than his margin in the general population.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/13/us-usa-poll-military-idUSBRE84C02120120513

[longship]

1. Wow! This is important

If Mitt cannot win the military vote, he likely cannot win the election. This shows the extent to which the party-not-named has turned the Republicans.

Add to the seemingly ever-growing list of people they have pissed off, the military.

[snpsmom]

2. Not as big a deal as we might want to think

Most active duty military at least lean Republican (they buy the coolest arms), but most vets at least lean Democrat. After you leave the service you realize Republicans really don't care about you. That can tend to influence your vote.

[otohara]

3. Military Contributions For 2012 Election Shift From Ron Paul To Obama In March

As it becomes increasingly apparent that Ron Paul will not win the Republican presidential nomination, the U.S. armed forces have switched gears, making fewer generous contributions to the Texas congressman's campaign while contributing more to President Barack Obama.

The anti-war Paul has been a favorite among members of the U.S. military, something his campaign contribution records clearly demonstrate. Paul -- a veteran of both the U.S. Air Force and the Texas National Guard -- has taken in more than $333,000 among members of the military who donated more than $200 since Jan. 1, 2011, according to an analysis from the Center for Responsive Politics. In comparison, members of the armed forces have contributed $184,505 to Obama and only $45,738 toward presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney's campaign.http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/333345/20120425/military-contributions-ron-paul-shift-obama-march.html

Also, 2008 military contributions favored Obama over McCain.

[xtraxritical]

4. "After you leave the service you realize" you were part of the problem not the solution.

TELL THESE MACHO MORONS ABOUT VIETNAM. DON,T ENLIST, EVER.