The Veteran's Vote: Will they vote against their economic self interest?

[Justice]

My mom, from New Hampshire, gets called today by the veterans for a donation. She has told them repeatedly in the past, I am not donating to you because you are supporting republicans - and that is hurting veterans. Veterans voting against their own economic self-interest.

Today, the caller said in response - yes mam we know and that will be addressed at the polls - implying that veterans will NOT be voting republican this time around.

Wesley Clark says republicans like weapons not the armed forces, so this stuff about their supporting defense has been twisted.

How do you think veterans will vote?

Edit: fix typo.

[mmonk]

1. I sure hope they wise up.

If enough would switch, Dems could pick off my state of N.C. I really think some are starting to. Bush will send them to war while his party continues to cut veterans' benefits. Talk about a slap in the face.

[leftbend]

8. Some of us have

Some vets have been wised up for some time. There are many veterans groups some markedly more conservative than others, the VFW, and American Legion being more the old guard conservative groups. I too hope more vets wise up and soon, I try to educate every chance I have, many are questioning now and talking openly about the repugs treatment of veterans.

[Brucey]

2. There are certain groups that just don't make sense.

Veterans, farmers, college students... it seems they would be better off with Dems in power, but they tend to go repug.

[Justice]

4. College Students and Young Adults

Recent Polls show young adults support bush in higher % than the rest of the country? Something like 61%.


I had hoped some of the candidates would have been asked a question about the cononomy last night - but there were very few.

Isn't it true that the blip in last quarter's GDP was due in large part to some checks in teh mail from Bush and to defense spending. As defense spending is largely on credit - we are charging up our debt on military supplies against our future promise to pay. And who is going to be the workforce when baby boomers retire? Why our young adults, show have entered the workforce with jobs and have not experienced recessions or pain.

[jonnyblitz]

3. I am a very anti- war, anti- bush vet and I know many others like

me. Quite a few of us show up for the major anti- war rallies. I also know a number of active duty folks who are very liberal. Kerry seems to be well thought of and always gets mentioned. They (the active duty liberals I know) aren't as loud about their views as the conservative service members seem to be.

[Justice]

5. Great Thanks!

[DuctapeFatwa]

6. Millions do, have for decades, why should they be any different

Go to the Wal-Mart parking lot and do a quick poll about "socialized medicine like Canada has." Be sure and make security arrangements for yourself beforehand, preferably something Shaq-sized named Vinnie.

[PapaClay]

7. Actually,

politicians do like weapons systems better than troops. Troops do vote, but they don't, for the most part contribute the big bucks that the M-I CEO's do.

My take, based on observations at several vets boards, newspaper articles and personal experience is this:

Troops don't want to believe that they are fighting and dying for nothing. They will resist these feelings as long as they can because it's not like they can up and quit. But when they do have their epiphany, they tend to get real pissed-off...at the politicians that put them where they are.

Troops and veterans alike, do not like getting financially screwed by politicians. They expect it, but they don't like it. And they are in the middle of getting screwed some more by GWB and company. What's even better, thanks to the web, they know about the screwing within days, if not hours. Back in the day, by the time we knew we had gotten screwed, it was old news and the rest of the world had moved on.

So the military vote is, IMO, up for grabs. They are getting increasingly pissed off about this clusterfuck of a war, and the fact that politicos are cutting benefits again (still).

At the rate things are going now, I think the Repubs are gradually losing the military vote. And I think they know it. So look for more spin and window dressing in the coming months.



BTW, I'll vote for GWB when I see Barb and Jenna on point with a recon unit.

[BillyBlastoff]

9. Do they vote?

My Pop, a proud Veteran and Patriot (2 tours in Korea, 3 in Vietnam) votes and chides his Buddys at the Legion about getting out the vote. He has admitted that fellow Veterans complain much more than they vote.