About the videos of Obama with the troops in Kuwait and

[hedgehog]

Afghanistan - how are the soldiers who get to see him and mingle chosen? The soldiers I saw were VERY enthusiastic and mostly African-American. Was this a self-chosen group - i.e the people who wanted to see Obama or did someone else make the selection? If someone selected a mostly African-American crowd, it has the effect of allowing people to say that the white troops do not support Obama.


On edit - I want to make clear that I loved the videos myself - they made me want to cheer, too! I'm just wondering if someone was trying to sabotage the PR boost from this trip.

[mucifer]

1. I'm guessing it was people who wanted to see Obama

The percentages of African American troops are much lower than during the Viet Nam war.

[gateley]

3. And I saw a pic of Obama after coming out of the building,

waving to troops who were outside. I got the impression MORE wanted to go in and see him, but the facility couldn't accommodate them all.

[CountAllVotes]

2. many troops are African American

I used to work for the U.S. Army (it was over 20 years ago) and at least 1/2 to 3/4 of the enlisted troops at that time were African American.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Well, my husband (Air Force) was selected to be in a greeting line for Chimpy--

but he certainly could have refused, as well. It's hard to say. I will remind everyone that a majority of military personnel are Republican. Maybe it was more of a political-party thing than a racial thing--maybe the minority soldiers tend to be the Democrats of the military?

[mckara]

5. Troops Tend to Be Republicans?

What is your source for such a statement?

I believe that's a right wing meme that more members of the military are republicans.

[TwilightGardener]

6. The source is personal experience. My husband is a career guy, has served

as both enlisted and now an officer. He is not a Republican, and he is definitely in the minority among colleagues.

[mckara]

10. Check the Facts...

You'll find approximately 1/3 republican, 1/3 democratic, 1/3 unaffiliated.

I'm a retired naval officer, and a Democrat.

[MH1]

7. "he certainly could have refused"?

Do you think so? Sure, technically he would be allowed to refuse, but I think if I were in the military now (or back when I was in), I'd feel like that would be something I'd better not do. You're picked, you go.

Maybe it's different now. I'm just wondering.

[TwilightGardener]

9. He was chosen on the assumption that he would want to shake

hands with the Prez, since most folks would say yes (to get a break from a normal workday, if nothing else), but he could have said he was busy, etc. No one would have given him a hard time.

[my2sense]

8. I've noticed

this in video's and photos as well. I was wondering what the demographics are in the military these days. I'm sure the MSM will try to spin this and turn it into a negative, i.e. "only AA military personnel enthusiastic about Obama".