GOP is losing support of US troops

[BurtWorm]

I suppose it's possible that GOP contributions from troops are down because more of the troops' money is going to the loan sharks the GOP has let loose in base towns. But this looks like a real political shift among troops away from fantasy and toward self-interest.

:patriot:


http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/12874.html

Military contributions shift — away from the GOP
Posted September 13th, 2007 at 4:05 pm

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Washington Monthly ran a fascinating series of pieces a couple of months ago with the perspectives of active and retired U.S. troops explaining what they’re looking for from Democrats. Most of those featured seemed less than enthralled by the Republican Party — which assumes it “owns” the military vote — but there was some lingering hesitation about Dems.

The conventional wisdom suggests it’ll be a while, a long while, until Dems are drawing considerable support from those in uniform. But if contribution patterns are any indication, it may not be that long after all. (via Time)

Assessed favorably this week by the war’s lead general, the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq appears to be causing a surge of another sort — and one that’s not positive for President Bush or the Republican Party. Since the start of the Iraq war in 2003, members of the U.S. military have dramatically increased their political contributions to Democrats, marching sharply away from the party they’ve long supported. <…>

“People are saying now enough is enough,” said Lt. Col. Joyce Griggs, an intelligence officer who said she spent two months in Baghdad earlier this year, speaking for herself and not the Army. “If you’re a soldier, you’re going to do your job, do what you’re commanded to do. But that sentiment is wide and deep.”

The shift is more than just a few percentage points. In 2002, the last full cycle before Bush launched the Iraqi invasion, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics found that 23% of military members’ contributions went to Democrats. So far in 2007, that number is 40%.

More specifically, the drop-off for Republican support within the Army is striking. Before the war, 71% of Army campaign contributions went to the GOP. This year, that number is down to 51%. So, the GOP’s advantage went from more than 2-to-1 before the war, to near-parity now.

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[jgraz]

1. Sad that there's still any support to lose

:shrug:

[ellenfl]

2. i have always questioned the meme that the troops back

the repugs . . . especially since many young people join for a better life or an education and would come from predominantly democratic communities. however, in terms of contributions, how many grunts would contribute to any candidate? they certainly don't make enough money to contribute. perhaps they are required by their officers to contribute . . . to whom the 'bosses' tell them. i can see officers being repug . . . and doing the majority of the contributing.

to me what this says is that the higher-ups have seen the light. bushco has been using them for their own enrichment, not necessarily for the good of the country. any american who looks at the voting records of congress will see who stands for the military. i think those in charge in iraq are beginning to see that light.

ellen fl

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Ok let me correct a couple things here

grunts do come from democratic communities and as you said, E-4 and bellow have enough trouble feeding and clothing themselves.

But... they are not ordered by officers to contribute to anybody.

Moreover, among officers, O-1 to about O-3 to O-4 they are evenly split in how they vote and for whom. The careerists O-5 and above trend republican for one simple reason... the republicans trend (until this administration) to expand the force (reagan's 600 ship navy for example), which means job security and everybody gets a pay raise... since you need to suck people up the command structure and every rank increase effective is a pay raise. So it is self interest mostly

Now once you enter the general and flag ranks, many of these folks retire from the military and go straight to work with the people who make the toys (a practice that was banned at one point but Bush Sr got it unbanned and Clinton never got to it... unfortunately)

In the Enlisted ranks, senior NCOs, E-6 and above, trend republican for the same reasons the officers do. They are in the service as lifers and republicans mean job security

What is making the armed forces turn away from the GOP is the same thing that made them turn away from the DEMS back in the 1960s, and that is the abuse of the force. What has happend so far will ensure that for a generation, at least, the troops and officers will continue to trend democratic.

That does not mean the Dems should count on these votes, just like they should not count on any else's votes. That is a mistake