The 'Veterans' Vote' is far from locked up
By Steve Benen Monday Aug 11, 2008 7:30amA couple of months ago, Time magazine posed the question: “Does McCain Have a Vets Problem?” The question hardly fits into the existing media narrative — John McCain is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. He shouldn’t, the argument goes, have any trouble winning over the support of other veterans.
But the narrative is incomplete, to put it mildly. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a grade of D for his record of voting against veterans (Obama got a B+), while the Disabled Veterans of America gave McCain a 20% vote rating. The Vietnam Veterans of America compiled a list of key votes, and found McCain voted against the group’s position 15 times and with the group eight times. (Obama, in contrast, voted with the VVA 12 times, and against it only once.)
With that in mind, when McCain went to Las Vegas over the weekend to speak to the Disabled American Veterans, perhaps it shouldn’t have been too big a surprise that the presumptive Republican nominee received lukewarm support.
Sen. John McCain, speaking to disabled veterans Saturday in Las Vegas, attacked his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, for his foreign policy record, while also proposing a program that would allow veterans to acquire health care at private hospitals and not just through the Veterans Affairs Department.
The veterans, at Bally’s for their national convention, gave him a tepid reception, especially considering McCain’s life story.
The Las Vegas Sun interviewed 14 veterans after McCain’s speech, only one identified himself as a certain McCain voter. Devoting most of his remarks to attacking Obama apparently didn’t help.
Retired Marine Duke Hendershot, a double amputee who served in Vietnam, supported McCain’s 2000 campaign, but is undecided now. “John just isn’t the same as he used to be. He’s not his own man,” Hendershot said. “A lot of that has to do with how he’s wanted this job so bad for so long that he’s tied himself to President Bush.” Hendershot added, “[McCain]should have been talking about veterans issues, not his opponent.”
Obama, in contrast, appeared via video, did not attack McCain, and focused exclusively on veterans’ issues.
SilentPatriot asked yesterday why the Bush administration would ban non-partisan voter registration drives from federally-financed veterans sites. Maybe this has something to do with it.
Login or Register to post comments.
If being tortured for 5+ years qualifies McCain to be the next president, then there are more than 250 current and former Gitmo detainees from Afganistan who are qualified to be the next Afgan president. MZ
I'm a vet, 25 years active duty with the Navy. John McCain does NOT have my vote. And, I have no problem with that.
I'm not sure this story is as helpful as we might think, since the vote totals show McCain showing up for nearly twice as many votes as Obama, Actually, that even makes me lose a little respect for Obama. Do we have any lawmakers anymore who know what their damn jobs are? People voted for them so they would vote for the people.
Very few veterns are going to vote Republican this time around.... most military people now realized that Iraq was a mistake. Would you rather vote for a guy who is going to keep you in Iraq and away from your family or a guy who will try to get you out of Iraq as soon as possible? Seems like an obvious choice to me..! Also, McCain's Vet voting record does not help.
And for those Vets who do vote for McCain then we should not hear any whinning from them about wasting their time and lives in Iraq... We should only ship true believers over to fight Republican wars.... the rest of us should live peaceful lives and we will more smartly and expertly pursue terrorists or threats to the U.S.... I guess the only probably with this scenario is that Republican wars are counter productive and make us less safe as a nation...
Misanthrope @ 3:
That is a lie... where did you get your information from.... McCain has not been in the house for pretty much a single vote in 2008 and Obama has been there consistently... check your facts... McCain did not even show up with regard to the latest Vet legislation even though he later claimed "we" helped get it done, and even though he was initially against it..
My husband is a navy vet and there is no way in hell he would vote for McCain. He also doesn't understand why McCain should get special treatment because he was a POW. There were lots of Vietnam POWs. Of course most of them didn't have the family background McCain did, but that doesn't make McCain any more honorable than any of the others.
(Bummer! The spell check button isn't working. Hello dictionary)
Phillip @ 5:
From the story
The Vietnam Veterans of America compiled a list of key votes, and found McCain voted against the group’s position 15 times and with the group eight times. (Obama, in contrast, voted with the VVA 12 times, and against it only once.)
Personally I don't know ANY veterans who intend to vote for mccain and I know a few.
In the parlance of my USN days, McCain is a buddy fucker.
if you are an american of voting age then you should be offended by the republican nominee. he's not a serious candidate, he's just a continuation of the disastrous non-policies of our current jackass in chief.
the republicans have no ideas other than to enrich themselves. their choice for president speaks volumes to that.
YOU should be angry.
Retired Navy here (20 years). McCain's "I got mine, the rest of you vets are on your own" attitude just doesn't cut it. I live in a community with a heavy concentration of active duty and retired military people. From talking to many of them I can tell you that McCain's support isn't as strong as the traditional media would lead people to believe. Many senior active duty people will vote McCain because that's the company position. But they make up a small percentage compared to the junior troopies. A large number of active duty people are fed up with the separation from their families and overwhelming burden they have been expected to shoulder. Also, keep in mind that for nearly every service member that is deployed, there are voting family members that just want them home. OBAMA 08!!
blue balls @ 8:
And talks like a sea lawyer.
Notice how Navy vets are the least excited about McCain? Kerry had how many ex-crewmen come out to support him? Where are McCain's ex-crewmen? He was an officer, a "leader", his whole campaign is based on his "readiness to lead". Where are all the men he led? I know he's old, but they can't all be dead.
I'm just one more Navy vet who doesn't think a pilot who crashed 5 jets, almost single-handedly destroyed one air-craft carrier and damn near a second and then got caught by the enemy is a good choice for president.
I think he's a Jonah.
I'm a Viet Nam combat vet who served in country in 67-68 with the 2nd of the 27th 25th infantry(wolfhounds). From my point of view McSame is no friend of vets. If this guy ends up in the White House all he will end up giving any of us, is more white grave stone markers. I know of no vets who are voting for this lame excuse of a vet who doesn't give a shit about any of his brothers and sisters who have served.
I can't understand why anyone who is a friend or family member of any military man or woman sent into Iraq, would vote for McCain. He has agreed with bush more than he had disagreed with him. Why would anyone support such a close clone of a man who sent his military into war for false reasons?
To watch Vet's and Military families follow the Bush Policy knowing he lied and cheated and caused thousands of soldiers to lose their lives based on lies. Watching our Vets cheer for the people who wouldn't serve themselves in the Military but have no problem making others stand in Iraq. McCain knows the truth when he was a POW. Follow soldiers have spoken out and said McCain caved in and was treated better because he used his Father's title. In other words McCain looked out for McCain only. McCain has milked that POW story for so long it's old as he is and now he really doesn't remember much of it as he makes it up.
The Vet was right when he said the old McCain is gone and this one is just a shell of a man.
It drives me nuts to read about these sorts of demographic assumptions. John McCain is a veteran so therefore he must be a shoe in with veterans. This is a really big election after 8 rough years for the US and, I think, the public at large is taking it more seriously than, say, the '96 election. People are listening deeper this year. Many veterans and many currently serving in military aren't terribly happy with the way the military has been used since 9/11. I think it's going to take a bit more than "I served just like you did" to win a vote this year, especially when the "I'm one of you" is being followed up with sort of foreign policy rhetoric that McCain's been spewing. It's selling veterans short to assume they'd probably elect McCain based solely on that on facet of his biography. Some years that part of his life story might have more weight but that guy has a lengthy public record that has been built since he left the Navy and he has to answer for it.
There was a post at Kos the other day about a reporter who has followed McCain all his political life. The story she paints of what McCain is really like as a person is not pretty. He is all about himself and seems he will do just about anything to get what he wants. Doesn't appear to bother him who gets hurt or what he leaves on the trail behind him.
markusmark @ 2:
Ouch!
How can a Repug like McSame win the presidency without the overwhelming support of conservatives, evangelicals or military veterans ??
"The ‘Veterans’ Vote’ is far from locked up"
Well, actually, I think it is locked up. Completely. Inside the VA hospitals and not getting out!
Hey vets! Thanks for your service. I am sorry that our politicians give you such shabby treatment. These hypocrite pols should be made to serve in their own damn wars.
A Retired Firefighter
Anyone here ever served on an aircraft carrier? Officers who are hated are sometimes ordered to remain below decks after dark, because they otherwise might be missing come dawn. That's one of the things not generally broadcast about carrier duty - anyone who goes over the side is not generally recovered.
I bring it up here because I have read that McCain was transferred off the USS Forrestal with the very first group of wounded that were being evacuated. this would be very unusual for several reasons.
First, transfers take time, McCain's transfer was apparently was not planned before the fire, which means it was dont while the ship was in the middle of the worst at-sea disaster the US military had ever had.
Second, during such a huge emergency, every fully functional officer would have been needed. It wouldn't have made sense to do a transfer during such an unprecedented emergency, unless the officer was more of a danger, or in greater danger, if he stayed.
Of course we can't know for sure because McCain's complete military records, just like W's, are suddenly missing. Unavailable. Can't be found. Whatever. If they are ever released, (and why should they be, since the media is avoiding this issue so completely?), I would expect them to be more heavily redacted or altered than Bush's.
I don't get how they can say Obama isn't ready to lead and then ignore every example of McCain's proven inability to lead when it was his sworn duty.
diamondmc @ 13:
Exactly. My son isn't and he's active duty.
Chico Hussein @ 18:
Um...Diebold, voter intimidation, purging, caging...the GOP/NEO-CON playbook is chock full of dirty tricks to rig an election...however..I think (hope) that so many will be voting for Obama that these dirty trick are not gonna work.
We shall see...if McBain wins...there had DAMN well better be millions marching on DC.
Because then we'll know we've been had.
Chico Hussein @ 18:
That's why they're pounding the racist buttons so hard. The Creationist GOP has evolved from Guns, God & Gays to Fear, Race and Gay-bashing.
You mean caring about the people who defend our country will get you more votes than just sending them off to kill people for little or no reason?!?! What a shock!
another Navy vet @ 24:
Oh they're still hittin the Guns, God and Gays button....just not as much now...and I don't think "creationists" use the word evolve, lol!
liberalNmoderation @ 23:
Ok but besides that, you gotta believe he has no chance.
Bush did get the overwhelming support of military personnel in 2004 and probably in 2000 as well. I just dont see that being the case this time around for the GOP. In 2004, military personnel were voting for their acting commander in chief. McCain has no such credentials.
The dirty tactics team in the GOP will have to work overtime and earn their stripes this time around.
another navy vet is exactly right. john w mcsame has no endorsements from fellow flyers or sailors. also he has no endorsements from fellow p.o.w.s. i reckon that the only way he can keep his past from haunting him is to keep the past strangely quite. just like bush who can produce absolutely no one who remembers him being in the armed service or any one who remembers serving with him, mcsame can produce no one who will vouch for the veracity of his military service. how strange. maybe one of his interrogtaors from the plantation, not the hanoi hilton as is the common misconception, will endorse p.w. songbird. maybe one of the directors or producers of the 37 propaganda films he made will vouch for his alleged sincerity.
You know, the Puke VA Chief has forbidden non-partisan voter registration teams to register injured vets in VA facilities, right?
Oh, yeah. The GOPuke fucknutz are trying to DISENFRANCHISE the very people who have been injured "protecting the rights of Murkins."
[Deleted. Don't advocate violence here. Thanks-Sitemonitor]
Chico Hussein @ 27:
Well...part of me says he's got no chance in hell....another part says, don't underestimate the stupidity of the red states.
McPappy's "Vet Problem" will only become exacerbated by his "Iseman Problem" just before the election. Obviously, the Dems are waiting to bring in his new "mistress" at the eleventh hour in order to totally tank any chances he may have for winning.
**Google: Vicky Iseman, Wrinkled Cindy's Noveau Version for full details.
The one thing Edwards admitting his affair has accomplished is this: It has brought to light the flushed under the rug affair McPappy was having during HIS campaign with Vicky Iseman. Time to pull up the rugs and "out" McCrazy for the whoremonger whom he really is. In fact, in his book, he wrote about sleeping with multiple women (Cindy included) while still married to his first wife. The continuation of his trysting well into this campaign cycle indicates that he has a seriously flawed ego which he assuages by bedding women.
As someone so aptly said yesterday: If whoring around disqualified one from becoming a Senator OR presidential candidate, McCain would be out of the running long ago - for either position.
This will all come out in it's ugliness just prior to November. It will be entitled: "McCain's Women", Part 2.
Sen. McCain's claim to fame, his POW status, was almost forty years ago!
I'm supposed to like him, why?
sophya @ 30:
Maybe...but what does Hillary have up her sleeve I wonder? From the news clips I've seen, it's like she hasn't given up yet...and she seems to be demanding she speak at the convention...is she goin to declare her candidacy UN-suspended? WTF?
Anybody?
But, of course, we all remember how he called his own wife a c_ _ _ not long ago reveals that it's more a case of abusing women in order to get what he really wanted - enough money of theirs to fund his egocentric need for the limelight. Without Cindy's money, he would even be in the Senate - this we all know.
liberalNmoderation @ 33:
That's the librul media confusing the issues.
No, I think she's done for the time being. The rest is just hyperbole.
liberalNmoderation @ 30:
The SCUM (SoCalled Unbiased Media) have a job. It is to portray a "horse race." They MUST pretend that the race is "close" (though in this case it may well be) enough to steal, so that any unexpected result can be explained away by the "closeness" of things BEFORE the final vote.
Whether the Pukes pull out their big, election-theft guns depends on whether the Bosses want to take 4 years (Obama will be a one-termer, gay-ron-FUCKING-teed, chers) to erase forever the threat of a Dim resurgence, or just go on raping and pillaging in the manner established over the last 8 years, under McSame.
It depends on what the Bosses see as the prospects for the immediate future. If they think there's still plenty of time to ass-rape the planet for profit, they may let Obama into the ShiteHouse for a term. This would have the additional benefit of forever discrediting "the Other" as a legitimate choice for a leader. The morass of bureaucratic land-mines, personnel saboteurs, and bidness-friendly regulations--in addition to a collapsing economy, an endless military adventure in the Caspian, and a hostile Congress--will prove IMPOSSIBLE obstructions to any Dim--but especially Obama--from accomplishing ANYTHING. His will be recalled as the moste spectaculary ineffective Administration in history.
But if, as I suspect, they think the planet is tumbling inexorably and irreversibly into chaos, the Bosses--you know, the oiligarchs, pollutocrats and oiletes--may just skip to the chase and install McSame.
I'm putting my money on McSame--though I'll probably vote for St. Barry...
surfjac @ 32:
liberalNmoderation @ 33:
woody, tokin librul @ 36:
We all know the "self proclaimed King makers" are spinning the web. What these whoring sycophantic propagandists fail to realize is that the majority of americans are well onto their "charade". This is why when the media whores go one way, americans go the other. Believe nothing of their spin and bullshit. It's all smoke and mirrors. Be not deceived by these shapeshifting "KingMakers". They're all liars and frauds.
mudshark @ 35:
I hope so...and Bill seems awfully bitter toward Barack too...I think they actually believed that they deserved to get the nomination. Sore losers.
McCain seems to take the "veteran vote" for granted. Just take the instance when Obama criticized McCains opposition to the Webb bill. McCain responded he shouldnt need to take any "lectures" from someone who "didnt feel it was his responsibility to serve his country in uniform".
So just because McCain is a veteran he simply knows whats best for all veterans.
I'm a Cold War veteran, and I'm sure as Helena Bonham Carter not voting for mcgramps.
I can tell you there are family member vets who are NOT going to vote for McCranky and his anti-vet voting record is the reason, that and his just being too fucking old. Another good post. The rankings by the Vet organizations are on their web sites. Obama is going to pull over half of Vet votes. The days of knee-jerk voting for Repubs is gone. McCranky's anti-vet stance just accelerates the process. If he disses another Vet who asks him an honest question it will be ruined.
Hillary is speaking at the second night of the convention because it will be that night the 88th anniverary that women got the right to vote.
I have to say that hearing all of the retired and active military folks on this board go after McNut is very encouraging--after having the Rs throw in my face all the time that the military is solidly Republican. I'm also pleased to see some people pointing out McNut's record of collaborating with the NVA. But I don't expect the media will touch that with a ten foot pole. They are way too invested in the "war hero" narrative they repeat at every chance.
My dad is long retired from the air force and he isn't voting for McCain. Doesn't mean he is thrilled with Obama but he can't stand McCain. Now, he does have some old friends that are right wing loons (their propaganda emails basically chased him off the computer--he doesn't know how to politely say "keep your politics to yourself).
During my last visit to the VA hospital I mentioned to some guys what mcgramps said recently at that time, about rationing veterans healthcare to those injured in battle.
Not one person doubted me, and that all got angry at mcgramps. You see although some of us were peacetime and some wartime vets, we were all worried about conditions that may've developed since war, like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, would they be covered anymore?
ysbaddaden @ 43:
No shit? That's a cool thing actually...the way the damn media....at least from what I've seen anyway, that she was trying to elbow her way onto the stage for a "everybody look at me" type moment....Damn liberal media!
ok gonna have my sayso! im a korean war vet , old am i well duh! well educated not so much , ignorent , not overly, never voted repig in my life, think most politicians are the stuff you accidently step in and have to scrape it off your shoe, allways said the democrats are just an inch better then repigs , thats shrunk to an eighth of an inch, dont like mccain ,dont believe in obama, obama goes along with the fools who believe in sending men to thier deaths in afganistan just either to make the war corporate whores more profits or else hes stupid enough to believe afganistans really a threat to ol uncle sugar, hell every countrys got thier terriorists , they come they go , next year they will change thier names and still not be a major threat to us, not going to bitch about mccain , cause hes just the useual repigshit they produce , no matter who gets the whitehouse were stuck in pigshit , keep your socks clean if you can!
I don't think it's just a majority of vets who won't be voting for mccain but a majority of active duty personnel also will not be voting for him.
Great post Steve. I wonder why Obama doesn't advertise these rankings.
Here's the thing....
Who could tell a 20 or 30 year old Iraq veteran that the 46 year old Obama is too young to run the country? Obama has a much better voting record on veteran's issues, and has shown better judgment about deploying troops, in word and argument, than McCain.
Just who do you think would be responsible for implementing McCain's bellicose proclamations about Iran and Russia?
ysbaddaden @ 46:
I personally know at least half a dozen vets who won't vote for McCain.
this vet ask/challenges mcSurge's senate voting record
regarding vet issues. mcSurge avoids the question instead tells us how great he is....short video
http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/al/CqyL
I know at least half a dozen vets who will not vote for McCain and will be voting for Obama.
McCain does not have this Vets vote and never will. One thing that is getting tiring to Vets is his constant POW narrative, you know the one he says he never speaks of yet always does. A majority of Vets have their stories but for the most part we keep them to ourselves. We don't seek acceptance, favors, or even pity based on what some of us experienced.
Speaking of the Vets who are in VA hospitals and otherwise unable to get out to vote, is their any organizations that help these people get to the polls? This just came to mind while reading the comments so I haven't been able to do any searching on the subject. If anyone knows of any please post them and if not it appears as if this would be something we can do for our fellow Vets or fellow citizens.
Thanks!
If I was a military man I would probably despise guys like McCain....
> graduated like 4th from the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy... too busy partying and womanizing.... probably only graduated at all because of his family pedigree.....
> became a pilot... i thought only the top of the class became pilots on aircraft carriers...
> crashed 3 planes... one into electrical wires.... actually five planes if you count the plane that was hit by a rocket on the Forestal and the plane he crashed when he was shot down.... i thought if you crashed even one plane and it was your fault you were sent packing.....
> got shot down and was taken prisoner on his second mission over Vietnam...
> not clear at all about his behavior as a POW...... lots of confusion here and missing and mis-information.. my feeling is the truth is probably much different than the myth...
> took his POW story and his new wife's money and got elected.... so no real resume other than a shoddy military career, which he admits he was a terrible pilot.
> has supported this mis-guided Iraq war from the beginning...
> has been missing and unsupportive on vet votes...
> got personal and attacked other legitimate vet heros with distinguished military careers like Wesley Clarke....who was only pointing out the obvious in reponse to a question.... Clarke bled for this country and was an outstanding achiever in the military...
Basicially McCain's life is Dad's party boy wrecks his way through the military and uses POW story to get elected on wife's money and makes a bunch of bad choice with regard to the use of U.S. military force and supporting the wrong war which has cost U.S. military personal much and the people of Iraq even more....
Beat the shit out of McCain all ya like, but I think it is a fool's exercise. After the swift-boating of Kerrry, reasonable people are sick of it......If a person serves their country and suffers as a result, respect should/and must be paid. Move on to a real issue where you think he fucked up.....period. To beat him up on this issue, gives them cause to show all the pics with him returning from war, after risking his life for his country.....obama has no such pictures. Russia is invading Georgia and we are helpless to change it, and here at C&L the obama apologists are pissing on John's military record. NOT and good attack at McCAin. try again --- he comes with a history of flaws.
Doug,
Your point is well taken......but
McCain's military career is important... because that it what he is largely running on (and always ran on)... amd that it somehow gives him foreign policy expertise and knowledge...
in fact, what it shows is another personality not unlike George Bush... someone of privledge with not much record of achievement...
i don't think the country needs to take a chance again with another guy like that.... how about voting for someone who has actually achieved something in their life for once... someone with the brains to actually think through issues and problems and not work from the gut like McCain and Bush...
it is actually a positive thing that Obama has no direct military career... i think this country has had enough of the military's way of thinking...
douglas in oklahoma @ 57:
Ah yes, after the swiftboating of Kerry it's clear smear campaigns are a thing of the past.
That said, thank you for your concern douglas.
McCain trolling points awarded: 10.
I'm a vet and would never vote for a McCain just as I'd never vote for a Bush, neither was a great soldier (bush didn't even play one). If being a member of the armed services makes you a better leader than there are many of us smarter than those two...so let's stop using military services as a plus for leadership...that's plain stupid! As honorable as service is (except bush's) (mcsame's wasn't great, he was bottom of the class and was shot down, he didn't voluteer to be a POW, it happened to him) for most, it alone don't make one better or worse than another man or women.
Let's all remember too that while Mcsame was a POW his 1st wife once a bathing beauty was in a horrid accident (acutally she suffered more than he) which took her beauty...What did McSlut do upon return, start womenizing and as soon as he caught the cash fish married her 30 days after 'officially' divorcing his wife. He knew he's never be the Admiral his father and grandfather were, since like bush he screwed up everything he touched, so politics was his only choice and money (cindy) was needed for that to happen...lucky him, unlucky for US.
I'm a veteran and I'm voting for Obama. I didn't vote for Bush either.
douglas in oklahoma @ 57:
The intellectual dishonesty of the right knows no bounds: McCains only "achievement" during his military career was that he was captured. Saying that being a prisoner of war is in no way shape or form a qualification for the highest office in the land is in no way shape or form a disrespect to the people who have sacrificed/suffered during military actions representing this country.
In fact it is the opposite: McCain's exploitation of the suffering of POWs to entitle himself to a political career is what is shameful and disrespectful.
Because tell me, other than being a POW on what other achievement did McCain ran for his first senatorial run.
Also, McCain's military career was mediocre at best, trying to lump him with other real heroes... it is in my humble opinion really disrespectful to those heroes.
Funny how the GOPers think they can get away with framing the issues. After they are done pissing on real veterans, then it is time to "move on" right? Ironically, the real military heroes used to be those who sacrificed their lives either fighting valiantly, being captured used to be considered a dishonor. And here we are, GOPers turning it into a heroic act.
He claims to know how to win wars and he and the media state that he was a leader of men during wartime. Both are false!!! He's never won a war and he certainly has never led men into combat, nor has he ever been in actual combat. Now, should that disqualify him from being President? No!! It should be based on his life's work and his record as a senator. Which includes cheating on and dumping his first wife because she was in a wheelchair and no longer pretty enough to be a trophy wife. Then he became a supporter and boot licker for the coward-in-chief (bush) even after the way they attacked him in 2000 on such a personal level. His voting record on Vet issues, and support for one of the biggest blunders in military and foreign policy. This Disabled Combat Vet (67-68) and the majority of guys in my ptsd group (11 of 14) are not voting for him.
another Navy vet @ 12:
People who were at the Hanoi Hilton with McCain have come forth saying how they can't vote for McCain in good conscience. Also his nickname during captivity seems to have been "song bird."
McCain, it seems, lacks any thing resembling shame.
If McCain votes AGAINST his own people - veterans - what hope do regular Americans have? None, actually.
McCain = Bush. Really. They are both unqualified to do anything.
This should be a campaing issue, Obama should demand Bush "Allow our Vets to Vote!" Then he should say that McCain doesn't care about making it harder for our Homeless and Disabled Freedom Fighters to Vote.
Servicemen who served with, or under McCain should take the stage at the Democratic Convention in support of Obama. They should demand McCain release all of his service records. What does he have to hide? Why is he afraid? (It worked against Kerry didn't it?)
Can someone who is familiar with active duty military answer some questions for me? Are you allowed to vote without your superiors seeing your ballot? It is impossible to get a mail in ballot and get it posted in time? Can you freely discuss politics without being considered disloyal to the current administration? I am always afraid to discuss Iraq for fear that people will consider me disloyal to the troops, but can criticism of the Bush/McCain duo make the troops feel I am directing it to them? I respect your service and bravery but I want you back in the USA as soon as possible. Now that you have missed all these years of your children and spouse I feel it is time for you to come home. What will it take?
stacy @ 66:
His "own people" are those worth $10 million or more.
Those will be very well taken care of if he is allowed in the White House.
j. wegener @ 69:
I was an active duty veteran during the Cold War. From what I understand from talking with younger veterans, the Bush Administration has politicized the Pentagon to such a degree it is harder to publically support the Democratic Party. The Generals and Admirals of the military who come from the Pentagon know where the Republicans support the $$$'s for their stock in War Corporations, like Halliburton and Blackwater. Therefore, the upper echelon officers don't like it much when the enlisted man goes for someone like Obama. Its more safe to keep your political opinions to yourself. Troops are supposed to be able to vote in elections, but it is up to the military voter to ensure he gets his absentee ballot in time, certified and posted through APO/FPO.
Don't EVER think criticizing the commander-in-chief is somehow a slap in the troop's face. If anything, the troops FIGHT AND DIE for your right to publically criticize. When the troops have been sent to die over a lie it is YOUR DUTY to speak for the troops who can NOT speak out! The only way those troops are going to come home is if people stop equating criticism of the CIVILIAN LEADERSHIP with that of "the troops."
diamondmc @ 13:
Amen brother! In this tiny town in "middle America" there are many WWII vets, none are voting McCain, many are writing in Ron Paul. Same for the rest of us, me Vietnam 66-67. There are folks in this town who have only been allowed 90 days respite between Iraq tours. I'll bet no one has read about all the Military Police looking for people who didn't show up for their fourth or fifth Deployments to Iraq. The Media is owned by the White House. Obama isn't the answer. He is a life-long Politician. They are Republicrats and Demicans. Same Old Sh-t, different name. The Republicrats HATE Ron Paul, that's enought to get my vote, but he's better than them. Check the man out, that's what the internet is for, although it's getting harder and harder to find anything about RP, and dozens of Republicrats are throwing their hats into the ring to be written in. Brownback of Kansas voted against Senior Americans on the Medicare Vote. Why would I vote for him? Obama, Clinton and McCain all abstained. That's the same as a no vote, just no balls. The bill lost by 2 votes, it needed 60, got 58. An Abstention doesn't count as a NO vote. How many times did OBAMA ABSTAIN??
Chico Hussein @ 27:
Has everyone forgotten that Bush got pushed over the top in 2004 by the Florida "Beyond the grave" vote? The Demicrats dropped all investigative noises when the Republicrats threatened to release "secrets" about certain Demicrats that Pappy Bush gathered while he was head of the CIA. How did the son and grandson of a Nazi supporter/traitor get so far in this Governemnt? I had a buddy that was turned down from the NSA because his grandmother was still a German Citizen. Prescott Bush was a damned Traitor! How in God's name did GB Senior get to be head of the CIA with a TRAITOR for a father?
There are rumors all over the Internet that Bush/Cheney will NOT allow an Election to happen. I hope to God they are just rumors, but considering the Bush family history, and our Emperor's complicity in 911, we are all well and truly screwed. There will be an event caused by the Adminisration. Thousands more will die, and Martial Law will be declared under the Amber Alert Plan. BLACKWATER Central American, "Combat Contractors" from Haliburton/KBR will be unleashed upon us to "Quell" uprisings, arrest "possible Insurgent Personnel" and kill "LOOTERS". Who do you think is gonna die?
BLACKWATER has Carte Blanche here in America. They will be allowed to kill whomever they wish, with NO repercussions, just as they do in Iraq. Bush has "Pardoned" himself in advance for any crimes he may have commited or will commit in future.
I'm not going peacefully into the gas chamber hoping it's all just a bad dream, and that my spending all my life fighting for my Country will count for one whit in my favor.
Neither should you.
I saw a video in which Henry Kissinger said that Ebola virus would be used here to pacify the population. It works fast, most of the population exposed will become infected and it kills 90-100% of the infected. Or so Kissinger said. It may have been phoney (God I hope!!). After 911, I have no ILLUSIONS ABOUT THIS Governement, or how it views us.
Phillip @ 56:
You can add that he's collectig $1,900.00 a month from Social Security, for what? I have no idea. I'm a Disabled Vietnam Vet and Disbaled Social Securitywise. Why don't I get $1,900.00 a month?
Tyler Durden @ 65:
I suggest he be referred to from now on, as "McSongbird". Any takers?
Login or Register to post comments.