Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!
November 1st 08, 12:23 AM
An important voting block
It's clear that no one can afford to write off veterans, who are one
of the most consistent voting blocs. Veterans cast 16 percent of the
ballots in the 2004 presidential election, and President Bush captured
55 percent of their vote.
Veterans historically have conservative sentiments. But that could be
changing. This election cycle comes amid concerns that the military
has been overstretched in Iraq and Afghanistan, and scandals like
those over conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center have
suggested that troops weren't taken care of adequately once they came
home.
A recent poll in Washington state found that veterans supported
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama over Republican John
McCain, a highly decorated vet and former prisoner of war, 49 percent
to 40 percent.
Several retired Marine Corps officers responded to the poll expressing
anger at Republicans, the degree of their dissatisfaction surprising
pollsters.
"If Republicans are going to have a core constituency, what is it if
not that?" said Christopher Parker, an assistant professor of
political science at the University of Washington, which conducted the
poll. "The military is about good order and discipline and taking care
of their own. Republicans are being seen as having failed miserably at
all three."
When it comes to military donors, Iraq war critic Obama has held his
own with the more hawkish McCain. Until August, Obama had received
nearly six times as much money from troops deployed overseas at the
time of their contribution as McCain had, according to an analysis by
the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. While Obama continued
to lead in military donors with overseas addresses, McCain surged in
the final months of the campaign to take the lead among military
donors overall, fueled largely by employees of the Department of
Defense.
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/house/33615384.html?elr=KArks8c7PaP3E77K_3c::D3aDhUec7Pa P3E77K_0c::D3aDhUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
Just look at all of the "RIPers" coming out of the woodwork.
The republicans *have* failed miserably at all three. They've failed
elsewhere equally dismally. They are failures.
Thank you, Karl Rove! LOL!
It's clear that no one can afford to write off veterans, who are one
of the most consistent voting blocs. Veterans cast 16 percent of the
ballots in the 2004 presidential election, and President Bush captured
55 percent of their vote.
Veterans historically have conservative sentiments. But that could be
changing. This election cycle comes amid concerns that the military
has been overstretched in Iraq and Afghanistan, and scandals like
those over conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center have
suggested that troops weren't taken care of adequately once they came
home.
A recent poll in Washington state found that veterans supported
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama over Republican John
McCain, a highly decorated vet and former prisoner of war, 49 percent
to 40 percent.
Several retired Marine Corps officers responded to the poll expressing
anger at Republicans, the degree of their dissatisfaction surprising
pollsters.
"If Republicans are going to have a core constituency, what is it if
not that?" said Christopher Parker, an assistant professor of
political science at the University of Washington, which conducted the
poll. "The military is about good order and discipline and taking care
of their own. Republicans are being seen as having failed miserably at
all three."
When it comes to military donors, Iraq war critic Obama has held his
own with the more hawkish McCain. Until August, Obama had received
nearly six times as much money from troops deployed overseas at the
time of their contribution as McCain had, according to an analysis by
the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. While Obama continued
to lead in military donors with overseas addresses, McCain surged in
the final months of the campaign to take the lead among military
donors overall, fueled largely by employees of the Department of
Defense.
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/house/33615384.html?elr=KArks8c7PaP3E77K_3c::D3aDhUec7Pa P3E77K_0c::D3aDhUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
Just look at all of the "RIPers" coming out of the woodwork.
The republicans *have* failed miserably at all three. They've failed
elsewhere equally dismally. They are failures.
Thank you, Karl Rove! LOL!