Obama Out-raises McCain 6-to-1 Among Deployed Service Members
The conventional wisdom has long held that Sen. John McCain has the support of those in the military, past and present. However, a new report from the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks money in politics, reveals that Sen. Barack Obama, the presumed Democratic nominee, has raised more money than McCain among service members stationed overseas, by a margin of six-to-one. Moveover, the Republican anti-war gadfly Rep. Ron Paul, who officially suspended his presidential campaign in June -- raised four times as much money as McCain from this segment of the military. That's not all. From the report:
Despite McCain's status as a decorated veteran and a historically Republican bent among the military, members of the armed services overall -- whether stationed overseas or at home -- are also favoring Obama with their campaign contributions in 2008, by a $55,000 margin. Although 59 percent of federal contributions by military personnel has gone to Republicans this cycle, of money from the military to the presumed presidential nominees, 57 percent has gone to Obama.
With the latest campaign finance filings, detailing June fundraising, McCain has overtaken Paul among all military donors, though Paul still leads with contributors listing an overseas address. Financial support from military personnel for anti-war candidates Obama and Paul is a trend that the Center for Responsive Politics first observed last September.
Individuals in the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps have all leaned Republican this cycle, but the only branch in which that ideology has carried over to the presidential race is the Marine Corps, where McCain leads Obama by about $4,000. In each of the other branches -- including the Navy, in which McCain served when he was taken prisoner during the Vietnam War -- Obama leads by significant margins.
"That's shocking. The academic debate is between some who say that junior enlisted ranks lean slightly Republican and some who say it's about equal, but no one would point to six-to-one" in Democrats' favor, said Aaron Belkin, a professor of political science at the University of California who studies the military. "That represents a tremendous shift from 2000, when the military vote almost certainly was decisive in Florida and elsewhere, and leaned heavily towards the Republicans."
In 2000, Republican George W. Bush outraised Democrat Al Gore among military personnel almost 2 to 1. In 2004, with the Iraq war underway, John Kerry closed the gap with President Bush, but Bush still raised $1.50 from the military for every $1 his Democratic opponent collected.
Should this be read as a sign that U.S. soldiers are maybe not as keen on staying in Iraq indefinitely as McCain and some of his Republican colleagues would have us believe?
Comments:
Posted 08/14/2008 05:07pm with
I think this is the reason the military is supporting Obama.
John McCain does not know that 9-11 was caused by Osama Bin Laden not Sedam Hussein?
John McCain in September 2007: voted against the Webb amendment calling for adequate troop rest between deployments?
John McCain July 2007: voted against a plan to drawdown troop levels in Iraq?
John McCain in March 2007 was too busy to vote on a bill that would require the start of a drawdown in troop levels within 120 days with a goal of withdrawing nearly all-combat troops within one year?
John McCain in February 2007 didn’t even bother to show up to vote against a resolution condemning it? For such a strong supporter of the escalation, McCain didn’t even bother to show up and vote for it?
John McCain in June 2006, voted against a resolution that Bush start withdrawing troops but with no timeline to do so?
John McCain in May 2006, voted against an amendment that would provide $20 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care facilities?
John McCain in March 2004, once again voted for abusive tax loopholes over veterans when he voted against creating a reserve fund to allow for an increase in Veterans’ medical care by $1.8 billion by eliminating abusive tax loopholes. Jeez, McCain really loves those tax loopholes for corporations, since he voted for them over our veterans’ needs?
John McCain in October 2003, voted to table an amendment by Senator Dodd that called for an additional $322,000,000 for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq and to reduce the amount provided for reconstruction in Iraq by $322,000,000?
John McCain in April 2003, urged other Senate members to table a vote (which never passed) to provide more than $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment in Iraq related to a shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, and tactical vests?
If he believes that we should stay the course for as long as possible he should be willing to support the people he puts in harms way.
John McCain does not know that 9-11 was caused by Osama Bin Laden not Sedam Hussein?
John McCain in September 2007: voted against the Webb amendment calling for adequate troop rest between deployments?
John McCain July 2007: voted against a plan to drawdown troop levels in Iraq?
John McCain in March 2007 was too busy to vote on a bill that would require the start of a drawdown in troop levels within 120 days with a goal of withdrawing nearly all-combat troops within one year?
John McCain in February 2007 didn’t even bother to show up to vote against a resolution condemning it? For such a strong supporter of the escalation, McCain didn’t even bother to show up and vote for it?
John McCain in June 2006, voted against a resolution that Bush start withdrawing troops but with no timeline to do so?
John McCain in May 2006, voted against an amendment that would provide $20 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care facilities?
John McCain in March 2004, once again voted for abusive tax loopholes over veterans when he voted against creating a reserve fund to allow for an increase in Veterans’ medical care by $1.8 billion by eliminating abusive tax loopholes. Jeez, McCain really loves those tax loopholes for corporations, since he voted for them over our veterans’ needs?
John McCain in October 2003, voted to table an amendment by Senator Dodd that called for an additional $322,000,000 for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq and to reduce the amount provided for reconstruction in Iraq by $322,000,000?
John McCain in April 2003, urged other Senate members to table a vote (which never passed) to provide more than $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment in Iraq related to a shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, and tactical vests?
If he believes that we should stay the course for as long as possible he should be willing to support the people he puts in harms way.
Posted 08/14/2008 05:22pm with
Why is this Arizona Republican supporting Obama?
I will not vote to keep killing our bravest young people for 100 years. I will not vote for a man that sends young people in harms way buts votes continuously against supplying then with needed equipment. I will not vote for a man that voted against added funds for VA hospitals. I will not vote for a man who does not know that 9-11 was caused by Osama Bin Laden not Sedam Hussein. I will not vote the man who does not know if the Sunnis or Sheits are our enemies! I will not vote the man who voted against increasing benefits for the military that he sends in harms way. I will not vote to keep putting our government on the China, Saudi Arabia credit card. I will not vote for tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. I will not vote for broken promises on the deficit.I will not vote For a man that helped turn a projected surplus into a national debt of 9.2 Trillion and counting I will not vote for tax credits for health care rather then a national health care program.I will not vote in opposition to SCHIP. I will not vote for a man who says the economic downturn is psychological. I will not vote for a man who says you are better off under George Bush. I will not vote for a man who says irresponsible, undeserving homeowners are loosing their homes.
I will not vote for a man who voted against raising the minimum wage in, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2006. I will not vote for a third Bush term. I will not vote for a man who publicly called his wife a trollop and c*nt?