Though it always seems to be a subject of contention (officers seem to trend pro-GOP, while enlisted members trend Democratic), the conventional wisdom seems to hold that the military is overwhelmingly Republican (a CW that wingnuts love to toss out).
But toss in a few...umm...errors in strategic judgment such as the ongoing idiocy of the war in Iraq, the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, poor treatment of wounded at Walter Reed, etc., and an interesting trend begins to develop.
So far this year and in the 2004 election, about 40 percent of contributions from donors identifiable as military members has gone to Democrats, compared to about one fourth in the 2000 and 2002 cycles, the center's study said. Service members gave about $1.8 million in the 2004 cycle and about $330,000 this year, the study said.And who is the biggest recipient of the new military largesse? Why, none other than the Democrats own Senator Barack Obama.
Democrat Barack Obama, who is calling for a troop withdrawal to start immediately, has received the most of any presidential candidate from uniformed service members -- about $27,000.While on the dark side:
Ron Paul, the only Republican candidate who opposes the war, has brought in at least $19,250 -- more than Vietnam War hero John McCain, who supports the war and has raised $18,600 from military personnel.I have a number of friends who are veterans and to a person they do not and will not be supporting the GOP any time soon. And who can blame them.
