Are Republicans losing their longstanding support among the armed forces? A new report would suggest they are.
Members of the U.S. military have been donating more funds to Democratic candidates since the start of the Iraq war, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
The Center -- a nonpartisan, nonprofit group that tracks money in political contests -- reports that Democrats received only 23 percent of military members' donations in 2002, the last full election cycle before the start of the war.
Democrats can claim 40 percent of the military's contributions this year, according to the Center, which notes that the antiwar campaigns of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) have received the most military donations.
Obama has received $27,000 in military donations, and Paul $19,250. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) -- a former Navy officer and POW -- is third, with $18,600.
-- Brian DeBose, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (9)
It's not surprising to see the military support Ron Paul. The only oath one takes upon enlisting in the military is to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and to follow the orders of those above you. President, and Commander-in-Chief Ron Paul, will only go to war, and use the military, in a manner spelled out explicitly by the Constitution. Ron Paul is the only candidate who can prevent the impeached Bill Clinton from getting back into the White House, via his surrogate Senator. Hillary Clinton's campaign is a legal tactic, against Presidential term limits set in the Constitution.
Posted by James Stark | September 13, 2007 7:45 PM
Obama is anti-war? Didn't he vote for monies to continue this war? When it became P. C., his position shifted.
Ron Paul has been opposed to this war from day one. Hillery and Edwards both voted in favor of it. The only one of the candidates to stand with Dr. Paul was Dennis Kuchicich.
The Times needs to have it's facts straight on this.
Posted by Al Dove | September 13, 2007 9:29 PM
I think the reason that the U.S. Military is donating more funds to the Democratic Candidates because, Democrats are against the war. The idea is to get our troops out of the war. So the U.S. Military's main goal is that if a Demcratic Candidate gets into office there will be more of a chance to get us out of the war.
Posted by Laura | September 13, 2007 10:08 PM
It perfectly makes sense for military to support Ron Paul as military's oath upon enlisting is to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic and NOT to protect and defend the Federal government, its agencies and/or the president. And they have systematically been forced to break their oath by being forced to obey illegal and unconstitutional orders from latest presidents Bush/Cheney and also Clinton.
Ron Paul is a strict Constitutionalist proven by his flawless voting record in the Congress for 20 years.
Founding Fathers always wanted to make sure that the Constitution is defended not Federal government, as the Constitution is the document they crafted to prevent tyranny and they clearly understood and believed that abuse of the power by Federal government or the president is the shortest road to tyranny and dictatorship. They understood this from history based on cases like the fall of Rome to dictatorship from democracy and its subsequent collapse from inside.
Posted by DefendTheConstitution | September 14, 2007 9:52 AM
If you are against the war and a member of the US military, you have to keep your mouth shut. The military wants out of Iraq.
Posted by Althusius | September 14, 2007 11:26 AM
Osama... excuse me, Obama is VERY pro-war. Read his past speeches about the importance of American control of the middle east.
On the other hand, Ron Paul voted against Iraq from the beginning. He is a honorable Congressman who has learned history well enough not to repeat it.
Posted by RP | September 14, 2007 1:13 PM
I am a Ron Paul supporter.
@Althusius...I must say that you do the campaign and yourself a great disservice when you call other candidates names...especially rhyming them with the person who is so hated by so many people of this country.
Please stop this. You make it easy for people to call Dr. Paul racist when he has supporters that say such appauling things about his competition.
Posted by Sunshinysmile | September 14, 2007 6:04 PM
I think that the army is showing how they feel about this war by which candidate they support there tired of being away from home already
Posted by ellie | September 19, 2007 10:30 AM
hmm...i'm guessing none of you have served in the military. let me offer this: ask any ANY field grade or higher officer if he is for the war, against al qaeda, phrase the question in any way you want and you'll get an answer comparable to 'we will do our part to win, it must be done, we will be victorious, etc.' Same for senior enlisted. ask any junior enlisted, or the lower half of company grade officers (brand new lieutenants) and you'll hear 'this place su**s.'
ask ANY member of the military the following question: do you want to come home? and if so, when? your answer will be 'YES' and 'NOW.'
why is that surprising to anyone? adults with the sophistication and life experience to understand what's at stake will tell you the job needs to be finished, kids (hey look, if you aren't old enough to drink, you're a kid.) will tell you it stinks here, and all the people away from your families for 15 months will say they want to go home (SEALS, Delta and TF160 excepted!).
PLEASE PLEASE regardless of your political affiliation or opinion of soldiers marines and airmen, say a prayer in your favorite religous tone tonight for our nation's children at risk, those at home and abroad.
VOTE!
(or shut up!)
timrandle@problemanalysis.net
Posted by tim | September 19, 2007 11:23 AM