Military women, female veterans are shifting away from GOP

[riversedge]

Source: AP





By: Hope Yen, The Associated Press and Jennifer McDermott, The Associated Press ? 1 hour ago




WASHINGTON — It had been months since retired Lt. Cmdr. Michele Fitzpatrick paid attention to news coverage. She was turned off by President Donald Trump’s tweetstorms and attacks on critics such as the late Republican Sen. John McCain, a war hero. But as the November midterm elections approached, she fired up her laptop.

A member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy's Class of 1980, the first to include women, Fitzpatrick began researching candidates and poring over issues. On Election Day, she voted without hesitation: all Democrat.

"I just don't think what's happening now is helpful," Fitzpatrick, of Groton, Connecticut, said in a telephone interview, pointing to the negative discourse in Washington. "It's almost like watching kids and bullies on the playground instead of people actually doing something about helping this country to survive and to thrive."

That's hardly a startling view from a Democrat these days. But from a military vet?


Long seen as a bastion of support for Republicans, the face of the U.S. military and its veterans is changing — and perhaps too is their political bent.

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Read more: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/12/30/military-women-female-veterans-are-shifting-away-from-gop/

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and the vet gents.........hope they will get smart like the majority of the women!!




https://www.armytimes.com/resizer/XSsrKZqJNpN7WLCs5WJ2DFpvOI8=/1200x0/filters:quality(100)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-mco.s3.amazonaws.com/public/VEGPBQWOCJGIBP66AZ6GKTNBKM.jpg
Michele Fitzpatrick, a retired lieutenant commander in the Coast Guard, poses for a photograph at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. Female veterans, both current and former service members, were more likely to vote in the 2018 midterm elections for Democrats than Republicans, 60 percent to 36 percent, according to data from VoteCast. (Jessica Hill/AP)






Poll shows high job approval for Trump from veterans


https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2018/12/30/poll-shows-high-job-approval-for-trump-from-veterans/
By: Emily Swanson, The Associated Press and Hannah Fingerhut, The Associated Press ? 1 hour ago






WASHINGTON — Nearly 6 in 10 military veterans voted for Republican candidates in the November midterm elections, and a similar majority had positive views of President Donald Trump’s leadership. But women, the fastest growing demographic group in the military, are defying that vote trend.

That's according to AP VoteCast, a nationwide survey of more than 115,000 midterm voters — including more than 4,000 current and former service members — conducted for The Associated Press by NORC at the University of Chicago. It found that veterans overall approved of Trump's job performance, showing high support for the president's handling of border security and his efforts to make the U.S. safer from terrorism.


Male veterans were much more likely to approve of Trump than those who haven't served, 58 percent to 46 percent.

But 58 percent of female veterans disapproved of Trump, which is similar to the share of women overall (61 percent).

Some takeaways on veterans:
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[mysteryowl]

1. Well, women are smarter than men, which explains this.

[Rizen]

7. This is the kind of comment the left doesn't need.

[IronLionZion]

2. Yet another reason why GOP doesn't want women to serve

[Cold War Spook]

3. I used to stay quiet at the VA clinic.

Now, every time a veteran says something about Trump that is wrong, I call them on it. I am sorry to say that fewer and fewer veterans are talking to me. What I am sorry about is the small number of veterans I see who agree with me.

[IronLionZion]

4. I suspect liberal veterans might keep it closer to the vest

while conservative veterans like to let you know and assume you agree with them

[LogicFirst]

5. Martha

Martha McSally better take a good look at this. She seems to be out of step.

[Nitram]

6. I've been waiting for this to happen. I'm sure some men are affected, too. The total disrespect of

the military, ignorance of world events, and the casual way the Commander in Chief puts our military men and women in harm's way for no good reason must have been noticed. For too long service members have leaned Republican.

[maxrandb]

8. And the women shall lead them

Hopefully this starts a trend. I served 30 years in the Navy and the reality is that we are pretty damned diverse, BUT the right wingers are way more vocal and propped up by shit like Limbaugh being on armed forces radio. That's a fucking travesty that must end!!!

Democrats need to start playing hardball. EVERY FUCKING Commander that was in charge of troops and allowed that orange POS to come and make fucking partisan campaign speeches to hostage troops ought to be fucking drummed out of the service. EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM.

I'm calling the pricks in charge of Iraq troops in front of a congressional committee and making sure they understand that we don't have a partison military.

I'm making sure they are put under oath and explain how they have a responsibility to ensure my son in Afghanistan is not used as a fucking political prop for Donnie Short Fingers... and I'd use that exact language.

Please tell your relatives and friends that are on active duty to NOT remain silent when partisan wingnut shit is broadcast at their commands or by their peers.

This myth of the Retrumplicans being the friend of the military needs to die a public and painful death

[denbot]

9. Not news to me

Women or not the West L.A. V.A. can’t keep a picture of Shitler in the foyer for more than two weeks w/o someone vandalizing it. Most veterans I know, know he is a Russian asset.