U.S. Troops Deployed Abroad Reject McCain’s Iraq Plans, Donate 6:1 To Obama

[kpete]

U.S. Troops Deployed Abroad Reject McCain’s Iraq Plans, Donate 6:1 To Obama»

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has repeatedly claimed that he can speak for the interests of U.S. troops and best represent what they want. During a November 2007 debate, for example, McCain said:

I want to — and I want to tell you something, sir. I just finished having Thanksgiving with the troops, and their message to you is — the message of these brave men and women who are serving over there is: Let us win. Let us win.

Moreover, he has charged that Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), “who does not understand what’s happening in Iraq or fails to acknowledge the success in Iraq, would rather lose a war than lose a campaign.”

But a new analysis by Open Secrets finds that the U.S. military is increasingly rejecting McCain as its spokesman. Obama has received nearly six times as much money from soldiers deployed overseas. Even anti-war libertarian Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), who has suspended his campaign, has received more than four times as much as McCain:
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/08/troops-deployed-abroad-give-61.html

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.

more at:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/14/obama-troops-donations/

[adoraz]

1. WOW! This is really great news!

This better be covered in the media.

[KaryninMiami]

10. Which media? You mean on the TeeVee? That media?

Dream on. Maybe we can send this to our local newspapers and start to bombard the stations with this info - but don't hold your breath however, since we all know that the MSM loves McShame and would never want to show anything but what a hero he is.

[Renew Deal]

2. Ron Paul and Obama were the top fundraisers from military people during the primary

I'm glad this is still the case for Obama.

[ErinBerin84]

3. heh

I remember someone bringing the donations during the primary up on The View, and Repuke Elizabeth REFUSED to believe that Obama and Ron Paul received the most from the troops and military families. She narrowed her eyes and said "WELLLLL, that's not what I hear!" and when they tried to tell her about the statistics, she put her hand on her chin and narrowed her eyes some more and said "I'm going to have to do some....research on that..", despite the fact that um, the research was right there.

[Enrique]

4. when you include Paul, it's 10:1 against the war

Obama, Barack $60,642 134
Paul, Ron $45,512 99
McCain, John $10,665 26
Huckabee, Mike $7,950 10
Thompson, Fred $6,350 7
Romney, Mitt $5,550 10
Clinton, Hillary $3,240 6

[Ian_rd]

5. Obama Supports the Troops, and so they support him back

It's easier for armchair commandos to support endless war for no reason. It's harder for actual soldiers to do so.

[mod mom]

6. Less than Half of Military Votes Overseas Cast in '06 Counted...hmmmh wonder which counted

KEY FINDINGS OF EAC 2006 MILITARY & OVERSEAS VOTES:

*47.6 percent of ballots from overseas military voters were cast or counted;

*56.3 percent of ballots from domestic military voters were cast or counted

*52.6 percent of ballots from overseas citizens were cast or counted

*Approximately one-third of the cast or counted ballots were uncategorized by the states

The “cast or counted” category was created because not all states track ballots cast and ballots counted separately.

During the process of collecting the data, it was determined that many states and local jurisdictions did not track the specific data required by HAVA. Low response rates may also be attributed to EAC’s online survey collection instrument, which many states found difficult to use and time-consuming.

Response rates from states and local jurisdictions varied. For instance, of 3,123 possible jurisdictions, 54 percent provided information on the number of domestic military absentee ballots cast or counted, while 62 percent provided information on the number of overseas military absentee ballots cast or counted. Generally, more jurisdictions tracked information on overseas voters than domestic military voters.



http://www.eac.gov/News/press/docs/eac-releases-2006-military-and-overseas-citizens-voting-report/

Less than half of military votes overseas counted

Election commission: 57,000 ballots were cast in ’06

By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, September 25, 2007



WASHINGTON — Overseas military voters had less than half of their votes counted in last year’s congressional elections, according to data released by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission on Monday.

“One thing is clear: At every level of government, we need to do a better job,” said Donetta Davidson, chair of the commission. “We must make sure all eligible voters are getting their opportunities.”

The figures, released at the commission’s annual conference on ways to improve and troubleshoot the absentee voting process, showed that only about 992,000 of the nearly 6 million eligible overseas citizens requested ballots for the 2006 general election.

That included about 119,000 military personnel stationed outside the United States. Of those, only about 57,000 — less than 48 percent — had their votes successfully cast or counted.

-snip

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56561&archive=true

[eshfemme]

7. Yes! Even the military, a traditional Republican stronghold, knows

that Obama is just telling it like it is. They're all Obama Republicans in there if they're even still Republicans! The best way to recruit Democrats is just to point out the 8 years worth of crap the Republicans pulled.

[americanstranger]

8. That is a wild stat.

I want to see how McCain's minions try to spin that.

- as

[progressoid]

9. That's not something you spin. That's something you avoid.

[americanstranger]

11. Two reasons why they might try:

1. McCain's guys can't tell the diff between fights they should fight and fights they should leave alone.

2. McCain himself might want to hit back, simply because he thinks the troops love his wrinkly old ass.

You're probably right - but it wouldn't surprise me if McCain's guys were stupid enough to try to rebut this.

- as

[bvar22]

12. This needs to be catapulted into the MSM.

If it stays on DU, or Opensecrets, or thinkprogress, it is like a tree falling in the woods.

DUers, SEND THIS OUT!
Letters to the Editor, Caffferty File, Olbermann, ANY Media Outlet.
Notify the Obama Campaign and suggest that a National TV Campaign Ad shaould FOCUS on this fact.
Those with the experience, get this YouTube.

K&R for wider distribution.

[Minimus]

13. Coming from a military family I know this is a fact.

Nephew in Navy - served two tours in Iraq - home and out now.
His wife in Navy - currently in Afghanistan

Niece in the Navy - ship was in ME but now back in San Diego.
Her husband in the Navy - several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan - now on ship in ME.

All are voting for Obama! They do not want war-monger McCain in the Whitehouse.

My niece tells me many of her military co-workers and friends feel the same way.


My 73 year old Father is a retired Naval Officer - served for 25 years. Despises McCain and is voting for Obama!

Another nephew who was a Marine (he had to be different) - got out in 2000. He is voting Obama!