What the Media Won't Tell You: The Military is supporting Anti-War candidates

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_timothy__071026_what_the_media_wont_.htm

What the Media Won't Tell You: The Military is supporting Anti-War candidates

by Timothy V. Gatto


While you probably won’t hear this on the mainstream media, the Center for Responsive Politics has provided me with information about the military contributions that are going to both parties candidates. While the military heavily favored the Republican Party in the last Presidential Elections, the trend is changing. The top candidate for contributions from military members is surprisingly Ron Paul. This, from a former career military man, warms my heart. This goes to show that military people think, and don’t blindly follow leaders with pro-military agendas.

The second highest contributions went to Barak Obama. With the African-American vote and the anti-war feelings running through the military, it’s now small wonder that Obama has received so many contributions. This seems to say that the military thinks that fighting in Iraq is the wrong move if they are putting their money where their mouth is.

Here is the breakdown according to The Center for Responsive Politics that you can see for yourself on their website at OpenSecrets.org.:

MILITARY CONTINUES TO GIVE TO PAUL, OBAMA

Despite his anti-war stance, or perhaps becaus of it, Ron Paul has collected more money from members of the U.S. military than any other presidential candidate, including John McCain, a Vietnam War
prisoner who backs the administration's policy in Iraq. Paul has brought in at
least $53,670 from the uniformed services since the campaign's start, compared
to McCain's $40,000. Democrat Barack Obama, who opposed the resolution to go to
Iraq from the start, is the number-two recipient with at least $45,200. (Obama
had been ahead of Paul after the 2nd Quarter.) The contribution record of the
military has become less Republican since the Iraq war began, and some donors
say they're contributing to express dissatisfaction with the Bush
administration's handling of the war and foreign policy. Tallying donations
exceeding $200, Democrats have received 35 percent of the total $319,000 in
contributions from uniformed service members this year. By comparison, in 2000,
the last presidential race before the Iraq war began, Democrats received only
18 percent of contributions from the military.

*Read a Capital Eye story from September about military giving: http://www.capitaleye.org/inside.asp?ID=300


So the next time that some redneck or neo-con tells you that supporting Paul or Obama is “Not supporting the Troops”, you tell them that the troops themselves are supporting these candidates.

That’s the way I see it.

He is by far the most anti-war of everybody, yet he receives the most support. I think the military rank and file "get it". God Bless their hearts. This is very bad news for the CHICKENHAWKS! In a couple of years they will have no one to hide behind and we can KICK THEIR FUCKING ASSES! YAY!

that many people in the military think this illegal occupation is as whacked as we do. Maybe it's time someone listened to them.

The Far Right answers to nobody; not anti-war folks, not GOP candidates, not GOP voters, not even the military. They are relentless to a fault, and we WILL be bombing Iran soon. When the Far Right sees weakness (as in neo-con Krauthammer's remarks about "no opposition"), they quickly move in to gain more advantage. There is no secret, conspiracy or back-room dealing, here. They are as predictable as the rising sun. The "Democrat" Party is clearly afraid of and avoids confrontation with them.

The problem with any would-be opposition is the inability to foster community around any sort of issue, let alone anti-war policies. The demonstrations, sit-ins, marches, civil disobedience, etc. of my past are old-hat to new generations; but if you don't have "something of value" to replace the old ways, you are doomed to being inconsequential. Part of this dilemma stems from our new ways of "communicating." The Internet is wonderful for getting vital info to people fast, but it is NO real help with community-building mainly because would-be activists CANNOT ENVISION change. Existentially, if you cannot envision a problem or a solution, you cannot address a problem or a solution.

Been to a coffee house lately, that very old bastion of new ideas, revolutionary thought and instigation? Ever tried to engage folks on the above topics? Most are placking away like I'm doing or will say: "not now/here..."

Is the discussion anywhere other than on a keyboard or thumbing device?

It has been "Pro-Military Contractor".

that, despite Iraq vets peppering the ranks of the Dem Congress, the Dem leadership by and large is ignoring. It's not just low wage young guys with rebellious libertarian streaks but anyone who feels strongly about all the crap they have to endure. Unions(the AFL-CIO just mailed me an ANGRY fundraiser denouncing Reid and Pelosi on the wiretapping issue), minorities of any sort. No one gets hope from the just plain idiotic politics of the establishment. So you win elections by placating the apathetic, the uninvolved, the unconcerned? That could change in a real heartbeat of a real politician.