Anti-War Candidates Are Top Recipients Of ‘08 Donations From U.S. Troops
Anti-War Candidates Are Top Recipients Of ‘08 Donations From U.S. Troops
Conservatives opposed to redeployment in Iraq have consistently claimed that U.S. troops are on their side:
President Bush: The [military] families gathered here understand that our troops want to finish the job. [Link]
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): 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. [Link]
Yet U.S. troops disagree. Yesterday, the Center for Responsive Politics reported that members of the military donated the most not to McCain, but to two anti-war candidates:
Individuals in the Army, Navy and Air Force made those branches of the armed services among the top contributors in the 4th Quarter, ranking No. 13, No. 18 and No. 21, respectively. In 2007, Republican Ron Paul, who opposes U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, was the top recipient of money from donors in the military, collecting at least $212,000 from them. Barack Obama, another war opponent, was second with about $94,000.
These donations reflect the military’s disapproval with the Iraq war and President Bush’s handling of it. A recent Military Times poll found that just 46 percent of U.S. troops now believe that the country should have invaded Iraq, and only 40 percent approve of Bush’s handling of the war.
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Bush. Wrong. Again.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:37 pmThat’s because they know that they were LIED to by TRAITOR Bush and his PNAC WAR CRIMINALS.
And they know that their DEATHS would mean NOTHING to these WAR CRIMINALS.
Just another STAIN for their BMW’s to drive over.
Just another POOR sucker, not “all-amerikkkan” like Mitt…
February 5th, 2008 at 1:38 pmSounds like they are saying lets get out of this quagmire.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:39 pmMcCain’s candidacy is finished. Other cons are toast.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:40 pmOK, Courts Martial for all who donate to anti war campaigns!
Or, we could send them to Nam.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:41 pmWhy do the troops hate the troops?
February 5th, 2008 at 1:42 pmTP, you completely misunderstand what is meant by “the troops”. When Bush and McCain talk about “the troops”, they refer only to the General Staff and full-bird Colonels, who are overwhelmingly conservative.
Field officers and enlisted men, as far as the cons are concerned, don’t matter. Witness O’Reilly’s claim that homeless vets don’t exist.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:43 pmpolls, smolls…….meet me at the Wasington Mall
Nothing short of large numbers of Americans confronting these people will change anything….you must stand and be counted.
You should not be able to see the dirt at the Washington Mall for the human bodies in the way…..
February 5th, 2008 at 1:44 pmField officers and enlisted men, as far as the cons are concerned, don’t matter. Witness O’Reilly’s claim that homeless vets don’t exist.
Comment by PeterW — February 5, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
No shit. As far as they are concerned, all enlisted and low ranking officers could be named
Ken N. Fawdehr.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:45 pmPresident Bush: The [military] families gathered here understand that our troops want to finish the job.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): 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.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:45 pmThe message here is : you’re both completely and utterly full of yourselves and full of crap…………..
Occupations of a population which is hostile to you and fights a guerrilla war against you never was popular.
Even Israel, when it invaded and occupied Lebanon in the 80’s, experienced their own version of Iraq quagmire.
Oh, they retreated from there btw…
February 5th, 2008 at 1:47 pmpolls, smolls…….meet me at the Wasington Mall
Nothing short of large numbers of Americans confronting these people will change anything….you must stand and be counted.
You should not be able to see the dirt at the Washington Mall for the human bodies in the way…..
Comment by Fred — February 5, 2008 @ 1:44 pm
February 5th, 2008 at 1:48 pmAnd everyone in Congress , Dems included , who have allowed this farcical criminal enterprise to continue , should see nothing but prison bars for the rest of their useless existences………….
U.S. troops taking out of what is already their measly pay, on strenuous duty, to donate to Barack Obama. That says something about their clearheadedness. The chickenhawks with too much time on their hands, on the other hand, are stuffy-headed and too busy smearing Obama.
I hate neocons.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:52 pmWhy do the troops hate the troops?
Comment by McWars — February 5, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
February 5th, 2008 at 1:52 pm——————-
That’s EXACTLY what I thought! Now the Repuke logic will say “the troops are un-american, so it’s OK to leave them in Iraq forever!”.
Oops!
Another reich wing talking point bites the dust.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:57 pmLooks like we have come full-circle. Antiwar sentiment was rampant during Vietnam - most of the GIs I was stationed with were against the war. History repeating itself.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:58 pmMcCain’s hearing is probably bad and the troops were saying “Let’s begin” as in “shut up and let’s eat”.
Bush just heard what he wants to hear when the troops were saying “we want to be finished with this job” as in “get us out now”.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:00 pmyou’re both completely and utterly full of yourselves and full of crap…………..
And those are exactly the same thing…
February 5th, 2008 at 2:01 pmFirst, Obama is not anti-war. If he was he wouldn’t have voted to fund the Iraq occupation repeatedly. You don’t give money to something you’re opposed to.
Second, you should qualify. Anti-War candidates that weren’t censored by the corporate media were top recipients of donations from troops.
Kucinich, Gravel and Cynthia McKinney are the most anti-war candidates. However, they are/were censored by the corporate media. Thus denying them a platform and an opportunity to receive the money.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:03 pmLooks like we have come full-circle. Antiwar sentiment was rampant during Vietnam - most of the GIs I was stationed with were against the war. History repeating itself.
Comment by Uncle Ho
this was indeed inevitable………vets started the movement to end the viet nam war too…..
February 5th, 2008 at 2:04 pmOn a much sadder note:
Concern mounts over rising troop suicides
February 5th, 2008 at 2:06 pmWASHINGTON (CNN) — Every day, five U.S. soldiers try to kill themselves. Before the Iraq war began, that figure was less than one suicide attempt a day.
“I don’t believe it! It’s a lie!”
February 5th, 2008 at 2:06 pm~ Frank M, GiGi, Rx2, Southern Idiot, et al.
Comment by Vet — February 5, 2008 @ 1:52 pm
Vet, as long as great minds think alike, incompetence will be overpowered. God speed. Repugs SUCK at national defense, and we’ve got their number.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:06 pm“I don’t believe it! It’s a lie!â€
~ Frank M, GiGi, Rx2, Southern Idiot, et al.
Comment by Dr. Matt
it’s like one of them pulled the pin on a grenade in thier submarine and dropped it…….
should we bet on who would throw themselves on it to save thier fellow Americans?
February 5th, 2008 at 2:11 pmI’m sure this will be blown off by the reich-wingers as just the contributions of “phony” soldiers.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:18 pmUnfortunately, Hillary’s stance on the war is almost as bad as McCain’s. I saw an ad from Obama today that said she wouldn’t be able to stand up in a debate against McCain on Iraq given the stances that she’s taken. He’s right. For that, and a number of other reasons, I was happy to cast my ballot for Obama today. We’ll see how it turns out. While I obviously think Hillary would be better than McCain, I really would not be satisfied with her winning the nomination. If that happens, I will probably vote Green.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:19 pmI recall going to see The Dead & Joplin at Winterland in San Fran in ‘69.
I was nervous, because I was in uniform. I thought I’d probably be spit on & harassed. Boy, was I wrong.
I didn’t have a ticket, so I joined a line about a block long. Soon, I noticed people pointing back at me that were further up the line. ‘Here we go’, I thought to myself. What happened next is something I’ll never forget.
I was asked to go to the front of the line! I just stood there for a moment, not believing what I was hearing. As I walked forward, I began to hear clapping. Not for my service, mind you, but for the fact a man in uniform was going to hear The Dead!
There you have it…Rock & Roll trumps politics & war. Everytime.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:23 pmI have a buddy who is back after his second tour in Iraq. He was telling everyone to vote for Hillary a while back, because she would pull the troops out of Iraq. I think he is wrong, because I feel Hillary will simply continue the same foreign policy Bush started. The greater point being he is behind the candidate that will prevent a third tour in Iraq.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:25 pmZimzone; as I recall, being seen in uniform in public at that time was not recommended. I wore civies in public when I was off-duty in the world.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:28 pmI used to see guys in uniform all the time during Vietnam — at the airport. In those days, there were two ways to travel cheaply on standby. As a student, I got a discount but had to wait for an empty seat; military personnel had the same discount but had priority for seats over us hippies. So I spent a fair amount of time hanging out with GIs in uniform, me in jeans and hair. They did occasionally complain that we were scooping up all the women and that getting laid was almost impossible for guys with GI haircuts, never mind guys in uniform.
But if they weren’t traveling, virtually every one I met was in civies.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:33 pmI’m sure this will be blown off by the reich-wingers as just the contributions of “phony†soldiers.
Comment by WaltinTexas — February 5, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
Yes, they’ll finally acknowledge PTSD, but only in this context.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:38 pmThere you have it…Rock & Roll trumps politics & war. Everytime.
Comment by Zimzone — February 5, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
Yes Sir! Do you remember the cops dancing at Monterrey Pop?
My friends, who were in Nam 1964-67, all detest Bush and the Iraq occupation, and they are writing a book with Iraq 1 & 2 vets, most of who know the score. it is only the warpos like Rove, Limbaugh, Coulter, O’ Reilly, Bush, and Cheney who think this is a good thing.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:44 pmI wanted to add that all of the Vets I know wanted Kucinich or Ron Paul, but are shifting to Obama as second choice. Absolutely no one wants AIPAC-lady Hillary in.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:45 pmSoldiers now fighting in Iraq don’t give a damn about Conservative or Liberal ranting that our media feeding the public daily with .
February 5th, 2008 at 2:48 pmWhat soldiers have on their minds are survivability, family at home..and when they are going to leave Iraq.
It is unfortunate that this is not the debate on our television networks.It is still the stupid Liberal & Conservative debate which is not what the soldiers are interested in.
Sadly, sometimes you feel troops are totally forgotten by our corporate news and politicians.
Politicians are prone to forget that Vets mostly came from poor & middle class environments. Quick to wave the Flag & claim patriotism, these false purveyors of conflict should, at the very least, be forced to sit in a war zone for a minimum of 6 months. I believe the war drum would silence itself in short order.
In the meantime, increase your time at the firing range…practice makes perfect!
February 5th, 2008 at 2:54 pmtarazan; True, the thing that 1st and foremost for the troops is survival. But when you have some down time at base camp, or in the bush, a lot of GIs are trying to make sense of what their doing or have seen, thinking- WTF are we doing here? I know.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pmGummitch,
We may have crossed paths.
I flew out of San Fran, back to L.A. on weekends a lot…on military standby, of course.
Hope I didn’t take your seat!
February 5th, 2008 at 2:56 pmNobody wants Hillary R. Clinton or Barak H. Obama. -good_golly
Is ‘Nobody’ your given name? Makes sense to me…
February 5th, 2008 at 2:58 pm33. Let me add that the many Vets I know (including several family members) are fairly evenly split between John S. McCain and W. Mitt Romney. Nobody wants Hillary R. Clinton or Barak H. Obama.
Comment by good_golly — February 5, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
NOBODY? ROTFL!!! NOBODY wants FOUR MORE YEARS of GOP F**KUPS except the FEW CHICKENHAWK TARDS like YOU! ;)
February 5th, 2008 at 3:00 pm33. Let me add that the many Vets I know (including several family members) are fairly evenly split between John S. McCain and W. Mitt Romney. Nobody wants Hillary R. Clinton or Barak H. Obama.
Comment by good_golly — February 5, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
February 5th, 2008 at 3:00 pmThanks for bringing attention to all the mental problems affecting your immediate area…………..
33. Let me add that the many Vets I know (including several family members) are fairly evenly split between John S. McCain and W. Mitt Romney. Nobody wants Hillary R. Clinton or Barak H. Obama.
Comment by good_golly — February 5, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
It’s certainly their RIGHT to back TRAITORS such as Bush, McCain or Romney.
But they speak VOLUMES about TREASON against the USA, and being OK with it…
Probably are TRAITORS themselves…
February 5th, 2008 at 3:02 pmha gg stepped on one…..just don’t move gg.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:06 pmpoor gg, she’s so dumb that she doesn’t understand that this is a thread about bush lying about how vets feel about the war….so what does she do…….she makes up her own lie.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:14 pmLet me add that the many Vets I know (including several family members) are fairly evenly split between John S. McCain and W. Mitt Romney. Nobody wants Hillary R. Clinton or Barak H. Obama.
Comment by good_golly — February 5, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
Depends on geographical location too.
McCain is a bit too looney for most Conservatives, and Romney is a Cold-Hearted Orb, but his so-called “liberal” past will come back to haunt him. Romney is a shape-shifter, which he had to do in order to become governor of Massachusetts.
All the marines and cops on my street wanted Ron Paul, but now will back Obama. I think military personnel know now that they are being used for cannon fodder for Oil, defense contractors, and Zionists. Kucinich was liked because many of the older Vets became environmentalists and his anti-war message resonated with them.
Hillary is simply too steeped in AIPAC and war supporting. Don’t Neo-Cons know that Eternal War is Hitler’s “1000 year Reich”, or Perpetual War of Orwell in 1984. Like General Smedley Butler said, “War is a Racket”. The elite must always create enemies because they are not creative or non-linear enough to have capitalism that is based on Green Technology, Space Travel, Life Extension, Health, The Arts, and caring for the sick and old. They only know War and Conflict. Maybe it goes back to that “God vs Devil” thing?”
February 5th, 2008 at 3:21 pmpoor gg.
the shrinking raisin troll.
eh?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:22 pmIf that happens, I will probably vote Green.
Comment by Vinnie
And if you and a bunch of other disenfranchised voters do the same, you will be handing the presidency back to the Republicans. Is that what you want to do?
That’s what you did in 2000. If all the people who voted for Nader had voted for Al Gore, the Supreme Court would not have had the opportunity to appoint Bush President.
Remember how all you greenies said that there was no difference between Bush and Gore. Did it turn out that way? NO!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:37 pmLet me add that the many Vets I know (including several family members) are fairly evenly split between John S. McCain and W. Mitt Romney. Nobody wants Hillary R. Clinton or Barak H. Obama.
Comment by good_golly
I suspect that our resident troll GiGi surrounds itself with like-minded people because it can’t hold it’s own in any kind of a debate with someone who knows that it is full of crap. So, it stands to reason that all the people it knows would be voting for McCain or Romney.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:39 pmIt is the sad truth that the ultra-right continues to win the war of spin and propaganda as this so readily illustrates. Thankfully the blogs survive, so far, but remain vigilant, an assault is coming!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:41 pmThe TREASON of Mitt Romney and John McCain.
NEVER returning to a country near YOU.
REAL Americans vote Democratic.
TRAITORS vote for RapeubliNazis.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:42 pmIf that happens, I will probably vote Green.
Comment by Vinnie
I’m with bilbo……you might as well vote for mccain….is that what you want?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:46 pmIf the Dems win the presidency, there will be one group more than any other that will celibrate (perhaps silently) over this victory - the troops.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:55 pmIf the Dems win the presidency, there will be one group more than any other that will celibrate (perhaps silently) over this victory - the troops.
Comment by Jymn — February 5, 2008 @ 3:55 pm
That’s because McCain or Romney winning will be the troops’
DEATH SENTENCE by TREASON.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:56 pmanother gg lie. she doesn’t know any vets personally.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:12 pmIf that happens, I will probably vote Green.
Comment by Vinnie
I’m with bilbo……you might as well vote for mccain….is that what you want?
Comment by Fred — February 5, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
There is truth to both sides on this. When will we have a system that represents different types of people, labor, greens, socialists, gun owners, small business and owners? Right now we have a one party system with two illusionary branches that mainly service the elite.
One the other hand, I would even hold my nose and vote for Hillary if she ran against McCain. The Democrats are surely the lesser of two evils.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:21 pmI supported John Edwards before he ended his campaign.
I will vote for the Democratic nominee for president and for all Democrats on the down ticket.
It’s time to CLEAN UP THE MESS AND GET RID OF REPUBLICANS!
February 5th, 2008 at 4:33 pmRemember how all you greenies said that there was no difference between Bush and Gore. Did it turn out that way? NO!
Comment by bilbobaggins — February 5, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
I feel as if the Reps and Dems played the same gameplan this time around - find the most center-leaning candidate and run them. So, we’re probably going to have Hillary-McCain which is a very right-leaning Dem and a ‘left’-leaning Republican. IMHO, there’s not a lot of difference between these two. Are you really happy getting to choose between these two?
I’m sorry. I am sick and tired of voting for a candidate I’m not thrilled about and feeling shackled to the two party system. I would like REAL change for my country and our future. I don’t see Hillary bringing that about. I don’t really see it in Obama either but I like him enough to have voted for him over Hillary.
You cannot blame the Greens for bringing in Bush. That is a myth that only serves to help the powers that be. (Didn’t Buchanan actually take more of the vote than Nader in Florida?) The Greens were people who voted their conscious! I hate hearing that THEY are the enemy that brought us Bush. These are, in fact, our only hope of letting the Dems know that leaning right to pick up the ‘center’ will NOT satisfy left-leaning Dems like me. And that they will lose our vote if they don’t staunchly defend Democratic principles.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:32 pmI meant to add that I believe, although I hate to say it, that McCain is going to win the election in November. He’s the ‘clean’ candidate while the media has whipped up a deep hatred for Hillary amongst many, many people. If that’s the case you’ll have lost the race for president AND lost any hope of voting for the candidate you want most.
While I have voted Democratic since I could vote (And I may just ‘hold my nose’ and do it again), I have not been thrilled with the Dems in congress. They have given Bush a green light for this war and continue to fund it. I honestly don’t think Hillary will bring the troops home. Is it even part of her platform?
I really wish we had a credible party that progressives could rally behind and be proud of ourselves in the process. Until we can all break out of the two-party stranglehold, we’ll never have this.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:38 pmLet me add that the many Vets I know (including several family members) are fairly evenly split between John S. McCain and W. Mitt Romney. Nobody wants Hillary R. Clinton or Barak H. Obama.
Comment by good_golly — February 5, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
How many people believe he knows even a single vet? I guess 0 vs. 0 is ‘evenly split’. Gigi’s type simply don’t fight in wars.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:41 pmThere are many Paul supporters on post but I dont think they realize that his domestic policy would be a disaster for them and all the socialized benefits they enjoy being in the military.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:22 pmI’m one of the Obama supporters on post.
Supporting dems is still seen as an anaethama (sp?). In 2004 I received a note on my car telling me to take my Kerry bumper sticker off because it showed disrespect for the commander in chief. Something so cowardly as a note really made me laugh and just showed conservative true colors, yellow perhaps, on so many levels.
Few McCain supporters. It’s hard as a military person to not support him. He gives us the money we want and he holds the distinction not shared by many of being held by the enemy and surviving with honor to return home. Even if he was a shit pilot and mediocre cadet. The POW thing sort of makes him a legend in military circles. Romney doesnt have a foot to stand on with the mlitary. “Well, my sons are serving by helping get me elected.” Mostly supported by well to do officers looking for work in the private sector within the next few years.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:25 pm“If that happens, I will probably vote Green.”
Comment by Vinnie — February 5, 2008 @ 2:19 pm
It’s just that kinda thinkin’ that put this country in the dangerous position it’s in.
You might as well just vote for some repugnicunt scumbag…
February 5th, 2008 at 8:58 pmLet me add that the many Vets I know (including several family members) are fairly evenly split between John S. McCain and W. Mitt Romney. Nobody wants Hillary R. Clinton or Barak H. Obama.
Comment by good_golly — February 5, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
Says the ANONYMOUS MORON prone to LYING… Your POSTS are as IRRELEVANT as your OPINIONS and JUST AS WRONG! STFU you LUNATIC LYING LOSER!
February 5th, 2008 at 11:00 pmNader could have been the Secretary of the Interior under Gore.
The second time in 2004, even the GREENS didn’t want him.
A good environmentalist.
An azshole who cost the US dearly, as opposed to helping it.
Nader WAS relevant.
Now he is like McCain and Romney–fulla zhit…
February 6th, 2008 at 12:53 amOh, wow, the Obama and Paul campaigns collected 300,000 dollars in campaign donations in 2007 from the 300,000 troops that served in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2007.
February 6th, 2008 at 12:55 pm“polls, smolls…….meet me at the Wasington Mall
Nothing short of large numbers of Americans confronting these people will change anything….you must stand and be counted.
You should not be able to see the dirt at the Washington Mall for the human bodies in the way…..”
Comment by Fred
RIGHT ON FRED!!! THIS IS WHAT IT WILL TAKE! THIS IS ALL THE POLS UNDERSTAND!!!
February 6th, 2008 at 2:10 pmVinnie - Check out http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/iraq/
You may or may not believe what she says, but withdrawing from Iraq IS part of her platform.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:25 am