Republicans Don't "Own" Military Voters

Hippy dippy liberals and their families vote for Democrats.  Straight laced, creased and pressed military types and their families vote for Republicans.  African Americans vote for Democrats.  The very religious vote for Republicans.

We hear about the Republican and Democratic Party "bases" all the time.  Those are the voters we assume are sewn up, already cast, not up for grabs.  So politicians go after the swing voters: the soccer moms, the security moms, the religious minorities.  These voters are fought over with a backstabbing, mud slinging ferocity that can make Mean Girls look like Holly Golightly wannabes.  It's almost expected, this battle.

The problem is that "ownership" of the party base is it is a fallacy.  Few people fit neatly into one category of voters and if they do, they still manage to have opinions of their own.  Wow!  Imagine that!

I don't fit a mold, but both parties could claim "ownership" of my vote.  I'm a military brat and the spouse of a military reservist.  But I'm also a highly educated professional woman.  I've never been called Hippy Dippy, but angry feminist firebrand might fit nicely.

Here's the surprise for McCain and the Republican Party: there are others like me.  Even if you muzzle active duty members and scare them enough to prevent them from speaking out about their political views or support for a Democratic candidate, that doesn't mean they're going to vote for a Republican.  It doesn't mean that their families will either.  I witnessed this first hand this weekend.

On Sunday, I attended a barbecue put on by the Hampton Roads Veterans and Military Families for Obama in Virginia Beach.  It was a smashing success, with at least 130 people attending.

The Obama campaign had a voter registration table that was hopping.  Delegate Joe Bouchard, Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf (immediately above), and Congressional Candidate Glenn Nye (top of page) all spoke about the need for change and fired up the crowd. 

Not to malign the wonderful words spoken by the politicians, but it wasn't hard to motivate this crowd.  Change in our current political path is crucial if our military, veterans, and military families are going to receive the care and support they need.  Everyone at the BBQ understood that implicitly.  (Well, except maybe H&H. They were more concerned with obtaining a continuous supply of cheese puffs and juice boxes.)

Let's take a look at the Obama and McCain records on military issues:*

McCain:

• Voted against Webb amendment calling for adequate troop rest between deployments.
• Voted against the new GI Bill.  Oh wait, he didn't actually show up for the vote. But I think McCain was quite clear about where he stood on that particular bill.
• Voted against an amendment providing an additional $20 billion to VA medical facilities.
• He was one of only 13 Senators voting against a VA bill for $430 million outpatient care and treatment funding for veterans
• Voted against closing corporate loopholes to increase VA funding by $1.5 billion.
• Voted against closing "abusive tax loopholes" to increase VA funding by $1.8 billion.
• McCain has only a 20% rating from Disabled Veterans of America and received a D from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
• Despite McCain's claims to the contrary, he has a terrible voting record on military and veterans issues.

Obama:

• Wants to fully fund the VA
• Wants to allow all veterans to use VA services once again
• Wants to combat homelessness among veterans
• Wants to fight veteran employment discrimination
• Wants to help soldiers transition back into civilian life
• Wants to improve mental health treatment and care for traumatic brain injury
• Obama'svoting record in the Senate actually supports his claims that he wants to help military families and veterans.

• Obama also co-sponsored two important pieces of legislation still pending:

1. S.2963, "A bill to improve and enhance the mental health care benefits available to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, to enhance counseling and other benefits available to survivors of members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes."
2. S.2899, The Veterans Suicide Study Act

• Obama has an 80% rating from Disabled Veterans of America.

*Voting records taken from Congressional information compiled on Think Progress and Stand Up for Veterans, an advocacy campaign of the Disabled American Veterans. Hat tip to Stephanie Schiffman Marushia from Hampton Roads Veterans and Military Families for Obama.

For me, and for many military families, its clear that McCain is all talk and no action when it comes to his "support" for the men and women serving in the military.

The Republicans won't own us this November because they don't support us.

If this little guy ends up in the military in 19 years, I want to make damn sure that our government is going to take care of him and his family, no matter what.

Stephanie is a devoted viewer of C-Span and also writes about things non-political at her personal blog, Lawyer Mama.  Oh, OK.  Sometimes she writes about political stuff there too.  Can you ever get too much?

You can view more photos from the BBQ on Stephanie's Flickr stream.

Cross posted on Raising Kaine.

Comments

[PunditMom]

Steph, This is a great post, both in facts and photos. The fact that Obama supports increased mental health treatment for vets is a big issue for me. After having a brother in the military and a husband who has done pro bono work for one of the biggest military vets facilities in the area, I know the important need for those services and that the current administration has basically kicked vets who need that help to the curb.

[Stephanie Marushia]

Thanks for the hat tip Stephanie! The event was great and it's proven to me that after this election Veterans & Military families won't be a voting block that is taken for granted! I hope more Democrats start speaking out about the reality of who is there for Veterans. If you look at the voting records, the party that claims to back the military has done little for us. It's part of the reason I left the Republican Party.

Lip service will do our troops little good. We need action. Legislation and funding to care for wounded troops can only be passed if we elect Barack Obama and the down ticket Democrats that will help him enact the changes he wants to implement.

Please volunteer for the Obama campaign and help us get people out to vote! Show John McCain and the GOP that you can't vote for a war and then refuse to fund the VA 4 years in a row!

Protect our troops, vote Obama!

[John J.]

Just one more thing to tip the balance in Obama's favor: he just co-authored a letter to the Pentagon calling for more funding for treating troops with brain injuries.

And the drum beat goes on...

[John J.]

forgot the link:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/04/obama-bayh-send-letter-to-pentagon-on-traumatic-brain-injuries/

[Gunfighter]

I'm a veteran.

My dad is a veteran

My brother is a veteran

My father in law is a veteran

None of the people listed above (all of whom have served their country in combat) are voting for John McCain.

A great many of my friends are veterans, most of my colleagues are veterans, most of the m en in my church congregation are veterans or active military... as near as I can tell, most (not all) of them aren't voting for McCain.

[DoTheMath]

My boss is a veteran, a former Navy SEAL. McCain's insistence on staying in Iraq until we "win" disgusts him. He says when you're in a combat situation, you will risk your life for your buddies. You'll take a bullet or fall on a grenade so they can survive. Leaving them there to die with no achievable, defensible objective, as McCain suggests, is the worst possible insult to the memory of those who have already given their lives to save the survivors.

[cynematic]

LawyerMama, I am standing up and applauding and yelling "Brava! Brava!" for you and the incredible community you've created in Virginia. Thanks for the facts and side-by-side comparison of candidate voting records.

And I'm so glad that honor, integrity and duty have real meaning to patriots who have served, and can see through McCain's convoluted, so-called "straight talk" to appreciate Obama's real commitment to members of the military and their loved ones.

[lildb]

this post makes my heart beat loud enough for the neighbors to hear.

it's brilliant. thank you so damn much for it.

[progressive gal]

Mama - You are the best. Those pictures say it all. You totally captured the moment and spirit of the event. I'm so glad we are now BFFs and partners in crime!

[Heidi & Blue Star Families For Obama ~ Pro Military Pro Obama]

LawyerMama,

I second the "Brava, Brava!" I was thrilled to come across your article in my search for more military families supporting Barack Obama. My name is Heidi and I am the outreach director for "Blue Star Families For Obama ~ Pro Military, Pro Obama". It is your link to the campaign and to Michelle Obama’s Roundtables on Military Families

Join TODAY at http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/BlueStarsForObama

Blue Star Families For Obama is an organizing site for military families to take action in the campaign! Through Blue Star Families for Obama we’ll collect list of endorsements, ask you to help us grow the group, and seek ideas that we can feed back to the campaign. Blue Star members may have the opportunity to get invitations to Michelle Obama’s roundtable discussions with military families held near bases around the country.

Blue Stars for Obama is “Pro Military, Pro Obama.” It was started by Army and Marine Corps Spouses who believe supporting Senator Obama reinforces our support of our loved ones serving in the military and sees our commitment to the country as military family members echoed in Barack Obama’s unyielding personal commitment to public service and his dedication to make America safer by increasing the prestige of the US around the world. The essence of Senator Obama’s candidacy reflects the traditional military values of courage, commitment, honor, loyalty and selfless service ~ values needed in the White House. You can help bring about this change by becoming a “Blue Star for Obama.” This exciting comprehensive grass roots initiative borrows the symbolism of the blue star flag which immediate family members of active duty service members in times of war may fly, but it is not in any way affiliated with the Service Flag or the Blue Star Mothers organization.

Blue Stars for Obama is open to all who have any family member serving in the military ~ that includes a spouse, child, parent, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew and so forth.

For more information on this exciting group and updates on Michelle Obama’s activities, check out the blog at our site:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/bluestars

Thank you, Heidi & The Blue Stars for Obama Team

[TonyN]

As a Republican, veteran, and father-in-law of a Marine veteran of Iraq with severe brain injury, I am dismayed and embarrassed by Senator McCain's voting record related to our veterans. Every new bill I see that is trying to be passed by Congress has a wealth of democrats sponsoring it (usually with Senator Obama's name listed). Where is the legislation being introduced by Senator McCain to support our military and veterans? Why is he not leading the charge to ensure our veterans are well cared for? Why does he not even take the time to vote for legislation related to our veterans? Why do I feel that if he becomes our next president, our veterans will be forgotten?

[Donna]

I pray that more military members, families and veterans notice what you have listed here: That the GOP candidate has been resting on his laurels as a war hero but is doing NOTHING to help our military and veterans today -- and that Barack Obama and the Democrats ARE. Thanks for this post, Steph!

[Dee]

Brilliant work, Stephanie. I hope you don't mind but I included your article in an email circulation to a local grassroots organization called Tucson for Obama. I've been picking off articles and web content from popURLs to help our organizers stay informed on McCain's voting record and his unconvincing speeches. You have really helped me out. Thank you so much and continue to do great work.

[Gina Klatt]

McCain Rocks I'm a Military wife and I support McCain!!