News and Politics | August 15, 2008 | 59 comments

US troops give to Obama 6x more than McCain

source: http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Troops_giving_6x_more_to_Obama_0814.html

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bansheewail
A new analysis shows the vast majority of US troops serving abroad have donated to candidates running on strong anti-war platforms, with presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama out-raising his Republican opponent by a 6-to-1 margin.

The Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks money in politics, analyzed donations from US troops in a report released Thursday.

According to an analysis of campaign contributions by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Democrat Barack Obama has received nearly six times as much money from troops deployed overseas at the time of their contributions than has Republican John McCain, and the fiercely anti-war Ron Paul, though he suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination months ago, has received more than four times McCain's haul.

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.
Only Marines are more likely to donate to McCain, according to the report, with Obama leading in fundraising from members of the Army, Air Force and Navy. The report found Obama raised about $60,600 from troops deployed abroad, compared to $45,500 for Paul and $10,600 for McCain; the Democratic candidate brought in more than $335,000 from all military personnel, compared to about $280,000 for the Republican.

"That's shocking. The academic debate is between some who say that junior enlisted ranks lean slightly Republican and some who say it's about equal, but no one would point to six-to-one" in Democrats' favor, Aaron Belkin, a professor of political science at the University of California who studies the military, told the Center's Luke Rosiak. "That represents a tremendous shift from 2000, when the military vote almost certainly was decisive in Florida and elsewhere, and leaned heavily towards the Republicans."

The military donations streaming to Obama, Rosiak reports, breaks a historical trend that saw Republicans lead among the enlisted ranks. According to the report, George W. Bush out-raised Al Gore by a nearly 2-to-1 margin in 2000 and brought in $1.50 from the military for every $1 raised by Democratic candidate John Kerry in 2004.
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59 comments // US troops give to Obama 6x more than McCain

  • mo1y
    • 0
      mo1y  

    • Obama has more money, but he's sinking in the poles.

      McCains has less money, a bad economy, bad war, high gas prices, and he's distroyed Obama's lead.

      I was wondering, should McCain have to pay Obama for writing most of McCains attack ads? also should McCain pay Obama for starring in his attack ads?

      I liked the one with Moses. What's you favorite? They're all good. McCain can win this campaign on the cheap, just use Obama to provide the material for his ads.

    • 3 years ago
  • Abamanation
  • montesooma
    • 0
      montesooma  

    • what is the purpose of this story?
      To give you koolaid drinkers something to drink.
      If you think mcCain is a phony hero, then you are a brainwashed idiot.
      Obama needs a teleprompter and a speech rehearsal, mccain is going to hand him his nuts in a debate.
      I cant wait to see you idiots cry.
      You clearly haven't thought of the consequences of obamas proposals---ur too stupid.

    • 3 years ago
  • kodada
    • 0
      kodada  
    • montesooma:

      That I am viewing this post for the first time, approximately one month after most of these responses is golden in light of what Grampy McShame tried to pull today, 9/24/08.

      Now who is afraid of debate, montesooma?

    • 3 years ago
  • asherp
  • Prijedor
  • soleil10
    • 0
      soleil10  

    • Brendan

      The analysis of campaign records found Obama has raised more than $60,000 from 134 military service men and women who are deployed overseas. McCain has raised $45,512 from 99 deployed military-donors.

      How many hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops are stationed overseas? And McCain has 35 fewer donors leaving him with "far less" financial support than Obama?

      McCain's campaign is confident that it will find significant support among active duty troops stationed both at home and abroad, but most of those troops are likely too busy doing the important work of defending this country to make political contributions. We'd also note that John McCain has been endorsed by more retired admirals and generals than Barack Obama has military donors.

      Retired admirals and generals endorsing John McCain: 241

      Retired admirals and generals endorsing Barack Obama: 10

      My source is Democrats for McCain website

    • 3 years ago
  • Prijedor
  • soleil10
  • Prijedor
    • 0
      Prijedor  

    • Some of this is because most of our soldiers are not white, and for all the service blacks, mexicans and south americans americans give to this country, most of them and their country man still get treated like shit in the same country they are fighting for, so no wonder they are picking a black man over a old, white male, who is no different then Bush, to be the next president.

    • 3 years ago
  • soleil10
  • soleil10
    • 0
      soleil10  

    • Why is Obama afraid to meet the soldiers like he is doing in Texas ?

      I think, he is getting money form African Americans.

      When he was in Irak, most choreographed pictures were with African Americans soldiers.

      Anyway $60,000 out of hundreds of $ milions is nothing.

      This post is just spin like we see so often on Currrent

    • 3 years ago
  • soleil10
    • 0
      soleil10  
    • soleil10:

      The story says "The vast majority of troops serving abroad " and is titled "US troops give..."

      We are talking of several hundred thousand people and more.

      The difference in $ amount we are talking here is $55,000, which is about a dime by soldier.

      I also have questions about the accuracy of recording such small donations.

      Honestly,this whole post is just empty spin.

      Secondly , it is true that Obama is avoiding town halls meetings on military bases in the USA. (I have posted on that subject before)

    • 3 years ago
  • soleil10
    • 0
      soleil10  
    • soleil10:

      Thank you for insulting me one more time.

      I hope you feel better until you can insult somebody else

      I hope one day yourself can stop sending all this hate that you want to be liberated from.

      That story was and is a spin, regardless if we are talking of Obama or McCain.

      The vast majority of US troops... Hm really.

      Whoever wrote this post needs to go back to kindergarten.

    • 3 years ago
  • soleil10
    • 0
      soleil10  
    • soleil10:

      When I wrote my comment, I had no one ounce of racial hint my heart.
      It does make absolute sense that African American would be very happy to have a Obama as a president. I would expect the same if a candidate was Asian or Latin.

      I do not spend my life trying to be politically correct.

      This post has nothing to do with my views on Homosexuality.

      Here again, I am not attacking homosexuals but disagreeing strongly with homosexual addictions as well as all other addictions and the actions of gay activists.

      Stop trying to put me into your box.

      The race card is for professionnal politicians. I speak freely from my heart for those who can see.

      The post I critisized was dishonest and misleading.

      You know it . Stop killing the messenger.

    • 3 years ago
  • rockstarmillionaire
  • kennymotown
    • 0
      kennymotown  

    • I'm an ex infantry man myself and learned a long time ago our leaders should get to a boxing ring to settle their idiologic debates. I've told my son and many more people to stay away from the military until we get a major change in the way we run our foriegn policies. I have all the respect in the world for military and the people who serve.

    • 3 years ago
  • kewal91
  • lftglf4
    • 0
      lftglf4  

    • I understand why they give more to obama. there are so many things over there that mess up their minds, they get mixed up. when they come home they'll look back and say "WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING"

    • 3 years ago
  • Bren589
  • Abamanation
  • Robroy1
  • Swiyyah
  • Abamanation
  • Tori
    • 0
      Tori  

    • Can you blame 'em?
      I'm a soldier in Iraq. Who do I want, the guy who says I'm stuck here indefinitely, or the guy who says he'll bring me home to my family and friends?
      Seems like a no brainer to me.

    • 3 years ago
  • soleil10
  • Abamanation
    • 0
      Abamanation  
    • Tori:

      First off your not a soldier in Iraq your a staffer for Current and you have atleast 2 of the sheep here on current believing otherwise.

      If it is your intent to pass yourself off as soldier in Iraq then I as an Iraq War Vet take offense to this and am calling you to the carpet on this.

      Clear up your post so as not to mislead people into believing that you are something that you are not. Or from this point forward your nothing more than a discredited dumbass.

      Dont presume to speak for our troops until you have lived a few months in their shoes. Enjoy your cushy job at Current and be thankful that there are people like me and my bretheren that are willing to go out and defend the freedoms that you enjoy.

    • 3 years ago
  • agitator
    • 0
      agitator  

    • And this is why only a complete dolt would cast a vote based on what was reported by the media about some statistic that has been extrapolated from some report produced by some group with some agenda about some popularity contest based on the dollar.

    • 3 years ago
  • phukitol
    • 0
      phukitol  

    • Our soldiers are tired and ready to be home. They got screwed over almost 4 years ago -- I think they're are pretty hell bent on not letting history repeat itself again in November.

      I'd vote for anyone who wasn't going to keep me in a sandbox to, no matter what else they stood for.

      Pull out. We don't belong there and never did.

    • 3 years ago
  • Abamanation
    • 0
      Abamanation  
    • phukitol:

      Please dont presume to speak for our soldiers. Just because 10 to 15% of our active duty troops have thrown support for Obama doesnot mean that our soldiers are "tired" and "want to come home".

      75% to 85% of our combat force knows why they are in Iraq and what the stakes are and what it would mean to "cut and run".

    • 3 years ago
  • elegua
  • polkey1
  • rabidlemur
  • Nettle
    • 0
      Nettle  
    • polkey1:

      NO! Don't not vote! That's what the GOP wants.

      I agree with you that they both suck balls, but that means voting for a third party.

      Nader '08 (I wish).

    • 3 years ago
  • kewal91
    • 0
      kewal91  
    • polkey1:

      yeah vote independent... if you want to... dont just go and say "im not voting" because that way you are not a threat to the either politicians.. giving an independent party leader some "power" is a more of a threat...

    • 3 years ago
  • Bren589
  • huntre
    • 0
      huntre  

    • shae1231? That clip, above all others, reafirmed my resolve to make damn sure that Senator McCain does not become the next US disgrace...em...president.

    • 3 years ago
  • shae1231
  • shae1231
    • 0
      shae1231  

    • this is in addition to my comment above.....very interesting, do people really want this guy to be president, after disrespecting this veteran in public....makes me sick

    • 3 years ago
  • Wetdog
  • kodada
  • shae1231
    • 0
      shae1231  

    • i'm glad these troops are supporting Obama, maybe this will help more people realize we don't need to be in this pointless war for another "100 years".....watch Mccain support this "time horizon" a little more now, and defend his "perfect voting record" with all the veterans associations and then wonder why they aren't giving him money because he's "supported them all along, and recieved all their highest awards"....like the GI bill he took credit for passing and supporting when he DID NOT SHOW UP TO VOTE!!!! Go Obama!!!!

    • 3 years ago
  • rabidlemur
    • 0
      rabidlemur  

    • Holy shit! This astonished me, I have two very close friends in the military, both are Republicans and for McCain, this is very good news!

    • 3 years ago
  • bluestranger
    • 0
      bluestranger  

    • Never underestimate the soldiers and sailors. After you've been fed a steady diet of B.S., You learn how to seperate out the corn. These people know who has their best interest at heart. Get them home safely.

    • 3 years ago
  • SNJ
    • 0
      SNJ  

    • Thank you again Current TV for stating the TRUTH. I couldn't imagine how nervous I would be as a soldier, having to kill people and being shot at is just too much against my inner core. Anyone who would send other people's children into danger does not understand how war damages the very core of our soldiers, for the rest of their lives, and the people we carpet bomb are either dead, withour body parts, or missing family members forever. War should not be the first response, and Obama understands this more than any one else so far. He is not afraid to say no to this madness, and the soldiers over there, want to come home.

    • 3 years ago
  • Abamanation
    • 0
      Abamanation  
    • SNJ:

      Yeah ... assuming that you even are a soldier or a member of any military branch, then..

      WTF did you expect to be doing when you signed up, throw flowers and candy at our enemies?

      My guess is that you are not in the military and have never been in the military and never had any intentions of joining the military.

      Please dont disgrace the service and sacrifice of true veterans by pretending to be one.

    • 3 years ago
  • SDLN
    • 0
      SDLN  

    • 6-to-1 is an astounding advantage! It makes sense though, considering a large majority of the troops want the war to end.

      This is from a couple of years ago, but still:
      "An overwhelming majority of 72% of American troops serving in Iraq think the U.S. should exit the country within the next year, and more than one in four say the troops should leave immediately, a new Le Moyne College/Zogby International survey shows."
      http://www.zogby.com/news/readnews.dbm?id=1075

    • 3 years ago
  • Wetdog
    • 0
      Wetdog  

    • "Support the Our Troops!"

      Vote for Obama

      ------" "That's shocking. The academic debate is between some who say that junior enlisted ranks lean slightly Republican and some who say it's about equal, but no one would point to six-to-one" in Democrats' favor, Aaron Belkin, a professor of political science at the University of California who studies the military, told the Center's Luke Rosiak."-------

      Hey, Professor Belkin, if you'd ever been shot at, the results wouldn't be so shocking to you.

      If you were in a hot, dusty hell hole with people shooting at you and trying to blow you up just because the commander in chief wants to steal their oil and give it to his rich buddies, and his patsy says he wants to keep you there for 100 years, and another candidate says he wants to get you out of there and bring you home..............who are YOU going to support?

    • 3 years ago
  • Abamanation
    • 0
      Abamanation  
    • Wetdog:

      After 5 years you would have thought that we would have stoled all their oil already and we would be paying peanuts for gas ....

      Fact is we are NOT there for the oil. If we were we would already be carting it out by the ship load and not letting the Iraqi government award the oil development rights to the EU.

      Yeah we are their only for the oil.... at least in your mind we are.

    • 3 years ago
  • LarzNero
    • 0
      LarzNero  

    • Why I simply can't believe this! Whacky Mac says he "supports the troops!"

      Surely the troops realize that when McCain promises to send them in harm's way, far from their families for years in a war without purpose and says he's okay if it lasts a thousand years, they understand he is "supporting" them!

      How can the troops not realize how much McCain loves them when he does all that?

    • 3 years ago
  • stephenthomson
  • huntre
  • stephenthomson
  • Bovey
  • keeshii768
  • Vierotchka
  • bansheewail
  • Chique
  • bansheewail
    • 0
      bansheewail  

    • There he goes agian. That silly Obama is making news. If he would just quit inspiring people to give him money, he would not be such a "celebrity". He need to lay low. God forbid he has any new ideas that could change the world. We shoudl be talking about the paint job on his air plane or his the fact that he doesn't put his hand on his nuts when he listen to Jay-Z.

      The youth, the educated and now our fighting men and women know what's up!

    • 3 years ago
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