Should veterans endorse candidates?
Do you remember the Center for a New American Security which was pushing for radical changes to the military retirement system? Well, now they’re warning that we veterans should sit down and shut up during political campaigns.
The problem is that very few American voters make the distinction between retired military personnel and those on active duty, notes the study, which was also written by Kyle Dropp and Peter Feaver. Active-duty personnel are not allowed to wear uniforms at political events and make political speeches.
The campaigns, in turn, are aware of this and tend to recruit the highest-ranking retirees they can find to support candidates, particularly “flag officers” – admirals and generals.
“Retired senior officers may think they are drawing fine distinctions between the formal institution of active-duty military and their own views as retired citizens, but the truth is that no one, especially not the campaigns, is very interested in their views as private citizens,” the study says.
While the report finds that these endorsements do not appear to notably sway voters, the problem is that over time these endorsements have the potential to erode trust in the military.
Yeah, since the military is most trusted institution in this country, and the government’s most successful agency, I’m sure there’ll be eroded trust because we endorse leaders. I don’t remember anyone complaining when Medal of Honor recipient, Paul Bucha publicly came out in 2008 and supported Barack Obama for president. But, now when a group of Special Operations folks come out to attack Obama, it’s suddenly going to “erode trust in the military.”
This is particularly true of some of the negative political ads this campaign season, when retired Special Operations Forces officers attacked President Obama for discussing the strike on Osama bin Laden’s compound, Golby says.
“The real downside to negative ads is that they do create a perception that the military doesn’t support one candidate, and they raise questions about whether military leaders will be able to faithfully carry out the orders of the other party,” he says.
Yeah, please provide an example of that ever happening in the history of the United States. In fact, when certain people did indeed refuse to serve as ordered, like the birthers, members of the military were quick to condemn them, regardless of our political stripe.
And then they quote Martin Dempsey’s scolding of the Special Operations Speaks criticism of Obama as if Dempsey has no political dog in the fight, or as if Dempsey’s words are so sage, we’d have to agree.
It sounds more to me like the lack of public endorsements from veterans is not helping the campaigns of Center for a New American Security’s choices for this season. Here’s a warning from me to the Center for a New American Security; the fact that you involve yourself in projects that are not in the interests of veterans, you’re in danger of having trust in anything you say eroded.
Category: Liberals suck, Military issues
I have five words for the Center for a New American Security. For brevity, I’ll abbreviate them: KMA, MF.
The problem is that very few American voters make the distinction between retired military personnel and those on active duty, notes the study, which was also written by Kyle Dropp and Peter Feaver.
So basically: “Non-veterans are stupid and veterans should avoid confusing the poor dears.” Duly noted, you sanctimonious, inbred, paint-huffing douchehammer. As a veteran, I have earned my license to bitch, thankyouvermuch.
And PhDs should avoid wasting intellectual “brain power” conducting useless studies.
When people ask me my opinion as an active duty Officer I will avoid endorsing or bashing any particular candidate BUT you can bet your sweet ass I will state my opinion on the topics they ask about based on my experience, education and opinion.
In fact I can’t think of ANY of my social circles where my friends or associates aren’t interested in my opinion on political topics as a military member.
I feel that almost a quarter century of service to this nation has earned me the right to do so…
It is amazing the progressive groups who claim to support veterans are the first to have veterans become a second class citizen.
Out of uniform say what you wish. Speak in uniform or say “as a veteran…” and stand the fuck by.
Right, so when the teachers, police, and firefighters unions endorse someone they are not “eroding trust” in those institutions either?
Americans, whether veterans or not, are born with the right to endorse whoever the h3ll they want to. Nice thing about free speech is the ability to use it from time to time. This is nothing more than a group not getting what they want suddenly thinking the rules should be changed….
It’s like when Romney was governor there was a concern by the Dems that he might get to appoint a senator who would be “gasp” a Republican like Romney so they passed a law requiring a special election and removed the governor’s right to appoint a replacement. It was particularly satisfying and ironic when that same law stopped Deval Patrick from appointing a Democrat and led to Scott Brown being elected in the first place…
This phenomena, in my opinion, is tied to a fairly widespread misconception that members of the military give up their rights as citizens when they opt to join. There is, as we all know, a bit of truth in there, but not really. While we agree to give up some of our freedoms, we do not give up our rights – and those which we agree to give up, or defer, are temporary.
How anyone can think that those of us who did what we did to protect their rights do not retain the same rights as they have is beyond me, but it’s out there. My usual response is a hearty laugh.
If the candidates can use military personnel/veterans as a back drop for photo ops, then military personnel/veterans have every right to voice their opinion. Tis is akin to the Coal Miners in Ohio speaking up for being missrepresented. One side said X and the coal miners spoke up and threw a big red flag on that play. (Same thing here)
AS LONG AS it is clearly stated that it is their opinion and not a reflection of their respective service branch AND NOT IN UNIFORM! Have at it as long as you keep the langauge some what repectful. After all POTUS is still POTUS until another takes the oath…
Just because we took an oath doesn’t mean we signed away all our 1st Amendment rights to speak freely, just some of them.
– Ish
Speaking for myself, as a person and a veteran, I wouldn’t endorse any political candidates if I were starving to death and they offered me McDonald’s coupon books.
If I ever endorse anyone “as a veteran”, it is solely due to their stance regarding veterans, nothing more, and not because “as a veteran” I feel my endorsement is any more important than anyone else.
If a service members feels so inclued sure. Why not. THey have the same right as anyone else to do so.
Heinlein had it right about being military and voting… “Allow the Roughnecks to vote, and the knuckleheads might just vote not to make a Drop…”
All I know is that Romney beat Obama in Epic Rap Battles of History. And frankly, Abe Lincoln beat them both when he flew in under the wings of the eagle. Don’t understand what I am talking about?
@9 Not even Blackfive when he ran for state office a few years ago?
Has anyone else noticed that “the quiet professionals” can’t seem to shut up these days? The Special Ops community used to be the strong silent types – now it’s a relentless stream of political activism and self-promotion. These guys are starring in movies, jumping into video game development, endorsing political candidates. Looks like we’ve got a bit of a Praetorian problem.
It’s a simple formula, and frankly it has nothing to do with our status as veterans.
Freedom of speech is wonderful and to be supported, unless you contradict them. Then they’ll grab whatever label they can (Teabaggers, Repugnicans, Extremists, Veterans) to discredit and group those who dissent from what they feel you should be saying.
It doesn’t matter to them if you’re a Veteran, or teacher, or cop, or fireman, or clergy. Cross their purposes and they’ll bring down the billy-club of public opinion on you. As the phrase goes, “By whatever means necessary”.