how should military personnel stand on the political spectrum?
 

One question i have been asked a lot since deciding to go to the navy is: Am i Republican?
The answer is definately no, I think republicans have done a terrible job, are doing a terrible job, and will continue too. Im just curious what people think about the situation. Should people who serve in the military totally back our government, or is it possible that we are serving despite it?

I think that members of the military, when doing their jobs should do as ordered. However, when they are off duty, and certainly when they are voting, should act their conscience.

I was pleasantly surprised to read recently that military personnel are contributing more to Obama than McCain.
While the number of contributors is too small to draw any conclusions, it certainly doesnt show any strong level of support for McCain's "stay in Iraq for 10 (100?) years if necessary."

When hubby was in the service, we were 2 Democrats swimming in a sea of Republicans - you aren't the only one.

I certainly don't think there is anything wrong with disagreeing on a personal level with current events and political matters...but when you sign on the dotted line, you are agreeing to obey the Commander in Chief. I think a lot of people tend to forget that...it's a big decision to make from a moral standpoint, and not one to be made lightly.

Great post Medusa.

My family is mostly military, and almost completely Republican (hippy twin sister, but we forgive her). I have good military friends who despise Bush, but serve with distinction regardless. In the same way, in 2004 the military voted something like 86% in favor of Bush... the same military which served with distinction under Clinton.

Believe what you wish to believe in the service, but do your service as oathed.

The Navy and military is more diverse than the liberal-left and media would have us believe but does have a tendency to lean conservative, Republican what have you. The reason why it seems so is because active military personnel are not allowed to voice political opinions, especially against the current administration (something like that). So int he current climate, it appears as though all military personnel are gun ho for Bush, but in reality, this is not true. However, active personnel are not allowed to express this.

Are you enlisting or going OCS? What community are you in?

I believe it was Gene Hackman in Crimson Tide that said, "We're here to preserve democracy, not practice it." You vote for whomever you want, but military personnel do have limits on their free speech:
This is pretty serious.

BTW, don't forget to read the UCMJ cover to cover.

I'm puzzled as to why anyone thinks there is some way that military personnel "should" stand politically. They are allowed to think for themselves just like anyone else (except, of course, for when they are following orders doing their job).

US Naval Officers are required to know the UCMJ through and through. Definitely serious stuff.

Not to thread jack, but how is this less a slander than the stupid Spanish basketball team making the slanty eyes? So left-liberals and the media are all shifty liars?

Wow, apples to motor oil there buddy.

I never implied that the liberal left and media were liars. It's true that they tend to portray the military as more right-leaning and identified with conservative, Republican values. Where's the offense? :confused:

That is kind of strange. Did they have a problem with soldiers cursing out the Secretary of Transportation often? What not the Secretary of Education, State, or the Interior?

Military personnel should be independent and not registered with any party. But they can vote for whoever they feel will be the best person for the job.

Because the Secretary of Transportation runs the Coast Guard as the Secretary of the Navy well.... you get it. In times of dire stress the Coast Guard is pre-determined to be absorbed by the Navy, but until said stress it falls under Transportation.

Military are free to participate in the political process, as long as they don't do it in an official capacity or misrepresent the military.

Actually the Coast Guard no longer falls under the Department of Transportation, it now falls under the Department of Homeland Security.

As to the OP....
I think you'll probably find a majority of military personnel to being conservative (though not necessarily Republican). Just think about it. What do many military personnel stand for? Right the bear arms - a very conservative view. Protecting life (pro-life) - very conservative view.

Not to mention, it is historically under Republican administrations that the military is most heavily funded. So in the interest of job security, the military wants a Republican president or senate, or both.

As previously mentioned, however, you're entitled to your own political views, but you better not voice them in uniform.

As a liberal, you'll find yourself as a minority, but you shouldn't worry about anyone giving you trouble. When it all comes down to it, you'll all be swearing to obeying the orders of the president of the united states - Democrat or Republican, like it or not.

Bingo. And with this nominee, a conservative lean doesn't AT ALL mean an automatic Republican vote. I know lots of conservatives who are refusing to back McCain.

Ask General Wesley Clark, he made General just fine being a Dem.

Good example. Also I believe one of Obama's advisors is a retired 2-star.

The only requirement in my mind is that they are willing and able to serve their country honorably. Beyond that, it's their business.

a democratic polity should make a particular effort to keep its military politically scattered.

roachboy, you can't really mean that the military should screen applicants by their political views to ensure balance - or do you mean that? I would imagine that taking all qualified people will give a nice ideological dispersion among enlistees, because I can't see how political views necessarily match up with willingness to enlist other than at the margins. It might be different for career military, but that is a relatively small population.

loquitor: i wasn't making a particular policy argument. the general principle was that it is a bad bad idea to have too much political unity in the military else the military start to imagine itself a political bloc capable of acting in what it sees as its own political interests. the american situation now is bad enough. last thing that would improve it is the entrance into domestic politics of some fascist junta. diversity of political views is in principle good in the military. i like disagreement at that level. but then again, i understand the military as a necessary evil, with heavy emphasis on the last word.

People working in the military and the government are there and have sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.