Bush Support Wanes Among Military Families Facing Redeployment

[reprehensor]

A Shrinking Base

By Hanna Rosin

Washington Post

Wednesday 21 July 2004

Support for Bush wanes among military families facing redeployment.

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Talk to a soldier eating his burger in the base food court and he'll tell you he's ready to complete the mission and support his commander in chief. "I got a job and I'll go out and do it," says Staff Sgt. Jeff Laplante. Others talk about unfinished business or even revenge, if someone they know was killed. They are professionals, they chose this path and they are deeply patriotic.

But some soldiers say the picture is murkier, particularly if their families are around. In the weeks leading up to deployment, soldiers are psyching themselves up by listing all that they fight for: family, buddies, their home town, democracy and God. Last time around the sentiment extended naturally to the president. Now that connection for some soldiers is what pollsters call soft.

Paul Rieckhoff fought with the division and has since left the Army. This week, he is launching Operation Truth, a nonpartisan group dedicated to telling the public about the war in Iraq from the perspective of those who fought there.

"People can deal with it if it's honest and up-front," he says about the deployments. "But they've broken their word so many times it gets frustrating. Everyone says they love George W. Bush, but when you get over there and see your buddies blown up and then think: 'What the hell are we doing over there?' You start to think: 'Who do I hold responsible?'

"My overall encapsulation is that the public will be overwhelmingly surprised at how many people coming back from Iraq will not vote for George W. Bush."

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[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Many of us have been saying this for now a year or so

the best sign was the ten Flag and General level officers at the convention. THey are all out, they were taling for their buddies who cannot

[marlakay]

2. I have said so too!

My son-n-law just came back for Kyrkstan (god I know I spelled it wrong) above Afghanstan, anyway they used to be Bushies and now voting for Kerry. Lots of others like them!! yeah!!!

[Sugarbleus]

3. Good news...!!

I do worry, though, for those soldiers who are out there among other soldiers who support bush. The whole thing could get "iffy" between them.... :scared: