I don't give a damn that Obama didn't serve in the military, do you?

[Philosoraptor]

Talk about a talking point based on total stupidity and desperation....

[Vickers]

1. Neither did the current president.

:shrug:

Big whoop.

[Triana]

2. No. bu$hit didn't either and Tricky Dick II weaseled out of it...as did most

warmongering Neocons. And the ones who didn't are on a lifelong drunk on POW punch.

[hopewell1985]

3. no

[demnan]

4. No!

I want someone who can fight a political battle, not necessarily an actual battle!

[grannie4peace]

5. NO NO NO

[malta blue]

6. I don't give a flying * whether he served or not.

And this re-living of the McLame's POW/Cross in the Sand BS is just vile.

[bdamomma]

7. nope

bush and cheney didn't

[ForeignSpectator]

8. No, I would actually prefer someone who can THINK... freely and for themselves... who is a

smart leader, not someone who built a career on following orders from above.

You don't have to serve in the military to know enough not to waste their lives in criminal wars.

[spanone]

9. i prefer a president who hasn't been through the military indoctrination

[masmdu]

36. Ditto

[Obamanaut]

49. JFK and Carter have both been mentioned favorably in this thread.

Most (well, many) think they did fine despite military experience. Some say Lyndon Johnson (remember the Great Society?) and Truman did ok too.

I think that a good president can be a good president whether or not he (or she) has military experience (or "indoctrination.")

[jimshoes]

10. I doesn't make a damn bit of difference

in fact I prefer it that way.

[GoesTo11]

11. McCain's bombing civilians is at best a mixed qualification

imo.

But this is really a ridiculous argument.

First, empirical. What did the people making this point think about 3 purple heart John Kerry?

Second, theoretical. The constitution says the president is a civilian. The commander in chief is a civilian and the army does what it's told by the president the public elects. They specifically didn't want a closed military rule.

Third, practical. I want a president who won't get us into wars (like Obama) more than a president who has seen war.

One exception: Eisenhower really did have relevant military experience - commanding the allied forces in WWII was good preparation for managing the international relations and strategies at that time in the cold war, plus it was just a hell of a lot more to manage than almost anything else that had come before. Flying a plane and getting shot down isn't in the same category.

[petronius]

20. This current trend among the wingers of 'militarizing' the CiC role of the

president as always really bothered me. They talk so often of Bush as if he's some sort of super-general rather than a civilian leader - it shows a serious disregard for or lack of understanding of our Constitution...

[katandmoon]

12. Hell no. Would McCain have served, if his father/grandfather weren't admirals?

Somehow I doubt it, unless he got drafted like the rest of the poor schmucks who ended up in the army when the draft was in effect.

[rucky]

13. He has a solid record of public service.

the military is just one of a hundred ways to serve your country.

[loveable liberal]

14. Service to this country comes in many forms.

Going to work and paying taxes that allow the military to buy the toys they do. Just because one does not put on a uniform does not translate into no service.

Honestly, where do these creeps think money comes from to fuel the all mighty military machine???

Millions of us go to work every day, and thousands of us die trying to get to and from work, or become poisoned from where we work, only to be discarded when we can no longer perform. I will spend 40 years in the workforce supporting my country with no recognition except for a single day in september; a day on which I will go to work.

Inconsiderate assholes.

[DBoon]

15. they are just mad because they can't falsify his military record

as they did with Kerry

[graywarrior]

16. No

[miles 2 go]

17. I'd say that he still has more experience than McSame

I mean how much experience do you really get living in a cage? And is that really the kind of experience we're looking for? Obama was able to read about what was going on while McLame supposedly watched his jailers have gay sex with each other (but not with him) Yeah right!

I'd say that gives McSame more experience with gay sex and less experience on war.

Crashing planes does give some experience but is it the kind experience that we need? It's akin to Boosh having experience destroying companies, then as president he destroyed America. McLame will do the same. He will crash America.

[Lefergus70]

34. The experience question seems irrelevant to me

The issue is Wisdom.

Think of it: John MCain was a cheerleader for the worst foreign policy disaster since the Vietnam war, invasion and occupation of Iraq. Baraq Obama opposed it.

Now, wouldn't Americans want a proven wise man making those big decisions on foreign policy rather than a proven fool?

Alas, polls are showing no, they trust the fool. Blame Rupert Murdoch and other rightwing media moguls for infecting their minds once again.

[Thothmes]

42. The Viet Nam war, brought to by

four Presidents that all had military experience.

[guitar man]

18. Neither did FDR

right?

[ensho]

19. I'm glad he didn't - he won't have that military brainwashing

nt

[TahitiNut]

26. On behalf of myself and other DU veterans, I thank you for making note ...

... of my sparkling clean brain, free of the filth of bigotry and self-serving Me-Firstism.

:hi:

[Obamanaut]

48. I kinda thought JFK did ok. Or maybe the brainwashing you refer

to is a recent thing.

[TahitiNut]

21. Is it "don't give a damn" or "happy (gloating) that he didn't"??

After all, neither did Hillary. :shrug: Or Bill. :shrug: Just how did that lead to their "Don't Ask Don't Tell" position?

I make no bones about wanting to see an America where EVERY citizen has invested time in national service. In my view, that would include military service, the Public Health Service, VISTA, and an array of service options. Obama's service as a community organizer, instrumental in facilitating CITIZEN PARTICIPATION in our own self-governance is clearly within the spectrum of service options I envision. We're currently about as far from any national condition that assures citizen participation in our own self-governance than I can possibly imagine. We have no skin in the game. We speak of government as "they" instead of "we" and behind that facade of rejection give license to the narrowest and most self-serving of attitudes.

[MrScorpio]

22. There is no Constitutional requirement for the elected CinC to have previously served

The military is controlled by CIVILIANS and not all civilians have served.

Somebody needs to point out this fact to them.

[Romulox]

23. I consider it a mark of good sense. nt

[Terran]

24. Hell no n/t

[yardwork]

25. I'm relieved, actually. We see where all this "military experience" has gotten us.

[TahitiNut]

27. Yeah ... it clearly corrupted JFK and Jimmy Carter. Such useless wastes of flesh, huh?

:eyes:

On the other hand, Reagan was so much more brilliant and unsullied by such service. Whoopee!

[SidneyCarton]

28. No.

Neither did FDR, Thomas Jefferson, or James Madison, all of which managed to lead the country well.

[Time for change]

29. No, I don't

FDR didn't serve in the military.

Case closed.

The idea that you have to have served in the military to be President is absurd. The military is one of numerous issues that the President is responsible for. The President is responsible for the general welfare of the American people, which includes doing what s/he can to ensure economic health. We don't require that the President be an economist. The President is also responsible, in my opinion, for the health of the American people, yet we don't require that s/he be a physician. And the President is responsible for drawing up laws and making decisions on what laws drafted by Congress s/he should sign. Yet we don't require that the President be a lawyer.

In sum, only if you think that that President's responsibility for the military greatly overshadows everything else about the responsibilities for the job would one entertain the notion that service in the military is a very important prerequisite for the job. And even then, our Constitution requires that the military be under civilian control.

[Libby2]

30. I prefer it.

[DemoRabbit]

31. and he keeps good company

Bill Clinton
FDR
John Adams and Jr.

along with others...

didn't serve in the military.

Want a list?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Presidents_by_military_service

[Dogtown]

32. Not a jot

or tittle!

[Philosoraptor]

33. .............

[harun]

35. He served his community, nuff for me (n/t)

[tuckessee]

37. I do. It's very important.

I'm looking for a candidate who is a free thinker and self motivator, not a closed mindeded follower of orders.

I want someone whose loyalities lie with truth, justice and freedom not with a cult-like band of killers and a philosophy of destruction & deception.

Obama is the man.

[L. Coyote]

38. Actually, it is far better to not be brainwashed!

[bamacrat]

39. When was the last time we elected an ex military man?

Kennedy? Johnson maybe.

[BlooInBloo]

41. Carter.

[bamacrat]

43. Well I knew it wasnt a puke who was the last to served.

[Philosoraptor]

44. Clinton

[mentalsolstice]

57. Poppy Bush?

Didn't work out too well for us...

[BlooInBloo]

40. We saw how much American hypocrites care about military service last time.

[Timmy5835]

45. Ya know what??????

Neither did Lincoln or FDR. Two of our greatest wartime Presidents.

[Philosoraptor]

46. .............

[noel711]

47. If I check the constitution, all the rules say is....

the candidate must be over 45 (?), and born in the USA.

Don't say nothing about no military service..

I think they need to amend the constitution,
and require the presidential candidates to:

Pass an IQ test..

and undergo psychological testing for stability.

but if we're gonna start requiring military experience,
are we getting a tad fascistic?

[SoCalDem]

50. Military service can no longer be a "qualifier"..

Unless you were "draft-age" & ducked it back then, it's immaterial...and guys that age are quickly approaching "too old to be president".

We cannot have a "volunteer" military, and then hold not serving against people 30 years later:)

[JBoy]

51. Canada hasn't had a PM who served in the military after WWI

Unless you count Trudeau, who was conscripted during WW2, got kicked out of officer training for lack of discipline, then rode around on motorcycles wearing a Prussian helmet.

[bdamomma]

52. no

did anyone care about bush not being in war?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

53. No! Not At All! Our armed forces has been used as a subsidiary of large corps for

decades. When was the last time they actually protected us? WWWII???

[timtom]

54. Not at all.

And I am a vet.

It's been a function of the particular decade as to who serves/served.

[EndElectoral]

55. As much as it bothers me that Lincoln didn't, or Cheney, or Clinton, or GW (he didn't really serve)

[Postman]

56. FDR never served in the uniformed services and he was the greatest President this country ever seen.

US Grant (R) served in the military and he had one of the most corrupt administrations ever.

[lonestarnot]

58. Hell no!