Spring Break
Bush shouldn't get military vote
Iraq war, refusal to attend soldiers' funerals should haunt him in 2004 election
By: collins Ezeanyim
Issue date: 2/4/04 Section: Opinion
The Bush administration has also been malicious when it comes to veterans' benefits. In 2003, Bush submitted a proposal to Congress that slashed funding for a veteran's health care program by $1.8 billion.
Current Democratic presidential candidate and Vietnam veteran John Kerry criticized this move, according to The San Antonio Express News.
But he wasn't the only one, as several veterans' groups also criticized the cut. As if his policy decision concerning the military wasn't bad enough, service members must suffer the indignity of knowing Bush has not - and will not - attend any funerals of those killed in Iraq. Some have argued the president can't show signs of weakness during his campaign on terror and attending funerals with large amounts of media coverage will only encourage more attacks by Iraqi insurgents.
But this reasoning is weak. It would be better if Bush attended funerals and delivered the message that the United States will get the job done in Iraq no matter what. Nonetheless, Bush is willing to send Americans to die in an unnecessary war but is not willing to attend any of their funerals.
This is a slap in the face to those willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Despite all this, Bush will most likely be supported by the majority of military voters. The biggest reason why this is so is the stronghold Republicans have over U.S. service members. The Army Times reports that while only one-third of Americans identify with the GOP, a whopping 57 percent of service members surveyed by The Military Times consider themselves Republican. And even though the military is increasingly composed of women and minorities - groups traditionally loyal to the Democratic Party - even they lean conservative, according to Salon.com.
Still, military members should seriously consider the actions Bush has taken in his three years in office. Any honest appraisal will reveal Bush doesn't deserve their valuable votes.
Current Democratic presidential candidate and Vietnam veteran John Kerry criticized this move, according to The San Antonio Express News.
But he wasn't the only one, as several veterans' groups also criticized the cut. As if his policy decision concerning the military wasn't bad enough, service members must suffer the indignity of knowing Bush has not - and will not - attend any funerals of those killed in Iraq. Some have argued the president can't show signs of weakness during his campaign on terror and attending funerals with large amounts of media coverage will only encourage more attacks by Iraqi insurgents.
But this reasoning is weak. It would be better if Bush attended funerals and delivered the message that the United States will get the job done in Iraq no matter what. Nonetheless, Bush is willing to send Americans to die in an unnecessary war but is not willing to attend any of their funerals.
This is a slap in the face to those willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Despite all this, Bush will most likely be supported by the majority of military voters. The biggest reason why this is so is the stronghold Republicans have over U.S. service members. The Army Times reports that while only one-third of Americans identify with the GOP, a whopping 57 percent of service members surveyed by The Military Times consider themselves Republican. And even though the military is increasingly composed of women and minorities - groups traditionally loyal to the Democratic Party - even they lean conservative, according to Salon.com.
Still, military members should seriously consider the actions Bush has taken in his three years in office. Any honest appraisal will reveal Bush doesn't deserve their valuable votes.
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