By I think the Army Times worded the title to this article poorly:
2008 Military Times Poll: Wary About Obama
When asked how they feel about President-elect Barack Obama as commander in chief, six out of 10 active-duty service members say they are uncertain or pessimistic, according to a Military Times survey.
In follow-up interviews, respondents expressed concerns about Obama’s lack of military service and experience leading men and women in uniform. [Army Times]
I don’t think troops are “wary” of Obama. Here is the Dictionary.com definition of “wary”:
1. watchful; being on one’s guard against danger.
2. arising from or characterized by caution: to give someone a wary look.
I don’t think US troops are on guard or cautious about Obama. At least from the people I talk to most are taking a wait and see approach with the new President and not discounting him. I have heard people in the military say much worse things about President Bush then incoming President Obama.
Here is something I do agree with in the article:
Nearly one-third of respondents — including eight out of 10 black service members — said they are optimistic about their incoming boss.
Most black servicemembers I have talked to strongly support Obama. Some I have talked to don’t even agree with many of Obama’s policy positions, but still support him just because of the historic nature of having a first black President, which is understandable.
The article cited that troops are skeptical of Obama’s Iraq withdrawal comments but in my opinion I seriously doubt that Obama will do anything that will jeopardize the security gains and slow motion withdrawal in Iraq. I am more concerned about what he will do with Afghanistan. In my opinion it going to take more then just throwing more troops at the problem there. There needs to be an entirely new strategy in Afghanistan, which so far not a whole lot about a new strategy has been articulated.
A losing position I think for Obama would be if he tries to push to end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in the first year of his Presidency. (You can read here what I think of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) If it looks like he is pushing social causes on the military over developing, lets say a new strategy in Afghanistan, then troops will really then become “wary” of Obama.
6:16 am on January 2nd, 2009 1
Even by the definitions you looked up, the troops would be considered "wary." They're certainly waiting with caution to see how it goes. The man has talked about policies that will hurt the armed forces' pride much worse than Bush ever did. It's no secret that most voted for McCain, and with good reason.
Obama's talk of the F-22 reductions is a horrible idea, as is his refusal to militarize space, which will set us back years against China. They're not a threat yet, but someday they may be.
Breaking down the wall between the Pentagon and NASA would be a good start, on the other hand.
Hopefully he keeps trending back toward the center with his appointments. Whatever happens, the military will not vote 50%+1 for this man in 2012. We have real conservatives who understand the foreign policy challenges of today ready to go.
1:40 pm on January 2nd, 2009 2
"Some I have talked to don’t even agree with many of Obama’s policy positions, but still support him just because of the historic nature of having a first black President, which is understandable."
OMG, GI, I can't believe you said that.
You have found it to be "understandable" that people don't agree with a politician's position yet support him simply based on his skin color?
Would it then be "understandable" to not agree with lynching but still support the KKK because they are white? Nazis? Jane Fonda?
You would think all that EO training would highlight that racism is never "understandable" or acceptable and should be pointed out and criticized whenever noticed; and not "understood".
Or is some racism more acceptable than others?
1:26 am on January 3rd, 2009 3
This guy at work convinced me that it is not racist to vote for Obama if you don't agree with all his policies.
He is the guy who told me he didn't really support much of Obama's policies but was going to vote for him anyway because he felt that by America having its first black President it will open the door for other black politicians seeking higher office as well. The analogy he used was when Art Shell in 1989 became the first black head coach of the modern NFL era. Back then it was a big deal, but now the NFL has a number of black NFL head coaches and is no longer an uncommon thing to see. I see nothing racist about this at all.
He also felt the election of Obama is also a sign to the black community that America is not as racist as often portrayed which dillutes the influence of people like Jesse Jackson which this guy cannot stand.
He had plenty more to say, but this is the jist of his argument which I think is in no way racist.
11:43 pm on January 3rd, 2009 4
Well, GI, that makes some sense.
It still borders on racism. I'm not sure why it is important to "open the door to other black politicians" in this way.
Either someone is qualified or they are not. Would you take your children to a black doctor if you knew he got into, and graduated from, medical school because someone "opened a door" for him instead of demanding that his skill and ability were up to standards? No. He dilutes the accomplishments and cast suspicions upon other black doctors who are categorized by their skin color (not necessarily ignorantly so, in this case).
Anyone who voted for Obama based on his skin color rather than policies they feel are beneficial, runs the risk of closing the door to black politicians if his disagreeable policies fail.
As for Jesse Jackson, too true. I'd vote for James Earl Ray if it would make Jesse Jackson stop his perpetual campaign of stirring racism for profit.
If Obama can pull America out of the the holes it has currently dug itself into, he can go down in history as a great president. Let's hope he does it for the sake of all Americans, not just hyphenated ones.
12:42 am on January 4th, 2009 5
Going back to the NFL analogy, Art Shell was mediocre as a coach but would have Tony Dungy have gotten the chance to coach when he did if Art Shell didn't open the door for black NFL coaches? Who knows but even if Obama ends up mediocre it could lead to some great black politicians to get a chance for higher office that maybe before they would not have been given.