Military Political Giving

There is an absolutely fascinating entry on the New York Times' political blog "The Caucus." It turns out that members of the military are giving to candidates, and 40% of that money is going to the Democrats.

In the 2002 election cycle, which is the last full period before the war began, members of the military gave 23 percent of their donations to Democrats, the report says. So far this year, they have given 40 percent of their donations to Democrats, both for Congress and president.

In American capitalism, it is said that people vote with their wallets. If that is true, an economic sea change is underway, as one of the most reliably conservative, Republican demographics - our military - comes to support The Executive's opposition. It is an absolute testament to our troops that they serve loyally, and give their all for our nation, even while they spend a portion of their income, income which they often find more dear than most of us who have the time and inclination to write blogs, to support those dedicated to ending the very mission they have been ordered to complete.

The New York Times story is reported on the day The Executive goes before the nation to explain how he is keeping the vast majority of the troops in Iraq up to the moment his successor takes the oath of office. Even as he does this, more donations from are military are coming to successor candidates dedicated to bringing them home.

That is the very definition of freedom.