Michelle Malkin » Obama politicizes military spouses

Obama politicizes military spouses

By see-dubya • August 12, 2008 10:39 PM

Here’s an interesting letter to the editor–which reads like a column– that Mrs. See-Dub noticed for me:

Michelle Obama is having “round table” discussions at various sites near military bases to discuss issues faced by military families (”Michelle Obama courts vital military families,” Politics, Thursday). A group known as Blue Stars for Obama, largely made up of military wives, has been asked by the Obama campaign to contact other military spouses and enlist/encourage them to attend and to, in turn, contact other military wives and ask them to do the same. It’s an attempt to infiltrate and extend support for Sen. Barack Obama in what has traditionally been a more conservatively leaning group…

Nothing wrong with that, except for this:

The problem is in how the campaign is attempting to bring military spouses to the discussions with Michelle. They are asking members of Blue Stars for Obama to go out and seek other military spouses, who are not signed on to Blue Stars for Obama, in order to drum up large crowds for the events.

Some BSFOs are known to be contacting other military wives, urging them to take part in a political event; the rough equivalent of “undue command pressure” — unacceptable behavior considering that spouses of junior officers or enlisted personnel can sometimes be intimidated by a request or admonition from the wife of a senior officer or enlisted military member. After all, the senior officers and enlisted write or have input on the fitness reports for those under their purview (”I can’t cross the chief officer’s or master sergeant’s wife; her husband holds my husband’s career in his hands”).

Since the military member cannot take part in publicly supporting a particular candidate, it has always been understood among military wives that it is also inappropriate for a military member’s spouse to use her position in the military community to solicit others toward her personal political views via access she has gained to e-mail addresses, phone numbers and other networking avenues available to her within the military context.

That’s not the worst thing the Obama campaign has done, but if that’s an accurate explanation of the norms that govern military wives, then this outreach effort shows both political desperation and an unpleasant disregard for the military’s customs and ideals. Which wouldn’t surprise me in the least–Obama’s great at being geostrategicalistic but I don’t think he’s gaining a lot of real traction among the military.

That brings politics, and the polarization inherently involved, into the sisterhood of military wives, a place where good order and unit cohesion are just as important as they are to the units of military members. The military should not be politicized on the staff or distaff side; it is clear the Obamas do not have a historical view of how the military community operates best and are capitalizing on military spouses who also lack such understanding.

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{Post by See-Dubya}

Posted in: 2008 campaign, Barack Obama

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#405033

On August 13th, 2008 at 10:54 am, chefantwon said:

The Obama campaign is walking straight into a hornets nest if they keep trying to use military spouses to spread the holy word of the prophet Obama.

As a veteran we were told that the DoD does not endorse any person running for any office. While any military member can donate to anyone, actively campaigning for someone is highly discouraged because of the conflict of interest issues. Spouses of military members, while not subject to DoD regulations, DO have an impact upon a military members record. A spouse soon realises this in short order upon entering the military community.

Not only do you have a problem with the enlisted/officer spouses, there is also a problem with the lower ranks/NCO’s and junior/senior officers spouses. A spouse of a military member has unique challanges that he/she must deal with that the military member does not. Putting these folks in a position that could potentially cause harm to their spouses military carreer, is just plain wrong and should be stopped.
#405052

On August 13th, 2008 at 11:01 am, leucanthemum said:

BemusedLib,

It’s clear that — in election years, anyway — conservative concern for servicemembers and their family is largely focused on using them as a cudgel against the Democratic nominee. Obama doesn’t visit troops because the Pentagon warns him that it would be seen as “political” and he’s shallow and uncaring. Michelle does visit with military families and she’s politicizing the military.

It’s not the simple fact of Michelle “visiting” with military families which has her politicizing the military, it’s that she actually is politicizing the military… asking family members to mobilize for the campaign.

And, were BHO to have actually gone to visit the wounded troops in Germany, to pay respect to them – without any of his entourage –, there would have been less ammunition to use against him, there.

As to “using the troops as a cudgel,” it’s not really necessary, is it? When one party consistently undermines men and mission, the other party doesn’t have to go very far to demonstrate where the troops’ interests lie.

When you’re running for office, everything is political.
#405118

On August 13th, 2008 at 11:26 am, postobitum said:

Bemusedlib quoted a statement from the Blue Star bunch:

Blue Star Family Members for Obama is made up entirely of volunteer family members of active duty service members; not the members themselves. We do not seek out active duty military members, nor do we permit our members to communicate our message to active duty members, or through them, via email, fax or any other form of official communication. Blue Star members are not permitted to use government equipment or government property to advance our cause. We have a website where people can sign up and prohibit members from seeking out spouses who are subordinates of Blue Star members’ spouses. If any of these events occur we want to know immediately so that we can take corrective action.

I don’t care what they say, that’s not how it works in the real world. As a USMC wife I can attest that the rules mean squat to some – people are going to do what people want to do, and if that means using their spouse’s rank and influence over younger and/or subordinate spouses then they will without a second’s hesitation. Not every single wife or husband acts like this, of course, but all it takes is one, and there are almost always that one couple in a unit or shop that exerts their influence inappropiately. When you consider how many of our lowest ranked guys are fresh out of high school with their newly wedded wives having just moved from momma’s bosom you can see just how much influence the unscrupulous can have.
#405257

On August 13th, 2008 at 12:25 pm, Karmah60 said:

She isn’t getting this military wife.
#405318

On August 13th, 2008 at 12:53 pm, navychica said:

Here’s one female sailor laughing her head off.
#405722

On August 13th, 2008 at 3:36 pm, emjem24 said:

Here’s another military spouse who says:

NOBAMA!!!

You’ll never gain my support and my husband’s unit, which is overwhelmingly against him, will not give it either. Michelle Obummer is mistaken if her or her little minions can influence me or how I vote.

This woman had a little chat with military wives in Norfolk, VA. She may have bamboozled them but a lot of are not convinced that her husband is the best Dems can come up with.
#405730

On August 13th, 2008 at 3:38 pm, devildog247 said:

I have to disagree with this article, Michelle. I am a longe time reader of your blog, and first time poster. I am also the wife of a senior enlisted Marine, and prior Marine myself. There is no bullying me into anything I do not want to do, and I’ll be darned if some pearl-wearing uppity wifey is going to tell me what to do. Bottom line is if a military member’s spouse feels she is being boondoggled into campaigning for the One, or even John McCain for that matter then she needs to step up to the plate and JUST SAY NO. If her husband’s rank, pros/cons, or fitness report are threatened that’s when you request mast and REPORT IT. Don’t be silent, DO SOMETHING about it.
#405990

On August 13th, 2008 at 5:25 pm, patrick said:

devildog247,

I think that is what most of those who have commented are saying. Anyone foolish enough to send these letters around are going to get the exact opposite of support for whatever candidate they like. Spouses get enough “contact” from the unit that is legitimate. Anything over the line will open up a whole can of …
#406332

On August 13th, 2008 at 9:42 pm, irving said:

I hate to say anything that might be construed as being in defense of Obama, but in this case I have to. The fact is, it’s completely normal for Liberals to be completely ignorant of the way the military operates. Why would they learn the deep ins and outs about an organization they want to see abolished, after all?

IOW, this whole “outreach” program isn’t so much a product of disrespect as because they just don’t know any better.

(which doesn’t really excuse them at all. It’s just a slightly more refined explanation)