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Opening Arguments

Citizens and soldiers

Sorry, doesn't count:

Barack Obama has said he considered joining the United States military when he left school but decided not to because the Vietnam war was over and "we weren't engaged in an active military conflict at that point".

The statement is thought to be the first time during the 19-month-long presidential campaign that the Democratic nominee for the White House has indicated he once wanted to serve in uniform. The aspiration was not mentioned in either of his two volumes of memoirs.

"Considering joining" the military is not the same thing as "wanting to serve." If you want to serve, you will. Military service is no predictor of anything when it comes to the presidency. We've had 10 generals -- never mind mere soldiers -- become president, and their record is mixed. Ditto for the non-military-serving presidents. So be honest about it. I considered the Peace Corps, very briefly. I don't deserve any "world citizen" points for the fleeting thought.

Comments

tim zank
Mon, 09/08/2008 - 8:54am

Merely a Messiah afterthought. He just forgot to mention it before. heh heh heh

Bob G.
Mon, 09/08/2008 - 9:30am

Hell the best time to join IS after a war!
(unless you're a MARINE...lol)
The DRAFT, is quite another issue, having no allowance for such philosophically patriotic musings, and one I'm sure that Barack "just" managed to avoid.
And we won't get into Joe "1-Y" Biden...will we?

B.G.
(CCR - ain't no fortunate son)

Doug
Mon, 09/08/2008 - 9:54am

I'm tired of the political fetish for soldiers. Having been a soldier is a great credential, but just having it doesn't mean that critical thinking about a candidate's qualifications can be shut down; and not having it shouldn't really be an automatic deduction for a candidate.

But, every &*(& election cycle, I have to hear about Viet Nam-this, Viet Nam-that.

Nance
Mon, 09/08/2008 - 10:19am

Yes, Obama managed to avoid the Vietnam draft -- by being 13 years old when it ended.

As for 1-Y draft status, Biden shared it with well-known patriot and pilonidal cyst sufferer Rush Limbaugh.

alex
Mon, 09/08/2008 - 10:43am

Pilonidal cyst, eh? Well, Rush is certainly well known for the nastiness of his cracks.

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