"The Sunday Political Brunch" -- November 8, 2015

Dr. Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is Chief Political Reporter for West Virginia Media, based at WOWK-TV13 CBS in Charleston, WV and is a Political Analyst for KGO Radio 810-AM San Francisco.

(Charleston, West Virginia) – We have more Presidential debates coming this week, and this week we will also commemorate Veterans Day. Given the turmoil in our world today, I thought I’d look into the military background (or lack of background) for each of the candidates. In view of past elections, I’m also wondering how much a candidate’s military experience actually matters to voters. Let’s brunch on that this week.

“The Democrats” -- Of the remaining Democrats in the field, none has any military background. Frontrunner Hillary Clinton – although of the Vietnam era – being a woman, was not eligible for the draft. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) applied for conscientious-objector status during the Vietnam War. However, by the time his application was denied, he was too old to be drafted. Former Governor Martin O’Malley (D-MD) has no military service.

“The Dropouts” – Two Democratic candidates have already dropped out of the race. Former Governor Lincoln Chafee (D-RI) had no military experience. Former Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) had the most military combat experience of all the candidates in both parties. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. He retired as a Captain from the U.S. Marine Corps after four years of active duty, and was awarded two Purple Hearts, the Navy Cross, and a Silver Star. He later served as Secretary of the Navy under President Reagan.

“The Republicans” – Of the 17 people who initially announced for the Republican nomination, 12 have no military training or experience. They are Carly Fiorina, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee, George Pataki, Jeb Bush, John Kasich, Rick Santorum, Bobby Jindal, Marco Rubio and Scott Walker. Donald Trump was never a service member, but attended the New York Military Academy for high school. Ben Carson has no formal service experience, but was a member of the Junior ROTC in high school.

“Who Served?” – Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has the lengthiest military service of anyone running in either party. Graham served a total of 33 years in the South Carolina Air National Guard and in the Air Force Reserve. Graham is a military lawyer, but not a combat veteran. He did serve as an Air Force lawyer (known as a Judge Advocate General, or JAG) in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Former Governor James Gilmore (R-VA) served in the U.S. Army intelligence unit. And former Governor Rick Perry (R-TX), who has now dropped out of the race, served three years in the U.S. Air Force.

“Recent History” – In 2012, neither President Obama nor Republican nominee Mitt Romney had any military experience. In 2008, the nation chose Barack Obama, over John McCain – a man with a wealth of military experience and heroism. In 2004, George W. Bush, who flew in the Texas National Guard, was chosen over Vietnam War Veteran John Kerry. In 2000, Bush was chosen over Al Gore, who had been a military journalist in Vietnam. In 1996, Bill Clinton was reelected over World War II hero Bob Dole; and in 1992, Clinton also defeated another World War II hero, George H.W. Bush. There is a consistent pattern of picking the person with the least hands-on military experience, regardless of party.

“Does it Matter?” – The state of the economy – more than any other issue – has decided most elections in the past generation, so voters seem less focused on a candidate’s military experience, or lack of it. We’ve elected Generals such as Grant and Eisenhower who won major conflicts while in uniform, but who had relatively little military conflict to deal with while in the Oval Office. On the other hand, we’ve elected people like Franklin D. Roosevelt, who never served in the military, but successfully prosecuted World War II. Our history is a mixed bag.

Do you care if candidates for President have little or no military experience? How important to you, is service in the military? Let us know by clicking the comment button at www.MarkCurtisMedia.com.

© 2015, Mark Curtis media, LLC.

Photo credit: www.barracks.marines.mil