“Veteran voters have long been more likely to align themselves with the Republican Party than the Democratic Party,” a recent Pew Research study noted, going on to say that “63% of veteran voters identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, while 35% are Democrats or Democratic leaners.”
The same study notes, “As with voters overall, there are demographic differences in veterans’ partisan identification. For example, about seven in 10 White veterans (72%) identify with or lean toward the GOP. That compares with just 11% of Black veterans, who overwhelmingly identify as or lean Democratic (82%).”
Given the higher proportion of blacks in Alabama compared to the nation overall, it is likely that the state’s percentage of veterans voting Republican is much less than the 63% reflected in these national statistics. And that majority is in danger if Republican Party leadership in this state does not pay attention.
The past few months have not impressed many Alabama veterans when it comes to political developments. First, Gov. Kay Ivey went to vindictive and legally questionable lengths to drive off the very popular and extremely effective Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, Admiral Kent Davis, who had “coincidentally” filed a mandatory ethics complaint against one of the worst mental health systems in the country. Ivey could have exercised real leadership by addressing those valid concerns but instead managed to infuriate the entire veteran community and raise unflattering inquiries by state and national news media that continue unabated.
Republicans are about to do even more damage to themselves with Alabama’s veteran community. Ivey is now initiating and pushing retaliatory legislation via her surrogates that would completely politicize the State Board of Veterans Affairs and its commissioner by converting all those positions from merit-based selectees to political appointees with virtually no power to oversee veterans affairs at the state level. This comes after Alabama’s Republican politicians:
(1) Cut the scholarship program serving dependents of disabled veterans by 50%.
(2) Failed to support en masse the federal Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act that is helping veterans who suffer long-term health effects of exposure to such horrors as Agent Orange in Vietnam and burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Perception is indeed nine-tenths of reality, and our state’s Republican politicians are not perceived very well these days by many military veterans, who are also insulted by mere orchestrated photo-ops and paper proclamations from the protected confines of the State Capitol.
All of this is vital not only for Alabama’s Republican Party but also for the military and economic interests of the state. The federal government examines how states treat mthe ilitary and veterans when making strategic decisions. With such looming decisions as the location of U.S. Space Command headquarters, the placement of KC-46A Pegasus aircraft as replacements for the aging KC-135R Stratotanker, the continued placement of F-35 fighters to Air National Guard units, and a rumored reorganization of commands at Maxwell Air Force Base is now the time to be poking the bear of the military-veteran continuum?
If you think that is not a risk now that Donald Trump is president once again, might I remind you that during the first Trump administration Alabama was at real risk of losing military assets due to the perception that Montgomery cared little about educational opportunities for military dependents and other quality of life issues?
Are you paying attention, state Republican leadership? Are you listening to the many op-ed pieces and messages from your constituents on these issues?
You need to look to the future of your party and Alabama. You can do so by using the power of the Alabama GOP leadership to force Ivey to back off on her recent damaging moves toward veterans in the state. Ivey is now a clear political lame duck with declining abilities and influence. The state’s 400,000 veterans are watching, and we will not be taken for granted.
Troy Carico is both a former infantry enlisted soldier (11B) and infantry officer with branch qualifications including counterintelligence (35E) and military intelligence (35D). He served with distinction in the U.S. Army for more than 22 years, and is highly decorated and service connected disabled. He also has prior service as a civilian intelligence officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency Great Skills Program and has served in numerous clandestine assignments throughout the world.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
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