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Senior Citizen Politics
World War II Generation May Tell Bush to Let
Democrats Handle the Iraq War
Seniors were first to back the President but seem
to have had enough
By Tucker Sutherland, editor
 November 6, 2006 – I remember lying in my bed at
night, searching the darkness outside my window for any sign of movement
that could be an invading German soldier or spy. I knew just how long it
would take me to get to my .22 rifle in the closet and had thought out
the best defensive positions around my house from where to fire. It was
World War II and my mother and I lived in a small Texas town not too far
from the Gulf coast and the Texas border – proximities that flamed my
fear that Nazis may show up any day. My Dad, my uncles and even one aunt
– a Marine - were away defending our country.
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I was too young to go to war but served as the
mascot for the home guard, led by my grandfather, who was too old go. We
put on our khaki shirts and pants, clinched tight our web belts and
marched through town. The men, the old or infirm, who made up the guard,
marched with wooden guns, while I carried the U.S. flag.
In thinking back the scene is almost comical, but
it wasn't then. From daylight to way past dark, I was absorbed by the
Big War. I played with lead toy soldiers, made balsa wood model fighting
planes, devoured LIFE magazine front to back, and read comic books
distributed by our church that told of how children in Germany were made
to even spy on their parents. I joined the adults for FDR's fireside
chats and became a devoted reader of the daily newspaper. But, it is
those photographs in LIFE and the news reels at the theater depicting
the horrors of war that are still etched in my mind.
There was a spirit in America then that we may
never see again. I remember one Christmas when my mom and I were
visiting my dad in another state, where his ship had returned from North
Africa. My present that Christmas was one small plastic airplane – a
model P-51 Mustang. I was not disappointed because things like that made
even children feel they were doing their part for the war.
Sacrifice was everywhere. The worst, of course,
were the lives lost at war. But, at home we had severe rationing, few
cars and replacing a rubber inner tube for a flat tire was virtually
impossible.
None of the younger generations will ever
understand.
There has never been a time like that in their
lifetimes. The Korean War was no picnic and Viet Nam a nightmare. But,
they were nothing compared to World War II. While Korea and Viet Nam
erupted in national controversy, WWII brought America together in
sacrifice, brotherhood and bravery.
It makes me remember riding out to the edge of town
with my grandfather in his old 30-something-Chevy and picking up
hitch-hiking service men to bring them home for lunch.
When I lay on my pillow scanning the moonlit shrubs
for German invaders, it was not a mental game to amuse myself until
sleep came - I was in fear. I earnestly felt that I had to be prepared
to defend our home and my mother.
And, I think, it is the senior citizens who still
survive from those hellish, yet, glorious, days that will demand a
change in how the U.S. government manages the Iraq War. Their voices
will be heard tomorrow on election day.
When President Bush decided we should initiate an
unprovoked attack on Iraq, the seniors, who know the importance of
backing your leaders in time of peril, were the first onboard. Our
President said that far-off small country was a threat because they had
weapons of "mass destruction" and were in cahoots with those who
attacked America on September 11, 2001. Just like WWII, when if was FDR
calling us to action, the senior citizens automatically lined up behind
their leader.
The support by senior citizens for the President
and his war held firm into 2004. Bush won reelection and post election
analysis indicted seniors, who considered the war the top issue, may
have given him the edge for victory – certainly in some key states with
heavy senior citizen populations.
But there is evidence that the attitude of senior
citizens began to change in 2005.
A poll in January of that year found that 56% of
seniors were dissatisfied with the state of the nation and that grew to
63% by October.
In mid-September of 2005, 52% of those age 65 or
older said the decision to invade Iraq as the "wrong decision." This was
a position held only by 44% of all Americans at the time. Another poll
in October confirmed that the seniors' opinion was that invading Iraq
was a mistake.
Surprisingly, in January of this year, senior
citizens were more likely than younger Americans to say the war in Iraq
was going well – 37% of seniors, 30% all adults. In that survey,
however, 57% said it was the most damaging issue for President Bush in
2005. And, when rating the two top issues they wanted the President to
address in his State of the Union, seniors rated the state of the
economy first and the war in Iraq third.
But a poll in May indicated a significant shift.
When rating the most serious issues facing the nation, 50% of seniors
said it was the war in Iraq, compared to only 42% of all adults. But,
for both it was the top issue.
Another poll a month later, confirmed that the war
in Iraq was the top issue for seniors.
Last month, a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, found
the Iraq War was clearly the number one issue as the Congressional
elections approached. But, it also found that senior citizens were now
more likely than all younger voters to say it is the top issue.
In this poll, where participants could choose among
a list of issues, 30% of all adults put the war in Iraq at the top. For
senior citizens, however, it was 37% putting it first. Interestingly,
the opinion of the senior citizens was close to that of Democrats – 39%.
And, it was far above the 20% of Republicans that said it was a top
issue.
On October 26, Reuters reported, "Poll after poll
shows the U.S. war is uppermost in the minds of the gray-haired legions
as they help decide whether President Bush's Republican Party will keep
control of Congress in the Nov. 7 election.
"Iraq is the No. 1 issue for seniors who say they
will cast a ballot based on national issues," said Andrew Kohut of the
Pew Research Center.
A Pew Research Center survey of 2,369 registered
voters released Sunday showed that 48% of those ages 65 and over were
leaning towards voting for Democrats, compared with 42% for Republicans.
So, what this polling tells me is that senior
citizens – the age group that best knows about war and national
leadership – has decided this war was a mistake and it has been badly
managed by the U.S. leadership.
But, maybe, too, that is just me. And, frankly, I'm
not sure what we should do now. But, I am confident that we need to let
new leaders see if that cannot do better. – America deserves it.
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