A recent Gallup Poll using results from January 2010 to April 2011 showed that military veterans and servicemen and women on active duty give President Barack Obama lower approval numbers than does the general electorate.   37 percent of veterans and active duty military approve of his performance versus 48 percent among the general public but among younger service people, it is more pronounced -  42 percent of young veterans and active duty military give him the thumbs up versus 57 percent of young in the general public.

But the numbers might be even worse -  a lot of veterans and current military people,  22 percent in the 18-29 age group declined to give an opinion at all, which might reflect an unwillingness to criticize Obama, something discouraged among active duty military.



It's an odd stance but perhaps it is just the usual politics.   Republicans are perceived as liking the military more, just like Democrats are perceived as liking science more.   Obama has not cut  military funding, has not closed Guantanamo Bay, and authorized taking out Osama bin Laden.   He has unfailingly supported the military in its nation-building and even gone neo-con in helping overthrow the government in Libya.   He is as military as Reagan.

But Pres. George Bush was also an unfailing supporter of most science fields, reversing the cuts during the Clinton years and even doubling the budget of the NIH, yet few scientists voted for him regardless.   So it may be with Obama and the military.  Perceptions are hard to change but older women seem to base things on track record - female veterans and currently in the military ages 30-49 actually have a slightly higher approval rating for Obama than women in the general public. 

Stay safe, soldiers.  We'd like to be honoring no new fallen next Memorial Day.