The Candidates And The Military Industrial Complex

By on January 13, 2012 in News 16

Obama family getting in Marine OneMegan Carpenter investigates the ties that bind, for RawStory (with thanks to DeepCough):

Though Americans far and away identify economic problems as the biggest issue facing the nation, according to Gallup, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) has been gaining support by talking about the need to restrict the military industrial complex and end what he terms “war profiteering” — most recently in his victory speech after the New Hampshire primary.

By contrast, former governor Mitt Romney (R-MA), currently leading the pack of GOP candidates, called for a strong America and a strong relationship with Israel — rhetoric that has most often accompanied robust military spending. Meanwhile, back in Washington, President Obama thought last year that the prospect of automatic defense spending cuts would be enough to pressure the supercommittee into a deal on the debt: it wasn’t, and now he may be stuck with them.

Given all of that, and Romney’s pro-business platform, you would think he’d be the favored son of the defense industry, even in the early stages of the 2012 race. You’d be wrong.

President Obama is leading the pack in donations from the defense industry: according to the Center for Responsive Politics, he’d taken in almost $112,000 from defense industry donors through December 2011, despite not accepting any donations from super PACs or lobbyists. (Complete fourth quarter numbers were only released yesterday, so break-downs aren’t yet available by industry.)

By comparison, Romney only got $56,000 for his campaign from defense-industry donors…

[continues at RawStory]

, , ,

  • We were warned

    A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be might, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction. . . . American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. . . . This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. . . .Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. . . . In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. -President Dwight Eisenhower 

  • We were warned

    A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be might, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction. . . . American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. . . . This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. . . .Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. . . . In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. -President Dwight Eisenhower 

  • We were warned

    A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be might, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction. . . . American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. . . . This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. . . .Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. . . . In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. -President Dwight Eisenhower 

  • We were warned

    A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be might, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction. . . . American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. . . . This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. . . .Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. . . . In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. -President Dwight Eisenhower 

  • We were warned

    A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be might, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction. . . . American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. . . . This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. . . .Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. . . . In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. -President Dwight Eisenhower 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-McNew/510582045 Michael McNew

    The problem is that as long as many of our politicians are psychopaths then they are going to support anything that either enriches them, or enables them to keep in office and exercise power.  Support of borrowing trillions of dollars to maintain the MIC will continue until people realize first who runs things and then elect people who want to save the country from financial ruin.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MZCHjGkTPg&feature=related  Video on psychopaths and politicians.

  • Nunzio X

    Eisenhower warned of this, of course.

    But there’s WAY too much $$$$ to be made supplying the military with its tools and supporting the infrastructure.

    And I always think: “If we’re spending trillions on the military as a ‘jobs program’ anyhow, why can’t we spend those trillions on health care for all, improvement in infrastructure (roads, bridges, public spaces, airports / train stations, high speed rail) instead?”

    Because I can tell when a bridge or road has been improved, or when an airport has been upgraded, or when people who didn’t have health care now have health care. I can’t really see improvements in the quality of life of US citizens when millions of bullets are fired and thousands of missiles are launched in some shithole of a country thousands of miles away, for TEN MOTHERFUCKING YEARS.

  • Jin (仁)

    you bet on the horse who is favoured to win, it’s that simple.

  • Mr Willow

    Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) has been gaining support by talking about the need to restrict the military industrial complex and end what he terms “war profiteering” 

    Just about the only thing I can applaud Ron Paul for.

  • Jin (仁)

    and the war on drugs. but you’re right. 2 good ideas amidst 20 bad ones still averages bad ideas.

  • CK

    How can Ron Paul be against war profiteering when his campaign is being funded by the war profiteers? People’s IQs drops 70 points when that old Confederate’s name is droppped.

    http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/contrib.php?id=N00005906

  • Michaelanthony909

    @ CK, If you had bothered to read your own link it would disprove your belief that Ron Paul is receiving support from War Profiteers… It clearly states “organizations that bundle together many individual contributions are
    often among the top donors to presidential candidates. These contributions can come from the organization’s members
    or employees (and their families).”  MEANING the contributions he receives from INDIVIDUALS within a given organization get pooled together b/c of campaign finance law…  Just b/c individuals who work for Lockheed Martin or Northrup Grumman contribute to Dr. Paul’s campaign doesn’t mean he’s in the “pockets” of these war profiteering companies… besides this is a fraction of the dollar amount that Romney, Gingrich and the likes are getting from the biggest War Profiteering companies of them all, THE BANKS!!! (which lend the US money at interest to FINANCE these wars) http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/contrib.php?cycle=2012&id=N00000286

    Ahhhhhhh BURN!!!!

  • Malk

    that’s called I’m a greedy bastard with no hopes, desires, or mind of my own.

  • Jin (仁)

    i can’t tell if that was directed towards me personally, or the people who donate money to candidates?

  • http://buzzcoastin.posterous.com BuzzCoastin

    > President Obama is leading the pack in donations from the defense industry

    do people really not know that the fix is in
    and Obummer has already been selected for a second term
    the best CIA/Republican President they ever had
    what’s the diff between Bushy and Obummer
    Bushy has light skin and is duller witted
    but definitely funnier

    the Chinese have a stereotype for Americans
    they consider Americans to be well meaning but naive
    it’s hard not to agree with them

  • USMC

    His campaign is funded in majority by military service members, who are increasingly desperate for someone who will not send them to war for stupid reasons.  Our military wants to DEFEND their country…not project its power needlessly and with adverse consequence.