Opinion of that Bernie Sanders is a draft dodger

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I didn't know this actually but if so that's f[inks]ing awesome and makes me like him far more.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I have almost as much admiration for draft dodgers as I do for the soldiers, particularly those who left the country and hid from the US government for over a decade.  (moderate hero)

Just as long as they didn't turn into chickenhawks when they entered politics.  Or, y'know.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

It's alright since he's anti-war. Had Bernie gone on to have the views of Lindsey Graham, I'd call for his head.

[Figueira]

It's alright since he's anti-war. Had Bernie gone on to have the views of Lindsey Graham, I'd call for his head.

This basically. (Of course, he's not fully "anti-war," but he's definitely the sort who would have opposed the Vietnam War if if was going on now.)

It doesn't have a huge effect on my opinion on him, but I'd say it's a mark in his favor I guess.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

While it doesn't change my view of Sanders very much, it is very understandable that he dodged. Many people of his persuasion back in the 60s did that.
Really, attacking someone on those grounds is low, and often shows you have no better attacks to use.  (see: Bush '92) People, generally, don't care. The majority of the electorate hasn't grown up on the draft, and the proportion that has gets smaller every year.

[Angrie]

Really, attacking someone on those grounds is low, and often shows you have no better attacks to use.  (see: Bush '92) People, generally, don't care. The majority of the electorate hasn't grown up on the draft, and the proportion that has gets smaller every year.

Yes. If you tell swing voters that Bernie dodged the draft, a majority of them will probably think that he didn't bother to tune in to the NFL or NBA draft.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I don't judge him for this, but a veteran might understandably feel differently.

I'd have done the same and dodged if I could, but I would feel some guilt over it and definitely a special obligation to make a positive difference in the world, given someone else was likely to go instead.

[Hermit For Peace]

I guess he applied for Conscientious Objector status and frankly that's what I would have done as well.

But if you think about it, now he wants to be President, in charge of the United States Military machine. How ironic is that?

[ag]

One of the things I, actually, would find worthy of praise in him.

[SillyAmerican]

I don't know to what you're referring; he clearly fought for the North in the Civil War...

[This account no longer in use.]

No actual effect, actually. (sane, normal, not a raging chickenhawk)

[Blue3]

He was a conscientious objector... and a sincere one at that.

That's not the same as a draft dodger.

I'm a Hillary supporter... and there's no controversy here.

[President Johnson]

I have no problem with that. The Vietnam War draft was terrible and unjust.

[Pyro]

I don't know to what you're referring; he clearly fought for the North in the Civil War...

LOL

[henster]

He's about as much of a draft dodger as Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.

[LLR]

I guess he applied for Conscientious Objector status and frankly that's what I would have done as well.

Judaism is the most anti-war religion, amirite guys? (Seriously, that makes no sense)

I don't know if he would've been able to enlist, since he's always worn glasses and that'd make you fail your physical, right?

[Green Line]

I personally don't care that he's a draft dodger, but I do think it makes him unfit to be Commander and Chief of the military.

[LLR]

I personally don't care that he's a draft dodger, but I do think it makes him unfit to be Commander and Chief of the military.

Was he ever fit to be commander-in-chief?

[Green Line]

I personally don't care that he's a draft dodger, but I do think it makes him unfit to be Commander and Chief of the military.

Was he ever fit to be commander-in-chief?

Nope, just the icing on the cake.

[SWE]

It's obviously admirable, but it's not enough radically impact my opinion on him.

[Santander]

He was a young man faced with a difficult decision and pursued a legal avenue to not fight in the war. He is not a draft dodger. To this day, he holds mostly anti-war views, and certainly qualifies as a bona fide conscientious objector. I respect his decision because it was legal.

Bill Clinton, who used deception and family connections to avoid conscription is a draft dodger.

[henster]

I personally don't care that he's a draft dodger, but I do think it makes him unfit to be Commander and Chief of the military.

So was Bill Clinton unfit, is Trump unfit?

[Indy Texas]

Hardly any worse than Trump faking through multiple deferments because of "bad feet" or whatever.

[Mr. Morden]

If you'd asked me 10 years ago, I would have figured that by 2016, we'd finally be done with rehashing the Vietnam War debate in presidential campaigns, because by that time the candidates would come from a generation too young to have been drafted.  But now we've got septuagenarians like Sanders and Trump in the mix, so I guess it's still a thing.

[Kingpoleon]

When Trump did it, the left called him un-American and cowardly. When Sanders did it, it made him a FF.

#WhenADemocratDoesItThatMeansThatItsNotBad