How important is military service in this presidential election?

Republican nominee John McCain has a vaunted military record. Democrat Barack Obama has none. But four months out from the voting, Obama is ahead in national surveys. History shows that whether a candidate has military experience rarely determines who'll win election to the nation's highest office. Tonic: Excellent answer!!!!

Public Comments

1. I don't think it matters one bit. Politicians have run our service men and women through the dirt lately. Instead of fighting for freedom, soldiers are now looked at as fighting against freedom as they are commanded off into interventionist and non necessary military adventures all over the planet, costing trillions of dollars. It is like hiring the worlds most expensive architect, to order them to construct a pile of dirt with manure shovels. Do you praise the architect for his work?
2. Not extremely important - especially if your military experience came just because of who your father and grandfather were!
3. I think so, military leadership is the key point of the office. The DNC candidate is too chicken to go to Iraq, much less lead our soldiers. John McCain has no fear here, he is a healthy vet with the right kind of values to lead our Great Nation. God Bless America; God curse our enemies; vote McCain 08
4. Military service should not be a prerequisite to the presidency. If a president has a lack of military knowledge, then he should be surrounding himself with the persons in-the-know. Same goes for economic experience.
5. It's not extremely important but, it does help. Barry Soetoro wasn't even a boyscout, has never run anything but his big mouth with empty promises. MCCAIN 4 PRESIDENT !!! A True American Patriot/War Hero
6. The real question is do we want a peace-nik in the big chair or someone who will protect the country against all enemies, domestic and foriegn.
7. its very important because it shows you can run a military
8. I had no idea that being enduring years of torture in Vietnam and being a POW were because of legacy, as an answerer is implying. Interesting. I think military experience should at least be some factor in determining who the Commander in chief of the military should be.
9. IT MATTERS IF HE POOPS
10. Having served in the military does not matter. Picking good advisors on military matters is more important because the generals are the ones who decide on the strategies. The president's job is to just enforce military orders (i.e. to go to war or not go to war).
11. I think it is important since he is called the "Commander in Chief"
12. Well, when George Bush was running, military service wasn't important to the GOP because they knew that 'W' wasn't REALLY a military guy. But now that McCain is running, suddenly being a POW is very important into knowing how to run a country. McCain was against torture before he caved in to Bush and became for it. What a chump.
13. It's pretty important if you intend to become the commander & chief. It helps to know what being shelled & shot at feels like personally so you don't go off sending human beings into the meat grinder lightly.
14. It is not a prerequisite and certainly didn't matter to those who elected Lincoln, Roosevelt and many other presidents. It is a civilian office.
15. Exactly. History also shows that the taller candidate almost always wins. And we all know McCain's a shorty.