Conventional and Distinctive Policy Preferences of Early-Twenty-First-Century Veterans

Abstract

This chapter analyzes veterans’ policy preferences between the start of the Iraq War, in 2003, and 2008. Conventional wisdom describes veterans as more conservative, hawkish, and sympathetic to Republican issue areas than the general electorate. Using nationally representative survey data, these analyses, however, find that twenty-first-century veterans hold views that accord closely with the nonveteran population on most political matters. Once one controls for important correlates of political attitudes, including gender, age, race, and partisan identity, veterans resemble nonveterans on most policy preferences. On questions about domestic matters, including fundamental questions of redistribution, veterans hold the same views as nonveterans despite being a group frequently seen as a special beneficiary of government programs. On foreign policy, including attitudes toward the war in Iraq, veterans do not differ substantially from nonveterans. One notable exception is veterans’ distinctive views on gays serving openly in the military.