General Discussion

xmas74

(30,076 posts)

36. Nixon served.

Thu Aug 23, 2012, 11:27 PM

Aug 2012

That's what is so interesting about this. LDS isn't one of the "big three" churches with conscientious objector status, yet the Romney family found ways out of serving. Nixon was raised a Quaker and he served his country. Reagan enlisted, Bush I chose to postpone college and instead enlist after Pearl Harbor, Ford was in the Navy and was in the Pacific Theater. I'm sure if you looked into Clinton's family there was someone who served in WWII (I don't know about his stepfather but I think I read his biological father served) and I'd bet Barack Obama's grandfather probably served. (Just looked it up-Stanley Dunham was with the 1830th Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Company. Madelyn worked on a Boeing line in Kansas during the war, which means she also gave her support.)

How does one family go that far back and not have anyone serve?

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Romney only American family with 5 generations of no military service? [View all] Liberal_in_LA Aug 2012 OP

I wonder if it's Mormon religion policy Submariner Aug 2012 #1

No, this is a Romney thing. Ilsa Aug 2012 #21

Mormons can and do serve in the military n/t FreeState Aug 2012 #23

It's not a Mormon thing. Geoff R. Casavant Aug 2012 #24

Nope. xmas74 Aug 2012 #25

I sense there is an animosity.. kentuck Aug 2012 #57

Nope--the Mormon men I've known were my husband's coworkers in the military. TwilightGardener Aug 2012 #83

That is pretty amazing. I'd never thought of it that way, but how many among pnwmom Aug 2012 #2

I was wondering that. I was wondering if ANYONE here could meet that standard. jsmirman Aug 2012 #20

I don't know beyond my grandfathers. pnwmom Aug 2012 #22

during WWII even many of the wealthy served. xmas74 Aug 2012 #31

Yeah, that war could be a singular exception jsmirman Aug 2012 #40

So how did his family get out of even that war? xmas74 Aug 2012 #58

FDR's son James served in WWII, including the Makin Island raid... Scuba Aug 2012 #52

That's another great example. xmas74 Aug 2012 #59

I think it would be quite difficult. NYC Liberal Aug 2012 #46

My dad was too young to join the army in WW1 but he lied about his age ... spin Aug 2012 #54

My family can meet that standard RockaFowler Aug 2012 #77

My parents were immigrants, post ww2 refugees LiberalEsto Aug 2012 #78

my mom has family who fought in the ones no one knows about -before the french and roguevalley Aug 2012 #41

Paulie said that? pnwmom Aug 2012 #42

Yes he did. Scuba Aug 2012 #61

yeah. both granddads did. Tunkamerica Aug 2012 #44

Everyone on my father's side served aint_no_life_nowhere Aug 2012 #55

The Rmoneys take - they do not give malaise Aug 2012 #71

didn't driving that mobile home around Murica for Daddy count? rurallib Aug 2012 #3

True, but he did have ancestors who fought against The US military Tom Ripley Aug 2012 #4

Utah war? Brother Buzz Aug 2012 #8

Here: Tom Ripley Aug 2012 #11

A Deseret Deserter...how Romney of Him SoCalDem Aug 2012 #13

wouldn't that be a traitor, not just a deserter? 2pooped2pop Aug 2012 #65

A deserter! Hoot! Brother Buzz Aug 2012 #18

What about Nixon, the putative Quaker? central scrutinizer Aug 2012 #5

Nixon was actually a commander in the Naval Reserve Art_from_Ark Aug 2012 #7

Nixon served. xmas74 Aug 2012 #36

His whole attitude is that he owes the US NOTHING. aquart Aug 2012 #43

And that's an awful attitude. xmas74 Aug 2012 #60

it is not for the Romney Men to go to WAr,that's for other people JI7 Aug 2012 #6

Post removed Post removed Aug 2012 #9

He was still wearing knickers...... Historic NY Aug 2012 #12

I can see you stay is going to be short too. tbone8 Aug 2012 #14

Obama's grandfather served in WW2 B Calm Aug 2012 #38

Obama was eight years old 2pooped2pop Aug 2012 #66

Er, no, stupid. This is a site for progressives/Democrats. HughBeaumont Aug 2012 #70

What? He should have participated in the "liberation of Grenada"? Tom Ripley Aug 2012 #16

I say goodbye, you say hello. Raine1967 Aug 2012 #19

Throw in Mitt's Offshore Tax Dodging for that All-American Fraudster. Octafish Aug 2012 #10

k&r nt arely staircase Aug 2012 #15

His family ran to Mexico to avoid US laws. Snarkoleptic Aug 2012 #17

He may truly be the least patriotic candidate I can remember jsmirman Aug 2012 #28

off topic. Love the levicat, can I use that for a website? n/t 2pooped2pop Aug 2012 #69

The more kittehs the better! Snarkoleptic Aug 2012 #73

thank you. He is very zen. n/t 2pooped2pop Aug 2012 #75

Wow!! In a war hungry US, thats amazing. riderinthestorm Aug 2012 #26

it's true riverwalker Aug 2012 #27

It's false - sort of Brother Buzz Aug 2012 #35

Silly post. Brewinblue Aug 2012 #29

Yeah; sins of the fathers is silly enough without adding "great-great grand" to that. (nt) Posteritatis Aug 2012 #32

I don't necessarily see it as a good or bad thing. NYC Liberal Aug 2012 #48

Actually it's very telling economically - TBF Aug 2012 #67

not a silly post 2pooped2pop Aug 2012 #68

I think there might be a lot of Amish families that have a few more generations than that. Kalidurga Aug 2012 #30

All our of my grandparents SheilaT Aug 2012 #33

Almost everyone considers "service" to include non-combat service. amandabeech Aug 2012 #82

You are absolutely right, but SheilaT Aug 2012 #84

Anyone who insinuates that really doesn't count as a human being. amandabeech Aug 2012 #87

Freeper Challenge: Find a Veteran in Romneys Family Tree riverwalker Aug 2012 #34

Off-topic but a2liberal Aug 2012 #39

I'm not sure if any of my great-grandparents served in the military sakabatou Aug 2012 #37

I Live In An Area With A Large Amish Population... JimGinPA Aug 2012 #45

I don't give a shit. And neither would any of you cali Aug 2012 #47

depends on the line hfojvt Aug 2012 #49

the family hasn't been in the us five generations straight. george was born in mexico. HiPointDem Aug 2012 #50

They started in the US--just because they took a convenient period of exile in Mexico to avoid hlthe2b Aug 2012 #64

My Dad and all my Uncles served either in WWII or Korea.... WCGreen Aug 2012 #51

An utter lack of patriotism or a genetically induced propensity for fear. 2on2u Aug 2012 #53

If my father-in-law were alive, I don't know how he'd feel about this... a la izquierda Aug 2012 #56

I would have loved to have gone to France... kentuck Aug 2012 #62

Unbelievable... I know of no family that doesn't at least have WWII vets in their "lineage".... hlthe2b Aug 2012 #63

But our President's family has! Marrah_G Aug 2012 #72

this is a great little comeback for all those obama is not an american type of thing dembotoz Aug 2012 #74

Mitt Rmoney a Hypocrite and Active Draft Evader earthside Aug 2012 #76

"Mitt�s father George, served the country during WWII by being a lobbyist hedgehog Aug 2012 #79

A little trivia about Richard Nixon's Great-Grandfather George Nixon (1821-July 14 1863) who was a ArnoldLayne Aug 2012 #80

Good Thread!! Kick ArnoldLayne Aug 2012 #81

my family is not one of them shanti Aug 2012 #85

That's a possibility then Spider Jerusalem Aug 2012 #86