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The Commander in Chief Threshold

By Jack M. Balkin

There was a story in the NYT today which repeated an argument Hillary Clinton has been making for awhile -- that only she and John McCain cross the "commander in chief threshold." This argument is meant to stress her experience and readiness for the presidency, but there is a shadow issue that few have noticed although it dogged the first Clinton presidency. That's the relationship between the officer corps and the Democratic party. So far I've noticed one story on this issue in the Washington Times which gave expression to the serious doubts the military has about both Democratic candidates. The conservative and Republican tendencies of the officer corps have been noted but I'm not advancing a Seven Days in May scenario and those tendencies are inherently no more worrisome that the liberal and Democratic tendencies of law professors. The issue is rather whether the gulf between most of the officer corps and Democrats has reached the point where alienation, lack of common ground, and mistrust would lead to unnecessary conflict, misunderstandings, and serious policy mistakes in a Clinton or Obama administration. Remember the opening months of the first Clinton administration -- gays in the military? That conflict featured the military brass drawing on their contacts in Congress to oppose an initiative featured in the presidential election.

Once the nomination is secure for Clinton or Obama, you can be sure we will hear more of the military's negative perspective on them. Regardless of which Democratic candidate you like, neither Senator Clinton or Obama can compete effectively with John McCain for the hearts and minds of our military leaders. There is little common ground partly because once again, Democrats have been indulging in their habit of avoiding issues the military cares about. Engaging with the military involves more than articulating a global strategy or endorsing/opposing this or that weapons system. It demands sustained attention to their point of view. That's something that for somewhat understandable historical reasons, contemporary Democrats have been loath to do. They may pay a price for this in the general election, but the real danger will rear up, as it did with Bill Clinton, in a new Democratic administration. Building bridges now with the serving officer corps (as opposed to retired endorsers) would cost little and pay dividends later.

Full post as published by Balkinization on March 14, 2008 (boomark / email).