The shocking images of Islamic State beheadings, last month’s Paris attack and this month’s terror-inspired San Bernardino, Calif., shootings have resulted in strong support among younger voters for adding U.S. troops to the war on the Islamic group.
But a new Harvard University Institute of Politics poll finds that those same millennials, aged 18-29, have little interest in taking on the terrorists themselves.
However, of those who do put on the uniform, Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than two-to-one.
From the latest Harvard University Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government poll.
“There clearly seems to be a disconnect between what people say they prefer the country to do and what they’re willing to do as individuals,” Polling Director John Della Volpe told Secrets.
His numbers: Sixty percent back sending ground troops, but 85 percent “probably” or “definitely” won’t join. The “definitely not join” group was highest, at 62 percent.
But this is not a copy of the Vietnam War generation, when the military draft was in place and protesters burned their cards. The Harvard poll found that 60 percent support the war on ISIS.
The influential Harvard poll found that 16 percent of the 18-29 age group had joined the military.
Of those who have already joined, the poll found that Hispanics are on top, at 22 percent, followed by whites at 14 percent and blacks at 13 percent.
From the latest Harvard University Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government poll.
The poll also broke down the politics of those in: Republicans, at more than two-to-one over Democrats, 24 percent to 11 percent. Independents were at 15 percent.
Harvard student Sally Marsh, part of the polling team, explained that Hispanics lead the way in part because they feel an urging to give back to the United States.
“There is definitely something there with newer Americans, more immigrant families, as far as believing in this country and being willing to put themselves forward,” she said in a conference call last week.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
