Reality Check

CBS4 Checks 'Republican' Obama Supporter's Story

DENVER (CBS4) ― The new political ad, by the liberal group moveon.org, features a military veteran who says he's a life long Republican who's now become, an "Obamacan."

Ad Begins

John Weiler: "I'm a veteran; I served under President Ronald Reagan, and under the first President Bush."

Commentary

The claim appears to be true. In a phone conversation with Weiler, I asked, and he provided, a detailed account of his military service. I also received an affidavit he signed in which he swore that his information was correct. Adding to his credibility, I verified his current employment as a detective for a major metropolitan police department in California.

Sourcing:
 
Affidavit, provided by Mr. Weiler and MoveOn.Org

Excerpts from my phone Interview with John Weiler (5/16/2008):

Weiler: "I can tell you I joined the Air Force in April of 1983. I went to basic training in Texas. I was assigned to Missouri. I did nuclear missile security in Missouri for three years. I made the rank of sergeant when I got to Korea in 1986. I spent a year in Korea, a small airbase in the southern portion called Tagu, which is no longer an American base. I had been transferred back to the United States where I was stationed in South Dakota, where I did B-1 bomber security for a year and a half, until I separated from the Air Force in April of 1989.

"The AP wrongfully initially listed me in a story that I gave them that I got out as a master sergeant. I did not. I attained the rank of staff sergeant, which was an E-5. I actually did make it ahead of the game, but that's because I promoted on my first test, for staff sergeant. I didn't have to wait. So I made staff sergeant in June of 1988 until I separated in April of 1989. I mean, I could provide [documents] that shows all the ribbons and awards that I was given, the schools that I went to, the rank that I attained, my skill level, the fact that I was honorably discharged. I can provide all that if it's needed. I am a police detective now, and what good would it do me to lie to people about my past ... because then my word means nothing. My integrity means nothing."

Ad Continues

Weiler: "I've been a Republican since before I could actually vote."

Commentary

As for whether he's a lifelong Republican, I have been able to confirm through California voting records that Weiler has been a registered Republican there since at least the mid 1990s. The staff in the Los Angeles County Register could not immediately access the database going farther back then 1996.

But it's not the whole story, Weiler did acknowledge he's not hardcore in his Republican views, that he has voted for Democrats in state and local elections. However, he insists until now he's voted exclusively for Republicans at federal level positions like president, senator, and congress.

Ad Continues

We need somebody in the White House that is strong, we need somebody that is going to represent the left and the right, the Democrat and Republican, everybody.

Commentary

That's opinion of course. Many Republicans feel Sen. Obama would not represent their interests. They point to his comparatively liberal voting record in the Senate as proof.

However John Weiler says he likes Obama's health care plan, and his support of nuclear energy, but he says the most important point for him is Obama's opposition to the Iraq war.

Sourcing:

Excerpts from my phone Interview with John Weiler (5/16/2008):

Weiler: "I started to become very discouraged with the Bush administration specifically with how he was running the war, and his refusal to back down or pull our guys out. And I became more and more disgusted with the way our veterans were being treated when they came back, and then they started sending 'em back and sending 'em back and sending 'em back. So I started really paying attention to what's going to happen come the presidential election and none of the Republican candidates that were coming out in the fore front were going to do anything different. And so I started paying attention to some of the other candidates and my wife, who's a Democrat, started mentioning Obama and his policies, and the things that he stands for and the promises that he's made to change things. So I started paying attention."

Ad Continues

Weiler: "I'm a lifelong Republican, and I'm voting for Obama."

Commentary

Bottom line, it's an example of a white Republican serviceman who could vote for Barack Obama. It may be an obvious point, but it's also anecdotal. Sen. John McCain could undoubtedly point to crossover voters in his camp.

Nevertheless, this is a thought provoking ad.

(© MMVIII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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