Virginian-Pilot: Democrat Military Wives Fearful of Revealing Their Politics

Military wives who meet in secret like the early Christians in the Roman catacombs who feared persecution. The only difference is that the messiah of these military wives is Barack Obama. At least that is the image presented by the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot in their story about blue military wives (emphasis mine):

The blue "Obama-Biden" yard signs are hidden in the garage. The Obama bumper stickers are magnets, easy to remove when the husband drives the family SUV to the base. When politics comes up at barbecues and other work-related events, they measure their words.

But a few military wives have stepped out this year to back the Democratic candidate as members of Blue Star Families for Obama.

Do they also make the sign of The One in the dust to secretly signal to a fellow acolyte? Now comes the pitch about how these blue military wives heroically fight against the Republican "conformism" around them:

"There's a preconceived notion that if you're in the military, you watch Fox News and are Republican," said co-founder Amanda McBreen, who lives in Suffolk with her husband, a Marine lieutenant colonel, and their children. "I'm an issues person."

McBreen and two other local members, Vivian Greentree and Stephanie Himel-Nelson, are among about a dozen women driving the national campaign.

Military voters typically are a reliable base for Republicans. GOP candidate John McCain has even deeper ties as a naval aviator revered for his heroism as a prisoner of war.

See the theme of this article? These blue military wives are thoughtful types who are willing to buck the red tide:

But in Hampton Roads, several dozen military family members have organized to target military voters through canvassing and phone banks. They produced an online commercial for the campaign, pitching Obama to the military community.

They host Democratic rallies and organize debate-watching parties and meet-the-candidate gatherings.

On Tuesday night, the American and Naval Academy flags flew at the door of Casey Spurr's home in Virginia Beach. Her yard was one of the few with Obama signs in the neighborhood.

Spurr, 29, joined the group about a month ago. It's a long way from her first political experience as secretary for the Young Republicans club at Bayside High School.

Spurr graduated from Virginia Tech, married a Navy fighter pilot and settled down in Virginia Beach. Last year, the couple had their first child. Both her husband and father-in-law are "very, very Republican," she said.

Spurr was motivated to support Obama after her husband received orders for a land-based mission in Iraq when she was seven months pregnant. The Navy is asking more service members to take on such untraditional assignments in combat zones to assist the Army and Marines, whose ranks have been strained by the war. The orders were postponed, but her husband is now overseas.

Spurr didn't hesitate to join the Obama campaign but said she is cautious when talking politics around other spouses.

Shhh! We must always maintain our image of victimhood by acting as if we are members of a taboo secret society. Of course, now that Spurr consented to be quoted in the Virginian-Pilot, the whole world will now know her little "secret."

Himel-Nelson, whose husband recently retired from the Naval Reserve, said liberal politics can strain friendships and stain careers.

"It's sort of like a secret society within the military," Himel-Nelson said. "You know, those Democrats with the secret handshake."

And don't forget those secret meetings in the catacombs. So secret that only you, the Virginian-Pilot, and all their readers know.