[bazoom42]

> in the Vietnam era there were widespread (probably heavily exaggerated if not fabricated) reports of soldiers being spat on

So you recognize this is a myth, but nevertheless use it as an example? Vietnam soldiers were drafted, and a lot of anti-war voices were soldiers and veterans. The resentment were towards politicians (remember the “LBJ, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?” chant.) in contrast, the “support our troops” slogan were an attempt to equate supporting the soldiers with supporting the war.