Posted on 05/18/2010 6:08:56 AM PDT by Brugmansian
Mindy Myers, Blumenthal for Senate campaign manager, issued the following statement Monday:
“The New York Times story is an outrageous distortion of Dick Blumenthal’s record of service. Unlike many of his peers, Dick Blumenthal voluntarily joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 1970 and served for six months in Parris Island, S.C., and six years in the Reserves. He received no special treatment from anyone.”
Blumenthal will conduct a news conference with Connecticut veterans today, with details to be announced this morning.
Rob Simmons, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, issued the following statement Monday night in reaction the story on Blumenthal's service record:
"As someone who served, I respect Richard Blumenthal for wearing the uniform, but I am deeply troubled by allegations that he has misrepresented his service. Too many have sacrificed too much to have their valor stolen in this way. I hope Mr. Blumenthal steps forward and forthrightly addresses the questions that have arisen about this matter."
The campaign of Republican candidate Linda McMahon sent out an e-mail quoting the Daily Runctions blog by Kevin Rennie:
"The Blumenthal Bombshell comes at the end of more than 2 months of deep, persistent research by Republican Linda McMahon’s Senate campaign. It gave the explosive Norwalk video recording to The Times. This is what comes of $16 million, a crack opposition research operation and an opponent who, in the words of the president Blumenthal worked for on a draft deferment, who gave them the sword."
(Excerpt) Read more at nhregister.com ...
"Somewhere, Tim Russert is smirking. In 1981, Russert was working for New York Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who was facing a challenge from rising freshman Republican Congressman Bruce Caputo. Caputo had made claims of army service during the Vietnam War that were nearly as false as Blumenthal’s. He was forced to withdraw from the race with dispatch."
It’s time to watch BlumenDodd twist in the wind. It wouldn’t surprise me if they find a quick substitute for him.
This couldn’t happen to a bigger d-bag.
Blumenthal is well deserved toast.
For years, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has attended events for veterans and often talked about his service in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
But a story in The New York Times is now raising questions about Blumenthal’s military record and his service during the Vietnam War.
• New York Times: Candidate’s Words on Vietnam Service Differ From History
• Richard Blumenthal: Reaction Pouring In From Around The Country
In a detailed story, reporter Raymond Hernandez mentions that Blumenthal spoke to a group in Norwalk in March 2008 at a ceremony that praised both veterans and senior citizens.
“We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam,” Blumenthal was quoted as saying. “And you exemplify it. Whatever we think about the war, whatever we call it — Afghanistan or Iraq — we owe our military men and women unconditional support.”
excerpt
http://www.ctnow.com/news/connecticut/hc-richard-blumenthal-0518,0,7339198.story
Maybe he meant he sued Vietnam on behalf of the troops.
It was just reported on WTIC Chris Murphy maybe taking BlumenDodd’s place.
WALL STREET JOURNAL
* May 18, 2010, 9:14 AM ET
Bright Shining Lies? On Richard Blumenthal and Vietnam
blumenthalWhen Tim Johnson’s lies about his Vietnam service were exposed back in 1998, the former manager of baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays was relieved of his duties. Gord Ash, then the general manager of the Blue Jays, said the issue became too much of a distraction to the team to continue letting Johnson manage.
We were reminded of Johnson’s swift fall from grace on Tuesday when we saw the NYT’s article on Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut Attorney General now running for Senate.
Blumenthal has on occasion mentioned publicly his Vietnam service. However, writes the NYT’s Raymond Hernandez, “there was one problem: Mr. Blumenthal, a Democrat now running for the United States Senate, never served in Vietnam.”
In fact, writes Hernandez:
He obtained at least five military deferments from 1965 to 1970 and took repeated steps that enabled him to avoid going to war, according to records.
The deferments allowed Mr. Blumenthal to complete his studies at Harvard; pursue a graduate fellowship in England; serve as a special assistant to The Washington Post’s publisher, Katharine Graham; and ultimately take a job in the Nixon White House.
excerpt
http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2010/05/18/bright-shining-lies-on-richard-blumenthal-and-vietnam/
Yeah, but this guy’s a democrat so it’s different...
;-)
Rob Simmons: "As someone who served, I respect Richard Blumenthal for wearing the uniform, but I am deeply troubled by allegations that he has misrepresented his service. Too many have sacrificed too much to have their valor stolen in this way. I hope Mr. Blumenthal steps forward and forthrightly addresses the questions that have arisen about this matter."
Linda McMahon: "The Blumenthal Bombshell comes at the end of more than 2 months of deep, persistent research by Republican Linda McMahon’s Senate campaign. It gave the explosive Norwalk video recording to The Times. This is what comes of $16 million, a crack opposition research operation and an opponent who, in the words of the president Blumenthal worked for on a draft deferment, who gave them the sword."
Simmons' statement is simple, dignified, and utterly devastating to Blumenthal.
McMahon's statement is rambling, self-promoting, non-sensical, and gives Blumenthal ample opportunities for counter-attack.
Which candidate would Blumenthal rather face in the Fall?
That wasn’t from McMahon. A former Hartford Courant writer wrote that.
It might be cool to be an ex-hippie war protestor, but when you want respect, one always refers to his military service, whether he did it or not.
His service is seared in his memory, like John Kerry’s Christmas Eve trip into Cambodia. I wonder if Blumenthal has a “magic hat” too!!
In context, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. He did serve in the reserve during the war. If he wore the uniform, he would have been subjected to the same vitriol as those who served in Vietnam. He should have said, “during the Vietnam War”, rather than in Vietnam. His point wasn’t his service, but the treatment of the soldiers during and after the war.
I can understand the truth be damned in politics and trying to use everything to your advantage; I just don’t like spin.
His statement of “in Vietnam” was a one time occurrence. If we match that up to the number of times he made it clear he was in the reserves and didn’t go to Vietnam, then I think this is a non issue. But that’s just me because I’m tired of gotcha politics.
Richard Blumenthal: Senate Candidate Lies About Vietnam Service
By: Dan Fletcher (3 hours ago)
Topics: chris dodd, connecticut, Richard Blumenthal, whoops
August 18, 2004
TOM HARKIN, FAKE WAR HERO: In an update to an earlier post, I noted some comments by Donald Sensing about Sen. Tom Harkin, most recently seen attacking the patriotism of Dick Cheney. Sensing observed: "Harkin himself claimed to have battled Mig fighters over North Vietnam while a Navy pilot. He was a pilot, but never went to Vietnam." 
Democrats will circle the wagons, right?
LOLOLOLOL........it all depends on the meaning of ‘served’.
May 17, 2010...9:20 pm
Blumenthal lies again
Dick Blumenthal, Harvard war hero
I wrote earlier about Dick Blumenthal lying about being captain of the Harvard swim team. This one seems more substantial, but in line with the first.
According to the New York Times, he never served in Viet Nam. Why is this disgusting? Because unlike the claim that he donned a tight Speedo and swam a few laps, laying claim to the bravery and self-sacrifice of soldiers who fought in battle should be beyond the pale. Read “We Were Soldiers Once, and Young” and tell me that a man who claims, falsely, to have been among those men deserves any public office, let alone Senator.
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