Blumenthal campaign: report on Vietnam service an 'outrageous distortion'

The New Haven Register ^ | May 18, 2010 | Register Staff,

[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."

[KosmicKitty]

Best comment at the site:

Jane Fonda spent more time in Vietnam than Dick Blumenthal.

[Ann Archy]

Bully Blumenthal will NEVER quit....he thinks he is OWED this seat!!

[Ann Archy]

DEMOCRATS ARE LIARS...PERIOD!! UGLY BULLY LIARS!!

[KeyLargo]

Monday thread:

Blumenthal Lied About Serving In Vietnam
TalkingSides.com ^ | 05/17/10 | CaroleL

Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 9:21:54 PM by CaroleL

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2515640/posts

[Ann Archy]

I would LOVE to see that Dungheap Harkin brought down to size for LYING about his service!!

[Ann Archy]

LOL!!

[litehaus]

"Dungheap Harkin"

Ya mean 'Hero Pilot" Harkin?.....LOL

[Erasmus]

Well at least he didn’t claim to have been sent by Nixon to Cambodia.

[Tao Yin]

tell me that a man who claims, falsely, to have been among those men deserves any public office,

That's the point. I'm not sure he did claim to have served among those men. I know he used the words "in Vietnam" one time. I know he should have used the words "during the Vietnam War." I know about the deferments, but he did serve in the reserves during the Vietnam War.

Two words, said one time, do not make a pattern. If he would have elaborated with details, then I would totally support your position and condemn the guy myself. But these two words used one time can not stand up to the countless times he made it clear that we served in the reserves during the Vietnam War.

It's ironic he's being attacked for a speech supporting the military by those who support the military. His point wasn't look at me, but look at them.

I'd rather condemn the guy for real reasons rather then gotcha politics.

[Tao Yin]

Harkin is a douche and should be condemned for his claim.

[VOA]

Stolen Valor, all over again.

Just as with some other Democrats (e.g., Bill and Hillary!),
it’s amazing to me that some people will tell a lie when they would
be better served by just being honest. All I can think is that they’ve
used lies and been rewarded for it. Plus they get some sort of thrill
thinking “I really have fooled all the people, all the time.”
I guess one aspect of their pathology is that sociopaths never realize
they are sociopaths.

What would been so bad if this guy had just said, like the Vietnam-ERA vets
I know, “I served during the time of the war in Vietnam, but never
was sent there.”
People still respect you even if you don’t have Rambo’s resume.

[KeyLargo]

“We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam,”

Richard Blumenthal

So may I assume that you are one of the believers in the Clinton line?;

“It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4XT-l-_3y0

And Hillary Clinton’s claim;

“I remember landing under sniper fire,”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uycWgIjTZio

[Maverick68]

Unfortuanately, that is a losers strategy.
We are in a fight for the very life of the country.
If we use their own weapons against them, all the sweeter when sending these treasonous basts away....

[massgopguy]

Who else dodged the Draft by going to school in England?

[K-oneTexas]

Shhhhhhh! That’s a secret that only the select are allowed to know. FPRO! For political reasons only.

[Wings-n-Wind]

This is really simple...

Your papers please....
Blumenthal's DD-214 to be specific.

Thankya verrrrrr much....

[Wilum]

Ya know, as an Era Vet myself I have gone through my life making sure I always qualified myself as an Era vet to make sure it was understood.

I must thank my fellow Vietnam Vets who have always given me the same respect as I do them for their service during that time. But one thing said was definitely right...It didn't matter where we served, we all got the same treatment coming home.

[K-oneTexas]

I agree wholeheartedly. I was also in then ... either in the states or in Europe.

I remember that treatment coming home. will never forget my ‘negative’ reception at the local bus depot from the college students.

Thank you and all current members serving and thanks to our Veterans.

[IPWGOP]

[MHGinTN]

And quite telling of Iowa, the people there keep sending the dirtbag back to Washington azs their preferred representation. I wonder what Conn residents will do with this typical lying democrap, Blumenthal?