I don’t agree. It is not up to every person who says that he is something to prove that he is, unless of course his claim is preposterous. (The alternative is a kind of social fascism.)
To harass this guy over a claim by AP that he already told me (and I told you) was misreported would be seen as tyrannical. It would be counterproductive.
I told you. He didn’t say that he was a Vietnam SEAL for 5 years. He said that he was in Vietnam for a total of more than 5 years and that he was a SEAL there. If you continue to argue with him for what he didn’t say, it discredits you (and us).
Majied, a Democrat from Albany who served 30 years in the Navy, including five years as a SEAL in Vietnam, said the memos support his belief that Bush was a "playboy" during his service years.
As I see it, EVERY special forces member or unit, past or present, has the right to demand verification when someone goes public. They've earned it. He voluntarily talked to AP and made the claim, it's up to him to prove it. If he did, he would get a number of apologies and be left alone.
It's preposterous that he was in VN for five years. He used his lie as the basis to slam Bush, so he's fair game.
If I claimed that I was a police investigator in your town for five years, and I knew you were the town drunk and beat your wife, but as a cop I used another name back then.... And I can't tell anyone what my name was back then....
Would you mind if AP new reporters ran my "story," without checking my bona fides?
This creep has stolen the valor and honor of real VN SEALs, in order to slam Bush.
Tough luck if he gets slammed back.