Candidate’s Words Differ From His History (Dem lies about serving in Vietnam)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/nyregion/18blumenthal.html ^ | May 17, 2010 | Raymond Hernandez

[Free ThinkerNY]

At a ceremony honoring veterans and senior citizens who sent presents to soldiers overseas, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut rose and spoke of an earlier time in his life.

“We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam,” Mr. Blumenthal said to the group gathered in Norwalk in March 2008. “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.”

There was one problem: Mr. Blumenthal, a Democrat who is now running for the United States Senate, never served in Vietnam. 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.

In 1970, with his last deferment in jeopardy, he enlisted in the Marine Reserve, landing a coveted spot in a unit in Washington, D.C., which virtually guaranteed that he would not be sent to Vietnam. The unit conducted part-time drills and other exercises and focused on local projects, fixing a campground and organizing a Toys for Tots drive.

Many politicians have faced questions over their decisions during the Vietnam War, and Mr. Blumenthal, who is seeking the seat being vacated by Senator Christopher J. Dodd, is not alone in staying out of the war.

But what is striking about Mr. Blumenthal’s record is the contrast between the many steps he took that allowed him to avoid Vietnam, and the misleading way he often speaks about that period of his life now,

[Venturer]

There is nothing any lower than a man who lies about his military service or lack thereof.

[avital2]

have to say it: good for the NYT for exposing this. this
should be a career-killer. we’ll see if it is.

[originalbuckeye]

Are there ANY honest Democrats???

[Travis McGee]

What a lying POS. IOW, a ‘Rat.

[Carley]

Shameless.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

“this should be a career-killer. we’ll see if it is.”

Likely won't be. If you have D after your name it doesn't matter what the truth is.

[RaceBannon]

BLUMY ALERT!!!

[MSF BU]

This is unusual because in the case of Connecticut the GOP’s candidate not only had balls enough to serve in uniform but he deployed with a combat unit and fought in Vietnam.

[muir_redwoods]

I never served in the military.

I will never assert otherwise,

Blumenthal is the lowest sort of attention hog there is.

[Man50D]

He lies as well as Dodd! He’s BlumenDodd!

[Lorianne]

Aside from the repulsiveness of this ... isn’t the stupidity of it just astounding? Good grief, how hard is it for people to check these things out ... and he’s assuming no one will look into every nook and cranny when he’s running for the US Senate?

This guy is too stupid to be a Senator.

Also, isn’t this the seat Peter Schiff is running for on the R tickect?

[tx_eggman]

Connecticut voters need to burn this shameless lying POS to the ground

[NTHockey]

>>There is nothing any lower than a man who lies about his military service or lack thereof.<<

Agreed. Isn’t it a crime to misrepresent military service? If he claims to have a Vietnam Service Medal, he is subject to prison time. You had to ACTUALLY be in Vietnam for a number of days or be in a naval support role, regardless of time.

I know, because it took me forty years to get my medal. I was a young Marine stationed aboard USS Princeton(LPH-5) and landed helicopters in Vietnam twice. The trouble was, this was in 1962, and we were never there, officially.

BTW, I do NOT claim to be a Vietnam vet. That is for man better than I. RIP Corporal Laurence M. King, USMC KIA Quang Tin 09/28/65

[Venturer]

I do not know what the law is on the Viet Nam medal, I am not entitled to it. I spent my military time in the National Guard for 8 years and worked at a missile base for the Guard right here in my home state.

[bert]

When plagiarizing Lurch’s speeches, the writer should leave some claims out