Video
 

The link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/ny...lumenthal.html

Scroll down...on the left is a video of him saying he was in Viet Nam.

POS

Blumenthal was taken to task by Brian Williams on NBC Nightly News last night.

Video - Blumenthal backtracks on military service

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/ns/nightly_news/

Richard Blumenthal Vietnam Controversy: What He Can Learn From Bruce Caputo
Sam Stein, HuffPo, 18 May 2010

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has entered undoubtedly the most critical 48-hour window of his political career. Presented with a clear record of his rhetoric (suggesting he had served in Vietnam) not matching reality (he was granted five deferments and ultimately ended up in the Marine Reserves), his campaign has begun charting out a path to stem the bleeding.

On Tuesday, Blumenthal will host a press conference to answer questions while surrounded by Connecticut veterans. He won't be granting national interviews beyond that (at least temporarily) advisers say. And he will make clear that the report that appeared in the New York Times told a limited if not slanted story.

Crises like these happen periodically in politics. Few end successfully. What may end up helping Blumenthal is to draw lessons from those who preceded him in the cauldron. And in that respect, there is no better parallel than the case of Bruce Caputo.

(cont'd) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_580223.html

I think you are completely wrong. He was up 30% in most polls and most of the people who would have voted for him do so based on the fact that he shares their political beliefs. In the end his being a fraud will cause him to only win by a margin in the single digits, but he'll still get elected, and I wouldn't be surprised if he is given a seat on the Veteran's Affairs subcommittee. Sounds cynical but I have heard this song enough times to know how it ends.

Maybe - but one of his opponents is a vet and I'm not so sure Blumenthal will get off so easy over this matter of lying and "stolen valor."

However - the VFW support by vets truly confounds and saddens me. :confused:

And so it goes...;)

Richard's $.02 :munchin

He can't deny the video. But maybe he should fall back on Elwood Blues' explanation to Jake about why he lied to him while he was in prison about the band still being together.

Jake - "You lied to me man!"
Elwood - "It wasn't a lie.. It was just bullshit"

Conn is a very Blue state. I'd like to think he's sunk his own boat but.....
We'll see if there are enough vets in Conn to bring him down and if the Dems stand behind him.

I sent a note to Matt Drudge to see if he can stir the pot.
I would encourage others to email anyone that may show this A$$HO for what he is..

I guess it is to be expected,,

A poser stands with a poser.. :mad:

Do you think we could ask the POWNETWORK to add the candidate to the list??

My $00.0002

FYI - here is the statement of the Commander for the VFW Dept of CT:


“Those who served in Vietnam or offshore or in neighboring countries rightfully earned all the belated thanks and appreciation our nation can muster. Those who served in uniform during the Vietnam era also deserve our gratitude, which makes Mr. Blumenthal's claim to be something he is not so outrageous. It diminishes the service of all who served and sacrificed, most especially those whose names are inscribed on the Vietnam Wall. Mr. Blumenthal was considered one of the best friends a veteran could have in Connecticut. It is a true shame that he let a false claim of Vietnam service change that.”

I sent the following to Mr DiFederico and to the VFW National HQs:

Sir,

The Richard Blumenthal lies about his RVN service (a Stolen Valor violation) and disingenuous explanations for them given during his recent press conference which was conducted with the Hannon-Hatch VFW Post 9929 in West Hartford, CT, is a disgrace of national interest and one the VFW should closely monitor.

Equally as disheartening is that one of the vets supporting Blumenthal's lies is a well documented wannabe of the worst sort who has dishonored his otherwise honorable service by claiming awards and service for which he is not entitled - William Joesph Trumpower aka Elliott Storm (2nd from right in attached pic of the news conference and info at link to POW Network).

The pot on this one is simmering and the heat is being turned up - now we'll see. Sorry MFers.

And so it goes...

Richard's $.02 :munchin

This is the same play, different actors. A few years ago this (deferments) was trotted out to chastise VP Cheney and membership in the Guard to slam GW.
It's all BFD. It's a generation of politicians. It's interesting how in the 60-70's it was political suicide to have any military background but today . . .
This is the nature of the beast.

Now mis-spok-ing is a different matter. That's a real character issue.
If there is one word that we really need to get rid of it's mis-spoke.

I couldn't give a shit how many deferrments somebody got. I don't really even care if you went to Canada. I don't care if you were in the Coast Guard Reserve marching band in Ft Lauderdale or smoked dope in Haight Ashbury.

Just be real careful about mis-speaking.

Bob rocks back in his chair, fingers pursed, and a tight grin on his face. "Excellent!", he whispers.

The thing I can't understand is: In this age of instant information and instant verification, why in the world would AG Blumenthal stand up on a stage and blatantly lie about his service? Why would he (and others who have done similar things) be so short-sighted?

It seems to me that lying about something that could be so easily checked out would be beyond stupidity. And, let's face it, (political bias aside) you don't get to be AG without being a fairly intelligent person. There's no doubt he lied, so what was he thinking?

Response from VFW National HQs:

Thank you for your note. The simple fact, however, is that the VFW is not endorsing, and has not endorsed, this candidate.

That the news conference was held at a VFW post does not equate to a formal endorsement. Our VFW posts are used for many events, such as weddings, community events and even political town hall meetings. However, the later example (on a political event) is done on the basis that we will not do so as a form of endorsement. Indeed, any political endorsement is only done by a separate entity, our PAC, and we abide by all laws (including our own By-laws) in doing a PAC.

More to this situation, none of the VFW leadership, from the Post through the state to our national leadership, were aware that the news conference was going to be on this subject. (We were as surprised as anyone else.) The Mayor of West Hartford, CT called the post to rent the hall and the Democratic Committee paid for it. The post did not find out for over three hours after it was rented, what it was being rented for. There were VFW members invited to join Mr. Blumenthal on stage and they all refused. Those individuals on the stage with their hats were from different Veterans Service organizations -- and none of our leaders have stated any support for that candidate (actually are precluded from doing so for any candidate by our By-laws). Indeed, we are publicly condemning him. Along these lines, I am attaching here the follow-on statement by the Connecticut Department Commander:

“Those who served in Vietnam or offshore or in neighboring countries rightfully earned all the belated thanks and appreciation our nation can muster. Those who served in uniform during the Vietnam era also deserve our gratitude, which makes Mr. Blumenthal's claim to be something he is not so outrageous. It diminishes the service of all who served and sacrificed, most especially those whose names are inscribed on the Vietnam Wall. Mr. Blumenthal was considered one of the best friends a veteran could have in Connecticut. It is a true shame that he let a false claim of Vietnam service change that."

Again, thank you for your note but please believe that we agree wholeheartedly with your assessment in that there would be no way that we could ever associate the good name of the VFW with any individual that falsifies information concerning honorable service in the military let alone combat duty.

And so it goes...

Richard's $.02 :munchin

I wonder how we can get this note to someone that gives a shiite???

Maybe Canada Free Press editor & owner Judi McLeod??

Just a thought...

:cool:

Great idea. I went to the NY Times page, opened their article and clicked the link to send an e-mail to a reporter on the story. I figure it would make a great side-bar to any follow-up the Times does.
v/r
phil