Richard Blumenthal misremembers his military record

[Puppycow]

Candidate’s Words on Vietnam Service Differ From History (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/nyregion/18blumenthal.html?hp)

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 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 landed a coveted spot in the Marine Reserve, which virtually guaranteed that he would not be sent to Vietnam. He joined a unit in Washington that conducted drills and other exercises and focused on local projects, like fixing a campground and organizing a Toys for Tots drive.
Ouch. That's bad. Really bad.
Great scoop by the NY Times though.

[Thunder]

is there anything else where he claims to have been in Vietnam?

[Brainster]

He should announce that he went into Cambodia with John Kerry.:D

[theprestige]

Personally, I find it disgusting when good men who have done honorable service for this country are so cynically swift-boated.

[Tiktaalik]

There are several clips of speeches where he very specifically says he was in the reserves, did not go to Vietnam, but learned something during that time. I suspect he figured it was part of the public record & he didn't have to reiterate it each time; he probably should have said "served in the reserves during the Vietnam era" or something, but since he has already publicly noted his type of service, I don't think this is some attempt to cover up how he served.

[rwguinn]

I agree, he's disgustingly distorted his record.
However, from the standpoint of the VA and the military, he is indeed a "Vietnam era Veteran". He just left out the "era".

[Just thinking]

Candidate’s Words on Vietnam Service Differ From History (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/nyregion/18blumenthal.html?hp)


Ouch. That's bad. Really bad.

Don't get too upset ... he will be staunchly defended here.

[Just thinking]

He should announce that he went into Cambodia with John Kerry.:D

... and then ducked for cover with Hillary.

[MikeMangum]

I agree, he's disgustingly distorted his record.
However, from the standpoint of the VA and the military, he is indeed a "Vietnam era Veteran". He just left out the "era".

He didn't claim to be a Vietnam era vet, he claimed to have served in Vietnam.

"since the days that I served in Vietnam"

ETA: I guess I could claim to have played in the 1979 World Series since I was playing organized baseball at the same time as the World Series was under way.

[Drysdale]

He didn't claim to be a Vietnam era vet, he claimed to have served in Vietnam.

"since the days that I served in Vietnam"

ETA: I guess I could claim to have played in the 1979 World Series since I was playing organized baseball at the same time as the World Series was under way.

Yea, and i get SB rings since I was playing football when the Steelers were winning SB's.

Man, my life is so much fuller now.

[rwguinn]

He didn't claim to be a Vietnam era vet, he claimed to have served in Vietnam.

"since the days that I served in Vietnam"

ETA: I guess I could claim to have played in the 1979 World Series since I was playing organized baseball at the same time as the World Series was under way.

Yea, and i get SB rings since I was playing football when the Steelers were winning SB's.

Man, my life is so much fuller now.
I'm NOT defending the *******.
Just pointing out that he, like 99.4% of all politicians, simply stretched the truth into the plastic region...

[theprestige]

I'm NOT defending the *******.
Just pointing out that he, like 99.4% of all politicians, simply stretched the truth into the plastic region...
While certainly a plausible claim, I have no idea how on earth it's relevant to him being caught doing it.

[WildCat]

There are several clips of speeches where he very specifically says he was in the reserves, did not go to Vietnam, but learned something during that time. I suspect he figured it was part of the public record & he didn't have to reiterate it each time; he probably should have said "served in the reserves during the Vietnam era" or something, but since he has already publicly noted his type of service, I don't think this is some attempt to cover up how he served.
You didn't read the story linked to in the OP, did you? It would be very hard to come to the conclusion you did if you had.

[Cleon]

You didn't read the story linked to in the OP, did you? It would be very hard to come to the conclusion you did if you had.

Yeah...My first thought was, "slip of the tongue," because I figured no politician would be stupid enough to lie about something like that and expect to get away with it.

But if you read the article, it's not just the one quote. The guy's been using "ambiguously suggestive"* language about Vietnam for a while now.

* Couldn't think of any other way to put it, but I think my meaning's pretty clear.

[Drysdale]

I'm NOT defending the *******.
Just pointing out that he, like 99.4% of all politicians, simply stretched the truth into the plastic region...

Yea, but he stretched the truth on a topic that is a big nono to stretch it on.

Especially when it sounds like he did everything he could to prevent being deployed.

[Brainster]

He was probably a "Yale-era" swimmer as well, which explains his claim to have been the captain of the Yale Swim Team (http://christopherfountain.com/2010/04/20/was-dick-blumenthal-really-captain-of-harvards-varsity-swim-team/).

:D

[Skeptic Guy]

Yes, according to the NYT, he "misremembered" on multiple instances.

[dudalb]

Was he stupid enough to think nobody would call him on it?
I guess so...........
If it was once it could be a slip of the tongue, but when it happens on a number of occasions it's lying.
And yes, the usual "Democrats can do no wrong" gang will defend him, just like the "A Republican can do no wrong" gang will defend any idiocy by the Tea Party.

[Tsukasa Buddha]

I remember politicians didn't do this after the Great War.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Who does he think he is? Ronald Reagan? :duck:

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I once claimed to have invented the automobile. I misspoke. What I meant to say is I own an automobile.

[Puppycow]

He should announce that he went into Cambodia with John Kerry.:D

Can we leave Kerry out of this? Kerry did serve in Vietnam with honor and political opponents started a smear campaign against him that has been widely discredited. Perhaps you can start another thread in the history section if you want to discuss it.

[MikeMangum]

Can we leave Kerry out of this? Kerry did serve in Vietnam with honor and political opponents started a smear campaign against him that has been widely discredited. Perhaps you can start another thread in the history section if you want to discuss it.

Well, the question of whether Kerry deserved the medals he was awarded is something no one is wasn't there will ever know, and whether he "served with honor" is obviously going to be subjective.

Whether he claimed to have gone into Cambodia (magic hat in hand (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27211-2004Aug23.html)) when he actually didn't, such claim including remember details such as the order coming from a President who was not yet President, and asserting (twice) that said incident was "seared, seared into [his] memory" is a matter of record.

That is the episode that was referred to by Brainster.

[Spindrift]

I remember politicians didn't do this after the Great War.

You remember WWI?

And while I have no proof, I bet politicians have been lying about wartime service since the Punic Wars.

[Puppycow]

Well, the question of whether Kerry deserved the medals he was awarded is something no one is wasn't there will ever know, and whether he "served with honor" is obviously going to be subjective.

Whether he claimed to have gone into Cambodia (magic hat in hand (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27211-2004Aug23.html)) when he actually didn't, such claim including remember details such as the order coming from a President who was not yet President, and asserting (twice) that said incident was "seared, seared into [his] memory" is a matter of record.

That is the episode that was referred to by Brainster.

A person in the fog and confusion of war not knowing where exactly he is or misremembering a few trivial details decades later is understandable.

A person who never was in a war claiming that he had been is different.

[Travis]

I'm at a loss as to how he could have possibly thought saying this was in any way a good idea.

Is this like a guy boasting about being a millionaire to some girl knowing he'll eventually be found out but figuring by then he'll have already banged her?

[thaiboxerken]

Yea, he's dishonest. However, to insinuate that Kerry was just as dishonest is retarded. Oh, and does anyone remember Bush's "military record"?

[pipelineaudio]

Don't get too upset ... he will be staunchly defended here.

You called it!

[DavidJames]

Don't get too upset ... he will be staunchly defended here.um, no, you must be thinking this is a Rush or Coulter thread.
You called it!Quotes please.

[Spindrift]

I live in CT and while I am a Democrat, I've always found Blumenthal to be a bit creepy. At times he seems like the state ambulance chaser. He's always willing to jump onto any hot topic as long as it gets him in the paper. At one time he was the most popular state official based on approval rating, don't know where he stand now but I think this will kill his chances to become Senator.

He's not the only "Vietnam era" vets to omit the word "era" when discussing their service, I've been around a lot of guys who do it. I'm not saying it's right but I can understand wanting to relate when taking to an audience. However being an elected official, it's just dumb because you are going to get caught at some point and probably not at the most oppurtune time either.

[KingMerv00]

NPR mentioned a witness who claimed he said something like "When we got back from Vietnam, we were spat upon".

No proof of veracity so take it for the little it's worth.

[Biscuit]

... and then ducked for cover with Hillary.

And Bush and Cheney!

[Biscuit]

NPR mentioned a witness who claimed he said something like "When we got back from Vietnam, we were spat upon".

No proof of veracity so take it for the little it's worth.

Perhaps he meant the royal "we" :D

[Brainster]

Can we leave Kerry out of this? Kerry did serve in Vietnam with honor and political opponents started a smear campaign against him that has been widely discredited.

He lied about being in Cambodia just as Blumenthal lied about being in Vietnam. He lied about this incident on many occasions, and used it to score political points, just as Blumenthal did. I assume you don't want a thread about Kerry's lie because there really is no debate about it.

[daredelvis]

Who does he think he is? Ronald Reagan? :duck:

"I know all the bad things that happened in that war. I was in uniform four years myself."
--President Reagan

Daredelvis

[dudalb]

So we are reduced to the "Your're Another" defense. Pathetic.

[daredelvis]

Not a defense. I'm glad he got called out on it, but I'm also happy to take a stroll down memory lane with G.I.T.. Whenever I hear about someone inflating their military record my thoughts always return to the great misrememberer, Ronald Reagan.

Daredelvis

[Spindrift]

Apparently the exalted New York Times did not tell the whole story.

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Full-Blumenthal-video-may-tell-different-story-493296.php


In the full video of the event, Blumenthal first identifies himself as "someone who served in the military during the Vietnam-era in the Marine Corps."


So it is plausible that he mispoke later, not that that's really going to help him now. I don't support him, but this is plain ole dirty politics and should be a non-issue, but of course it will be the central issue of the campaign.

His main Republican opposition, Linda McMahon, apparently was the source of the video. She's the CEO of World Wrestling, husband of Vince McMahon and doing her best to purchase a Senate seat.

[WildCat]

I'm at a loss as to how he could have possibly thought saying this was in any way a good idea.

Is this like a guy boasting about being a millionaire to some girl knowing he'll eventually be found out but figuring by then he'll have already banged her?
He's a career politician. So insulated from the real world he probably has never even used Google or knows what it is used for. Think Blago on The Apprentice not even knowing how to turn on his computer.

[willhaven]

Maybe he has split personality disorder.

In a Senate debate in March, he responded to a question about Iran and the use of military force by saying, “Although I did not serve in Vietnam, I have seen firsthand the effects of military action, and no one wants it to be the first resort, nor do we want to mortgage the country’s future with a deficit that is ballooning out of control.”

[Skeptic]

Don't get too upset ... he will be staunchly defended here.

No doubt. I mean, why do people lie about their military record? It's the easiest thing to check.

[tyr_13]

No doubt. I mean, why do people lie about their military record? It's the easiest thing to check.

Still waiting for a 'staunch defense' of this moron. Not you Skeptic, but Blumenthal.

[Puppycow]

He lied about being in Cambodia just as Blumenthal lied about being in Vietnam. He lied about this incident on many occasions, and used it to score political points, just as Blumenthal did. I assume you don't want a thread about Kerry's lie because there really is no debate about it.

Not comparable. At all. Sorry. There really is no debate that the lies of the Swift Boat Truthers have been disproven and that they are dishonorable liars. And T. Boone Pickens welshed on his bet. If you want to discuss it start another thread.

[Brainster]

Not comparable. At all. Sorry. There really is no debate that the lies of the Swift Boat Truthers have been disproven and that they are dishonorable liars. And T. Boone Pickens welshed on his bet. If you want to discuss it start another thread.

No, I don't want to discuss the Swift Boat Vets. But Kerry lied about being in Cambodia.

[Puppycow]

No, I don't want to discuss the Swift Boat Vets. But Kerry lied about being in Cambodia.

Out of all the bucket-loads of mud thrown at Kerry's war record, this is the one speck that happened to stick. But it's hardly proof of dishonesty because people's long-term memories are known to be unreliable (http://books.google.com/books?id=LsVK0kSpzx8C&pg=PA220&lpg=PA220&dq=reliability+of+long+term+memories&source=bl&ots=SlmgwOzWwC&sig=JMoW0uN4Irg93_PWAUF3uX6Y1EQ&hl=en&ei=6Ef2S7a2HtGLkAWxn5XmCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=reliability%20of%20long%20term%20memories&f=false). Plus, he was in a war in a foreign country and may have mistaken his location. There's a perfectly plausible explanation other than deliberate lying. Unless your standard for lying is that every person should be able to recall all details about the past perfectly accurately, you must admit that it could simply be a mistake or misremembering.

[Puppycow]

Apparently the exalted New York Times did not tell the whole story.

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Full-Blumenthal-video-may-tell-different-story-493296.php
In the full video of the event, Blumenthal first identifies himself as "someone who served in the military during the Vietnam-era in the Marine Corps."


So it is plausible that he mispoke later, not that that's really going to help him now. I don't support him, but this is plain ole dirty politics and should be a non-issue, but of course it will be the central issue of the campaign.

His main Republican opposition, Linda McMahon, apparently was the source of the video. She's the CEO of World Wrestling, husband of Vince McMahon and doing her best to purchase a Senate seat.

Even that statement seems borderline dishonest. He left out "Reserves." This too seems like he wants to imply that he was on active duty.

[Puppycow]

Still waiting for a 'staunch defense' of this moron. Not you Skeptic, but Blumenthal.

Post #4 is probably sarcasm although perhaps some people missed that.
Posts #5 and #38 claim that he was not being deliberately dishonest.

[Spindrift]

Even that statement seems borderline dishonest. He left out "Reserves." This too seems like he wants to imply that he was on active duty.

I think that's nitpicking a single appearance. He has never hidden the fact that he served in the reserves, not on active duty. I think this is more a case of hindsight inference than him implying anything.

I've seen him speak at a few functions such as the one where the incident in question occurred. I did notice he didn't use a printed speech after politico after politico would get up and read crappy speeches. Not to say that he didn't have something memorized. But if indeed he was speaking off the cuff, a 'slip' is understandable. I honestly don't remember whether he mentioned his service when I saw him, he probably did because a couple were veterans events. If he did I don't remember what he said.

Is this something really worthy of consideration when deciding whether or not to vote for him? Before I get accused of blindly defending Blumenthal, I've said I don't particularly like the guy for other reasons and I'd prefer not to have him as my Senator.