Political Wire wrote:
At a ceremony honoring military veterans, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (D), who is running for U.S. Senate, recalled his own service, the New York Times reports.
Said Blumenthal: "We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam. 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... 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."
Said Blumenthal: "We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam. 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... 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 ceremony was in 2008 and I guess the guy's defense is that he "misspoke" and that he has a record of thousands of times giving an accurate portrayal of his record (or lack thereof). I don't really buy it and am boggled that someone would make such a stupid and easily disproven lie for really no gain. Just say "Support the troops!" and leave off the "I learned as a soldier..." stuff. Not to excuse the remarks but at least maybe 20 years ago or something you could get away with it. These days, pawing through military records looking for dirt is a national past time. And 2008 was well after the "Let's try to smear Senator Kerry's records!" movement so it's not as though it was new.
Lordie, what an idiot.