Blumenthal denies trying to mislead on Vietnam

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Breitbart:

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Trying to defuse a crisis that could give the GOP a powerful opening, Democratic Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal said Tuesday that he "misspoke" in claiming more than once that he served in Vietnam, and he dismissed the furor as a matter of "a few misplaced words."

At a news conference where he surrounded himself with veterans, the Connecticut attorney general and far-and-away front-runner to replace retiring Democrat Christopher Dodd said he meant to say he served "during" Vietnam instead of "in" Vietnam. He said the statements were "totally unintentional" errors that occurred only a few times out of hundreds of public appearances.

Democrats in Connecticut and Washington stood by Blumenthal, and neither party said the incident was enough to instantly sink his candidacy. But the controversy raised Republican hopes of taking a seemingly safe seat away from the Democrats and reducing their Senate majority.

"On a few occasions, I have misspoken about my service and I regret that. And I take full responsibility," said Blumenthal, a trim, square-jawed figure with the bearing of a military man. "But I will not allow anyone to take a few misplaced words and impugn my record of service to our country."

The crisis erupted when The New York Times reported that Blumenthal had repeatedly distorted his military service. The story included quotations and a video of Blumenthal saying at a 2008 event that he had "served in Vietnam." The newspaper also said Blumenthal intimated more than once that he was a victim of the abuse heaped on Vietnam veterans upon their return home.

At a veterans event in Shelton, Conn., for example, he said, "When we returned from Vietnam, I remember the taunts, the verbal and even physical abuse we encountered," according to a 2008 Connecticut Post story.

Blumenthal, 64, joined the Marine Reserve in 1970 and served six years, none of it overseas. He put in much of his time in Washington, where he took part in such projects as fixing a campground and working on a Toys for Tots drive, according to the Times.

He received at least five military deferments that enabled him to stay out of the war between 1965 and 1970, during which time he went to Harvard, studied in England and landed a job in the Nixon White House. Once he secured a spot in the Marine Reserve, he had almost no chance of being sent to Vietnam, the newspaper reported.

One of Blumenthal's Republican opponents, former WWE wrestling executive Linda McMahon, claimed to have given video of the Norwalk event to the Times after more than two months of "deep, persistent" research.

The Times refused to comment on its sources.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said it was not surprised that McMahon's campaign "cherry-picked" the quotes, "considering all of the debauchery" at the WWE under her watch. And Connecticut Democratic chairwoman Nancy DiNardo called the accusations "the lowest kind of political smear."

Blumenthal is widely known for his dedication to veterans issues, attending numerous funerals and military sendoffs. He has spoken at hundreds of events, many times about the mistreatment veterans received after returning from Vietnam. Blumenthal is also known as a straight-arrow and a man of integrity.

"People are going to look at him differently," said John Feehery, a GOP consultant in Washington. "For someone like him it's even worse, because he's got this squeaky-clean image."
________

I'm sure that in his own mind, Blumenthal's "Experiences" are seared, seared into his memory.

[Sanguine]

This has got to be the most pitiful non-apology in recent times. Really, really sorry. The apology that is, not Blumenthal.

 

As the widow of a Vietnam vet, I take this very personally. You don't claim to be a vet unless you really were. It's serious stuff.

[NCTexan]

I was active duty in the USMC from 1969 until 1973. After OCS I fully expected to go to Viet Nam... but amazingly during that time, I was always put into a unit and role stateside.

 

Never once have I said or implied that I served in VN.

 

That's something that would set off alarm bells in my head if I ever said anything that could have been misinterpreted that way.

 

I call BS on his lame excuse and non-apology. (I'm SORRY that YOU are so stupid that you couldn't understand what I said.)

[SrWoodchuck]

 

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said it was not surprised that McMahon's campaign "cherry-picked" the quotes, "considering all of the debauchery" at the WWE under her watch. And Connecticut Democratic chairwoman Nancy DiNardo called the accusations "the lowest kind of political smear."

 

Blumenthal is widely known for his dedication to veterans issues, attending numerous funerals and military sendoffs. He has spoken at hundreds of events, many times about the mistreatment veterans received after returning from Vietnam. Blumenthal is also known as a straight-arrow and a man of integrity.

 

"People are going to look at him differently," said John Feehery, a GOP consultant in Washington. "For someone like him it's even worse, because he's got this squeaky-clean image."

________

 

I'm sure that in his own mind, Blumenthal's "Experiences" are seared, seared into his memory.

WVR!

 

I'll defer to NCTexan as to whether Blumenthal is a "Blue Falcon" or not, but representing him on his "I aint a liar" podium speech was what some people at BlackFive.com refer to as a "crap weasel."

 

Sharing the stage with Blumenthal was one, William Joseph Trumpower: AKA-Elliot Storm.

 

This man is on POWNet's Wall of Shame & is being harassed & investigated by a veteran's group called "Stolen Valor."

 

 

 

He claims & wears 2nd Lt. Bars, 3 Purple Hearts and 2 Bronze Stars [one with Valor device.]

 

His service in Vietnam was from 11 October 1968 to 30 January 1970, where he was a USMC rifleman [MOS 0311] enlisted and left the service as an E-2 or E-3, with the following actual commendations:

 

National Defense Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Combat Action Ribbon & one Purple Heart.

 

It's believed that he started embellishing his record to enhance sales of his book, "These Scars are Sacred."

 

 

 

AKA-Elliot Storm

[NCTexan]

SrWoodChuck Great detective work!

 

OK.... William Joseph Trumpower: AKA-Elliot Storm wasn't a lieutenant and officer as he claimed but a corporal or sergeant... he overstated his purple heart by 300%... didn't receive the two bronze stars for bravery... but did receive the two VN service medals that everyone did for being there. And by the way, he recieved the National Defense Service medal that every military person serving during a time of conflict receives. (I got one.)

 

Other than that, his credentials are perfect.

 

He should at least get recognition for being a distinguished graduate of the John F'ing Kerry School of Service Aggrandizement and being a useful idiot for Blumenthal.

[righteousmomma]

Well, NCTexan I once or twice said you were drafted in Vietnam days so if someone mistakenly assumed you had gone to Vietnam that is their problem not mine. I cannot be responsible for all the assumed truths of others.

Btw, you don't brag enough on yourself --I mean being promoted from 1st Lt. Res. to Brigadier General is quite an amazing feat.