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I hope to God that the CT GOP and the RNC are going to throw a serious spotlight on this.

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Fuck him.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/nyregion/18blumenthal.html

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It's on the front page of the Hartford Courant this morning.

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I know you guys in CT will do whats right and keep this asshat out of the US senate

- FOXNews.com
- May 18, 2010
Blumenthal Claims He Misspoke About Vietnam Military Record, Defends Service

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, faced with allegations that he misled voters about his military service during the Vietnam War, on Tuesday acknowledged that he has "misspoken" about his record but described those instances as few and far between.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, faced with allegations that he misled voters about his military service during the Vietnam War, on Tuesday acknowledged that he has "misspoken" about his record but described those instances as few and far between.

The New York Times reported that Blumenthal, the front-running candidate for U.S. Senate in his state, has on several occasions suggested –– and in at least one instance, flat-out claimed –– that he served in Vietnam even though he did not.

"On a few occasions, I have misspoken about my service and I regret that and I take full responsibility," Blumenthal said Tuesday. But he described those remarks as "absolutely unintentional," and said the mistake has only happened a few times out of "hundreds" of addresses he's given.

He said he was "proud" of his service in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.

"Unlike many of my peers, I chose to join the military and serve my country," he said. "I will not allow anyone to take a few misplaced words and impugn my record of service."

Blumenthal, a Democrat, is in a battle for the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Sen. Chris Dodd. Linda McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment fame and former Rep. Rob Simmons are competing for the Republican nomination –– both campaigns called the allegations in the Times report troubling.

Simmons, who is a Vietnam veteran, told Fox News the issue could put Blumenthal's campaign in "serious jeopardy" –– he said he was also offended that Blumenthal chose to hold his press conference at a local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. Blumenthal was surrounded by veterans who applauded and cheered him as he spoke and loudly scolded reporters who asked critical questions.

One reporter who asked whether Blumenthal thinks he should apologize was shouted down.

The New York Times report delivered a sudden jolt to the Connecticut race. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, head of the Republican Senate campaign committee, called it a "blockbuster revelation."

The newspaper reported that on several occasions, Blumenthal has referred to his service in Vietnam though he never actually served there.

"We have learned something important since the days I served in Vietnam," Blumenthal, a Democrat, told a veterans group in March 2008, according to the article.

But the Times found that Blumenthal received five deferments from 1965 to 1970 while studying at Harvard and pursuing other educational and career opportunities. He finally landed a spot in the Marine Reserve that nearly guaranteed him that he wouldn't be sent to the war zone.

Mindy Myers, Blumenthal's campaign manager, in a statement released Tuesday, said that Blumenthal "received no special treatment from anyone" and defended his service.

"Unlike many of his peers, Dick Blumenthal voluntarily joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 1970 and served for six months in Parris Island, S.C.. and six years in the reserves," she said. "The New York Times story is an outrageous distortion of Dick Blumenthal's record of service."
Blumenthal has said his intention "has always been to be completely clear and accurate and straightforward."

The Times reported that Blumenthal has on several occasions left the impression that he served in Vietnam. At a 2003 rally, Blumenthal reportedly told military families gathering to show support for U.S. troops that, "When we returned, we saw nothing like this."

In 2008, he talked about his service during the "Vietnam era" and said he remembered "the taunts, the insults, sometimes even the physical abuse."

A number of local newspapers in Connecticut have claimed, incorrectly, that Blumenthal served in Vietnam. According to the Times report, Blumenthal did not appear to make an effort to correct those reports.

Blumenthal said Tuesday that he can't be held responsible for mistakes in newspapers.

But the issue has fed his opponents' campaigns. McMahon spokesman Ed Patru said the article "has raised a litany of very troubling questions, and they are questions that cannot be dismissed or easily answered."

Simmons said in a written statement that while he respects Blumenthal for serving, "I am deeply troubled by allegations that he has misrepresented his service."

He called on Blumenthal to "forthrightly" address the matter.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee said the newspaper report makes it imperative the attorney general come clean.

"Mr. Blumenthal owes the people of Connecticut, and particularly its veterans, a thorough explanation for the very serious questions that have been raised over what appears to be a long history of dishonest statements. If you can't trust him to tell the truth about whether or not he served in Vietnam, you have (to) wonder what exactly can you trust about Richard Blumenthal," said NRSC Communications Director Brian Walsh.

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Communications Director Eric Schultz said McMahon is in no position to swing at Blumenthal.

"It's no surprise Republicans would want to smear Dick Blumenthal, considering all of the debauchery at the WWF under Linda McMahon's watch," Schultz said.

Former Representative Christopher Shays of Connecticut, a Republican who says he is a good friend of Richard Blumenthal’s, said in an interview Tuesday that he had watched with worry as Mr. Blumenthal gradually embellished his military record over the years…

   Mr. Shays said the change occurred gradually in statements made over time.

   “More and more it kept creeping in,” he said. “And it was very different than when he first described his service. I’m not surprised, because he just kept adding to the story, the more he told it. I think what happens in a case like this, it’s a tiny increment of change, but when you haven’t heard him in years you say, that’s a big difference.”…

   Mr. Shays said he grew uncomfortable only last month, when he and Mr. Blumenthal attended a memorial for survivors of a building collapse in Bridgeport in 1987, and Mr. Blumenthal again brought up the Vietnam War. “He didn’t say he was there; he said, ‘when we came home’ and talked about soldiers being spat upon,” Mr. Shays said. “The inference was that he was in Vietnam.”

Blumenthal Endorsed By Democrats For United States Senate

POSTED: 1:01 pm EDT May 21, 2010
UPDATED: 8:06 pm EDT May 21, 2010

HARTFORD, Conn. –– State Democrats have officially endorsed Attorney General Richard Blumenthal for the United States Senate.

Blumenthal used the final hours before the Democratic Convention at the Connecticut Expo Center to gain back support he may have lost after being accused of misrepresenting his military service.

On Thursday night, Blumenthal addressed Hartford Democrats.

Blumenthal said, "I've been through kind of a bumpy period, and I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of heartfelt support," Blumenthal said. "We need to work together a s a team.”

Blumenthal made national headlines this week when the New York Times reported the former Marine told a group of veterans in a taped speech that he went to Vietnam when he never did. On the same tape, Blumenthal said he served "during" the Vietnam era.

Blumenthal: "I have made mistakes and I am sorry."
By Daniela Altimari on May 23, 2010 10:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (113)  

After nearly a week of criticism following revelations that he misrepresented his military record and five days after a press conference in which he expressed regret for his misstatements, Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Richard Blumenthal apologized.

"At times when I have sought to honor veterans, I have not been as clear or precise as I should have been about my service in the Marine Corps Reserves,'' Blumenthal said in a statement emailed to the Courant late Sunday by his spokeswoman, Maura Downes. "I have firmly and clearly expressed regret and taken responsibility for my words.

"I have made mistakes and I am sorry. I truly regret offending anyone,'' Blumenthal said. "I will always champion the cause of Connecticut's and our nation's veterans."

Blumenthal, who has been Connecticut's Attorney General for the past 20 years, has been under intense fire since the New York Times reported last week that he had, on several occasions through the years, incorrectly stated that he served in the Vietnam War. In fact, Blumenthal received five draft deferments, the Times reported, and was a member of the Marine Corps Reserves who served in the U.S. during the war.

On Tuesday, less than 24 hours after the story broke, Blumenthal held a press conference at the Veterans of Foreign War hall in West Hartford and tried to put the issue to rest. He expressed regret for those occasions when he has "misspoken" about his service, but never uttered the words "I am sorry.''

The lack of an apology provided fresh fuel to his critics, ith several veterans groups, editorial boards, Democratic state Sen. Ed Meyer and New Haven Mayor John DeStefano urging him to say he is sorry. The Courant sent an email to his campaign Sunday afternoon asking if an apology would be forthcoming and, several hours later, the campaign released his statement.

For most of his career in the public eye, Blumenthal, who is 64 and lives in Greenwich, enjoyed an unassailable reputation. Since entering the race, he has been the clear frontrunner, although one poll taken last week showed a sharp decline in his popularity since the Times story broke.

Blumenthal was nominated by Democrats at their convention on Friday. He is running to fill the seat currently held by Sen. Christopher Dodd, who is not seeking reelection.

Republicans endorsed former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon, though her two GOP opponents, former Congressman Rob Simmons and money manager and author Peter Schiff said they intend to force a primary.

State Republican Chairman Chris Healy criticized Blumenthal for making his apology by email, calling it an "electronic mumble.''

"Maybe he can't look the Vets or people in the eye and really admit it,'' Healy wrote on his Facebook page.

Here is video of Richard Blumenthal's 5/18 press conference:
http://www.courant.com/videobeta/66a3a4ff-9ea7-4dc1-941d-e17c671043eb/News/5-18-Blumenthal-Press-Conference

Poll: Blumenthal Leads Big
May 27 2010, 10:57 AM ET |  Comment

Despite all the controversy over his statements about his military service, Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal is up big in his U.S. Senate race against former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon. A Quinnipiac poll––the second major survey taken in Connecticut since The New York Times published its Blumenthal/Vietnam story––shows Blumenthal leading McMahon by a pridigious, towering 25 percentage points, 56% to 31%.

This stands in stark contrast to a one-day Rasmussen poll taken May 18––the first full day after the Times published its story on the night of Monday, May 17, as Blumenthal's military-service statements dominated the national political news from the early morning on the 18th on through the following day––which showed Blumenthal's lead down to three percentage points.

Our two-poll sample is small, and state-specific polling can differ quite a bit.

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People just don't care that he lied about serving in Vietnam.  They still believe it was the wrong war and a waste of  life.  I came to that conclusion years ago.  The same politicians that bad mouth the war and it's vets back then,now  try to impress the voter's with a  made  up service record.  The liberal press will back this guy forever, or until he kick's his dog or cheat's on his wife.  I would hope that the voters of CT would do the right thing but I would not bet on it.    
11th Cav 66-67 Xuan Loc, Vietnam

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It's sad to see the Nam vet's supporting him in the photo shoot's and press conference's.  I just don't get it.