Richard Blumenthal tries damage control Tuesday.
Connecticut state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat running for the United States Senate, has taken “full responsibility” for saying he served in the Vietnam War when in fact he never did.
“On a few occasions I have misspoken about my service, and I regret that and I take full responsibility,” Blumenthal said at a Tuesday news conference at a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in West Hartford. “But I will not allow anyone to take a few misplaced words and impugn my record of service to our country.”
Blumenthal laughs it up with Hillary Clinton on Jan.28,2008
Blumenthal has made his alleged service in Vietnam a cornerstone of his Senate campaign. “We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam,” he told a group 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.”
In another 2008 speech in front of the Veterans War Memorial Building in Shelton, Blumenthal said, “I served during the Vietnam era. I remember the taunts, the insults, sometimes even physical abuse.”
In reality, reports The New York Times, Blumenthal took five draft deferments during the war from 1965 to 1970 and took other steps to make sure he never would fight in Vietnam. Reports The Times:
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.
Robert Menendez
After Blumenthal made a press conference Tuesday in an attempt to quiet the scandal, Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committe (DSCC) Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said Democrats would continue to support him in his Senate bid.
“I think he’s corrected the record in the past and I think his actions as it relates to standing up for veterans over a long period of time speaks volumes about where his heart and his actions are,” Mendendez said. “I’m sure those veterans who will be standing up for him today will make the case for him, that he will continue to stay in the Senate race and that we will continue to support him.”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, called the Blumenthal revelation “quite a blow to his candidacy” that puts Connecticut back in play for Republicans.
“Obviously he has enjoyed high approval ratings,” Cornyn said. “I’m anxious to hear what his explanation is because I heard him on YouTube and of course broadcast on television claiming to have served in Vietnam and if that proves not to be true, then he’s got quite an apology to make.”
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Linda McMahon for Senator. She’ll body slam this fake Vietnam vet.
This joker lies to the veterans who did serve when in reality took five draft deferments to be sure he would not fight in Vietnam, then he gets into the Marine reserve where he organized, “toys for tots”, and has the audacity to state, “I will not allow anyone to take a few misplaced words and impugn my record of service to our country.”
Yes, organizing toy for tots certainly illustrates your record of service.
Enter the DSCC moron Robert Menendez who claims, he corrected the record and it all all right.
No jackass it’s not all right so get lost Menendez.
Maybe Blumenthal could get Chris Dodd to give his endorsement!