ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> <title>OnlineColumnist®.com: Putin Punishes Georgia</title> <meta name="generator" content="Adobe GoLive 4"> <style type="text/css"> .style3 { height: 68px; } .MsoNormal {} h1 {margin-bottom:.0001pt; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; } .style4 { font-size: large; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; } .style6 { height: 69px; } h2 {margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; } .style7 { font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; } </style> </head> <body bgcolor="white" vlink="black"> <center> &nbsp;<table cool width="624" height="2719" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" gridx="16" showgridx gridy="16" showgridy> <tr> <td width="133" height="118" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"> <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="110" width="62" src="images/discobolos.logo.transp.gif" border="0"></a></td> <td width="7" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="482" colspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="140" class="style6"><img height="75" width="450" src="images/banner.GIF"></td> <td width="1" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" class="style6"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="79"></td> </tr> <tr height="39"> <td width="182" height="39"></td> <td width="300" height="39" valign="top" align="left" xpos="322"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="14" width="267" src="images/divisionofNEW.GIF" border="0"></a></td> <td width="1" height="39"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="39"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="624" colspan="6" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style3"> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#99ffcc" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td align="center"> <div align="left"> <a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> HOME</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> &#8226; <a href="articlesindex.html">ARTICLES</a> &#8226; <a href="books.html">BOOKS</a> &#8226; <a href="teflon.html"> THE </a><a href="teflon.html">TEFLON</a><a href="teflon.html"> REPORT</a> &#8226; <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com"> REACTIONS</a> &#8226; <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">ABOUT DISCOBOLOS</a></strong></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr height="2"> <td width="133" height="2"></td> <td width="489" height="2576" colspan="3" rowspan="2" align="left" xpos="133" content valign="top" csheight="2573"> <p class="style4">Blumenthal&#39;s Vietnam Smoke Blowing</p> <p><b><font face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica">by John M. Curtis</font></b><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b><a href="books.html"><br> </a></b></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b> (310) 204-8700</b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><i>Copyright May 19, 2010<br>All Rights Reserved. </i></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <p class="MsoNormal"> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="style7">&nbsp;H</span>arvard and Yale educated Connecticut Democrat Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal was caught with his pants down when the New York Times exposed repeat fibbing about his Vietnam War service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Now a candidate for Sen. Chris Dodd s senate seat, Blumenthal reluctantly admitted he had  misspoken about his Vietnam War record<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> On a few occasions, I have misspoken about my service and I regret that and I take full responsibility, Blumenthal told a hastily arranged press conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Dogged with allegations of embellishing his Vietnam War experience, the 64-year-old Yale Law School graduate dismissed the significance of his fast-and-loose talk of his military service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Describing his past remarks as  absolutely unintentional, Blumenthal was hard-pressed to explain why Connecticut s top lawman slanted his military service in the Marine Corps Reserves.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Faced with a tough battled with former World Wrestling Entertainment champion Linda McMahon, Blumenthal clung to a 3% lead May 19, after revelations surfaced about his concocted Vietnam War stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> We have learned something important since the days I served in Vietnam, Blumenthal told a group of veterans in 2008, according to the New York Times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> When we returned, we saw nothing like this, said Blumenthal at a 2003 rally, referring to positive developments for veterans returning from Afghanistan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Rattled by allegations of deceit, Blumenthal defended his statements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Unlike my peers, I chose to join the military and serve my country, explained Connecticut s attorney general, directly contradicting evidence that her received five deferments between 1965 and 1970, before finally joining the Connecticut s coveted the Marine Reserves to avoid active duty.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Voters have a vested interest in evaluating the trustworthiness of candidates for Dodd s U.S. Senate seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Running against McMahon, former Rep. Rob Simmons and investment guru Peter Schiff, Blumenthal watched the wheels come off his campaign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Calling his campaign in  serious jeopardy, Simmons, a real Vietnam War vet, was repelled by Blumenthal s press event at a Veterans of Foreign Wars post, marking a cynical attempt at damage control, despite recent headlines calling him out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> I will not allow anyone to take a few misplaced words and impugn my record of service, said Blumenthal, admitting nothing other than inadvertently misspeaking on a few occasions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>For the former law clerk of the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Harry A. Blackmun, the carefully trained attorney asked the public to believe his public remarks were misinterpreted.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Blumenthal s impressive academic credentials graduating with the highest honors at Harvard, Cambridge and Yale Law School together with clerking for Justice Blackmun, working for Sen. Abraham Ribicoff (D-Conn.), Daniel P. Moynihan, serving in the Nixon White House, appointed as U.S. Attorney in Connecticut and serving in Connecticut s House of Representatives, winning a special election in the Connecticut Senate and eventually elected as the state s attorney general in 1990, give Blumenthal impeccable credentials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> A lot of people were making different choices during that period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Some people decided to not to serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I could have continued in the White House with a deferment, said Blumenthal at his press event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> I wanted to move on in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I wanted to serve my country, and I m proud of the fact that I made that decision and served and reached the rank of seargent in the Marine Corps Reserves. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>If Blumenthal were really so  proud of his service, why would he try on several occasions documented by the New York Times to state or imply that he served in Vietnam?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Embellishing his real Vietnam record probably hurt Sen. John Kerry s (D-Mass.) presidential bid in 2004.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Even former President George W. Bush paid a price for his sketchy service in the Alabama and Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War [1972-73], breeding questions about preferential treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Blumenthal s embellishments mirror his own unwarranted insecurities about serving his country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While there s nothing dishonorable about serving in the Reserves, there s something suspect about shading the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Telling people he served in the Marines during Vietnam or actually served in Vietnam distorts his service record, raising questions about Blumenthal s character.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>No one is more qualified than Blumenthal to take the baton from Connecticut s retiring venerable Sen. Christopher Dodd, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Revelations about Blumenthal s embellishments come only days before Democrats meet to pick their candidate for the U.S. senate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>With Democrats expected to lose seats this fall, the Party was counting on Dodd s seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> He owes an apology to those whose service he has undeservedly capitalized on for his own political purposes, said Rob Simmons, Blumenthal s potential Republican opponent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Before Blumenthal s chances dwindle, he would be well-advised take Simmons advice to apologize and leave no doubt to voters that he s sorry for creating false impressions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Connecticut voters will only forgive Blumenthal when they sense some genuine contrition, not pointing fingers at his critics for raising doubts.</p> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <p class="MsoNormal"> <b>John M. Curtis </b>writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He&#x2019;s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of <a href="books.html">Dodging The Bullet</a> and <a href="books.html">Operation Charisma</a>.</p> </td> <td width="1" height="2576" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="2"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="2574"> <td width="133" height="2574" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><img height="172" width="111" src="images/johninframe3.jpg"></td> <td width="1" height="2574"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2574"></td> </tr> <tr height="1" cntrlrow> <td width="133" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="133" height="1"></td> <td width="7" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="7" height="1"></td> <td width="182" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="182" height="1"></td> <td width="300" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="300" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="597"> <tr> <td><font size="1" face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica"> <hr noshade size="1"> </font><a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> Homecobolos> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">©1999-2010 <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"> Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.</a><br> (310) 204-8700<br> All Rights Reserved. </font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>