Democratic Senate Candidate falsely claimed Vietnam service
The New York Times reports today that Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has falsely claimed on the campaign trail to have served in Vietnam, when he did not. Although his official Attorney General bio, and his campaign bio, merely state [correctly] that he served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant, the New York Times website includes a video [scroll down, on left] from early 2008 in which he said that he served in Vietnam.“We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam,” Mr. Blumenthal said to the group gathered in Norwalk 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.”OYE Comment:
Accuracy about military service is essential. Subjects of inaccurate reporting, of which they are aware, have a responsibility to clarify any ambiguities and demand correction on the record. Media organizations, including editors, must ensure that the editing processes preserve factual accuracy. Sloppiness is unacceptable.
Not only is this essential for institutional and personal credibility, but it also honors the genuine service and sacrifice of our true heroes.
Update: Here's the NY Times Public Editor on Mr. Blumenthal's description of his military service. Note the next-to-last para. OYE checked his official and campaign biographies and mentioned their accurate description in our posting. All of that said, however, the NY Times did report the truth.
Labels: Richard Blumenthal
posted by OYE @ 5/18/2010 09:08:00 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
"It's their war. Why aren't they fighting it?"
Are you still insisting that the existing war is a Republican war?
You stance was silly a while back. It's uncontested folly today.
typical lol
Joaquin [18 May, 2010 10:33]-
We've just posted on a Democrat.
While it's not exactly on our topic [he's too old now to serve], we do call hypocritical Democrats, as well as hypocritical Republicans, "Yellow Elephants."
We need to show respect to the original Yellow Elephants, after all.
Thank you for your comment.
Ok. I'll ask my question again, but 'slower' this time.
Are you still insisting that the existing war is a Republican war?
Joaquin [19 May, 2010 08:40]-
It was a Republican war in the 2005-2006 time frame, when that party controlled both political branches of our government.
It is now everyone's war, in that everyone eligible to serve, who supports what our country is trying to do through military action overseas, has an obligation to consider volunteering.
And since this hypocrisy first became apparent under Republican rule, we remain Operation Yellow Elephant and the slogan has not changed.
We will continue to Ask The Question of those now seeking leadership positions who were conspicuously absent during our nation's, and their party's, hour of need. In other words, the Yellow Elephants.
Seriously, for any unmarried, childless male in his 20s with Republican political ambitions, the first thing he should do would be to seek to join our military. That's a no-brainer.
Well, like I said at the onset, your stance is now pure, uncontested, folly.
BUT HEY! It's your stance.
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