Tuesday was clearly a day of deep embarrassment for Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who was fighting for his political career after The New York Times raised questions about statements he made distorting the extent of his military service.
But the episode is something of an embarrassment for the press corps, too. It turns out several news outlets have veered between accurately presenting his military record in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and reporting, unwarrantedly, that he served in Vietnam.
Blumenthal never went to Vietnam. Yet the Times obtained videotape from March 2008 that showed him telling a crowd, “We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam.” The paper reported other instances that it said also showed him stretching the truth.
Amid a threat to his bid to be Connecticut’s Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Blumenthal apologized Tuesday afternoon and took responsibility for what he said were his misstatements on a relative few occasions.
But he took on the media, too. “Sometimes journalists do make mistakes,” Blumenthal told reporters who packed a press conference. “I’m responsible for my mistakes. I can’t be held responsible for all the mistakes in all the articles — thousands of them — that are written about me.”
He’s got a point. An extensive search of the news database Nexis conducted by NPR shows several Connecticut newspapers repeatedly mischaracterized Blumenthal’s service, especially the Connecticut Post.
Read More: by David Folkenflik, NPR
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A white lie turned brown. At least he served DURING the Vietnam era. I find little distinction between serving during a time of conflict and serving in case of conflict. The difference being facing bullets or spit. Bullets you can kill the assailant, spit you must wear. I'd prefer the opportunity to apply my god given right to defend my honor as well as my life and my country. Ever wonder why Burr killed Hamilton in a duel? HONOR.
My brother served in the Viet Nam era. I know he WANTED so bad to be where all that action was and he was so Patriotic and so indebted to others who served and was currently serving. His respect for our military could no way be mistaken and his pride in this country second to none. He was a 101st Air Borne Screaming Eagles. I thank the Lord that he has passed on because to see what this nation is coming to now would kill him as assuredly as if you put a bullet to his head. I cry to think about this nation and my brother. Thank you to all who served and are serving. You are the BEST. Remember our beloved constitution.
" I mis-spoke"? "I made a mistake" ? How about "I lied for my own benefit, and now that I got caught with my pants down, I'm going to make a half-hearted "apology" to save my political hide." At least be semi-truthful about the situation….
There is no-way a man in the service can mis-speak about where he has or hasn't been you either were or were not in combat as a WWll vet I know of a lot of would-be combat vets magnify their record and this puke is a plain liar period.
Liar, Liar pants………. Just like the president !!!
I was in the Air Force for 28 years and you Blumenthal make me sick !!