Blumenthal: 'I'm sorry'

[sabra]

Source: CNN

(CNN) - Democratic Senate candidate and Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has apologized for misstating his military record during the Vietnam War.

"I have made mistakes and I am sorry. I truly regret offending anyone," Blumenthal said in a statement sent to the Hartford Courant Sunday night. "I will always champion the cause of Connecticut's and our nation's veterans."

Blumenthal's comments come one week after the New York Times reported that he distorted his military service record. The article alleges that Blumenthal lied about serving in Vietnam and says that he never served in that war, even though the candidate has claimed he did in speeches before veterans groups and military families.

Blumenthal acknowledged last Tuesday that he has not always accurately described his military service during the Vietnam War.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/24/blumenthal-im-sorry/?fbid=VP2LgjjHQ1T#more-105558

[davidinalameda]

1. not alway acurrate

in other words, he lied

[Divine Discontent]

2. good grief... why would he do that! that's one of the things that keeps you from getting votes from

a lot of folks. Why lie about service? It's sooooo Republicon!

[CTyankee]

4. But he often stated that he HADN'T served in Vietnam, only in the Marine Reserves

during the Vietnam era. If he were a liar, why would he directly contradict himself, even in the SAME speech? If he were a crafty, conniving liar wouldn't he have been more consistent in order to get the better effect from lying? It doesn't make sense.

It makes far more sense to say that he stumbled over his words a few times. Interestingly, the veterams he was so active with say THEY understood he never served in Vietnam. And the political reporters covering Blumenthal's countless public appearances and speeches have said they never came away with the impression that he served in Vietnam.

But hey, don't let the facts interfere with your little narrative...and BTW, where in CT do you live?

[wmbrew0206]

5. There were several times when he actually said he did serve in Vietnam and

other times where he clearly did not state that he didn't serve and it comes off as being intentionally ambiguous.

In the full original video the NYTimes posted it as great example of this. He said he served in the Vietnam era and did not clearly state he was never in Vietnam.

[crim son]

6. Mixing truth with fiction is also an excellent way

of creating false but useful perceptions in one's listener, and when caught it's just as easy to say Oops, I screwed up. I am not familiar with his speeches so I can't say whether he was doing something like this or not.

[CTyankee]

10. EXCEPT when the very people the liar wants to create false impressions with is

actually the veterans themselves, and this is something he didn't do. The veterans say he didn't do that, that they never heard him falsify.

Again, this narrative makes NO sense!

[crim son]

18. If nobody has heard him falsify then I agree with you. n/t

[Winterblues]

9. A politician Lied....Oh God the Horror..

I guess we should notify Guiness......"Beginning on Day One"..."One Brigade a Month".... "I'll Never ask for War Supplemental again"

[CTyankee]

11. Only he didn't. See above. this is sad, really sad...

[Common Sense Party]

3. So was the NY Times story a 'hit piece' or not?

[pinboy3niner]

15. It was a hit piece

It qualifies in that it presented a mostly one-sided view, selectively omitted information favorable to Blumenthal, misrepresented his lapses as a pattern of behavior, failed to disclose that his political opponent was a source of information presented in the story, falsely reported that Harvard had no record of Blumenthal ever being on the swim team, and more.

[wmbrew0206]

7. I'm glad he did this. This should put an end to all this.

If he had just apologized in the first press conference this would been put to bed. This is a touchy thing with vets and I think most will forgive him now that he has said he is sorry.

I think Blumenthal's other work far out weights this and he'll make a good senator. Any ones tries to use it against he, he can say "It was a mistake and I said I was sorry. Now lets talk about __________"

[JerseygirlCT]

8. Seeing as that "let's talk about..." is Linda McMahon,

there ought to be plenty to be said.

Next to her, he looks like a saint.

It does seem odd for him to have done this - he's such a boy scout, and said to be very, very precise in his writing and speech - usually. So I really can't figure out what gives. But he's apologized, and I do think we ought to be able to move on after this.

He's been a good AG for a very long time - he's got quite a record to judge by. His opponent, OTOH, has much ill-gotten gains to spend in order to buy herself a senate seat. I surely hope the people of this state are smarter than that.

[brooklynite]

12. By apologizing NOW...

...instead of LAST WEEK, Blumenthal has managed to drag out a bad story and make it a focal issue in the campaign. When you get caught doing something wrong, give a full apology immediately and move on.

[robcon]

13. exactly right

The cover-up is always worse than the offense.

[saigon68]

14. ask nixon

[Old Troop]

16. Why is it always a "mistake" when the powerful do it, but a

crime when little folks do it?

[Old Troop]

17. Why is always a "mistake" when the rich and powerful do something,

but a crime when the little people do the same thing?

[Douglas Carpenter]

19. now why on earth would anyone in public life lie about a thing like that?

especially someone running for U.S. Senate knowing - (if they had any common sense at all) - that that their claims would be investigated and reported and that their lie would become a scandal during the campaign. I just cannot imagine anyone holding statewide office and running for U.S. Senate - not knowing that they would most certainly be exposed if they told a like like that so publicly.