The Flaws in the NYTimes Blumenthal Story

[femmedem]

From Colin McEnroe's blog:

So I asked reporters, anchors and columnists to tell me (a) whether they could remember Blumenthal ever claiming to have served in Vietnam and (b) whether they had been under the impression for whatever reason, that Blumenthal had served in Vietnam. Here are the answers so far.


Mark Pazniokas of the Connecticut Mirror, who may have covered Blumenthal more often than anybody else, referred me to his quote in an NPR national story: "Every time he talked about his military record, he was quite clear that he had been a military reservist and never came close to suggesting he was in Vietnam."


Greg Hladky of the Hartford Advocate, formerly of the New Haven Register and Bridgeport Post, right up there with Paz in Blumenthal coverage: "Never personally heard say he was in Vietnam. I knew he had been the the Marine Corps Reserve, talked about that briefly during interview for a profile I did recently, and he never mentioned being in Nam."


Daniela Altimari of the Courant: "I have not been covering Blumenthal for very long, but I do know that last month, when I asked his campaign about his military service, they said very clearly that he served during the Vietnam era but did not serve in a combat arena."


Duby McDowell, former WFSB political reporter: "I have always been under the impression that he was in the marine reserves."

http://blogs.courant.com/colin_mcenroe_to_wit/2010/05/the-flaws-in-the-nyt-blumentha.html

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. The NYT produced a hatchet job pure and simple

There were no "flaws" in the story. It was printed by the editors at the NYT knowing full well that it was not true. The nakedness of the once great newspaper's agenda is an awesome thing to behold.

[DrDan]

3. he clearly lied - he admitted "mis-speaking" - it is on film -

why was the story a hatchet job?

[Vinnie From Indy]

4. Linkey links?????

You may be correct, but I would like to see for myself. Also, the story is a hatchet job when examined in comparison with the military records of the Giggling Murderer GW Bush. Even if Blumy did mis-speak, that aspect will never change.

[DrDan]

8. sure - here is one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3KgsgRfjhQ

[femmedem]

7. I don't think it's clear he lied. He may have, but it isn't clear.

Did he intend to say he served in Vietnam, or did he, speaking extemporaneously, mean to say he served in the Vietnam era but flubbed it? None of us can know.

I admit I'm predisposed to believing him, both because I think he's been a great AG here in CT and because I frequently transpose or omit words when I speak. Or I say words that sound like the word I mean to say, but mean something different. (Embarrassing, yeah, and I avoid TV cameras for that reason.)

But my own biases aside, a majority of reporters and witnesses are saying that Blumenthal has not made a habit of misrepresenting his military record. Rather, until this video was found, people remember him being clear and accurate about his service.

Here is a link to a video in which Blumenthal could not be more clear about his service:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEZm_Gc8-Xw

[DrDan]

10. I am a vet from that era - and I have no doubt in my mind that he

was embellishing his record.

I know many many vets that did service in Viet Nam - and his words clearly indicate (to me) that his intent was to imply the same. To state otherwise, he would say he "served in the Viet Nam era" or "served during Viet Nam". And not meaning to disparage ANYONE's service, let me go on to state that the Reserves were chosen during that era for a specific reason - to avoid going to Viet Nam. (as was the NG - as chosen by our past pres.)

I firmly believe his words were meant to mislead his involvement.

I realize he is a great candidate. But to me, a candidate with a clear flaw. To continue his defiance does nothing in my mind to rectify this wrong.

[pinboy3niner]

13. I don't think that's clear

He referred to serving in Vietnam (or spoke of returning to face hostility at home) on a few occasions. But on many, many more occasions, according to witnesses and the journalists who covered him, he stated clearly that he did NOT serve in Vietnam. And anyone in uniform--not just in-country vets--could experience mistreatment.

Blumenthal doesn't fit the profile of the typical Rambo-Wannabe, who lies consistently to present a fraudulent war hero persona. What is puzzling is that his few lapses are so inconsistent with the overwhelming bulk of his record.

The fact of his draft deferments and his enlistment in the Reserves is irrelevant. Unlike the chickenhawks who evaded service, he was anti-war. Chickenhawks are the ones who advocated for war, for sending other mothers' sons to suffer and sacrifice, while they exploited deferments and used their privilege and connections to remain comfortably at home.

Blumenthal was not a war advocate, so his avoiding fighting a war he did not support is not an issue. And you certainly didn't need to pull strings to join the MARINE Reserves LOL. For those looking to avoid hardship and sacrifice, Marine boot camp was NOT a serious option.

When the swiftboat liars attacked John Kerry's service, one thing that impressed me was that the men who had served with him in combat stood up for him. I knew that if the attacks had any merit at all, those combat vets would never have backed him. Here, too, it appears that the VN and VN Era vets in CT continue to stand up for Blumenthal. They know him well there, and I'm inclined trust their judgment.

[DrDan]

14. that is why I don't understand his defiance

his record appears clear 99% of the time. A real apology would be welcome imo.

And as to the witnesses - that is akin to someone claiming I could not be guilty of robbing a bank because they were with me on many occasions when I did not rob a bank.

[pinboy3niner]

15. I don't think the bank robber analogy works

It overlooks the fact that witnesses said not only did they not hear him make false claims, what they DID hear was Blumenthal consistently making affirmative, truthful statements about his service.

I happen to be pretty sensitive about the "stolen valor" issue, and I had to take a hard look at this and satisfy my own questions. Was he guilty of embellishing on a few occasions? Possibly. For war vets, there's also some truth to the humorous expression, "Our war stories get better every year." And Blumenthal clearly wasn't running around trying to impress people with invented blood-and-guts war stories.

On the whole, it looks to me like a minor infraction at most. As for his reluctance to issue an apology, I wonder if that might not just elevate the seriousness of the offense and the level of guilt to a degree that's disproportionate. And in politics, apologizing for something that was unintentional may weaken the candidate and make him or her more vulnerable. An apology is still an option for him, and it could still happen any time.

[DrDan]

16. well - we can each reconcile this in our own ways -

to me, it goes beyond "misplaced" words.

I still buy into the bank robbery analogy. Still makes sense to me. To have witnesses go on-record with first-hand accounts of him not claiming to have served "in" Viet Nam just does not cut it - and attempts to deflect the focus away from the real issue.

It was clear he "mis-spoke" at least once - and admits to multiple times. He was smart enough not to create in-country experiences - but no doubt in my mind that he wanted to leave his audience with that impression.

I still think he needs to be clear in his contrition.

[OHdem10]

2. What I find ironic, Cavuto at Fox Channel finds Blumenthal accusations

unwarrented and so called Liberals act falsely outraged.

Just a thought-- A reporter from Hartford paper who has followed
Blumenthal closely over the years says he has never heard
Blumenthal mislead on the Vietnam Story.

He says it boils down to : those who like Blumenthal will
give him benefit of doubt and those who dislike him will not.

I cannot believe those on Scarborough who deny the National
Guard the right to call themeselves Veterans. Sorry folks,
they are veterans. There is something "personal" going on
and they warp all logic to trash him.

[stray cat]

5. He stretched the truth and misrepresented himself in some instances and clarified it in others

would we be forgiving if Cheney did the same or W?

[Bonhomme Richard]

6. What a sleeze McMahon is. This is what................

I expected of her. I don't think she stood a chance against Blumenthal and her only hope was for him to be forced out of the race.

[rocktivity]

9. Can we just see the video(s) in their entirety?

We can take it from there.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[femmedem]

11. Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNhzPBn3zP0&feature=channel

Wathing it again, I have to admit it looks pretty damning the way he holds his hand over his heart and pauses. It is utterly baffling, watching this and watching the video I posted above, and knowing Blumenthal to have been such a strong AG.

[ellenfl]

12. based on the above and his contention that he mis-spoke,

i believe him. i hope his opponent is being rebutted. i hate dirty politics.

ellen fl