** Heads Up: Briefing Richard Blumenthal, Live! **

[Clio the Leo]

http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream2

In response to....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x302821

[Clio the Leo]

1. Former Marine and Vietnam Vet making an emotional defense of Blumenthal...

.... citing how, time and time again the AG has stood up for veterans.

[Clio the Leo]

2. "He has always stood by us and we are proud to stand with him."

lots of chants of "simper fie" and "hooah!" in the background.

[Clio the Leo]

3. Sister of Vietnam KIA now speaking...

.... she is also working to build a Memorial for Vietnam vets in CT. Says she's NEVER heard him claim that he served IN Vietnam.

[brendan120678]

4. "Says she's NEVER heard him claim that he served IN Vietnam."

Apparently she hasn't yet seen the ONE (1) video where he did claim to have done so...LOL.

[Clio the Leo]

5. Blumenthal now talking about how he joined the Reserves....

.... says he simply looked up the number in the phone book, got no special favors (that allowed him to dodge the draft by joining, for example.)

[Clio the Leo]

6. Says that many former vets all over the state no often he has spoken of...

.... his honor for serving in the Reserves DURING the Vietnam era.

[Clio the Leo]

7. "On a few occasions, I have misspoken and I take full responsibility..."

"but I will not allow ANYONE to take a few misplaced words and impune my record of service to this country."

[brendan120678]

22. In other words...

"On a few occasions, I told a little bit of a lie, but..."

[jefferson_dem]

8. "I will not allow anyone to take a few of those misplaced words and impugn my record of service"

n/t

[polichick]

9. Sounds a lot like having his cake and eating it too. nt

[jefferson_dem]

11. Sounds like he doesn't want to get railroaded out of public service due to using an incorrect word

or two.

[polichick]

13. More like due to LYING on purpose - he's not credible. nt

[Jennicut]

19. He is better then McMahon and we don't have a huge Dem bench left.

Some people want my rep, Chris Murphy to run but where does that leave this district? Hell no do I want a Rethug to get in district 5. And do we take Lamont away from running for Gov? We have Merrick Alpert running in the primary against Blumenthal. I barely know him and I am a political junkie.I still think Blumenthal can beat McMahon if he can weather this.

[polichick]

20. I'm not saying people shouldn't vote for him in spite of his lies...

I just don't easily fall into the pretend mode - better to cast a vote based on the facts, even if the facts are inconvenient.

[Clio the Leo]

25. I nominate Jennicut! NT

[Jennicut]

29. Ha! I haven't worked a day in government.

I am only 34. I hate crowds and public speaking. But I do know some wrestling moves (don't ask...I used to be into wrestling). I could challenge Linda McMahon to get in the ring with me.

[Clio the Leo]

30. lol, well apparently never working a day in government is the in thing now...

.... have you ever been an ophthalmologist like Rand Paul?

[Jennicut]

31. Nope. I have worked in a call center, a day care center, a home for

troubled kids and am currently getting a certificate to teach preschool. Children are much easier to work with then politicians. ;-)

[Clio the Leo]

32. You sound like a shoe in....

... just be REALLY clear on whether you served in Vietnam or not. We dont want to have to this again tomorrow. :)

[Jennicut]

33. Perfect response...I wasn't born yet!

[Clio the Leo]

10. Reporter questioning that he got into the Reserves with no special favors...

... the reporter SOUNDS relatively young ... cant see his face .... but he's saying "How is that possible when so many men were being set to Vietnam. Was it really that easy for you to get into the Reservs?"

Blumenthal just matter of factly shakes his head yes and the Vietnam Vets behind him all shake their heads as if to say, "duh!"

Point is, there was a waiting list to get into the Air Force and Navy but NOT he says the recruiter told him he could put him on a bus to the Marine reserves "next week." At which the vets behind him all laugh.

[Clio the Leo]

12. Someone asks if he thinks he owes anyone an apology....

... before he can answer, the vets behind him shout "NO!"

[polichick]

14. Smart to surround himself with vets. nt

[Clio the Leo]

17. fellow vets. NT

[polichick]

18. Regardless, he did not serve in Viet Nam and it was no mistake when...

...he claimed he did. He may or may not survive politically.

[Teaser]

21. He'll likely survive and win

20 point leads are made to take this kind of abuse.

[polichick]

23. Probably so - better than Lieberman! nt

[Clio the Leo]

24. He volunteered for military service .... he's got more guts than I'll ever have. NT

[polichick]

27. None of this excuses the lies - which were really weird btw. nt

[CTyankee]

34. The Marine vets supporting him might view it his way...as "mis-speaks."

They might see him in a favorable light...in a strange way, "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" as the saying goes.

If he has supported these veterans at a time when so many politicians had forsaken them, there is no way they will desert him. They want a strong advocate for their cause, and if they accept him as he is, then who are WE to say?

[polichick]

36. True - it could be seen as flattery. Who knows what most vets will think. nt

[CTyankee]

37. If he ends up running against Rob Simmons there might be a problem.

rob is not a bad guy, just a repub.

[Clio the Leo]

38. And it wasn't just that they are supporting him...

.... they are ready to FIGHT for him ... I mean, like a brawl outside in the streets! lol

And that will translate into a strong GOTV effort.

[Clio the Leo]

15. Says that the NYT article not on only ignores his service in the Reserves...

.... but "denigrates" Reserve service. (He had already pointed out the number of Reservists serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[brendan120678]

26. How many reservists served in Vietnam though?

[Clio the Leo]

28. Almost 6,000 Reservists died in Vietnam...

.... is there a certain minimum number you need in order to consider their service worthy?

http://www.mnroa.org/0703/Research/vnseaunits/vietnam_research_1.htm

[Clio the Leo]

16. Bottom Line: He has very fervent support from Vietnam vets....

... and this will likely be a non-issue by the time November rolls around. This might make a different if the race was already close, but he was WAY ahead of any possible opponent. He's got capital to spare.


... and a bunch of friends who are willing to fight for him ..... lol LITERALLY if that presser is any indication. Those guys were, as they say, fired up and ready to go.

[Raine1967]

35. UHM -- AS a side note... Has she ever served in ANY capacity?

Has Ms. McMahon EVER served in any way for our nations defenses?

Seriously -- here we are as Dem's having to go on defense when the one person who is more than happy to tell the world that she spoon fed this to the NYT has not done ONE damn bit to serve our country.

Am I the only one who thinks this all smells to high hell?

[Clio the Leo]

39. Nope, which is why she's already pulled her boasting from her site...

... boasting that she scooped the story for the NYT.

[CTyankee]

40. Welll, let's just see where she goes from here! nt