In seeking support from Connecticut newspaper editorial editors, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal wrote them all emails last week where he again distorted his military record.
In his letter (printed in full from the one received by the Torrington Register Citizen), Blumenthal wrote that:
“I could have stayed at the White House but I chose to leave. Unlike many of my peers at the time, I chose to serve my country and enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves.”
While the individual words are true, in lawyerly fashion Blumenthal against twisted the truth.
Blumenthal had a low draft number in 1970, which meant that he was likely to be drafted after his fifth deferral was running out, and as a draftee he had a high possibility of getting sent to Vietnam.
Working in the Nixon White House he also was in a position to know that employment dererrals were being ended in a couple of weeks and his only chance of NOT serving in the jungles was the get into the reserves.
Getting into the reserves at the heights of the Vietnam War was not an easy matter since every draft age person of sane mind knew the policy (unlike today) was that NO RESERVE unit was ever ordered into Vietnam. So he would have had to pull strings.
This account is confirmed by a May 9, 1970 report in The New Republic (attached .pdf). Page 11 of that issue reads: “Blumenthal had an occupational deferment from the draft, the President [Nixon] was about to recommend the abolition of all such deferments, and Rumsfeld barred them by executive order in his own agency [Office of Economic Opportunity]. Blumenthal gave up, enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve, and will complete a six-months training period this fall.”
Below is the full text of the letter to editors::
Dear Jordan,
Many issues will be discussed during this campaign and I look forward to that exchange. I want to be clear about my record and make sure you know where I stand, and why, on the issues important to the people of Connecticut as you make editorial decisions. This letter marks the first of what will be a series from me and my campaign aimed at both informing and continuing the discussion of the challenges ahead for Connecticut and our nation.
A great deal is being said and written now about my service in the Marine Corps Reserves and how I’ve described that service. I wanted to make a special effort to ensure that you have the facts and how I have described that service over the years.
I volunteered to join the Marine Corps Reserves forty years ago and left the White House, where I was working for Daniel Patrick Moynihan, for boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. I served six months at Parris Island and then six years in the Reserves. I reached the rank of Sergeant and I was honorably discharged.
Like many of my generation, during the early days of the Vietnam War, I was in college, and then in England as the sole winner in my class of a Fiske Fellowship. Throughout that time, I kept my draft board informed and received the appropriate deferments. When I returned to the United States, I worked as a public school teacher and later, accepted the invitation of Daniel Patrick Moynihan, one of my college professors and advisors, to work with him on urban policy in the White House. I was fortunate to be offered these opportunities and accepted them. I could have stayed at the White House but I chose to leave.
Unlike many of my peers at the time, I chose to serve my country and enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves. Others made different decisions that were right for them. I am proud of my service in the Reserves and have been honored as an elected official to fight for veterans from every branch of our military, especially those who put their lives on the line in combat. Our nation must do better to keep faith with our veterans, to stand up for justice and fairness to our veterans and for a program known as No Veteran Left Behind.
At hundreds of events over the years, I have stood with Connecticut’s veterans to advocate on their behalf. I have spoken in public and private many times about issues that are important to me and to our veterans. I have been clear in describing my service in the Reserves during the Vietnam era. On a few occasions out of hundreds, I misspoke, and I regret that – and I take full responsibility. But I will not allow anyone to take a few misplaced words and impugn my service to our country. I served in the Marine Corps Reserves and I am proud of it.
And I am proud that Connecticut’s veterans are standing with me. I am moved by their support and their advocacy on my behalf.
As I have said from the beginning, this campaign will be tough, and I’m ready for it. I am energized by the support and encouragement I’ve received continually, but especially in recent days. I’m a fighter – and just as I’ve taken on some of the biggest special interests on behalf of the people of Connecticut, I’m fighting this battle because the people of Connecticut need someone fighting for them in the U.S. Senate – real fights on real issues that matter in people’s lives.
I look forward to talking with you and exchanging ideas and views in the weeks and months ahead. Please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Richard Blumenthal
Not mentioned yet, what role did former Senator Abe Ribicoff play in this game?
Wasn’t Blumey appointed US Atty at one time through the help of Ribicoffr?
Now you’re resorting to twisting Blumenthal’s letter. How did he twist the truth in the letter? I read the whole letter and failed to understand your faux outrage.
Are you having trouble understanding simple English?
I don’t see what I twisted. I printed the facts and printed his whole letter. People can agree or disagree, but I take offense at being accused of twisting things. I served during the Vietnam War – I enlisted – I did not get sent to Vietnam – I didn’t try to get out of going to Vietnam – I didn’t lie.
Thanks for replying and thanks for your service to the nation.
Certainly Blumenthal resorted to puffery at least 4-5 times that he had been quoted. Now he had publicly apologized after being called to mat on it. However, you seemed to be reading way more into Blumenthal’s letter. Blumenthal clearly states his military record in the letter. There were many during that time who avoided draft by pulling a Cheney.
You claim that Blumenthal must have pulled strings to get into the Marine Corps Reserve. Do you have any proof of that? Then please provide publish that, as that would definitely prove Blumenthal to be an exemplary liar because he publicly claimed last Monday that he called the Reserves from a Phonebook and got in. He didn’t pull any strings. If you don’t have any proof what’s the point of your conjecture?
George is exactly correct.Blumenthal lied by saying he chose to leave the white house.He had no choice but to jiggle his way into the reserves to avoid being drafted.With his low draft # there was no way he could have joined the reserves without some help.Good job George.
Again a mere conjecture. If you have any proof about Blumenthal getting help to get into Reserves, please publish it. He is on TV saying otherwise. It would easily prove him to be a bold faced liar. If you don’t have the proof as I asked George, what’s the point of your conjecture?