The Connecticut Republican Party released the following statement today on allegations that Democratic Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal lied about his military service in Vietnam:
“There are few things more cherished in this nation than our all-volunteer military service,” said Republican State Party Chairman Chris Healy. “The recent revelations that Connecticut Attorney General Dick Blumenthal has publicly distorted his own military service record for his own political benefit are nothing short of disgusting.”
Healy was referring to the New York Times article published Tuesday calling into question statements made by Attorney General Dick Blumenthal about his service during the Vietnam War:
“We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam.” (Dick Blumenthal, March 2008 Norwalk, CT)
“It was a sad moment. He [Blumenthal] said, ‘When we came back, we were spat on; we couldn’t wear our uniforms.’ It looked like he was sad to me when he said it.” (Jean Risley, Chairwoman of the Connecticut Vietnam Veterans Memorial Inc)
“The truth is that Dick Blumenthal never served in Vietnam and his distortions of his own record are an offense to the men and women who did serve and sacrifice,” said Healy. “Dick Blumenthal knows what it means to protect himself and his own political career, he should be proud of his service in the reserves, but be honest about it.”
The article goes on to detail the many steps taken by Blumenthal to avoid being called up by the draft and how he eventually secured himself a reserve post in Washington, D.C. guaranteeing he would never see foreign soil.
“The fact is, Dick Blumenthal did serve our country in the United States Marine Corps Reserves, a post many have been proud to serve in,” said Healy. “Why has he decided to diminish his service and the service of others by lying about what he did for our country?”
“Dick Blumenthal who prides himself on being the defender of the people owes our veterans, the Marine Corps and the voters he has lied to an apology,” said Healy.
