Blumenthal staffer says the AG repeatedly told the Vietnam lie
The other shoe just dropped and it was not just a few misplaced words. An Assistant AG in Blumenthal’s office says he heard Blumenthal make the claim on several occasions. But there’s so much more and frankly, it’s shameful. The reporter breaking the story is news veteran George Gombassy and he will be a guest at 9AM tomorrow.
George Gombassy is reporting tonight at CT Watchdog that Richard Hine, a Marine Corps Major, says the Democrat US Senate candidate personally pulled him aside when he was about to be shipped out during “Desert Storm”. He offered him assistance and then suggestions on to how to handle war time service, based on his “personal” experience in Vietnam.
“He then said, you’re a Major, and so it will be a little different for you than it was for me as an enlisted Marine in Vietnam. I was appalled and shocked, because I knew he had not been to Vietnam, yet just a moment before he had helped to console my daughter in an unsolicited act of kindness.”
Blumenthal’s campaign spokeswoman Maura Downes said this morning that she was not aware of the letter or the claim and had no immediate comment.
And there’s even more to the story. Gombassy is reporting that Hines tried to tell his story to the main stream media weeks ago but only blogger Don Pesci of Red Notes carried the story. That means the Courant, the Register, The Times and The Herald, chose to ignore the letter, which makes this as much of an indictment of the liberal media in Connecticut as Blumenthal.
George has a copy of the letter at his news site. Make sure you read the whole story. But, here’s a portion of what Hine wrote two weeks ago.
I have been torn for twenty years about that conversation and what it tells me about his character.
Periodically, I would hear him repeat the statement that he served in Vietnam. He didn’t “misspeak” or “misstate” to me face-to-face twenty years ago and he hasn’t to veterans and the press in subsequent years – he lied.
As a Major, Judge Advocate USMCR I want to apologize for Sergeant Richard Blumenthal to all the Vietnam era service members, their mothers and fathers and all their loved ones.
The blood of our service members soaked the rice paddies of Vietnam, we lost tens of thousands of our young and tens of thousands of other service members come home injured psychologically and physically.
Major Hine is carrying a tough burden that he does not deserve. He served honorably. It’s his boss who should still apologize.
UPDATE: I thought I would link here to the week late “apology”. Ask yourself, is he saying he is sorry for lying and misleading?
“At times when I have sought to honor veterans, I have not been as clear or precise as I should have been about my service in the Marine Corps Reserves,” Blumenthal said in a statement emailed to the Courant late Sunday by his spokeswoman, Maura Downes. “I have firmly and clearly expressed regret and taken responsibility for my words.
Actually, he’s only sorry for “not being precise”. This is the reason the Asst AG is speaking out.
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1) After all the fuss made about young George W. Bush’s entry into the Texas Air National Guard (TANG), why is there no inquiry or interest by the media on how young Blumie managed to get into the highly sought after spot in the Marine reserves as opposed to the regular Marines?? The story about “picking up the phone book and joining” is just so much horse squeeze.? If he made a call, it was to someone that could secure him one of these spots.
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2) One has to wonder why Tricky Dick didn’t take advantage of the recent D-Day anniversary to recount his perilous parachute drop into occupied France?? In for a pound, in for a penny…..
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3) Saying you are taking “full responsibility” and doing nothing (like resigning) means less than nothing.? He only regrets getting caught, just like all Democrats.
Something is strange about this.
He kept quiet for 20 years?
He also said he did the reseach 20 years ago-there was no internet sites to do this at that time.
Can anyone recall a conversation from 20 years ago verbatim?
The papers did not carry this as the story is over-old news.
Where are the stories about McMahon's colorful background, for that matter?
More importantly, I'm still waiting for the stories of how Dodd and Frank were the true shepherds of today's economic morass.
I also seem to recall that Democrats had no problem (and still don't) taking the word of people that were allegedly able to recall specific typed memos that occurred during the course of their jobs in the Texas Air National Guard thirty years ago. They remembered them so well, they were even able to recreate them on their computers, in the same fonts and everything (well, except for the kerning…)!
Blumenthal should be forgiven for his repeated "misplaced" words. It's obviously something caused by exposure to Agent Orange.
Or maybe the beatings inflicted on him in the Hanoi Hilton!
This just in. Blumenthal apologizes for misplaced words "due to exposure to Agent Orange."
UPDATE: Blumenthal recants previous apology of Agent Orange exposure: "I apologize for not being precise to others about my exposure to Agent Orange. I meant to say Orange Tang, not Agent Orange. It's a simple mistake. Especially since I was crashing pretty hard at the time on Orange Tang."
Chris, the only thing strange about the story is your reply. Richard Hines, a Marine Corps Major said he did not at first call Richard Blumenthal on his lie (of service in Vietnam) because Blumenthal consoled his daughter. He then let it go, as many of us do, when we just want to forget.
However, when the story broke, he wanted to tell all. The pain had not gone away.
I'm sorry if you can't remember a conversation verbatim from 20 years ago. I know I can, when it made me particularly happy, sad or disappointed.
Also, you make the same stupid, dumb comments when you are defending "your guy". You can't counter with facts so you bring up McMahon. What does she have to do with this story?
It's called misdirection. Tricky Dick now has multiple accounts of his transgression, at least one on video, and a story by a REAL Marine hero who went out of country is not to be questioned.
Bottom line: Blumie is an unrepentant liar that got votes based on stolen valor.
And I am sorry that Lynn cannot post anything without insulting others.
What does McMahon have to do with this? She is paying millions to a Carl Rove protege to dig up dirt on all her opponents. Let's give her the credit, please.
Why didn't this guy confront Blumenthal 20 years ago-why now? Hmmmmm
McMahon notwithstanding, does any politician not hire a person to dig up any and all dirt on their opponents? It isn't like she made any of this up. Would you prefer a David Axelrod protege? 😉
As for the 20 year gap in this guy's confrontation, the question you pose is precisely what the media is supposed to be asking. Too bad they are not interested in pursuing this story. The answer might be interesting.
"Why didn’t this guy confront Blumenthal 20 years ago-why now? Hmmmmm"
You clearly seem intrigued by this story, judging by your comment of "Hmmmmm". So given that you're so curious, it's odd that you haven't done any reading about this story.
Hine has said repeatedly that he didn't bring it up to Blumenthal 20 years ago because Blumenthal was being nice to him, offering to help comfort his daughter and such while he (Hine) was being called up for duty. He refers to it as the nicest thing anyone ever offered to do for him.
But while making that offer, Blumenthal told his Vietnam lie. And after hearing Blumenthal's weak excuses about "misspeaking", Hine couldn't keep quiet about it anymore.
"Why didn’t this guy confront Blumenthal 20 years ago-why now? Hmmmmm"
It's okay. Just re-read what the guy said and this time, think reeeeaaaaaallllyyyyy hard. You can do it! We all believe in you!
I know what he said-it doesn't make sense to bring it up now when it was brought out into the open, anyway.
Especially if you are so grateful to someone (sure-that was a cover-up for the back-stab).
There is some bad blood there, or there is something in this for him.
Whole thing smells to high heaven.
Maybe the guy thought the media would be against him and ignore him!
Oh wait, that's what is happening now.
Chris, As Ronald Reagan would say, "There he goes again", you just can't keep McMahon out of this, can you?
Lol… who cares did any children die?…. That is what a typical liberal response would be..
They don't care!!!! At All!! They will still vote for this mope and still trash Reagan and Bush as scapegoats…. stupidity rules!