A recent question about Richard Blumenthal’s Vietnam service has practically imploded the Connecticut Senate race. For the last few months, Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, has been the front runner of the race. He is running against Linda McMahon, the former CEO of World Wresting Entertainment who has given her campaign no fax payday loans loans of a lot more than $ 14 million of her own money. What are the accusations being leveled about Blumenthal’s Vietnam service, and are they true?
Blumenthal’s Vietnam claims
. Though he served within the Marine Reserves in the 1970s, Richard Blumenthal was never stationed in Vietnam. The statements at issue include multiple speeches in multiple places. You will find two statements that make the best example of this question:
“We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam.”
followed by:
“Although I did not serve in Vietnam, I have seen firsthand the effects of military action, and no one wants it to be the first resort…”
How McMahon’s campaign is connected to Blumenthal Vietnam story
The Blumenthal Vietnam story has been, very unusually, claimed by the McMahon campaign. Linda McMahon has been behind Blumenthal in the polls given that the Connecticut senate race started. The polls have shown the Blumenthal campaign losing ground, though. The official McMahon campaign has said the Blumenthal Vietnam story comes from saying “This is what comes of $ 16 million, a crack opposition research …” The $ 16 million figure is unprecedented in the amount of cash spent to discredit a Senate campaign candidate.
Reaction of Blumenthal campaign to Vietnam accusations
The Blumenthal campaign has come out with very strong reactions to the Vietnam service questions. The Communications Director for the campaign said “It’s no surprise Republicans would want to smear the Attorney General, considering all of the debauchery at the WWF under Linda McMahon’s watch,” while the Campaign Manager took a less slanderous approach by saying “Unlike many of his peers, Dick Blumenthal voluntarily joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 1970 and served for six months in Parris Island, S.C., and six years in the reserves. He received no special treatment from anyone. Dick has a long record of standing up for veterans.”
So what do you think? Is this simply a case of a media misunderstanding?
Sources:
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/nyregion/18blumenthal.html
Daily Caller
http://dailycaller.com/2010/05/18/mcmahon-campaign-says-they-fed-blumenthal-story-to-new-york-times/
Politico
http://www.politico.com/playbook/
