THE ISSUE: Connecticut AG Richard Blumenthal’s claims that he served in Vietnam.
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As a member of a family with a Marine MIA in Laos, I am sickened and outraged at the conduct of Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (“Liar Pol’s Polls Get Viet-Conked,” May 20).
His public behavior should be representative of his public position.
Maryanne Fox
Hopatcong, NJ
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A couple of years ago, I attended a fund-raiser for three Marines wounded in Iraq.
Blumenthal was speaking, and I remember the passion he had for the Marines and his unusual request for anyone who had served in the military during the Vietnam “conflict” to stand up.
He explained how we were made to feel like criminals when we returned from duty, and he asked everyone in attendance to give us a round of applause.
I truly appreciated it.
I wish I knew why Blumenthal would lie about his military service, but no excuse can justify it.
Nick Palazzo
Stamford, Conn.
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There is an unspoken code against any veteran wearing a medal he did not earn in battle — just as it is in poor character to say you were there when you were not.
Too many veterans have shed too much blood for Blumenthal to steal their honor.
He did not misspeak; he misled. The honorable thing for Blumenthal to do is to fall on his sword and crawl away.
Skip Kneuer
Lindenhurst
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Whenever a politician gets caught with his drawers around his ankles, we hear the hackneyed declaration “I take full responsibility.”
Taking full responsibility means more than just words; it has consequences.
They should disappear from the public stage so that we don’t have to be subjected to the misleading politics-speak and downright lies.
J. Levenberg
Cedarhurst
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Blumenthal should be dishonorably discharged from public office immediately. He claimed that he served in Vietnam and that he remembers the taunts, insults and sometimes even the physical abuse.
Blumenthal’s lies are an insult to the brave men and women who served in Vietnam, lost their lives or came back disabled and also to their families.
Daniel A. Hesse
East Islip
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Maybe we should give Blumenthal the benefit of the doubt.
If I may quote the venerable ex-Yankee pitcher Roger Clemens, he didn’t lie; he just “misremembered.”
Thomas De Julio
New Rochelle
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As a Vietnam veteran who served a full tour, I was offended by Blumenthal’s lie about combat service during the Vietnam War.
One wonders how many people the attorney general has prosecuted for making false statements during his tenure.
Blumenthal needs to step aside immediately and set the record straight.
James Ahlfeld
Larchmont
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Why is it that when Democrats tell an untruth, they can never admit to the “L” word?
They don’t lie; they “misspeak.”
Blumenthal should have been smart enough to know before he misspoke that someone would check on his military service.
Frank Derato
Norwalk, Conn.
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Blumenthal lied about his service. So what?
With Democrats, this is a resume enhancer. Bill Clinton’s draft-dodging certainly didn’t hurt him.
Vincent DiPippo
Yonkers
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Blumenthal is a disgrace to all who served in Vietnam.
Semper Fi, you liar.
Michael J. Clohessy
Shoreham, Vt.
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No one should be surprised at the revelation that Blumenthal exaggerated his military record.
Fashioned from the same mold as former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Blumenthal has been a nonstop, self-promoting, ruthless and ambitious creep.
If Blumenthal’s lie ends his campaign, good, although I would have preferred the shame of a Client 9 scandal.
Paul Izzo
Milford, Conn.