Biden jokes about Blumenthal's military service lie

[njpines]

What a halfwit . . .    From "The Hill":

Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday took an unexpected dig at Democratic Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal for misstating his military service record.

While speaking at a barbecue for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he commented about veterans coming home from the Vietnam War. Biden, who has a penchant for being loquacious, veered into the Connecticut Senate race.

"I didn't serve in Vietnam. I don't want to make a Blumenthal mistake here," he said according to a pool report. "Our attorney general from Connecticut, God love him."

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/99953-biden-jokes-about-blumenthals-service-record

Stand up Chuck!!

[thundley4]

That would play well inserted into an anti-Blumenthal ad with clips of him lying about being in Vietnam.

[JohnnyReb]

They say that God looks after drunks and fools. Joe has to be doubly covered.

[5412]

They say that God looks after drunks and fools. Joe has to be doubly covered.

Hi,

Boy you are right about that.  I think that anyone who has served honorably in the military, the situation is not one to be joked about.  The fact Biden even joked about it is idiocy.

Recall a few years ago when some top Navy commander was caught wearing a ribbon he had not been awarded.  When it became public, he blew his brains out.

There are just certain rules in life where honor trumps all.  I asked a friend about a guy I had just met and what did ne know about him.  He responded, "He cheats at golf."  Nothing more had to be said.  BTW so did Bill Clinton.

Same holds true in the military, be proud of something you earn, but do not be something you are not.  When I was in boot camp in the Marine Corps we all were expected to qualify with the M-1 rifle.  My vision in my right eye at the time was 20/90 and I could barely see the target at 500 yards, much less hit it.  Qualification day was an overcast, hazy day and 17 of 75, myself included, did not qualify with the M-1.  Trust me, I would have been very proud to wear a sharpshooter or expert medal.  I even had access to my service records and could have made the entry in my service record books and never, ever been caught.  You just do not do that....

I was proud to wear my sharpshooter medal for qualifying with the .45......I could see the damn target.  What galled me was I missed expert by two points.

regards,
5412

PS:  As an aside, I have become a pretty decent marksman since I taught myself to shoot left-handed (my left eye is excellent) and used a scope.  Wish my drill instructor had let me shoot left-handed but with a semi automatic rifle spitting out empties  in the starboard direction they would not do it.  If I can see the target, I might just hit it.

[Crazy Horse]

Recall a few years ago when some top Navy commander was caught wearing a ribbon he had not been awarded.  When it became public, he blew his brains out.

There are just certain rules in life where honor trumps all. 

You mean Admiral Boorda, who was the Chief of Naval Operations?  That shot himself in 1996?  The first CNO not to graduate from the Naval Academy and the first CNO to go from Seaman Recruit (E1) all the way to four stars?

Over the wearing of bronze "V" devices on Naval Achievment and Commendation medals which denote valor in combat, that he actually did earn. 

So no he never wore a ribbon that had not been awarded, though that is what the controversy was about.

[5412]

You mean Admiral Boorda, who was the Chief of Naval Operations?  That shot himself in 1996?  The first CNO not to graduate from the Naval Academy and the first CNO to go from Seaman Recruit (E1) all the way to four stars?

Over the wearing of bronze "V" devices on Naval Achievment and Commendation medals which denote valor in combat, that he actually did earn. 

So no he never wore a ribbon that had not been awarded, though that is what the controversy was about.

Hi,

My son was in the navy at the time so I was relying on what he said.  He was wearing some type of medal he did not earn.  The stupid thing was that it was all totally unnecessary.

thanks,
5412

[Crazy Horse]

Hi,

My son was in the navy at the time so I was relying on what he said.  He was wearing some type of medal he did not earn.  The stupid thing was that it was all totally unnecessary.

thanks,
5412

Again, he earned what he was wearing.  It was the newsweek reorters who said he didn't and were going to run a story about it.  After he killed himself the investigation proved that he did indeed earn the bronze "V" devices.

[vesta111]

Again, he earned what he was wearing.  It was the newsweek reorters who said he didn't and were going to run a story about it.  After he killed himself the investigation proved that he did indeed earn the bronze "V" devices.

With his fantastic background and the balls of an Elephant, why did he choose to die rather then fight.?

He was one of a kind, extraordinary man, not one to run and hide from a simple accusation of that kind.

Ribbons and medals are not something one can order at will.

Story--- at 19 Hubby was on a diesel and dropped Asians off the coast to Taiwan.  This was a top secret action that was not to be spoken of.    Leaving, they according to Hubby , were depth charged .

18 years later Hubby ran into one of his old ship mates who was wearing a ribbon Hubby had never seen before.  Hubby  from his former crew mate was told that the operation had been declassified and those that had been on that mission could apply for the ribbon.

It took over a year for Hubby to receive the ribbon after all the paper work needed to confirm he was eligible for it.

I believe there were other problems this man had and the question of a medal was a smoke screen to cover something else.

[5412]

Hi,

Thank you both for the update on the Navy officer, I appreciate it.

I was using the information to make the point that those in the military take those things pretty seriously.  Certainly someone running for elected office just happening to forget the fact he never was in Vietnam is a serious lie no matter what the media tries to make of it.

regards,
5412