Vets for Freedom Calls on Richard Blumenthal to Apologize to Real Vietnam Veterans
May 18, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(202) 338-4070
[email protected]
Washington, DC – Pete Hegseth, Iraq War veteran and Executive Director of Vets for Freedom, released the following statement regarding Connecticut Attorney General and current Senate candidate, Richard Blumenthal’s misrepresentation of his service in Vietnam:
“On behalf of Vets for Freedom—and our over 100,000 members—we call on Richard Blumenthal to apologize to Vietnam veterans for misrepresenting his service. He never set foot in a combat zone—even though he gladly perpetuated the politically-expedient perception that he had—and should apologize to real Vietnam combat veterans for this gross violation of honor.
“After the New York Times exposed his real service record, Mr. Blumenthal remained defiant at his rebuttal press conference, saying he takes “full responsibility” for the statements, yet refuses to apologize. Mr. Blumenthal also claims he merely “misspoke” on a few occasions, and did so unknowingly. As a combat veteran of Iraq, I find this very hard to believe. All veterans know what they did and where they were. There’s a big difference between the battlefield and your hometown.
“We thank Mr. Blumenthal for his Reserve service and his support for veterans. However, neither of those facts change the reality that he repeatedly lied about his military record for political gain. Mr. Blumenthal should apologize, and should start with his fellow Connecticut Senate candidate Rob Simmons, who served 19 months on the ground in Vietnam, earning two Bronze Stars. Mr. Simmons is a real combat veteran, and his record actually back it up.”
Vets for Freedom is a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(4) organization of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans whose mission is to advocate for success on the battlefield by educating and influencing the American public, policymakers, and the media on issues of strategy, tactics, and military leadership. We support candidates and policymakers from both sides of the aisle who stand behind our generation of warriors, and who put long-term national security before short-term partisan political gain. Vets for Freedom is the largest Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans organization in America, with over 100,000 members.
For more information or to schedule an interview with Pete Hegseth—or other Iraq/Afghanistan veterans from Vets for Freedom—call (202) 338-4070 or email [email protected].
