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Tuesday, May 18, 2010
RELEASE: Vets for Freedom Calls on Richard Blumenthal to Apologize to Real Vietnam Veterans
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Vets for Freedom Calls on Richard
Blumenthal to Apologize to Real Vietnam
Veterans
May 18, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(202) 338-4070
media@vetsforfreedom.org
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 (www.VetsforFreedom.org) 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
media@vetsforfreedom.org.
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