May 18, 2010

Bristol Democrats stand with Blumenthal

In a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall jammed with reporters and television cameras waiting to hear what Richard Blumenthal would say about a flap that threatened to dismember his U.S. Senate campaign, two Bristol Democrats calmly waited beside the stage.
“We’re here to support Blumenthal,” said Elliott Nelson, the Democratic Party chair in Bristol.
He said that Blumenthal has always been there for Bristol “so we’re here to show our support for him.”
At his side was Jim Brown, a U.S. Air Force veteran who lost his kneecap in the service.
Brown, whose family has a long record in the military, said he’s seen Blumenthal speak at many veterans events over the course of years.
“He never, ever misspoke,” Brown said, and always described his six years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve accurately.
Given the attorney general’s strong stance in favor of helping veterans more, Brown said, he has no doubt of Blumenthal’s integrity.
“He’s a veteran in my mind,” Brown said.
He said that Blumenthal, under fire for claiming on a few occasions to have served in Vietnam, “probably made a mistake” in choosing his words.
But, Brown said, Blumenthal never intended to mislead anyone.
When the attorney general arrived, Brown sat in a chair at the end of the stage wearing his leather Disabled Veterans cap. Nelson had a better view.
Blumenthal gave no ground in his remarks, insisting that he had merely misspoken a few times out of hundreds of speeches he’s given urging better treatment for veterans.
He said he regretted the mistake, but deliberately stopped short of apologizing. Blumenthal said the errors were “absolutely unintentional.
Blumenthal criticized the New York Times story that sparked the frenzy for skipping past the six years he put into the Reserves, denigrating service in the reserves and levying the “completely untrue” charge that he pulled in favors to get into the Marines.
In fact, Blumenthal said, he called a Marine Corps recruiter in the nation’s capital to sign up and soon found himself on a midnight bus to Paris Island for boot camp – a long way from the White House job he held beforehand.
At the end, Nelson and Brown managed to shake the attorney general's hand before proclaiming that Blumenthal had successfully fended off the challenge to his campaign.
“He just made a mistake,” Brown said. “Everybody does.”


Update: Here's another story with local reaction to the Blumenthal saga.******* 
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

"He just made a mistake, everyone does" The problem MR Brown is that this was a republican making the same claim you would be screaming for his/ her head.

Anonymous said...

He lied. He got caught and now he is blaming others. He should have apologized. His actions show a real lack of character. Viet Nam Vets should be mad as hell at this. What he said is on tape and who knows how many other ways he has misrepresented himself.

Anonymous said...

Remember how they blasted George Bush?

I guess it all depends on whose Ox is being gored.

Anonymous said...

Supreme Court Rules Bysiewicz Not Eligible to run for Attorney General

Anonymous said...

This guy really slapped the VETS real jerk. Just liked the local politicans screwing the tax payers.

Anonymous said...

Only in BRISTOL WOULD THESE DEMS STAND BEHIND A CREAP.

Anonymous said...

“He just made a mistake,” Brown said. “Everybody does.”

Yes, Mr. Brown, everyone does make mistakes and they suffer the consequences as should he. Drop out now, Mr. Attorney’s General. Save us the embarrassment of being elected of which you are insured in this state.

Blumenthal and Spitzer were buddies. Now, I know why. The Democrats are standing behind their man. God help us.

Even though Susan Bysiewicz is not eligible, she is certainly more deserving than Richard Blumenthal. I cannot retire and move quickly enough and just today, I extended my renewal to the New York Times.

Mayor Ward, you should be outraged by this. I am a VNV as are you. Have you lost your moral turpitude?

Richard Blumenthal went to Paris Island. OMG, spare me. I went to Parris Island, Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton, Okinawa, and the jungles of Viet Nam. Top that, Dick.

Anonymous said...

Ward years ago claimed he served with Dick - how can that be so? You don't make a claim like this Dick and call it a mistake!! V.Nam vets know the difference as does every veteran - either you servied in V. Nam or you didn't. I wonder if Ward is claiming the same?

Anonymous said...

Just goes to show you cant trust life long politicians!

Anonymous said...

tuff dayfor the dems

Anonymous said...

It doesn't say much for Bristol Dems when they publicly stand behind a liar. The thing to say at a time like this is that you are disappointed in him, and ask for his resignation. He's hurting our party.

Anonymous said...

So I assume you would have called for Bush's resignation because he lied to the American public? Lol. I think not, because you are a Republican and always think Republicans can do anything they want even if they are obviously wrong. Take this Welch guy, he doesn't even know Bristol and he thinks he can represent the people of this town! He'll obviously make many costly mistakes at the Capitol before and if ever he gets it right. We can't afford to lose our seniority standing at the Capitol by voting in a newbie in these frustrating times.

Anonymous said...

10:25

Again, birds of a feather...

Anonymous said...

10:25 AM

It doesn't say much for you if you'd condemn someone who's done so much for the vets for one little slip of the tongue. He admitted his mistake and apologized. Time to move on.

Linda McMahon on the other hand, has shown her true colors. She must have been salivating when she FINALLY found something to use against Blumenthal. She's a pathetic disgrace and she's hurting her party.

A Proud Democrat said...

I Am Ashamed Of You Naysayers on This BLOG...I Cannot Believe That You Would Let Linda McMahon Play Her Political Games and You Believed It...Attorney General Blumenthal Has Proven Over & Over Again and Fought For Us In This State on Many, Many Issues(Saving Our Backs) and Now Some of You Are Gonna Stab Him In The Back...I'm Appalled!!! Did You Watch The News Tonight, Apparently Linda McMahon Only Played Part of The Video...If You LISTEN To The Whole Thing, Attorney Blumenthal States That He Served In The Reserves DURING The Vietnam War...You Naysayers Owe Attorney Blumenthal An Apology OR You Can Vote For The WWE=Wicked Witch Evolves, Queen~Isn't It Ironic How Linda McMahon's Campaign Played Their Game Just a Few Days From The DTC Convention...
WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!

Anonymous said...

How embarrassing to by a Bristol Democrat who is also a veteran. I can't believe how people will consistently put party first. The morons standing around for the photo op should be ashamed of themselves. Where is your character? There are other democratic candidates out there you know. Vote for Merrick Alpert! A veteran who is honest about his record. What a joke some of these veterans are. Aren't you sick of the lies and mistruths and of our elected officials misspeaking? Why does this guy get a pass from all of you?

http://merrickforachange.com/

Anonymous said...

Wasn't he Frank NiCastro's buddy? Didn't NiCrastro pass a law recently in Connecticut about stolen valor and people who misrepresent their service to their country. I think it was last year. Oh Frank....

AnonymousWestconnStudent said...

It doesn't say much for you assclowns when you take the NY Times at its word to attack a democrat.

Or have none of you watched the video in its entirety yet?

Anonymous said...

It was a lie repeated more than once, and quoted in newspapers without correction by a man who is always careful about his image. How can you believe anything he says now? I can't, and I will never vote for this Rambo-wannabe again.

incumbent OUT !!!! said...

Anonymous said...

So I assume you would have called for Bush's resignation because he lied to the American public?

May 19, 2010 1:16 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please refresh my memory .... I can NOT recall G.W. ever lying to the American Public .

I DO recall many radical libs. misquoting him on several occasions , but , the videos/records ALWAYS proved them WRONG.

I do remember Dan Rather and his 'creating' an entire document to try to discredit G.W.