Democratic Senator-elect Richard Blumenthal’s opponents during his recently concluded campaign had a hard time swallowing his defense that on a few occasions he UNINTENTIONALLY said he served in Vietnam rather than stateside in the Marine Corps Reserves.
The problem for his critics, including Republican opponent Linda McMahon, was the lack of proof he was a serial liar who during his 20-plus years as a state official (first a legislator, then attorney general) sought to fool the public.
In fact there was far more evidence Blumenthal had correctly portrayed his Vietnam service to both the public and fellow veterans whom he’s assisted over the years.
But, argued McMahon and her supporters, as an attorney he knows the importance and the power of words and has a history of speaking very carefully.
Those accusations crossed my mind earlier today when, during his first post-campaign press conference in Hartford, Blumenthal was quick to correct a reporter who addressed him as “Senator Blumenthal.”
“Senator-elect,” he said.