To the rescue: Dodd defends Blumenthal’s honor
posted at 1:36 pm on May 18, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
How desperate has Richard Blumenthal become after the exposure of his repeated lies about his military service during the Vietnam era? The good news is that his campaign has found a fellow Connecticut Democrat to defend his honesty and sense of honor. The bad news is that it’s Chris Dodd:
“Dick Blumenthal and I have known each other for almost 40 years, and I’ve always known him to be the most honorable of people,” Dodd said, just outside his office. “And nothing I read says anything differently about Dick Blumenthal. He’s going to be a great United States Senator in my view. He’s been a terrific Attorney General. So this is a bump but frankly I think that he’s handled it well and as I said, I’ve known him to be nothing but the most honorable of human beings in public life.”
But what if Republicans have the goods on Blumenthal? What if he can’t adequately contextualize the story, which has onlookers left and right predicting his demise? Even then, Dodd says, Blumenthal should persevere.
“Doesn’t change that at all in my view,” Dodd went on. “Dick Blumenthal, as I said, has been straightforward. He’s been terrific. The people of Connecticut admire him, respect him, as I do, and I’m looking forward to that day in January when he’ll be sworn in as the next Senator from Connecticut.”
Let’s recall exactly why Dodd is issuing endorsements instead of running for re-election to his Senate seat. Polling before his withdrawal from the Senate race had a solid majority considering Dodd dishonest (54%), with 58% of voters in his state giving him an unfavorable rating. The event that probably contributed the most to ending Dodd’s electoral career was being exposed as a liar on CNN in March 2009. That, of course, was after Dodd’s exposure as a “Friends of Angelo” Mozilo recipient of sweetheart loans, from a lender Dodd was supposed to oversee as part of his role on the Senate Banking Committee.
If Dodd had any honor or honesty himself, Blumenthal wouldn’t have been running to replace him in the Senate. Relying on someone like Chris Dodd to defend one’s integrity is akin to asking Eric Massa to endorse one’s staff-management skills. If someone wrote this as satire, no one would believe it.
Keep an eye on Blumenthal’s campaign to see whether they move the Dodd statement themselves to the media. If they do, they’re in the final straits of desperation.
Update: Jim Geraghty hears that other shoes may be about to drop on Blumenthal.
Blowback
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The funniest thing about this was this is the guy that was supposed to be President. He was the Democrat’s golden boy before Obama was even on the scene.
How the mighty fall.
Abby Adams on May 18, 2010 at 1:38 PM
A man with no honor defending another man with no honor.
portlandon on May 18, 2010 at 1:38 PM
What’s that old saw? Oh yeah! Something about birds of a feather.
jeanie on May 18, 2010 at 1:40 PM
Whew! That was a close one, Sidney. Now that you have a paragon of virtue standing up for you, everything will be just peachy.
Vashta.Nerada on May 18, 2010 at 1:40 PM
So Dodd knew that Dick Blumenthan never served in Vietnam?
portlandon on May 18, 2010 at 1:40 PM
Thieves protesting each other.
Who woulda thunk it?
Badger40 on May 18, 2010 at 1:40 PM
That should fix things.
amerpundit on May 18, 2010 at 1:40 PM
Exactly what I was going to post soooooooo…
right2bright on May 18, 2010 at 1:42 PM
I still have my doubts that he’ll be forced to leave the race over this, unless Geraghty is right and other stuff is going to come out.
changer1701 on May 18, 2010 at 1:42 PM
To wit:
From 2000.
Abby Adams on May 18, 2010 at 1:43 PM
Unbelievable.
That’s like a whore defending another whores honor. Not exactly the best character witness. I apologize to whores as I am sure most of them have some honor anyway whereas Dodd and Blumenthal clearly have none.
MB4 on May 18, 2010 at 1:43 PM
Pot meet kettle…
sicoit on May 18, 2010 at 1:43 PM
Dodd should be making his statements from behind bars.
Inanemergencydial on May 18, 2010 at 1:44 PM
Hahahahaha! One LIAR defending another LIAR! Now that’s rich!
GarandFan on May 18, 2010 at 1:44 PM
Well, I know we feel better now. :)
ThePrez on May 18, 2010 at 1:45 PM
He’s still gonna win.
Durham68 on May 18, 2010 at 1:45 PM
These guys have no clue what honor means. Trust me, Dodd, no one in your circles has any honor.
reaganaut on May 18, 2010 at 1:45 PM
I served at the Battle of Tours with Charles Martel, so everyone be sure to remember to vote for me!
MB4 on May 18, 2010 at 1:45 PM
It is impossible for God to lie.
It is impossible for liberals/progressives to tell the truth.
Daggett on May 18, 2010 at 1:45 PM
This is hilarious! Goodness, these Demorats deserve each other!
WannabeAnglican on May 18, 2010 at 1:46 PM
Why not get Barney Frank’s endorsement as well…
… What could go wrong?
Seven Percent Solution on May 18, 2010 at 1:46 PM
Which tells me volumes about the type of people Dodd knows.
rbj on May 18, 2010 at 1:46 PM
Sharing is caring.
portlandon on May 18, 2010 at 1:46 PM
Awesome.
myrenovations on May 18, 2010 at 1:47 PM
MB4/West ’12
portlandon on May 18, 2010 at 1:47 PM
Wait, according to Geraghty
is in the lead for the Republican nomination?
Dead Hand Control on May 18, 2010 at 1:47 PM
This is so hilarious. Everyone thought CT Senate race was in the bag with Blumenthal.
So glorious.
Enoxo on May 18, 2010 at 1:48 PM
Maybe Dodd can put in a good word with the Filthy Liar-in-Chief and get him to say some good words about how honest and trustworthy he is.
Hmmmmmmmm?
belad on May 18, 2010 at 1:48 PM
If you must rely upon Chris Dodd to defend your character and your honor, you have neither character…..nor honor.
ted c on May 18, 2010 at 1:49 PM
Now we know for SURE it’s a lie……they don’t know how to READ!
sicoit on May 18, 2010 at 1:49 PM
Interesting how the lie is never addressed directly. It’s just buried under a lot of words describing Blumenthal’s supposed honor. It gives new meaning to the 800 pound gorilla analogy.
jeanie on May 18, 2010 at 1:49 PM
Dodd had sammiches with this guy for 40 years, so you gotta admit he has intimate knowledge about Blumenthal’s, er, character.
Christien on May 18, 2010 at 1:49 PM
Richard, if Dodd invites you out for a sandwich…refuse.
kingsjester on May 18, 2010 at 1:49 PM
How do you defend that which is not there?
fourdeucer on May 18, 2010 at 1:50 PM
Ha. This guy’s funnier than Charlie Crist.
SlaveDog on May 18, 2010 at 1:51 PM
I suggest that whomever wins the GOP slot use this in a general election campaign ad.
Vashta.Nerada on May 18, 2010 at 1:52 PM
I just love great satire.
ontherocks on May 18, 2010 at 1:52 PM
So Chris,what you’re saying is ,even if he’s lying he needs to continue running? I’m sure that a liar enhances his resume in your liberal eyes:)
ohiobabe on May 18, 2010 at 1:52 PM
More like Woody Allen defending Roman Polanski.
But thanks for the laugh of the day. Now all Blumenthal needs is Toonces doing a campaign appearance for him.
MNHawk on May 18, 2010 at 1:53 PM
Why not get Barney Frank’s endorsement as well…
… What could go wrong?
Seven Percent Solution on May 18, 2010 at 1:46 PM
Seven Percent Solution:Well,Barney did make it out,and
survived the Battle of the Gavels
up on BrokeBackDiang Mountian,in
Loas!!(snark).
canopfor on May 18, 2010 at 1:54 PM
MB4 on May 18, 2010 at 1:45 PM
MB4/West ‘12
portlandon on May 18, 2010 at 1:47 PM
portlandon:)
==================================
West/MB4/2012
canopfor on May 18, 2010 at 1:55 PM
My God, what’s happened here? Is there no one of integrity, or honesty, or character???
Lies, and deceit seem to be ok with these people, and then those that vote for them, seem to be ok with it too, until they gripe about something this person’s done.
As citizens, we need to demand more, expect more, and start attaining, or showing some intelligence. Why on earth would anyone vote for someone who makes claims such as this, knowing they could easily be varified? Are people THAT stupid???
capejasmine on May 18, 2010 at 1:56 PM
Turds of a feather, float together!
TrickyDick on May 18, 2010 at 1:56 PM
The good news: Chris Dodd defends Blumenthal
The bad news: Chris Dodd defends Blumenthal
What more needs to be said?
tom on May 18, 2010 at 1:57 PM
And Marc Antony said that Brutus was an honorable man.
With friends like Dodd, Blumy doesn’t need enemies.
Steve Z on May 18, 2010 at 1:59 PM
Quick! He’s drowning! Throw him the boat anchor!
ajacksonian on May 18, 2010 at 1:59 PM
this is like getting roman polanski’s endorsement as a babysitter…
ted c on May 18, 2010 at 2:00 PM
I could’ve sworn Simmons was in the lead, but the last poll I saw was months ago. It’s possible that the McMahon clan has the upper hand now. If they manage to take down Blumenthal, that’ll only strengthen their candidacy.
The ONLY reason I’d wanna see Linda get the nomination is that in the unlikely event that she wins the seat, she can send Vince down to Capitol Hill to tell Reid, “YOOOOOOOOOU’RE FIIIIIIIIIIIRED!!!”
Doughboy on May 18, 2010 at 2:01 PM
So that places their friendship beginning at around 1970. Wouldn’t Dodd have known that Dick Blumenthal was NOT serving in Vietnam?
Maybe somebody should ask Dodd if he knew Blumenthal was being a liar as far back as 1970?
portlandon on May 18, 2010 at 2:01 PM
The Left in 1970: ‘I wouldn’t dream of serving in Vietnam with those “baby-killers.”‘
The Left in 2010: ‘I was there, in combat, but I don’t like to talk about it.”
RBMN on May 18, 2010 at 2:01 PM
Duh.
I meant proteCting
:P
Badger40 on May 18, 2010 at 2:01 PM
Kerry also remembers Blumenthal was there with him.
fourdeucer on May 18, 2010 at 2:02 PM
“I’ve been pals with Fidel Castro going on 40 years now, and I’ve always known him to be an honorable man.”
-Kim Jong Il
Bishop on May 18, 2010 at 2:03 PM
“Speaking of bumps,” Dodd continued, “When my best buddy Ted Kennedy gave up sandwiching waitresses because of his ‘bad back’, Dick jumped in to keep the tradition alive. So, yes, he will be a great United States Senator in all facets of the job.”
Having Dodd attest to your character is like being in a lifeboat when the anvil salesman jumps in, bringing his samples with him.
ya2daup on May 18, 2010 at 2:05 PM
The blind leading the blind.
Problem is, a good portion of his audience will also be blind.
Dark-Star on May 18, 2010 at 2:06 PM
I want the WWE Woman to win. She can’t be any worse then this dipstick. And she could surprise everyone and be better then MN’s past gov. who was a wrestler.
upinak on May 18, 2010 at 2:06 PM
There is no honor among thieves, but there is mutual interest.
SKYFOX on May 18, 2010 at 2:06 PM
Hahahaha, because voters nowadays want to hear from old codgers with sweet mortgage deals talk about honor.
scalleywag on May 18, 2010 at 2:08 PM
Chris Dodd jumping to your assistance and $5 will get you a foot-long sammich…but mostly Chris Dodd jumping to your assistance.
Christien on May 18, 2010 at 2:08 PM
But what if she wins and then immediately turns heel?
/sarc
Doughboy on May 18, 2010 at 2:08 PM
Let me guess -
Dodd and Blumenthal once made a waitress sandwich ?
jake-the-goose on May 18, 2010 at 2:08 PM
Dodd dares to use the word “honorable?” And this in the context of Blumenthal’s fraudulence? If I’m a reporter, I start scanning the horizon for lightning.
AnonymousDrivel on May 18, 2010 at 2:09 PM
No! This is absolutely the only time Blumencrawl has ever had a problem with the truth, ever.
Sen. Chris Dodd /
ontherocks on May 18, 2010 at 2:09 PM
Linda’s a questionable quantity on some fronts because she has negative charisma and hubby Vince is a polarizing figure to say the least, but she was very successful as the CEO of WWE and has a reputation for playing hardball in business negotiations that seems to be coming across here.
If she gets the nomination, it will be fun to see the resources of the McMahon family and WWE thrown against her opponent.
teke184 on May 18, 2010 at 2:10 PM
Some group of role models – they lie and then defend lying by having other liars stand up with them.
Stephanie on May 18, 2010 at 2:12 PM
The slimeball who was defended by the other slimeball will be stepping up to the mic in just a moment.
kingsjester on May 18, 2010 at 2:13 PM
Nary a word in the press about Vietnam Blummie. They are all a twitter about the stud from Indiana. Surprised?
sandee on May 18, 2010 at 2:13 PM
Blumenthal deserves to be put up for a medal for Courageous Restraint. A whole tour in the sh!t and he never fired once.
Christien on May 18, 2010 at 2:13 PM
Or goes birther? or goes on some cable show to do conspiracies?
upinak on May 18, 2010 at 2:13 PM
I am sad that these veterans are selling their honor here at this press conference for this scumbag, this just breaks my heart.
karenhasfreedom on May 18, 2010 at 2:14 PM
Honor?
Democrats have no shame for anything. You just can’t embarrass them or cause them to blush about anything they do!
It is an amazing mindset… that you and your friends really can do nothing wrong, ever.
And wow does Dodd lie easily or what.
Come on Connecticut you have sold your freedom to these liars long enough!
petunia on May 18, 2010 at 2:15 PM
At a VFW hall, flanked by paid off members of the VFW. The VFW is an organization for Veterans who served overseas.
This is shameless.
Knucklehead on May 18, 2010 at 2:15 PM
Blumie is using the Barack Obama model: When you get caught in a bald-faced lie…double down on it.
kingsjester on May 18, 2010 at 2:18 PM
Oh, my lying eyes….and ears.
d1carter on May 18, 2010 at 2:19 PM
Blumenthal…..Let me me be clear.
d1carter on May 18, 2010 at 2:19 PM
There’s no doubt she and Vince have done an amazing job turning a small family-owned wrestling operation into a billion dollar worldwide corporation. But they did this in no small part through steroid abuse, scantily-clad women, and way too many dead wrestlers.
But who knows? Maybe that ruthless aggression that helped build the WWF into what it is today will be able to overcome any negative campaign ads the Dems through at the McMahons. And if that’s not enough, Linda can always send her son-in-law with his sledgehammer over to the Dem nominee’s house.
Doughboy on May 18, 2010 at 2:21 PM
[imagined conversation]
Voter: Blumenthal’s a LIAR!!
Dodd: Blumenthal’s a good man: trust me!
Voter: But YOU’RE a liar!!
Dodd: You CAN trust me: ask Blumenthal…
(repeat…)
[/imagined conversation]
landlines on May 18, 2010 at 2:21 PM
Misspoken? A few misplaced words? You lie!
kingsjester on May 18, 2010 at 2:24 PM
“Misspoken.”
Apparently that refers to claiming you have been someplace and/or done something, neither of which are true.
It’s like the time I was fighting intergalactic dustbunnies on Saturn that one time…. oh wait a minute…
D2Boston on May 18, 2010 at 2:26 PM
If these liberal elites who live in CT vote this scumbag onto the ticket in spite of all of this, they deserve what they get with this scumbag.
I am very resentful they would put this scumbag in the Senate and make the rest of the nation suffer because a scumbag with no honor is in the Senate. But since they sent Dodd there, who single handedly brought our economy to its knees because of Dodd’s housing and banking policies, I guess CT just doesn’t give a rip about our country and its future.
I am just sad, or maybe I am so angry that it makes me sadly depressed.
karenhasfreedom on May 18, 2010 at 2:26 PM
One LIAR to another, shall we meet at my dacha in Ireland?
tarpon on May 18, 2010 at 2:27 PM
kerry was in the same fox hole with blumenthal..it was reminiscent of jenjis-kan!
DrW on May 18, 2010 at 2:29 PM
He simply misspoke…on several occasions. He had been unaware of these misspoken words until recently. Plus Dodd likes him…so there./
d1carter on May 18, 2010 at 2:30 PM
This guy is a lunatic. That much is obvious. He only “misspoke” about his record several times (6 times? 7? 10?) out of “hundreds.” He wasn’t aware anyone was “taking note” of all the occasions he “misspoke.”
Too bad he has a bunch of dimwitted military types behind him, clearly unaware they’re being used as pawns by a liar.
TheBlueSite on May 18, 2010 at 2:31 PM
Hey, since Specter and Crist did it, I kind of assumed the WWF was ALREADY running congress.
DrAllecon on May 18, 2010 at 2:32 PM
That’s what happens to one who has sold their soul…
sicoit on May 18, 2010 at 2:33 PM
Since it has been fair? game to compare Rand Paul to his dad, maybe a quick refresher on Chris Dodd’s ole papa:
GnuBreed on May 18, 2010 at 2:35 PM
If her son-in-law, HGH, goes to jail for a sledgehammer attack on a politician, I’ll actually buy one of his shirts.
teke184 on May 18, 2010 at 2:36 PM
Dodd translation:
Hey, I robbed this country blind and virtually bankrupted the entire nation while helping my friends rape the people. The only thing this guy did was lie about being in Vietnam and most of us Democrats do that in one form or another anyway, so what’s the big deal? He’s a step up in character from me (well, at least until you give him a chance to steal with both hands).
TheBigOldDog on May 18, 2010 at 2:37 PM
..I just cannot remember seeing around Khe Sanh, Da Nang, Saigon, or China Beach..
The War Planner on May 18, 2010 at 2:41 PM
I want Linda to go to Washington with all her boys and start body slamming every last one of them until they admit to all their sins and beg for mercy. Then, they can be allowed to crawl home on their bellies where their constituents can put them in the stockade in the town square for a week and throw rotten vegetables off their corrupt melons.
TheBigOldDog on May 18, 2010 at 2:43 PM
He even sent me a Christmas card from Cambodia along with his batterymate John Kerry.
Rovin on May 18, 2010 at 2:47 PM
It’s not necessarily just the liberal elite that are voting democratic here in CT. Believe it or not much of CT is very urban-Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, New London, Waterbury, New Britain and I’m sure I’m missing a few. Sure we get the NYC progressives up here, quite a few of my neighbors are, but I would bet that the majority of democratic votes come from the cities listed above. Connecticut is one of the least friendly business states in the country. The majority of working, non government, non-union employed people are voting against the democrats this time around. The union, gov.employed non-workers looking for entitlements will.
The question is are there more of us than there are of them.
CTSherman on May 18, 2010 at 2:48 PM
Friend of Angelo…..
Dr Evil on May 18, 2010 at 2:50 PM
Birds of a feather, flock together.
Dusty on May 18, 2010 at 2:54 PM
Blumenthal’s other shoes to drop:
Princeton swim team.
Editor-in-Chief of Yale Law Review.
lonesomecharlie on May 18, 2010 at 2:57 PM
Tommy Flanagan*, meet Joe Isuzu.
(*John Lovitz’ SNL character, The Pathological Liar)
Comedy Gold, folks.
iurockhead on May 18, 2010 at 3:03 PM
This can’t be dismissed as overenthusiastic resume embellishment, he’s a compulsive liar. Seems Blumenthal has also claimed often to have served as Captain of the Harvard swim team when he was never even on it. (Hat Tip to Jonah G @ NRO):
leilani on May 18, 2010 at 3:05 PM
Some people in CT do “give a rip” about our country and its future, and Dodd himself decided not to run for re-election only because his poll numbers in CT went south when people found out his sweetheart deal with Countrywide while he was bringing our economy to its knees. CT voters are very unforgiving of financial impropriety, as former Governor Rowland found out after spending a whopping $9,000 of state money renovating his personal home.
Whether Blumenthal’s lying about his military service will bring him down remains to be seen. There are lots of peaceniks and Neville Chamberlains in CT, including (sad to say) some priests preaching desertion of the military from the pulpit, so it’s not clear that this issue will be fatal to Blumenthal.
On the other hand, a sitting Attorney General getting caught in a lie IS going to hurt, especially when he is trying to prosecute others (including Democrat Hartford mayor Eddie Perez) on corruption charges.
This is also the state where social liberal but Iraq hawk Joe Lieberman won a Senate race as an independent after he lost the Dem primary to “cut-and-run” candidate Ned Lamont.
It won’t be easy, but it’s POSSIBLE that, in this year of massive government overspending, a coalition of pro-military conservatives, fiscal conservatives, and independents repelled by lying Democrats COULD elect a Rob Simmons or Linda McMahon to the Senate.
Up until now, Blumenthal was cruising to election, although his lead (in Rasmussen) had dwindled from 30%+ to 13% (over Linda McMahon) BEFORE his lie about his military service. This could be a major chink in his armor, and having Dodd defend his “honor” may not do him any favors.
Steve Z on May 18, 2010 at 3:08 PM
Blumenthal is a liar and thus is a perfect for Dodd’s shoes.
drjohn on May 18, 2010 at 3:17 PM
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