Richard Blumenthal surrounded himself with veterans at yesterday's presser where he explained his occasional military embellishments. The message to Connecticut voters was clear: If these folks don't have a problem with the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, why should you?
One of those who stood with the AG has already drawn scrutiny. Elliott Storm of Milford. Conservative veterans groups and bloggers claim that Storm is a poser who invented a record of heroism.
RedState.com says "Elliott Storm would also be known as Charles Joseph Trumpower. He enlisted in the Marines and, unlike Blumenthal, actually served in Vietnam where he got one less Purple Heart than John Kerry. Mr. Trumpower, for reasons unknowable to anyone but him, decided reality was insufficiently impressive so he commissioned himself a Marine officer and added a Bronze Star with "V" device and another Purple Heart to his awards."
I could not reach Storm for comment, but my colleague Susan Campbell, interviewed him briefly yesterday afternoon.
Referring to criticism of Blumenthal, Storm said, "you know who this kind of thing bothers? People who never served, never wore a uniform, that's who. They don't understand your commitment. I've been living with these sacred scars for 40 years, this harassment and belittlement. We are still living it."
Storm isn't the only veteran whose appearance at yesterday's press conference has drawn criticism.