If the video clip of Richard Blumenthal talking at a 2008 Norwalk event about his service in Vietnam was the smoking gun in the controversy over his exaggerated military record, the full video might put some of the fire out.
In it, Blumenthal clearly states that he served "during the Vietnam era." The clip was uncovered by the Associated Press today and widely circulated by the Blumenthal campaign.
"It shows exactly what he said yesterday,'' said Blumenthal spokeswoman Maura Downes, referring to Blumenthal's admission that he "misspoke" about his record on "a few occasions."
"In that same speech, he very clearly stated what his service was,'' Downes said.
And where did the complete, 5 minute, 45 second clip turn up? On Linda McMahon's YouTube channel. (And not for the record, on the New York Times website. The Times broke the story about Blumenthal's misrepresentation of his military record and gave prominent play to the brief clip but as of 2:13 p.m., I could not find the longer version on the newspaper's website.)