Blumenthal Mis-Speak, Lie or Truthiness?

Connecticut has spawed another self-serving public official.  Current CT Attorney General Blumenthal speaks deliberately and chooses his words carefully. He has filed lawsuits on behalf of the state to clarify the meaning of an organization's choice of particular words in their marketing materials or agreements. So it seems like a stretch to think that someone this anal truly mis-spoke when he described his time in the military as in Vietnam, as opposed to during the Vietnam era.

Connecticut has a growing list of politicians who have put their own selfish interests first. There are mayors and a former governor who have served time in jail for corruption, and they are joined by at least one state senator. A host of local politicians have been caught with their hand in the till. Right now, the mayor of Hartford is standing trial for corruption. Add to that Senators Dodd and Lieberman who have made it clear that they would be willing to do or say just about anything to remain part of the clubby atmosphere in Washington. So the political climate in Connecticut is rift with: grab what you can, if you can.

The exposure of Blumenthal's lies at a time when the public has become completely disgusted with self-serving public officials makes his lies even more glaring and his apology - such as it was - feeble.

Blumenthal has compiled an commendable public record. He did serve in the Marine Reserves and he has been a visible and by all accounts effective Attorney General. His recently disclosed mis-statements about military service, however, may provide a rare inside glimpse at the heart of his otherwise carefully crafted public persona.  He may have just revealed his true motivation and if so, it's not public service. It's personal aggrandizement. His moment of "Truthiness", to use Steven Colbert's word, is what we should pay attention to.

This is a challenging time, and I don't envy the decisions that will have to be made by politicians in the next few years. What we don't need in Washington is another Senator whose personal ambitions may influence his decision-making.

If we're always wondering in the back of our minds what a Senator's true motivations might be, it's going to increase public skepticism and risk further gridlock.