If you've ever wondered why politicians often tell gargantuous lies even though the truth is so easily revealed, you're really going to be scratching your head on this one. At a ceremony honoring veterans and senior citizens who sent presents to soldiers overseas, Connecticut Attorney General and Democratic Senate Candidate Richard Blumenthal said, "We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam." He may be right about learning something but Mr. Blumenthal never served in Vietnam.

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This is what Mr. Blumenthal said to that group in March 2008: "We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam.. And you exemplify it. Whatever we think about the war, whatever we call it - Afghanistan or Iraq - we owe our military men and women unconditional support."

However, according to records uncovered by the New York Times, Mr. Blumenthal obtained at least five military deferments from 1965 to 1970 and took repeated steps that enabled him to avoid going to war. When his final deferment was in jeopardy, he landed a coveted spot in the Marine Reserve, which virtually guaranteed that he would not be sent to Vietnam. He joined a unit in Washington that conducted drills and other exercises and focused on local projects, like fixing a campground and organizing a Toys for Tots drive. (source)

Usually when caught telling a whopper, a politician will claim he misspoke or he'll find some way to spin his fib into something that, if you squint, might reasonably resemble something close to the truth. But it's difficult to imagine any magnitude of spin that can save Mr. Blumenthal from this one. The words "I served in Vietnam" are crystal clear. And he most certainly did not.

The general consensus has been that Mr. Blumenthal would be able to keep the seat vacated by retiring Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut) in Democrats' hands. After this revelation, that may no longer be true.