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In reply to the discussion: VA Secretary Robert McDonald Falsely Claimed He Served In Special Forces [View all]nil desperandum
(654 posts)54. Lying about service from an officer...
I have no excuse, McDonald told The Huffington Post, when contacted to explain his claim. I was not in special forces.
THE HONOR CODE
A CADET WILL NOT LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, OR TOLERATE THOSE WHO DO.
http://www.west-point.org/users/usma1951/18250/whitepaper.htm
A CADET WILL NOT LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, OR TOLERATE THOSE WHO DO.
http://www.west-point.org/users/usma1951/18250/whitepaper.htm
He knows he lied, he knows it was completely incorrect for a former officer to lie.
For the record, Ranger Tabbed is no more a ranger than the Basic Parachutist Badge makes you a paratrooper. The tab means nothing more than you are now qualified to serve with the Rangers, but you aren't a Ranger until you serve in the Battalions. The tab means he could have been a Ranger but chose not to be as he didn't serve in a Ranger Battalion and earn the scroll.
Same with Jump School, if you graduate jump school but are not serving in a paratrooper unit you are just another Ft. Benning five jump chump.
I served in support of SF unit operations, I was a regular jump qualified 11Bravo and while our service was alongside each other I would never claim to be SF because I wasn't. Serving alongside isn't serving within even if you still get shot at.
Honest soldiers and men of character know the truth.
Having said that, I'm not terribly surprised and the fact he apologized immediately means he knows he screwed up. I was truly hoping his business skills would make him the guy to put the VA right with the veterans who need that service. Here's hoping this apology puts him back on the path to righteousness and he can get back to work making the VA function properly.
I would not be surprised if this results in him losing this job however.
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VA Secretary Robert McDonald Falsely Claimed He Served In Special Forces [View all]
alp227
Feb 2015
OP
Why? Because he attempted empathy with one down on his luck veteran...really?
Fred Sanders
Feb 2015
#10
that was my first thought. We can't be hypocrites here, condemning one guy like
CTyankee
Feb 2015
#51
He claimed no "history".... He was attempting to engage, not mislead anyone....he has an
Fred Sanders
Feb 2015
#11
So...he should....resign?? There was no mention of medals/honours, education, etc.....Context.
Fred Sanders
Feb 2015
#14
The defense seems to be "well, it was JUST a homeless vet." I mean, THOSE are
TwilightGardener
Feb 2015
#21
Remember when you tried to shame a poster for flying the Rainbow Flag during the Olympics?
CreekDog
Feb 2015
#44
I am honored to have you as yet another fan club member bearing ad hominem and strawman gifts.
Fred Sanders
Feb 2015
#45
Williams, O'Reilly, and Kyle were not Cabinet members, public servants
TwilightGardener
Feb 2015
#18
He said this in passing to a homeless man? .......so minor as to be laughable.
Fred Sanders
Feb 2015
#8
Because it's totally ok to lie, as long as it's just a homeless person.
ForgoTheConsequence
Feb 2015
#23
To whom must he say it before it counts? Recorded by CBS news, to a homeless man, is ok?
arcane1
Feb 2015
#28
Reasoned argument always loses out to firmly held outrage. Forgive me, you win.
Fred Sanders
Feb 2015
#30
Maybe he should have told the guy, "Oh, you're homeless? I'm homeless too!"
Nuclear Unicorn
Feb 2015
#67
Like you said, getting a boner over all things military...all lies are equal is actually being said!
Fred Sanders
Feb 2015
#69
At least he didn't claim to come under sniper fire and that he had to run with his head down into
progree
Feb 2015
#35
Update - so it ends with much ado about next to nothing, as predicted..............
Fred Sanders
Feb 2015
#65
Biggest strawman I have seen in weeks....on topic, too bad about no one asking anyone to resign.
Fred Sanders
Feb 2015
#75