From The Archives: Rep. Darrell Issa Snared In '98 In His Own Military Exaggeration

[Ian David]

As several politicians have been snared thanks to fibbing about their military records, TPM took a trip down memory lane exploring others who exaggerated service. It turns out that 12 years ago when Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) was running for Senate, the San Francisco Examiner uncovered that his Army record was in doubt.

The Examiner published in May 1998 a devastating article detailing the conflicts between Issa's public statements and public records. A focus in the story was Issa's claim he protected then-President Richard Nixon as part of an "elite Army bomb unit" at the World Series in 1971. But it turns out Nixon didn't even attend the games.

The Examiner scoured military records and concluded that Issa's service on the squad "was marred by a bad conduct rating, a demotion and allegations that he had stolen a fellow soldier's car." It cited his 1998 campaign biography saying he served in the Army nine years, even though records showed he served just over five years. He was enlisted from 1970-1972 and was in a college Army ROTC program from 1972 through 1976, the Examiner reported. It also noted that an Issa press release said he was "detailed to the Army security team" which traveled with Nixon, and quoted from a 1990 San Diego Union story that said Issa "was on a bomb disposal unit for President Nixon and got to see the 1971 World Series because Nixon wanted to go and the stadiums had to be secured."

Here's the key part:

The records show that Issa's service on what he terms an "Army security team" amounted to less than six months on a bomb-disposal squad in 1971. That's scant experience to qualify him for presidential security duty, former GI bomb experts say.

Issa couldn't have guarded Nixon at the World Series because the president didn't attend, according to the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda.

More:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/from-the-archives----issa-snared-in-his-own-military-exaggeration.php

Hat-tip to: http://twitter.com/MzYun/status/15325080569

[leftofcool]

1. Yoohoo, Mr Issa, I believe your pants are on fire!

[Oceansaway]

2. K&R...n/t

[Bitwit1234]

3. Wonder the MSM is not playing this up AND

by the way I also send Issa an email. Detailing Cheney's involvement in getting Phewlenty to give up his senate run, after he had filed, in favor of Norm Coleman. Coleman was the Bush administration's pick to run because he was a "company" man. Haven't heard back. Guess he didn't even get to see it. But I said if he didn't shut the hell up about the White House and Sestak I would make a recommendation with C.R.E.W. to also bring up ethics. I wish I had know about the military thing.

And if you want to send an email. Be sure you get an address from Vista California where he has his district. They won't accept it unless you do. So I just put down the address of a motel. AND you also have to have the four digit extension to the zip code. Or again they won't accept it. I guess he gets a lot of complaints about himself and he is doing everything to cut out the email traffic.

[dgibby]

4. I think the OP still has me on ignore, but

I sent this to both Keith and Rachel. Hope they use it.

[southern_belle]

5. K & R n/t