Editorial -- As Americans are Hurting, Two Senators Call for War With Russia

As Americans are hurting, two Senators, Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are calling for war with Russia. They made their remarks after a trip to Russia, where they were treated to President Zelensky begging for more and more weapons – many of which will be sold on the black market to be used on Americans at some time in the future.

On July 5th, a new Monmouth poll found that President Joe Biden’s policies were not benefiting them. For the record, preference for party control remains divided, hardly surprising given that the bipartisan grandstanding for war with Russia continues.

More than 4 in 10 Americans say they are struggling to remain there they are financially. This number has skyrocketed; this is the first time ever that the Monmouth poll in question even showed 3 out of 10. The number of people who say they are struggling has increased by 18 points since last year from 24% to 42%.

Factors cited include inflation, gas prices, the economy, and paying bills. 57% say that the actions of the federal government have hurt their families. This is the first time this sentiment has ever been in the majority. Just 23% think future government actions will help their family’s top concern, while 45% say it will hurt them. One year ago, that number was flipped.

Currently, the same poll shows that Joe Biden’s approval rating is now at 36% – a steady downward trend since April of last year. Most tellingly, just 10% think we are on the right track and 88% say we are on the wrong track. 

So what do Senators Graham and Blumenthal do? They go to Ukraine and grandstand for war in Ukraine, as though that will help anything. They want Congress to classify Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, which would throw gas on the fire even if true. Mr. Graham supports the assassination of Putin, which would be an act of war. And he believes there should be no off ramp in Ukraine.

It is really interesting how so many of these politicians who want to send our troops off to die halfway around the world and risk killing billions in a nuclear conflict have never fought a war themselves and have actively sought to dodge service. Donald Trump is the most obvious example, but another is Mr. Blumenthal himself.

In 2010, the New York Times reported that Blumenthal had lied about serving in Vietnam. In March 2008, while honoring veterans and senior citizens who sent presents to soldiers overseas, he falsely stated that he had served in Vietnam. In fact, as the Times reported, he had obtained five military deferments before landing in the Marine Reserve, a group that was not sent to Vietnam. 

In 2003, Blumenthal praised the support of the troops in Iraq while contrasting the lack of support that happened “when we returned,” again falsely implying that he served. In 2007, the Milford (CT) Mirror reported that he had again falsely implied that he had served in Vietnam.

While Mr. Blumenthal has described his military service in more accurate terms since 2008 and apologized for “misspeaking,” the US subsequently passed a law pushed by then-Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) known as the Stolen Valor Act. Signed into law in 2013 by President Barack Obama, it states that you cannot make fraudulent claims about military service with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit. That would seem to include running for office.

While he actually served in the military, Mr. Graham has just as spotty of a record. In 2015, the Washington Post reported that after he was elected to the US House, the Air Force promoted him twice even though he did little or no work. Later, they gave him a job assignment in the Air Force Reserve that he highlighted in his biography but never performed work for. He engaged in 108 hours of training between January 1995 and January 2005. Despite that, they kept awarding him promotions.

Furthermore, Mr. Graham exaggerated his service record. From 2006 to 2015, he listed himself as a senior instructor for a base at Montgomery (AL). But it turns out he never taught any courses there or even visited it during that period. In 1998, Mr. Graham falsely stated that he served in Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield. In fact, while he was on active duty at the time, he was never deployed overseas.

These are the sorts of people who want to send our young people off to die in Ukraine. If they can’t be trusted to talk about their record, then why should we trust anything they say about the conflict in Ukraine?