Blumenthal’s recent scandal over “misstating” (lying about) his non-existent Vietnam service record is especially interesting given his own scrutiny of companies that have made lesser misstatements. In September 2009, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal issued a warning to Danbury’s Ethan Allen Hotel about an upcoming event that he felt could result in “misled” consumers and “pilfrage and improper profiting.” From a September 24, 2009 press release on his own website:
The hotel had clearly intended, however, to feature the group’s music. If, for instance, I tell a friend that I’m going to spend the evening with a good book and The Beatles, I don’t think anyone thinks I’m going to have The Beatles over to perform. But why would I say that when I know I’ll get an angry letter from Richard Blumenthal?
Blumenthal on Wednesday wrote the hotel and Live Gold Operations, Inc. warning that they were in possible violation of state law and asking for documentation that they could use The Platters’ name. The hotel agreed today to rename the event “A Tribute to The Platters.”
“I am pleased that Ethan Allen swiftly did the right thing, renaming the event and offering refunds — which should serve as a model for other venues,” Blumenthal said. “Consumers who feel they were misled into believing they would see the original Platters can now get back their money.
“This voluntary agreement is a victory for consumers and performers, assuring music lovers get what they pay for, while protecting recording artists from pilferage and improper profiting. I will continue fighting to enforce Connecticut’s truth-in-music law to protect the rights of consumers and artists.”
In fact, if you check here, the original event name remains. I wonder if he’ll write another letter?
In looking up other instances of hypocrisy, I ran across William Saletan’s fairly comprehensive list. It’s definitely worth a read here. As Saletan puts it, there’s no “misstatement” too small for the Connecticut attorney general. Is that really a guy you want to entrust with a filibuster?
