Hypocrisy thy name is Richard Klass
Daniel sent us a link from Huffington Post written by retired Air Force Colonel about the video we discussed the other day from Veterans For A Strong America. Daniel tells us that the Rhodes scholar, Col. Klass, can’t read apparently because while trying to link to Veterans For A Strong America, he instead, while quoting from the wrong website links to Veterans 4 A Strong America.
Yeah, I see the similarity, and although Veterans 4 A Strong America popped up in my google search first, I went to the entry below it for the people who could spell “For”. But, then I’m not a Rhodes scholar, so that might explain my confusion to want to get things right.
But I also read Klass’ article and his name sounded familiar, so I checked our archives and it turns out that TSO tore him up in the last presidential election for the same things he’s complaining about Veterans For A Strong America.
Links to TSO’s work are here, here and here. Maybe when he gets back next week, he’ll take up the Klass banner again.
Apparently, Klass hid the fact that he was chairman of “Vets For Obama” while he was proselytizing on Huffington Post. And when TSO emailed him about his disingenuous misrepresentation, Klass quoted from the IAVA scorecard to explain his support for Obama. And he supported Murtha.
So, he’s a turd, and it looks like he plans on being a turd through this election year, too.
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Shitbags
Sounds like a real Klass act. . . .
He’s a real piece of work. and this klass has very little Class!
I at least have the courage and courtesy to sign my blog. And I have the good sense to not distort the tryth. Try it some time.
Dick
@3: Sure you do. Just like you had the courage and courtesy to sign your name to comment 3 above.
Where did I not sign my name, you dick? Have a little trouble working all of these buttons and stuff?
The ‘tryth’?
@3, has no one told you don’t drink and type?
Gee, since when is calling someone a turd in print, especially a decorated combat veteran, political discourse? Definitely NOT COOL, dude. We may talk that way in the field, but print lasts forever, and I expect more from a fellow vet… I’m bummed thinking of civilians reading this and thinking we’re all jerks. When you write a blog representing your military service, you represent us all.
Avi8trix, you just don’t know our Dickie.
I can only imagine Abi8trix’s reaction to him having an entire section devoted to “Karl Eikenberry, that dick”.
So cute.
Avi8trix: sorry, but being a “decorated combat vet” doesn’t give an individual carte blanche to be a jackass and never get criticized. Using that logic, this guy would also get a pass:
http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=30820
That individual is also a “decorated combat vet” – as well as a convicted rapist. “Turd” is one of the milder epithets that come to my mind regarding him.
Act like a ass in public, and you should expect to be publicly called one. And you should also be man/woman enough to accept that fact.
A retired Colonel and Obama sycophant who can’t even fill out an online form properly or use a spell-checker?
Yeah, I’m shaking in my boots here.
And avi8trix–sometimes you have to call a turd a turd.
Mr. Lilyea questioned my service and demanded my DD214. I agreed if he would send me his and Mr, Zinke’s. He sent me his with blocks 22 and 23 blacked out. Do not run for your DD214. Those are “Type of Seperation” and “Character of Service.” I sent him my DD214 anyway with “Retirement” and “Honorable” in those blocks.
I have no idea what he is hiding.
Dick Klass
I know Col. Klass well. In our circles, I am his harshest and most outspoken critic. I’m sure he despises my views as much as I despise his.
However, he served his country honorably and well, and he has documented that to you. I doubt that any of you here are fit to kiss his misguided ass, much less denigrate his military service.
He was a Forward Air Controller in NV, and was wounded trying to protect the guys on the ground, who bore the brunt of the wrath of the Viet Cong.
In addition, Col Klass was awarded the Silver Star, The Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Purple Heart. They don’t come cheap.
He was medically retired from the service as a result of a progressive loss of vision, so go easy on his spelling and punctuation.
Attack his politics all you want, but when you attack his Military Service, you dishonor yourself and all of us who served.
And when you display your DD214, disclose it fully so we can see the quality and honor of your service.
So what? Many highly decorated veterans have gone to espouse myopic political views, (Bo Gritz comes to mind.) There are many who perceive his current political views as dishonoring his own service.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I agree that his political views are abhorent, but he has earned the right to express those views where and whenever he sees fit. Attack his politics all you want, his service stands alone and forever.
T Young: I didn’t see anyone denigrating Klass’ military service record above. What I did see is people taking exception to his post-service conduct and calling him out regarding that.
Again: honorable service, even if/when highly decorated, doesn’t confer lifetime immunity against criticism. Get caught engaging in unethical practices – like obscuring the fact that you’re working in support of a political candidate in order to appear unbiased – and you should expect to get publicly taken to task for same. And you should also be man enough to accept that fact and the consequences.
Klass: For what it’s worth, on all of my DD214s, Block 23 is Type of Separation and Block 24 is Characterization of Service. Block 22 is something else entirely – a block for a signature.
Attack his politics all you want
Which is pretty much what has been going on.
anyone who disagrees with Lilyea and his sycophants has their service insulted and questioned and then they are insulted personally.. I have seen it happed countless times to people on this blog..
what I was referring to was John Lilyea demanding Klass’s dd-214. I think that was insulting and demeaning, especially when Lilyea’s friend Google could have provided anything he wanted to know. Then to provide his with sections blacked out–what’s with that? Lilyea, tell us about your service–did you receive an Honorable discharge? what were the terms of your separation?
Klass vtodcumented his, now FULLY document yours
Another thing–You say you thought or were led to believe Klass was non-partisan?? Who ever heard of anyone, even the janitor, being associated with huff-po being non-partison??
T Young: pray tell – what is “demeaning” about requesting an individual provide documentation to support their claims of military service and decorations? Are you really saying you’ve never seen anyone make false claims of same on the Internet? If not, try your “friend” Google and run a search for “Chippendale Seal Cryer” and see what you get. Or “Ballduster McSoulpatch”.
Or maybe just read Burkett’s Stolen Valor.
And I think you also need to re-read my comment 16 above. The issue I pointed out wasn’t that Klass claimed to be “non-partisan”, and I never claimed that. My issue is that Klass appears to have deliberately dissembled about the fact that he was actively working in support for a political candidate when directly questioned about the matter. If you’re actively working in support for a particular candidate, that fact is material and should be disclosed – because it is prima facie evidence that you’re hardly unbiased in any discussion of matters concerning that candidate and his opponent.
http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=4271
Hondo, you claim–
” My issue is that Klass appears to have deliberately dissembled about the fact that he was actively working in support for a political candidate when directly questioned about the matter. If you’re actively working in support for a particular candidate, that fact is material and should be disclosed – because it is prima facie evidence that you’re hardly unbiased in any discussion of matters concerning that candidate and his opponent.”
everything you say is a logical conclusion if you were decieved. I haven’t seen the blog you’re talking about, but this is a typical liberal tactic–play on words, don’t answer a question directly, etc. –That’s why I’m a conservative—
I’m still waiting for Lilyea’s DD-214 disclosure.
And you’re right, there are a lot of Viet vet wannabees–but Dick Klass isn’t one of them.
T Young: follow the link at the end of comment 20. That documents the deceptive exchange between Klass and another author here.
Yes, there are many phonies out there, Vietnam and otherwise. Obviously you know Klass. Most people don’t. So I don’t see asking for validation of claims by someone you don’t know personally as being demeaning at all; there are simply too many fakers out there. “Trust – but verify.”
Regarding Jonn’s DD214, you’ll have to address questions about that to him. His e-mail address can be found in the “Contact Us” button above. However, unless you’ve personally seen the DD214 he provided to Klass, I’d be wary. Klass’ claims in comment 12 above are demonstrably erroneous, at least in part, as he misidentifies the two blocks on a DD214 that list “Type of Separation” and “Character of Service”. On DD214s issued between 1979 and approx 2009, that info is not blocks 22 and 23 – it’s blocks 23 and 24.
In any case, it’s pretty uncommon for a 20-year retiree to have anything other than an honorable discharge. And if they do, they don’t typically retire as a SNCO.
Hondo, as you said
“In any case, it’s pretty uncommon for a 20-year retiree to have anything other than an honorable discharge. And if they do, they don’t typically retire as a SNCO.”
Trust but verify. I still want to know why it was blacked out—the silence from Lilyea is deafening!
Re; Blog 20 above. Clearly Mr. lying low Lilyea was unable to distinguish between an individual’s and an organization’s commitment or not to a candidate. I gave the reasons why CLW-VETPAC endorsed then Senator Obama. There are many instances when organizations endorse and their members do not agree. In the case of VETPAC (no longer affiliated with CLW) the organization endorsed — the question Mr. Lilyea asked — for the reasons I stated. I did work — and am working — for Obama on a volunteer basis. The 2008 “Veteran’s for Obama” which I co-chaired, was all voluntreer and indeed we self funded the first “Veterans for Obama” signs and buttons.
Anyone who read my posts would know where I stood and could not accuse me of hiding it. I contend Mr. Lilyea distorted what I said.
My mistake. On my DD214 block 23 is Terms of Separation and 24 is Character of Service. I can not tell what they are on Mr. Lilyea’s because they are blacked out. I will send you what he sent me if you wish.
Richard Klass: the exchange I referenced was not between you and Lilyea. It was between yourself and another author here. I’ve read that exchange; I would characterize it as being rather deceptive and/or misleading on your part – and I’d guess most others reading it would as well. But you’re entitled to your opinion.
Regarding Lilyea’s DD214 – thanks, but I don’t particularly need to see it. But I’d think you should be able to infer with high accuracy what blocks (by number) are blacked out by comparing the form you have from Lilyea with others freely available here or elsewhere – or by simply noting the numbers of the unredacted blocks preceding and following the redacted ones on the copy you have.
I also must say I think you’re grasping at straws here, Klass. As I noted above: it’s not exactly common for a 20-year retiree to receive anything other than an honorable discharge. And those who do retire with anything besides an honorable discharge generally don’t retire as Senior NCOs. But suit yourself.
T Young: as I said previously, you’ll have to ask Lilyea that question. But it could be as simple as he didn’t think it was pertinent. You are aware that type of discharge is NOT information releasable under the FOIA – aren’t you?
And unless you or Klass have e-mailed Lilyea directly and asked him that specific question, I’d not assume he’s even aware of the latest comments here. The article above is roughly three months old; on this site, that’s an eternity. I only noticed the new comments by chance. This site has on the order of 10,000 articles published and over 135,000 total comments. Comments tend to age off the front page rather quickly (sometimes in roughly 5-10 minutes). No one has time to monitor all of the comments left on every article.
Yeah, Lilyea’s lying low. it’s not like I have work or anything. I haven’t even had time to look at dick’s DD214, because I was asking for it all day Sunday when I had nothing else to do. When he asked for mine, it was three minutes from the time he sent the request until I sent mine. The we played little kindergarten games the rest of the day trying to get his.
You can think whatever you want about my DD214, dick, it really doesn’t matter. The fact is that the NPRC won’t release the character of discharge in a FOIA, so neither will I. They must know something I don’t. Since I went to college on VA benefits, receive my healthcare at Walter Reed and the VA, well, just take a guess.
And the subject of this post was the about the fact that a brilliant Rhodes Scholar was criticizing a video he hadn’t even seen, otherwise, you would have linked to the right website when writing about it – but you didn’t.
Read your bio on Huffington Post, it doesn’t mention a thing about your affiliation with Veterans for Obama. You’re just like those creeps at VoteVet and IAVA, hiding your political affiliations to fuck veterans and the troops in the ass with a commander-in-chief like the smoldering turd we have now.
I think those were my points in that post. The post I wrote four months ago and you just noticed because you don’t want to admit you read the other one I wrote last week.
Don’t start something you don’t have the guts to finish, dick.
Sadly, I find this all a little distressing. I have some very good friends here including John, whom I respect for his service and who has been a great help on the issues of Stolen Valor as well as much more. At the same time, I met Dick Klass four years ago through a mutual friend (and one of America’s most respected RVN heroes) shortly after I resigned my role in the McCain Campaign, and based upon my own personal preferences, joined him in the Campaign to elect Barak Obama. (A month ago when John joined me at SCOTUS for the ABC interview I told him upfront that once again I would be supporting Obama and we are friends enough that he could overlook our differences there.) Similarly, Mr. Klass, himself a decorated hero from RVN has not shied away from his support for President Obama, either four years ago or today. I realize that at present a majority of my fellow veterans are supporting Mitt Romney, one of my oldest and closest friends Don Bendell is working in well-placed positions in that campaign. We veterans represent a cross-section of our American society which includes rich/poor, litterate/challenged, big/small, and of course, Dems/Reps/Indys. It is always sad when we allow our differences in political ideology to divide us. There’s my 2 cents (and hope I don’t lose too many friends as a result of it.)
Doug, the only times I’ve gone after Klass is when he attacks other vets. I think we’ve posted about him six times in the last four years and every time is to defend veterans against him. As I’ve said before, I think the only reason we veterans haven’t been screwed by Romney is because he hasn’t had the opportunity yet. Obama, on the other hand, screws us at every opportunity – going back to when he wanted service-connected disabled veterans to buy health insurance, and now he’s jacking up our Tricare premiums while the program has a $708m surplus and the Secretary of Defense spends $36,000 every weekend to fly to California to be with his family, while the troops are deployed to war without the same opportunity.
I don’t understand why any veteran would support the current administration, but that’s your business.
But when Klass drags out his specious “swiftboat” charges against perfectly honorable veterans expressing their opinions, that’s when I step in.
And I still haven’t looked at Klass’ DD214. It’s buried somewhere in the 9,000 (no joke) emails in my inbox somewhere.
John Lilyea, you sound like Obummer ducking out of showing his birth certificate and college transcripts. Hide behind whatever you want–
This whole thing is starting to bore me, I’ve got to go harass Dick Klass on another blog.
I’m outa here