Friday, November 6, 2015

Carson admits to never being accepted by West Point

Ben Carson’s campaign on Friday admitted, in a response to an inquiry from POLITICO, that a central point in his inspirational personal story was fabricated: his application and acceptance into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The academy has occupied a central place in Carson’s tale for years. According to a story told in Carson’s book, “Gifted Hands,” the then-17 year old was introduced in 1969 to Gen. William Westmoreland, who had just ended his command of U.S. forces in Vietnam, and the two dined together. That meeting, according to Carson’s telling, was followed by a “full scholarship” to the military academy.

West Point, however, has no record of Carson applying, much less being extended admission.

“In 1969, those who would have completed the entire process would have received their acceptance letters from the Army Adjutant General,” said Theresa Brinkerhoff, a spokeswoman for the academy. She said West Point has no records that indicate Carson even began the application process. “If he chose to pursue (the application process) then we would have records indicating such,” she said.

When presented with this evidence, Carson’s campaign conceded the story was false.
“Dr. Carson was the top ROTC student in the City of Detroit,” campaign manager Barry Bennett wrote in an email to POLITICO. “In that role he was invited to meet General Westmoreland. He believes it was at a banquet. He can’t remember with specificity their brief conversation but it centered around Dr. Carson’s performance as ROTC City Executive Officer.”

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/ben-carson-west-point-215598#ixzz3qjRmxJMA

Update:

Carson campaign denies Carson ever said he applied or was admitted to WP. The author of the story has not responded immediately to several requests for clarification.

h/t Methadras

 http://dailycaller.com/2015/11/06/team-carson-politico-story-is-an-outright-lie/

87 comments:

ricpic said...

Long discussion of this on Rush. Carson was a teenager when he had the sit-down with Westmoreland and he may have been confused by the offer made to him. Or even that an offer was being made. Not sure if I've got this right, but apparently no cadets are on scholarship, they attend West Point tuition free and in return upon graduation must serve in the Army for a set minimum period of time. The tuition free part of it may have led Carson to believe he was being offered a scholarship.

William said...

I think Dr. Carson is honest and honorable and has led an exemplary life.I get no such vibe from Hillary.

Methadras said...

He exaggerated applying to West Point or he lied about applying to West Point? So he told a progressively larger fish story for embellishment? Should I believe any of this whether it was a lie or not? And if it is a lie, how does this rate in comparison to proven disastrous lies told by say both Clinton's or Obama?

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

Sounds like a misunderstanding. Not good. Still, it's amazing to me how something like this can destroy any R - .

Hillary and her foundation and her private server are as corrupt at the day is long - and she broke the law regarding classified information. Hey - no biggie.

deborah said...

He was never a serious contender. What will Iowa say?

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

He isn't serious because he doesn't have a life of crime behind him in the political arena.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

I think he should dig in his heals. Why can Hillary get away with her corruption and this matters?

Trooper York said...

Since when do demand that Black Politicians tell the truth?

What's good for the Obama is good for the Gander.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

Here is what I will never understand about running a campaign. when you know up front that the democrat media WILL scrutinize you up and down - why try to hide anything?
Democrats are allowed to hide whatever they want, the press will oblige. We still to this day do not know Obama's grades in college. Every other candidate - we know the grades. We know the health history...

If camp Carson knew this wasn't true, or if they realized that is was a fabricated part of a story that was inflated - why not come clean up front and say so in the very beginning. Correct the record up front? Why let it come out this way? The media only vets one side of the aisle. And it's not a surprise that the media only vets GOP candidates.

Consider Bernie Sanders whack-a-doodle rape fantasy essay. Did that end his campaign? Why no! Hillary's decades of incompetence, corruption and foundation shenanigans - accumulating into a failure of epic proportions in Libya, lies about a video, and her installing a private server while on the job for the American People and sending and receiving classified information on that very server. Then lying about it and changing her story over and over.

edutcher said...

It was an offer to help him if he wanted to apply (not sure, but I don't think West Point does any scholarships because all admissions are by appointment and tuition is on the public dime).

I don't doubt Westy's offer of help.

After the lies and omissions of President Pissy and the Ozark Mafia, this is nothing.

deborah said...

He was never a serious contender. What will Iowa say?

He's enough of a contender they're trying to smear him.

PS No.

bagoh20 said...

"why not come clean up front and say so in the very beginning."

I would assume it's because only Carson knew it wasn't true, and maybe he convinced himself it was after all these years. Like I said in the last post, maybe someone told him he could get it, and he remembered that as an offer he never took up, because he had no interest in a military career.

Also, a candidate never knows what will come to light, so to go back and point out every minor mistake you ever made and bring it up is just suicidal, especially if the other side doesn't have to do the same, and is safe in their silence.

Regardless, this is a minor failing. It affected nobody negatively.
Now Benghazi, well, dead heroes, lied to grieving families, lied to citizens about the job they pay you for.

What's the difference between Bill Cosby and Bill Clinton?
Answer: The compassionate use of anesthesia.

Methadras said...

April,

This will not destroy Carson in the least. It's a infinitesimal blip on the truth detector. That portion of Carson's life appear(s)(ed) to be somewhat chaotic and in that chaos, recollections can get fuzzy. Even alternative versions could be made and used to supplement what really is to escape the horrors of the now. People can succumb to that and they do daily, from children to adults.

Methadras said...

Well, it looks like the Carson campaign is saying the politico article is a complete fabrication and they never admitted to anything.

Trooper York said...

Look politicians lie. That is what they do.

Jeb Bush is really married to a WASP from Connecticut named Muffy.
Marco Rubio used campaign credit cards to buy Rogaine and charged it as a business expense.
Carly Forina gets her botox from the same place as Lisa Vanderpump.
John Kasich is a furry.
Rand Paul's favorite author is not Ann Rand but L Ron Hubbard.
Ted Cruz is really a Canadian and loves hockey.
And Chris Christie ate the last donut. Every single time.

edutcher said...

bagoh20 said...

I would assume it's because only Carson knew it wasn't true, and maybe he convinced himself it was after all these years.

I think the latter rather than the former.

Memory dims with time, after all, and the details grow fuzzy.

I don't doubt an appointment (not scholarship) to West Point for a kid like him would have been a piece of cake back in '69, and an offer to grease the wheels by someone as prominent as Westmoreland would have been the icing.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I think this is a misunderstanding that has been blown out of proportion.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

He was a top recruit prospect and he was in the military's radar.

Nothing came of it, that's why there is no paper trail.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I'm not ready to throw the surgeon under the bus at the first media coordinated attack.

deborah said...

Awaiting developments per Meth's two fortytwo post. I might go along with false memory.

Trooper York said...

If I were Ben Carson I would stab that reporter. That will show him!

Trooper York said...

Most of the candidates have false memories.

Chris Christie was molested by a bear claw when he was a child.

"Show us on this donut where he touched you Governor. Oh my he put you in his mouth in one shot!"

Trooper York said...

"So Candidate Bush I know you like taco's. Which one would you pick in a blind taste test."
"Oh the fish taco. That explains a lot."

Trooper York said...

No Carly nobody is confusing you with Sarah Jessica Parker. Secretariat I could believe. Just sayn'

Trooper York said...

Mr Trump why do keep talking about wanting to have sex with your daughter? It's creepy dude. Just sayn'

Trooper York said...

We know you got vaccinated in secret Rand Paul so stop lying about it!!!

Trooper York said...

We know your family got into America illegally from Canada Cruz. You couldn't use a boat. Did you float across the border in a dog sled? Come clean America wants to know.

Trooper York said...

Sorry I got a copy of the debate questions for the next NBC debate. Spoiler alert.

bagoh20 said...

Fake, but accurate? Almost. Whereas, Dan Rather's Bush Memos, were just completely fake in truest sense of the term, and he's still pulling them out and waving them under everyone's nose for fun and profit.

What Carson should do every time someone asks him about it, is bring us Benghazi and Email. He could bring up a different lie from those two stories every week from now till the election. And ask the journalist how this West Point story trumps the others? The reporter will reply that honesty is one of his main attractions, so? He should reply: "That's right, which is why I'm bringing up Hillary's, and you don't. Isn't honesty and fairness a main attraction of a journalist?"

"I think this is a misunderstanding that has been blown out of proportion."

Oh, the blowing has just started. During an election the media mainly does two things: blowing stuff out of proportion and minimizing or ignoring. We all know who gets which. "binders of women" vs "After my election I have more flexibility."

Trooper York said...

Black Lies Matter.

If you are a Republican.

AllenS said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
AllenS said...

Carson never said he applied. He said he was extended a full scholarship offer. He didn't take them up on it.

That's it. Politico lied, and that's a fact.

AllenS said...

Read this.

Amartel said...

Ben Didn’t Lie but Politico Did

Amartel said...

Dummies are all DISAPPOINTED

rcocean said...

This crap drives me crazy. The MSM and politico do this all the time. They lie and misrepresent and make "Mistakes" to attack conservatives - and people keep falling for it.

Allen and Amartel have posted links to the facts.

Tomorrow they'll forget this and go on to the next phony attack and supposed Carson 'gaffe'.

rcocean said...

This is now the revised headline:

"Exclusive: Carson claimed West Point 'scholarship' but never applied -Republican hits POLITICO story, later admits to The New York Times he wasn’t offered aid."

Again, this is still a lie - but more clever.


Amartel said...

The office Dem/Village Idiot/Town Crier had this lie all over my office shortly after it was released for publication this morning. Hear ye, hear ye Mister Benjamin Carson, allegedly a "doctor," was seen consortin' with the divil out on the high road by reputable sources. Burn the witch, boil that dust speck, eradidate this toxic hatred with extreme prejudice. Diieee.
(Meanwhile, Hillary actually does consort with the devil, on free repeating simulcast nationwide, and ... crickets.)

Amartel said...

Repeating the lie with different words is not clever.
It's sly, and it's still a lie.
It's evil.
It's done to keep the original lie in the spotlight.
While ostensibly dickering over "semantics."
No scholarships at West Point.

Amartel said...

What about your gaaaaaafffffess, Politico?

Amartel said...

Politico operative now busy digging up General Westmoreland to question him about Ben Carson's lieeeessss and gaaaaaffffes.

deborah said...

Thank everyone. According to Amartel's article, this is the entire relevant passage from Carson's autobiography:

"At the end of my twelfth grade I marched at the head of the Memorial Day parade. I felt so proud, my chest bursting with ribbons and braids of every kind. To make it more wonderful, We had important visitors that day. Two soldiers who had won the Congressional Medal of Honor in Viet Nam were present. More exciting to me, General William Westmoreland (very prominent in the Viet Nam war) attended with an impressive entourage. Afterward, Sgt. Hunt introduced me to General Westmoreland, and I had dinner with him and the Congressional Medal winners. Later I was offered a full scholarship to West Point. I didn’t refuse the scholarship outright, but I let them know that a military career wasn’t where I saw myself going."

ricpic said...

"Jeb Bush is really married to a WASP from Connecticut named Muffy."

The astonishing thing is that he's NOT married to a WASP from Connecticut named Muffy. In fact the fishiest (no taco jokes please) thing about Jeb! is the marriage to Conchita.

Trooper York said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Trooper York said...

Hey when you knock up the maid the Bushes do the right thing.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

Everyone needs to read Allen S's link. The whole thing is a media hit job.


from Carson's book: At the end of my twelfth grade I marched at the head of the Memorial Day parade. I felt so proud, my chest bursting with ribbons and braids of every kind. To make it more wonderful, We had important visitors that day. Two soldiers who had won the Congressional Medal of Honor in Viet Nam were present. More exciting to me, General William Westmoreland (very prominent in the Viet Nam war) attended with an impressive entourage. Afterward, Sgt. Hunt introduced me to General Westmoreland, and I had dinner with him and the Congressional Medal winners. Later I was offered a full scholarship to West Point. I didn’t refuse the scholarship outright, but I let them know that a military career wasn’t where I saw myself going.

That’s the entire relevant portion of Carson’s account. He reiterated that account last month in an interview with Charlie Rose, when he said, “I was offered a full scholarship at West Point, got to meet General Westmoreland and go to Congressional Medal of Honor dinners. But decided really my pathway would be medicine.”

Politico followed up on this story. They reported one additional piece of information that seems to conflict with Carson’s story: Carson never applied to West Point, and was never extended admission.

But Carson never said he applied. He said he was extended a full scholarship offer. What’s more, West Point doesn’t offer scholarships: all admission is free contingent on serving in the military afterwards. It thus seems probable that Westmoreland or another military figure tried to recruit Carson, telling him that he wouldn’t have to pay for his education – and that Carson read that as a “full scholarship,” and never applied.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

Key passage the hack press is using to demolish Carson and pimp Hillary.

"Afterward, Sgt. Hunt introduced me to General Westmoreland, and I had dinner with him and the Congressional Medal winners. Later I was offered a full scholarship to West Point. I didn’t refuse the scholarship outright, but I let them know that a military career wasn’t where I saw myself going."

A kid's memory of being offered a full scholarship but turning it down.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

Politico lied. Politico changes headline

eh. The ABC CBS NBC et al... hack press will run with the lie tonight. Watch.

rcocean said...

"Hey when you knock up the maid the Bushes do the right thing."

If we elect Hillary is Bill going to get his own WH Lewinsky room?

Amartel said...

Carson didn't apply to West Point and never said he did.
General Westmoreland offered him the full scholarship.

BTW, Carson applied to Yale and got in.

They've already changed his Wikipedia page to reflect Politico's lies. If you google "Ben Carson" there will be several MSM reports about Ben Carson's (Politico's) lies. Fuckers.

rcocean said...

Nice to see "Captain Ed" and redstate are still carrying the ball for Yeb and the RINO's. I also see Cuckservative Erik Erickson had written a whole column bashing Carson, but now walked it back a little.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

Media fuckers, indeed. The Politico lie will make it to tonight's hack media "news", for certain.

A lie travels halfway around the globe before the truth has a change to put its shoes on.

rcocean said...

NRO jumped on the lets bash Carson train too. Will probably walk it back after enough damage has been done.

Dad Bones said...

There should be a term for what they do to black conservatives like Carson and Herman Cain. For example, Politico "cained" him.

Leland said...

What I'm sure about is that Ben didn't apply to West Point nor wrote that he did in his book, so Politico embellished that part of the story. That pretty much makes Politico as much a liar as they claim Ben to be.

To be TOP cruelly neutral: Hillary claimed to have enlisted in the USMC and was turned down because of her gender, despite women having been accepted in the Marine Corps since 1948. I mention this, because Politico never has.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

heh

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

What the media doesn't understand:

...if one is offered a “scholarship” to West Point, it means they have been accepted as a student.


oh. oops. Oh well. they got in a nice lie and that lie will travel and spread like cancer. All while Hillary, who is a cancer, is given a seat at the kiddie table.

Amartel said...

Leland: "There should be a term for what they do to black conservatives like Carson and Herman Cain. For example, Politico "cained" him."

How about pent up racism? They project their racism so readily onto other people. It's time someone held up a mirror.

bagoh20 said...

Is this what they mean by "institutional racism"?

ndspinelli said...

My job is to read people. I don't get good vibes from many politicians. I have always gotten a strange vibe from Carson.

Titus said...

I do have breaking news-not about Carson, but his spokeswoman Armstrong Williams. Armstrong is a major fag. Armstrong used to live in Cambridge and she was a major sauna iguana at the gym-not that there is anything wrong with that. God did not smile on Armstrong's face unfortunately.

tits and muscles.

Trooper York said...

A strange vibe?

Maybe a jungle vibe?

Com'on Nick he is a doctor. They are all weirdo's.

Give a Brother a break.

Methadras said...

Oh, I don't think I've ever gotten an H/T before. Thanks I guess. I knew this story seemed to bullshit to be real, which is why I had serious questions about it and maybe even a plausible reason from Carson's side if he really did say it, how in the time of his youth, he could have had some fuzzy memories about it.

But it looks like the Politico article was a total lie. They Out-Dan Rather'ed themselves. Jesus, the leftists have no shame at all.

Methadras said...

Now we know why Politico and other marxist leftist shit sites have all shut down their comments sections. They can't deal with the truth anymore.

deborah said...

Meth I've upgraded my take from false memory to fuzzy memory. Calling it a scholarship rather than a free-tuition appointment is understandable.

Nick, a thrill up your leg? Please explain fully.

Trump fan said...

MSM. Has thier sights on Ben !!!

Methadras said...

deborah said...

Meth I've upgraded my take from false memory to fuzzy memory. Calling it a scholarship rather than a free-tuition appointment is understandable.

Nick, a thrill up your leg? Please explain fully.


I think it's totally understandable to a 16 - 17 year old who is being scrutinized by very high ranking military officials as a black kid being asked if he wants to get a full ride into West Point that it could be confused for a scholarship vs. congressional recommendation. That concept would be totally foreign to a kid that age vs. understanding it as a scholarship.

edutcher said...

Amartel said...

Carson didn't apply to West Point and never said he did.
General Westmoreland offered him the full scholarship.


Think you've got it wrong there.

You get an appointment (it's not really a scholarship, there are physical and character requirements also) from your Congressman or the President.

I doubt Westy had the power to get Carson in on his say-so.

Chip Ahoy said...

Carson wrote about this in his coming out book, "Blessedly Steady
Implacably Unshakable Hands." Politico misread an offer by an important general to make his application a shoo-in. This carries a great deal of weight. Anybody who's applied knows how valuable a sponsor. My brother's sponsor was a state senator and his weight was insufficient to guarantee Barry's acceptance. He was rejected due to acne. All that preparation in High School toeing the line for years down the drain. The scholarship is repaid in service.

This was all over Twitter today we observed the reporter for Politico being put in (her? I think maybe) place. Repeatedly as he/she backpedaled, first changing the title to their misleading post and then admitting they have it wrong. Disgusting. Carson did nothing wrong. Those offers really do happen to outstanding students. Carson was top of ROTC in Detroit at the time and a very impressive young fellow. He said, he didn't think war was his thing, he is more interested in medicine. Carson also said he had limited resources to apply to college that he had to limit his real application to one place. Carson is discussing all this in his book, how he chose his university as a young man, what happened and how it turned out. It is an honest representation and has nothing whatever to do with Carson stuffing the dead bodies he stabbed in a frenzy in the Egyptian grain pyramids built on Joseph's advice about storing up grain for times of need seven centuries off in the future.

Trooper York said...

The General had plenty of politicians in his pocket. I am sure there was an obscure Congressman who would have been happy to appoint Carson on the General's say so.

edutcher said...

Westmoreland?

Really? In his pocket? An unpopular general coming home from an unpopular command?

Or is this more of the Hollywood science fiction that is woven so often?

ndspinelli said...

I am as critical of the MSM as anyone. And, they will savage any Republican w/ lies. And, they'll make a movie about it and call it, Truth. But, Carson is hinky. I wish I didn't see it. I want to like the guy. This is usually when chick busts on me for voting for Obama in 2008. There is no baptism to absolve that original sin in his mind. That's because chick was not raised in "the Holy Roman Catholic Church, the one true church." I had a nun teacher who would use that entire quote every time she mentioned the church. She would bow her head when she said, "the one true church." Nuns are the original Moonies.

Methadras said...

Spinelli, voting for Urkel and seeing how he ended up, you think Carson would end up being the same way?

deborah said...

Thanks Nick, I had to look that up. Could be. Maybe he's just shilling for book sales or to be a vitamin tycoon. He seems pretty much on the up and up to me.

windbag said...

The facts don't matter to the MSM, it's all about the narrative. Regardless of whether Carson weathers this or not, the MSM will now refer to Carson as "embattled," "beleaguered," "doubtful," "questionable," etc. and it will constantly reinforce their phony narrative.

I'm not for the guy, but he doesn't deserve the Herman Cain treatment. If he does weather this, he can expect the Clarence Thomas treatment next.

ndspinelli said...

I think Carson is not going to be around much longer. I don't want to rile any of the folks that like him. I truly respect what he has done w/ his life. The MSM lies, cheats, hates, all that stuff. That doesn't mean this guy is not lying also. I need to watch some video closely where I can read his body language. His affect is so fucking flat it's tough to read the face, eyes, etc. I always differentiate between what I think and what I know. I think he has lied. I don't know that. I hope he didn't lie and I hope the press comes off as bad as the CNBC bozos @ the last debate. But, hope and $4.75 will get you a cup o' coffee @ Starbucks.

William said...

I have no reservations about Carson's character. I believe he is who he says he is and who he appears to be. I have some reservations about his qualifications for President. He's a smart guy who can absorb knowledge and handle pressure. That's all well and good, but there's more to the job than that.......I think in terms of raw IQ Herbert Hoover was probably the smartest President we had in the 20th century. I don't think Ronald Reagan was at the brightest end of the IQ spectrum. Draw your conclusions from that. There's more to being a successful President than brains. Luck helps, and good looks helps too. It's not enough to be right. You have to be right in the right kind of way.......Maybe these things will become clearer as the primaries play out. ........ Afterthought on Herbert Hoover. He saved millions of lives in Europe and the Soviet Union with his organization of relief efforts after the war. That's not such a bad legacy. Ditto with Ben Carson. Win, lose, or draw, he's accomplished some grand things.

bagoh20 said...

We overthink this stuff way too much. I'd be fine with choosing our President via a poker match, or even an origami contest. With all our analysis - and just think about how much energy, time, and money is spent on that instead of curing disease - we don't really accomplish anything. We just disqualify a bunch of people who are often good over trivial shit, and then elect the one left over. It's kind of like a demolition derby. Hey that's an idea!

We could choose the next President in one month, and do just fine. It's not like any real vetting goes on. Exhibit one is in the White House.

bagoh20 said...

One of the things I've been surprised by as I've grown older is just how dishonest people are in general and especially public people. Even people close to you, like relatives or lovers can be surprisingly casual about the truth. I know that some people think it's cool and sophisticated to be a good liar. Maybe even indispensable, pragmatic or a sign of competence. I'm not one of those. I find liars incredibly mediocre and not especially valuable. I highly value honesty, partly because it is so rare. An honest person makes everything easier, more reliable and more prodcutive. You waste so much effort dealing with dishonest people. They almost always cost more than they are worth. I have a few honest people in my life who never lie about anything important, and if you think they are, all you have to do is ask them, and they will admit the truth immediately when you sincerely ask for it. In business, they are surprisingly common, and I just fucking love them. They make my life so much simpler and happier. They never disappoint, even when they fail. I hope they see me that way.

bagoh20 said...

Of course it's from a distance, but I think Carson is an honest man. Unlike some others' his career wasn't one where being a good liar helps much. You open up someone's head, and you just can't fake it in there or bullshit your way out.

Amartel said...

Conservatives don't win because we all sit around worrying that everyone else isn't good enough to be a conservative. Ben Carson, world renowned surgeon, real life brainiac with proven track record of accomplishments and conservative policies is JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Sorry, Dr Carson. Maybe in a few years when you finally get a better handle on how to talk like a real professional politician, MAYBE then we'll call you up from the minors to play in the Big Leagues. In the mean time, we'll gather around your big SCARY gaffe about scholarships at service academies that you could have gotten into in your sleep and help the enemy score points and the media maintain it's tenuous and totally undeserved relevance. And help elect another corpseman. Well done everyone.

bagoh20 said...

Now imagine your brain surgeon has Hillary's ethics. How's it feel giving her important responsibility?

bagoh20 said...

"What difference now does it make?"

Methadras said...

I don't mean to shit on this thread, but I just want to say Global Warming.

Okay, now I can wait for the usual suspects to show up. Thank you.

AllenS said...

Lois Capps a Democrat from California offers this --

The privilege of nominating some of the best and brightest students in the 24th Congressional District to our nation's Service Academies is one of the most important and meaningful aspects of being a Member of Congress.

U.S. Service Academy graduates receive a first-rate undergraduate education, equivalent to that provided by a top-tier, Ivy League school, with options to pursue advanced degrees; spend a minimum of 5 years serving their country on active duty as a military officer; and are provided with an education and experience that will provide a world of career opportunities. The full four-year scholarship is valued at more than $350,000 which includes tuition, room and board, medical and dental care and a monthly salary. Students learn discipline, moral ethics and teamwork in a structured environment that fosters leadership and character development.


Bold added by me

ndspinelli said...

bags, I have worked in and for the justice system my entire life. The pressures for a PI to be dishonest are more than most people realize. My parents, the aforementioned good nuns on another thread, priests, coaches, all taught me the moral and the practical reasons to be honest. I lost clients from being honest. I lost cases from being honest. But, I won many more clients and cases. Even plaintiff's attorneys who think my first name is "Fuckin'" will tell you I'm honest.

There is, for me anyway, a very humbling experience every time I am sworn into testify. It MEANS SOMETHING to me to swear to God to tell the truth. When I saw Bubba lying under oath and people trying to say "everyone does it" my blood boiled. I have testified hundreds of times and never lied..NOT ONCE! I have prepared certainly over a thousand witnesses in my time for trial. I knew the truth and I saw them tell it. For some, it was very difficult to tell the truth. They were saying something that hurt the interests of someone they cared for or even loved. There were times when it was difficult for me to tell the truth. The truth made me or my client look bad. But you swore to God! If that doesn't mean anything then WTF does anything mean? Of course, people swear to God to be faithful to their spouse and that means little today as well.

In September I was the celebrant of a young couple's wedding in Telluride. I was so touched when they asked me to marry them. It's really a formality, because in Colorado you can marry yourself. My short sermon was about truth. Love has been beaten to death as a topic in wedding sermons. I knew these two loved each other unabashedly. I have known the bride since she was born. I spoke about truth. About how when times are tough in a relationship an truth is most needed it is often most elusive.

There are few professions more satisfying than searching and finding truth. Our culture has devalued truth. It has devalued truth's sibling, honor, as well. The only way to restore truth and honor in our culture is to live it in our own lives, and demand it from the people we elect.

bagoh20 said...

Well put, Fuckin Spinelli.

I hear ya. When I see someone act with a sense of honesty, duty, or honor, I'm just overwhelmed, and surprised, and it gives me a feeling that I'm in the presence of a long time friend, even if I just met them. I feel an instant sense of love and comradery for that person. Liars don't appreciate what they are giving up for their small victory secured with a lie.

I'm definitely no beacon of virtue, but I try to be honest in all things, and when I slip, I feel shame, and disappointment, and try to fix it. I've gotten much better than when I was younger. At this point in life honesty is getting easier, as it develops into a habit.

"in Colorado you can marry yourself."

Finally, I have found Mr. Right.