Michelle Malkin » More on the fake Marine anti-war poster boy

More on the fake Marine anti-war poster boy

By Michelle Malkin • May 15, 2009 04:48 PM

There’s more on “Rick Duncan/” Rick Strandlof, the fake Marine anti-war activist who managed to dupe Colorado politicians, leftists, and the local media for years.

First, “Duncan’s” veterans’ group has disbanded.

Next, the Denver Post, which had quoted him extensively, now jumps on public officials who happily pimped “Duncan”/Strandlof:

Dems red-faced over veteran imposter

Democrats are incensed over how a man duped the party and veterans during the ‘08 campaign.
By Michael Riley

Rick Strandlof, executive director of the Colorado Veterans Alliance and the man most colleagues knew as Rick Duncan, was front and center during the 2008 political campaigns in Colorado.

He spoke at a Barack Obama veterans rally in front of the Capitol in July, co-hosted several events with then- congressional candidate Jared Polis and attacked Republican Senate candidate Bob Schaffer in a TV ad paid for by the national group Votevets.org.

And the mostly Democratic candidates he supported — looking for credibility on veterans issues and the war — lapped it up appreciatively.

Now, politicians are dealing with news that the man they believed to be a former Marine and war veteran wounded in Iraq by a roadside bomb, in fact, never served in the military — but did spend time in a mental hospital.

Many of the candidates he supported won their elections handily and now say they were defrauded as much as anyone else…

…There is little doubt that Strandlof had a remarkable ability to fool people, something aided by the fact that among his fabrications was his claim that he suffered a severe brain injury, which helped cover behavior that associates now concede was often erratic and strange.

But there were also plenty of signs during much of the time Strandlof was working on behalf of candidates for anyone watching carefully.

Not including the Denver Post, apparently.

CVA wasn’t registered as a political organization until well after the campaigns were over, and then only at the state level despite being active in federal campaigns.

And although he claimed to represent 32,000 veterans — the biggest post- 9/11 vets group in Colorado — Strandlof always showed up at events with the same small number of supporters, and there were few concrete signs he represented more than a close circle he had gathered around him.

“Nobody really fully trusted any of those numbers. . . . He had a few dozen people who were helping him out. He claimed to have a huge mailing list that no one ever saw. The VFW, the American Legion, none of those traditional veterans groups had ever heard of him,” said one prominent veterans activist who worked for Democratic candidates during the campaign and who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The veterans community was very protective over him because he had portrayed himself as a wounded veteran. This is someone who claimed spending 18 months undergoing physical rehabilitation after suffering debilitating injuries. . . . You don’t go at somebody like that hard,” the activist said. “Perhaps we learned a good lesson here.”

Reminder: It’s not the first time.

It won’t be the last.

***

Much more at This Ain’t Hell.

Posted in: Iraq, Jessie Macbeth

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#701434

On May 15th, 2009 at 4:58 pm, Paul Revere said:

Democrats are incensed over how a man duped the party and veterans during the ‘08 campaign.

To be fair, the Denver Post assumes everyone reading knows they include themselves in that headline.
#701440

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:03 pm, Michelle Malkin said:

Ha.
#701442

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:05 pm, md1964 said:

Is there anything remotely associated with the Democratic party that isn’t tainted by corruption, lies, Falsehoods or just plain ignorance.

Between Acorn, Tax Cheats, Liars, Code Pink idiots, and the long line of Fake Soldiers they march out.. there isn’t much room in the democratic party for an honest person.
#701444

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:12 pm, docflash said:

They didn’t vett this guy because of their eagerness to slam the Republicans on the war.Call it fraud,deceit or what you want but it worked.I would be “incensed”too while laughing all the way to the bank.
#701448

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:13 pm, hunter said:

Democrats are incensed over how a man duped the party and veterans during the ‘08 campaign.

At first I thought this line was directed at Obama!
#701455

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:22 pm, Papa Louie said:

It’s not hard to dup a democrat when they are willing participants. Just ask The One (or his boss The First Teleprompter.)
#701459

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:23 pm, PBoilermaker said:

Is Foer working for the Denver Post?
#701466

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:30 pm, txvet2 said:

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:05 pm, md1964 said:

To be fair, this guy represents an authentic Democrat constituency – the insane. Supports my theory that you’d have to be crazy to be a Democrat and/or Obama supporter.
#701467

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:31 pm, cabrerski said:

Wanna bet Strandlof/Duncan owes back taxes, as well?
#701472

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:37 pm, Bruce said:

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:22 pm, Papa Louie said:

It’s not hard to dup a democrat when they are willing participants

+1

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:31 pm, cabrerski said:

Wanna bet Strandlof/Duncan owes back taxes, as well?

We’ll never know .. unless TheOne decides to appoint him to some office. Director of Veterans Affairs might be appropriate?
#701482

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:46 pm, apacherat said:

Why were the Democrats duped ? Because they were probably liberal Democrats. And liberals know very little about the military.
Liberal’s refuse to serve and most despise our military services. Example. If 15 % of Americans identify themselves as being liberal. Why is it that only 3 % of those serving in our military services identify themselves as being liberal ?
Since the end of the draft in the early 70’s. it’s been Republicans and conservative independents standing post protecting America. Liberals just seem to refuse to take up a weapon and stand post.
May be if more liberals would have served in uniform, they would spot a phony wannabe.
#701498

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:55 pm, Elm Creek Smith said:

The Leftist Party believed him because they wanted to believe him. They want to believe anyone who has anything bad to say about Republicans, Conservatives, the United States Armed Forces, Christians, and others who believe in the sanctity of innocent life and the justice of executing the depraved. The more disreputable members of the Leftist Party use the information they consider “bad” to launch scurrilous, ad homimen attacks on anyone who disagrees with them about anything at any time, then they get personal.

Hope is not a plan; not all change is good. WE are the civilian national security force! The resistance is here; the resistance is now. RESIST!!!!!

ECS
#701503

On May 15th, 2009 at 6:04 pm, simcoe said:

For years this guy drifted back and forth across the country bellowing out his tune and skipping along; the Pied Piper of Democratic anti-war veterans and nobody knew otherwise. No one could tell he was lying, even though his lips were moving.

So, tell me again, how does he differ from Obama, Palosi or Reid?

Was it the anit-Americanism? No, that’s not it. Is it the anit-capitolism? No, no difference there. Was it the delusions of grandeur and egomaniacal narcissism? No, that’s not it either.

I just can’t see it.
#701504

On May 15th, 2009 at 6:06 pm, Marc said:

In his senate campaigns in Massachussetts and in his bid for president, John Kerry showed an old home movie of himself with his rifle roaming the forest in VietNam, supposedly in the thick of the action. It turned out the film was a reenactment, not actual battle footage. But the MSM would never ask him about it. John Kerry used his connections to bail out of VietNam after only four months in country, one of which was just a training month. And yet he portrays himself as the second coming of George Washington at Valley Forge.
#701527

On May 15th, 2009 at 6:36 pm, Jeff said:

Joe Barrera, a Vietnam veteran who worked with Mr. Strandlof on veterans’ events in Colorado Springs Said; Among Mr. Strandlof’s achievements there was his help in leading a campaign that ended city-authorized sweeps against encampments of homeless people, including many veterans.

Mr. Barrera said he had harbored his own suspicions about Mr. Strandlof, who, Mr. Barrera noted, had no visible scar from the steel plate he said had been placed in his skull after he had been wounded in the Humvee explosion. Then, too, there was the vagueness about which unit he had served with.

But ultimately Mr. Barrera cast aside doubts because he believed that Mr. Strandlof was doing important work.

Hey, he’s on our side…No reason to check his background…
This story in NYT today.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/us/15soldier.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
#701528

On May 15th, 2009 at 6:39 pm, Jeff said:

leading a campaign that ended city-authorized sweeps against encampments of homeless people, including many veterans.

Ahhh… The lunatic fringe has been heard. The irony of, it all.
#701530

On May 15th, 2009 at 6:40 pm, chucky said:

Paul Revere said:

“To be fair, the Denver Post assumes everyone reading knows they include themselves in that headline.”

To be fair, that spins like a top. Unless you’re assuming the DP is just a mouthpiece for the Democrats.
#701531

On May 15th, 2009 at 6:42 pm, Jeff said:

No one investigates this ? Did no one in Colorado Springs figure this out ?
Sonofdy, and others in the area ; help me out here.
#701536

On May 15th, 2009 at 6:49 pm, BucolicBuffalo said:

His supporters saw what they wanted to see and happily ignored the evidence that didn’t support their conclusions.

The same can/will be said for BHO.
#701540

On May 15th, 2009 at 6:53 pm, Jeff said:

On May 15th, 2009 at 6:49 pm, BucolicBuffalo said:
His supporters saw what they wanted to see and happily ignored the evidence that didn’t support their conclusions.

Like, John Kerry and, the anti-war effort ?
#701587

On May 15th, 2009 at 8:01 pm, FruNobulux said:

Democrats are incensed over how a man duped the party and veterans during the ‘08 campaign.

From that lead, I thought the story was going to be about Ogabe.
#701598

On May 15th, 2009 at 8:31 pm, Tuesday said:

On May 15th, 2009 at 5:13 pm, hunter said:
Democrats are incensed over how a man duped the party and veterans during the ‘08 campaign.
At first I thought this line was directed at Obama!

Oh, IF only it did or would in the next day or week!
#701599

On May 15th, 2009 at 8:32 pm, Jeff said:

Democrats are incensed.

So, what else is new ?
#701607

On May 15th, 2009 at 8:46 pm, Rogue Cheddar said:

Democrats are incensed over how a man duped the party and veterans during the ‘08 campaign.

Jeez, these democrats sure get duped a lot! They got duped by GWB! They got duped by the CIA! The got duped by a number of attention starved unhinged, not real vets!

“Sneaky little hobbitses. Wicked, tricksy, false!”
#701642

On May 15th, 2009 at 9:57 pm, GJCorby said:

If a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Mairine
claims to be a liberal against the war, they are probably a liar, as defending one’s country is opposed to everything liberals stand for. that is why there are so few liberals in the military
#701650

On May 15th, 2009 at 10:13 pm, txvet2 said:

On May 15th, 2009 at 6:40 pm, chucky said:

To be fair, that spins like a top. Unless you’re assuming the DP is just a mouthpiece for the Democrats.

A reasonable assumption – most of the media is; and they didn’t mention whether they were duped or not – which probably means that they were.
#701695

On May 15th, 2009 at 11:56 pm, Republicanvet said:

Democrats are incensed over how a man duped the party and veterans during the ‘08 campaign.

Oh sure. Democrats are only grumpy about this because they are usually the ones doing the duping.

…and still are with many people.
#701697

On May 16th, 2009 at 12:02 am, Bogtrotter said:

““Perhaps we learned a good lesson here.”

Until the next time….and there WILL be a next time.
#701707

On May 16th, 2009 at 1:26 am, nbarry said:

Look at the special interest groups who form the Democratic Party base. Do not the bulk of them consist of charlatans, phonies and frauds out to bilk the taxpayers? P.T. Barnum must be smiling from on high.
#701736

On May 16th, 2009 at 4:10 am, RetFireman said:

Democrats are incensed over how a man duped the party and veterans during the ‘08 campaign.

Wait…was Obama finally forced to open his file and show his true birth certificate and college papers? Did they finally see that they were all duped by him and his lies and now he is going to be tossed out for fraud and other “high crimes and misdemeanors”?

OOOOOHHHHHH…they were referring to being so hungry to trash Bush that they will believe any insane human that says what they want to hear. Wait…how is that different from what I said above?
#701812

On May 16th, 2009 at 11:06 am, Politicalguano said:

Democrats taken in by psychopathic liar again. For a moment I thought they were talking about one of the Clintons or BO. DemocRATS are infatuated with lying and liars. That’s why they focus so much on polls to help them word their “positions,” and use of bizare or unusual language – progressive replaces liberal, and who could forget gravitas, and now treating war criminals i.e. all the GITMO murderers like we get treated when undergoing an ER visit is considered “TORTURE!” Last time I was in the ER, it was freezing, the “bed” was painfully uncomfortable, I didn’t get anything to eat or drink for more than 12 hours, the IV they placed hurt like hell, the medicine they gave me was so nauseating I could not stop vomiting for hours, and they insisted on doing things to make me hurt more so they could diagnose me: Doctor pressing on my head, “Does it hurt HERE!,” Me “OWWWWW!” Doctor, “No, does it really hurt.” Me, “Yes it f@@king hurt!” I personally was gratetful to get helped and would not label it torture. And the arab filth murderers at GITMO received medical care and often attempted to kill or maim the medical workers helping them. I suggest a firing squad for all GITMO prisoners as consistent with the Geneva Conventions part 1 &2.
#703605

On May 19th, 2009 at 4:17 pm, FirstSkirt said:

Thanks Politicalguano #31 – now, that was funny, especially that ER part.

I must agree with you on the Geneva Convention – we can LEGALLY shoot them if we have to. Not that too many Americans have any real understanding of what is written in the Geneva Convention documents.