Editor’s note: This commentary is by Bob Stannard, an author, musician and former lobbyist. This piece first appeared in the Bennington Banner.
“A lie was the worst sin. The one thing you didn’t do was to give anything less than the truth to my mother and father.” – Robert S. Mueller III
“I watch people on the news talking about the distractions getting to him. I don’t think so.” — Pvt. 1st Class William Sparks
[I]n May of this year Vermont’s own Garrett Graff wrote an article for Wired titled: “The Untold Story of Robert Mueller’s Time in Combat.” If you’ve not had a chance to read this exceptional piece of journalism, then you should now.
Most Americans have no idea who Robert Mueller is and/or what he has done with his life. Those who currently find themselves in the crosshairs of his Russian investigation know him and most likely are living in fear, as well they should.
Until being selected as special prosecutor and thrust onto the national scene Mueller has kept somewhat of a low profile. Even when serving as director of the FBI few of us had heard of him. Today that has all changed and tomorrow it’ll change even more, and probably not for the better.
During the presidential campaign between George W. Bush and John Kerry, America witnessed something remarkable — a smear campaign that became known as “swiftboating” of John Kerry; a Vietnam War hero. It appears as though we’re on the cusp of swiftboating 2.0. Already we’re seeing the signs, the attempts to discredit Robert Mueller’s integrity. Demonize the man and make him out to be dishonorable and thus unbelievable. It worked out great for former President Bush. I’m not so sure it’ll work out so well this time.
As Graff’s story makes clear, Mueller is no John Kerry (although the two did play lacrosse together). It’s going to be much harder to tear down Robert Mueller than it was Kerry. First of all, many of us are savvy to the tactics. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Then there’s Mueller himself; a man 100 percent dedicated to the task before him and a man who has proven to be an effective and highly respected leader by those who’ve worked for and with him. Those who will try to run him down and destroy his reputation, as they did with Kerry, will do so because they live in fear; fear that Mueller will find the truth.
Our current president attended military school, but had no less than five deferments, one of which was for bone spurs that magically healed up after deferment. Mueller had received a 4-F (the lowest classification and an ironclad deferment) because of a knee injury. He had every opportunity to NOT go to Vietnam. Instead, he waited until his knee healed and went back to enlist in the Marines. Who would do this back in the ‘60s? Nobody. Young men back then were trying to do what Donald Trump succeeded at doing, avoiding going to Vietnam. Unlike others, Mueller went voluntarily.
The end results of the lives of two men now entangled will be studied for generations to come. One man has resolve, maturity, intellect, focus, dedication and drive that was forged in the deadly jungles of Vietnam. The other is unfocused, conspiratorial, petty, childish and a pathological liar.
Perhaps it is this last trait that most disturbs Robert Mueller. After all he has successfully prosecuted the likes of John Gotti. Lying is the one thing Mueller’s father would never tolerate. Lying is the worst sin. If you have Robert Mueller looking into your dealings and you’re a liar you should be very worried. Might swiftboating be your only recourse? It worked once, but I have this nagging feeling that it’s not going to work this time.
Our president wants us to live in fear. Fear of immigrants. Fear of those who are different. Yet it is he who lives in fear … and for good reason.
