Sen. David Zuckerman (P/D-Chittenden), Vermont’s Democratic and Progressive nominee for lieutenant governor, apologized Monday night for questioning the role that the Vermont Air National Guard played in the response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
“I spoke poorly and I do apologize for that,” he said at a Burlington debate hosted by My NBC5.
Zuckerman was responding to a May 2013 video posted to Facebook on Sunday by Nicole Citro, a Republican activist who has led the public push to base F-35 jets at the Air Guard’s South Burlington headquarters. The video shows Zuckerman speaking out against the basing, which has since been approved, during a protest on the steps of Burlington City Hall.
“Some of the people that support F-35s say, ‘This is about our safety and our freedom. Look at what they did on 9/11,'” Zuckerman says in the 27-second video. “When I look at what our planes did on 9/11 — they flew over a site that was already devastated by a terrorist action. I don’t believe they stopped a single thing from happening. So let’s not equate their existence with freedom when they’re after the fact—”
According to news stories and the Air Guard’s own account, Vermont’s F-16s were among the first on the scene after terrorists flew two airliners into New York City’s World Trade Center. They patrolled the city’s airspace for 122 consecutive days after the attacks, according to a Guard history.
In a statement issued Sunday, Citro noted that the lieutenant governor could be called upon to command the Air Guard if the governor was not available. She said that Zuckerman’s 2013 remark “shows unequivocally he is not fit for the importance of this role.”
Asked about it at the lieutenant gubernatorial debate Monday evening, Zuckerman made clear he regretted his comments.
“I have tremendous respect for our service personnel and the Guard and national service, as well, for their willingness to put their lives on the line for all of us — whether it be in a terrorist situation, a national tragedy or, as we had in Vermont with Hurricane Irene, a natural disaster,” the senator said. “Our Guard, whether it be the Air or Army, serve us at the drop of a hat, putting their families aside. And I have tremendous respect for all of you. And I want to apologize again for speaking very poorly at that event.”
Zuckerman’s Republican opponent, former state senator and auditor Randy Brock, said he was “very, very concerned” about the remark, calling it “extremely unfortunate.”
“It shows that Sen. Zuckerman, I believe, is far outside of the mainstream thinking on the value of our Guard and the importance that it plays in the defense of our country,” Brock said.
Related Stories
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
Zuckerman should at least apologize for this year’s farm share. I got like 2 cucumbers the entire summer and I don’t remember getting any peas. Too busy campaigning I guess.
Jeff Ersonian, you continue to call it reimbursement when that was not what it was. It was a per diem, and an entitlement. No one ever had to say “I actually drove here today.” They were advised not to accept it only when they were living or staying in Montpelier, or not coming into Montpelier on a specific day. If they give you $5 for lunch, and you spend $4, you get to keep the extra dollar. Get it? So stop conflating it with dishonesty, when he was using the program the way it was designed to be used.
Perhaps Ms. Citro will let us know when it’s okay to question the Guard’s contamination of water supplies with PFOA.
Based upon the polls, it does appear likely that Scott will be become Governor, and Zuckerman will become Lt. Governor.
This should be telling the Democrats something. Such as representing their constituents (not lobbyists), having a backbone, and standing up for Democratic principles. They have done a poor job of this in the opinion of many.
Just when I was considering Randy Brock, Ms. Citro reminds me to vote for Zuckerman. Don’t conflate support for the Guard with support for the F-35. Two different things. Whoever supports Lockheed’s corporate welfare boondoggle does not deserve Vermont’s support. We’ve got a $600 billion deficit and a huge part of that is bipartisan cowardice in the face of military-industrial lobbyists (not to mention GOP and Hillary Clinton support for the Iraq War).
As far as the governor’s race, since Sue Mintner and the Democrats are just as bad as Phil Scott on this issue, at least Phil Scott offers the chance to slow the tax and spend freight train (at local level). The “rah-rah” F-35 crowd of Shumlin-Mintner, Leahy, Sanders, Weinberger, etc. talk a big game about “affordable housing” and then actively support the destruction of health and home values for over 12,000 people in South Burlington, Winooski, Williston, etc. They are tearing down perfectly good houses and decimating South Burlington property tax base so their campaign contributions keep flowing. They care nothing for the average person in Vermont. Big difference from Zuckerman.
Zuckerman will win. Brock will lose yet another election.
Zuckerman was right then, and wrong to apologize now. The apology is proof that so-called “liberals” in the Democrat party are just the average moderates, manipulated once again by military contractors, the “defense” lobby, and misguided patriotic jingo.
David Zuckerman’s comments in 2013 were absolutely correct.. There is no error in this statement, “When I look at what our planes did on 9/11 they flew over a site that was already devastated by a terrorist action. I don’t believe they stopped a single thing from happening. So let’s not equate their existence with freedom when they’re after the fact” I am sad to learn that Zuckerman feels the need to apologize for his true statemernt.
Contrary to the above poster, Mr. Zuckerman’s comments that day and his admission that he took reimbursement for something that he was not owed show a lack of integrity and leadership skills. The fact of the matter is that the Air Guard deserves our respect at all times. Mr. Zuckerman has had multiple opportunities to show good integrity and he failed every time he submitted for monetary reimbursement which he knew was dishonest. Mr. Zuckerman showed his true colors on the steps on Burlington’s City Hall and he has repeatedly shown his lack of integrity.
We need to fumigate Montpelier of these dishonest politicians.
Zuckerman’s comments at that time showed honesty, and an attempt to speak the truth and echo the sentiments of many of his constituents. This is actually what representative democracy is all about.
The sad fact is that the United States got caught with its pants down that day. A handful of boxcutters were used to kill thousands of innocent Americans, and like it or not, our local Air Guard had no part in it at all till after the fact.
As someone who lost friends in 9/11, I get saddened the event is used repeatedly as simply a rallying cry for blind patriotism, and to support an F-35 program that even many military personnel and defense experts see as largely a failure. Many consider it a program that may actually make us less safe by using up too many defense resources. I actually believe the F-35 program is the worst thing to happen to our Air Guard, as it will be a plane that will have problems for its entire lifespan…which may be very short.
Someone who will speak honestly and broach difficult topics is actually what we need for a Lt. Governor. We sure don’t have it in many of our other elected officials, or even most candidates. It’s called “Leadership”.
Mr. Zuckerman is one of the few who shows integrity, and we know what he stands for. One doesn’t always have to agree with him to appreciate that fact. His stance on marijuana decriminalization/legalization is another prime example of how Mr. Zuckerman is simply listening to his constituents, and following the science, not the rhetoric.