In Defense Of The Stolen Valor Act

When Xavier Alvarez ran for board membership of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District in Los Angeles County he proudly told voters he was a retired Marine combat veteran wounded in 1987 and received the Medal of Honor. He also claimed to have played hockey for the Detroit Red Wings, rescued the American ambassador in Tehran, Iran during the hostage crisis in 1979 and sustained wounds when returning to the decimated embassy to retrieve the American flag. If that wasn’t enough to convince the electorate, he said he was a Vietnam veteran helicopter pilot and secretly married to a famous Mexican actress. His bravado proved to be all lies. The first clue was that Medal of Honor winners are humble and don’t use the award for personal gain. Alvarez was indicted and convicted for violating the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it a crime to falsely claim the awarding of military medals and ribbons. He is now challenging the Constitutionality of the law by claiming it violates his First Amendment right to free speech. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments recently and will decide the issue later this year. If it sides with Alvarez, then it should be alright to yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater, lie to a federal agent during a criminal investigation, perjure yourself in court and liable anyone you desire. Alvarez’s claim to be a Medal of Honor winner was for personal aggrandizing and to gain an elected office. He victimized all military veterans with his claims, the voters of the water district where he ran for office, and not to mention his opponent who lost the election to someone considered a distinguished American. A politician lying about his qualifications for public office is nothing new. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) became chummy with the local VFW and implied numerous times in speeches that he was a Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran who was spat upon at the airport when he returned home from overseas combat duty. The truth is he was a reservist who served his entire commitment at the D.C. armory. Despite his admission that he “misspoke,” his election to the senate proves voters have a Constitutional right to be stupid. Ironically, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) placed him on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which exemplifies his disdain for the military. President Bill Clinton lost his law license after a federal judge concluded he had lied to a grand jury about the Monica Lewinsky affair. While running for president, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) claimed he went on a secret mission to Cambodia during the Vietnam War, which wasn’t true. Obviously, wannabe war heroes believe claims of valor will enhance their chances for betterment, and they don’t give a damn who they hurt doing it. I suppose if the Court strikes down the Stolen Valor Act, I can claim to be a brain surgeon because it’s part of my First Amendment right to free speech. Should President Obama then pardon Martha Stewart for her conviction of lying to FBI agents during a securities investigation? Should President Clinton get his law license back? If the Court decides lying is a protected First Amendment right, can people lie about anything without fear of consequences. Major newspapers and media outlets are siding with Alvarez and have filed “friend of the court” briefs saying that criminal mandates on lying is simply wrong. It’s curious that the main stream media points out that the First Amendment does not specifically mention that only truthful speech is protected from the government. Maybe it fears sanctions for publishing half-truths and lies that advance its left-wing agenda. Some liars need to be held accountable because they rob people of the facts they require to make an informed decision. If people lie on their tax forms, perjure themselves, or lie (not exaggerate) on employment applications or their CV to make themselves appear to be someone they aren’t, they need to be sanctioned - especially if someone claims to be a highly decorated military veteran to steal the valor of others. (The U.S. Supreme Court Has Since Ruled the Stolen Valor Act to be unconstitutional based on it violating the 1st Amentment. Congress is in the process of changing the law to make it less broad in nature.)