Should Lindsey Graham even be eligible to run for president?

[40RatRod]

The distinguish Gentleman from South Carolina has endlessly presented himself as a "Gulf War veteran”.
He is not and as a 20 year vet, I take exception to that claim.
As one of the newest members of the House committee that would decide whether President Clinton should be impeached for lying under oath, he has himself claimed that he was a Gulf War veteran, a claim disputed by military experts.
Despite repeated statements that he served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Rep. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was actually living out of harm's way at home in South Carolina the entire time, where he was processing wills and other paperwork for the Air Force Air National Guard personnel preparing for deployment to serve in the conflict. He never once served a day in harm’s way!
On his official web site, Graham STILL describes himself as "an Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran." Other biographies he has written read similarly. According to numerous military experts contacted, Graham has no legitimate claim to being called a veteran of the conflict.
As Mr. Graham, who apparently served his county honorably as a member of the USAF Air National Guard, why would he claim otherwise? There is absolutely no dishonor in serving our nation in a military non-combat role…unless you claim otherwise.
If an NBC anchor lost his prestigious job because he embellished his record, should a person who does the same or worse be allowed to serve as the leader of our nation?
Would you want Mr. Graham, to have the power to send your child or grandchildren to war and could you trust his judgment to do so based on his past record?

[Boomerproud]

1. If I had the power to do so, Lindsey Graham would not be anywhere near public office.

But I don't, and he is.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. He's eligible because he's at least 35 and a natural-born citizen. Qualified is another question.

And there's many reasons besides his military record that suggest he isn't.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Gulf War era veteran would be more appropriate./NT

[BumRushDaShow]

4. His ass needs to personally go to every one of the family members of those who were just killed

in his state and APOLOGIZE.

[madville]

5. There are many different veterans' classifications

It depends on when you served on active duty, where in some cases, in what capacity in some cases, what campaign medals one may have received, or if one received a Purple Heart or disability rating during a certain time period. Some definitions are narrow, some are broad.

If he was on active duty for more than 180 consecutive days around 1990-1992 then yes, he is technically a veteran under the authorized Desert Shield/Desert Storm legislation. I'm considered a preference eligible veteran under the 2001-2010 time period that ended when OIF officially concluded even though I never left the US, I fulfilled a support role stateside.

Technically yes, he's considered a veteran for the time he was on active duty. He's not a combat veteran, neither am I, but I wouldn't be lying if I said I was a veteran under the authorized Operation Iraqi Freedom time period.

[Nye Bevan]

6. Wait.... are you suggesting that telling lies should render someone ineligible to run?

That would certainly thin the Republican field.

[dembotoz]

7. Let him run so we can slice and dice if nominated

[Vinca]

8. I don't consider Graham a serious candidate.

In fact, I'm convinced many of the fools running are doing so in order to have an interesting obituary when they kick off.

[madville]

9. Generate speaking fees and book deals

After the campaign