Alexander Vindman handled the ugly smears and attacks on his character in the last 24 hours with far more dignity than most of us would have handled them. Even allowing for him being a 20-year Army veteran, his composure was amazing.
The closest thing that Vindman may have come to breaking that aplomb came when Devin Nunes didn’t refer to him by his rank. Vindman was quick to correct him.
Nunes recalled that “Mr. Vindman” had previously testified in his deposition that he didn’t know the whistleblower. Vindman replied, “Ranking Member, it’s Lt. Col. Vindman, please.”
Later, Chris Stewart of Utah, a retired Air Force major, asked him if it was normal for him to insist that civilians address him by his rank.
Stewart, whose father and brothers are all military men, wondered why Vindman was wearing his dress uniform rather than the business suit he usually wears to the White House. Vindman replied that the attacks he’s faced on social media had the effect of “marginalizing me as a military officer.”
Stewart kept cutting him off, but the point was made. Vindman was not going to sit idly by and let his patriotism or loyalty be questioned. Bravo, sir.