When not writing these brilliant blogs or editing and posting the work of our amazing journalists here at Scoop44, I work in a restaurant in Scottsdale. It’s a neighborhood bar environment, and we have many regulars that frequent our establishment, including – up until a few days ago – this guy.

John Rodriguez was arrested and charged with 13 felonies relating to fraud, including impersonating a war hero. He had been coming into the bar for the last year or so, and told us stories of his Iraq and Afghanistan tours with the Marines while we poured him vodka and grapefruit juice. He brought in his laptop with pictures (never featuring himself, mind you), had a Marine tattoo on his right forearm, brought in official-looking documents that described an upcoming assignment, and had a uniform with his name on it. This guy lived the lie.

I’m having a hard time thinking of an action more insulting to a larger group of people. I bought a drink or two for Rodriguez, in honor of what I thought was his service to our country, and from time to time, so did restaurant guests. According to research by Phoenix-based 3TV, his grandfather was a Marine; by posing as one himself, he decreased the significance of his own family’s contribution to our freedoms. He used deployment as an excuse to postpone a hearing for drunk driving. He posed as a recipient of the Navy Cross and Silver Star, the second and third highest ranking military valor awards.

In reality, the only recognition this guy deserves is Keith Olbermann’s favorite: John Rodriguez is the Worst Person in the World, at least for today.

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