HI-02: Primary debate cancelled after Tulsi Gabbard refuses to appear.

[RandySF]

On Monday, July 2, candidates for contested offices in the State of Hawai‘i gathered at Kamehameha Schools’ Kapalama, Oahu campus for Hawaii News Now’s “Super Debate.” Contenders for the offices of Lieutenant Governor, 1st U.S. Congressional District Representative, and Governor took the stage to answer questions, challenge the competition and leave a lasting impression on the audience. It was an informative night for voters, with one glaring omission.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard was absent, and there was no debate for the 2nd U.S. Congressional District. The district includes Maui and most of the state, except for urban Honolulu.

In a June 30 Honolulu Star-Advertiser article, Hawaii News Now news director Scott Humber explained that HNN had been trying for more than a month to schedule a debate with 2nd Congressional District candidates, but Gabbard declined to participate. Humber left the invitation open, stating, “It is the right thing to do for the voters.”

This debate dodging has frustrated Gabbard’s opponent in the race for a seat in Congress, Sherry Alu Campagna. “Hawaii’s voters in Congressional District 2 are restricted by mainstream media and organizations from making a fair comparison between Tulsi Gabbard and her only viable contender, Sherry Alu Campagna; a Democrat, an environmental scientist, state commissioner, Native Hawaiian, and parent of a Kamehameha Schools student,” the challenger’s camp wrote in a July 2 statement.

“Furthermore, this subversive form of censorship blocks the democratic process during an election by prohibiting CD2 constituents from holding Tulsi Gabbard accountable for her wishy-washy voting record and alliances with foreign dictators who have committed egregious human rights violations against their people, including Modi, El Sisi, and Assad. Additionally, the exclusion of CD2 from the Super Debate underscores the fact that CD2 voters do not get the attention by politicians and the media that Honolulu does,” the statement said.


https://mauitime.com/news/politics/congresswoman-tulsi-gabbard-dodges-debate/

[Ninsianna]

1. What exactly is Tulsi's issue here?

This is unacceptable behavior, I don't care who us doing or which party, it is inherently anti democratic.

[Cha]

3. Yeah, sounds kind of arrogant to me.. and it's not

the first time.. she's never debated any of her opponents. What's she been afraid of?

She has reason to be afraid of Sherry Campagna, though.. the Hawaii Teachers' Union endorsed Sherry.

[NCTraveler]

19. "the Hawaii Teachers' Union endorsed Sherry. "

[Cha]

22. YES! I would love it if

Sherry WON!

Mahalo, NCTraveler

[NCTraveler]

24. Gabbard seems to do well on election day.

Good luck Sherry and Mahalo, Cha!

[Cha]

25. Yes, gabbard has a lot of people fooled that's

why she won't debate. But this time the Hawaii's Teacher's Union has called her out on her support of Assad in Syria and endorsed her opponent, Sherry Campagna!

https://www.sherryforhawaii.com/

Thank You, NCT

[still_one]

26. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Cha]

30. Mahalo, still_one!

[Tarheel_Dem]

32. +1. She's all mouth, and very little else. I, for one, hope that Sherry mops up the floor with TG,

and I hope the voters in that district don't let Gabbard get away with this little stunt.

[Cha]

33. Yeah, gabbard is all about hypocrisy, too..

gabbin at other people to debate when she won't do it.

I know Sherry would mop the floor with gabbard in a debate.. that's why she's denying her the chance.

It hurt Joe Crowley.. it should do the same for gabbard.

Mahalo, Tarheel!

[Gothmog]

48. I want to know why Tulsi is not debating

[Cha]

49. gabbard needs to be hounded until she gives

up an answer.

People voting for her are NOT getting the whole picture.. Thank Goodness the Hawaii Teacher's Union has endorsed Sherry Campagna and called out Gabbard on supporting war criminal Assad.

This should be in Sherry's campaign Ads.. "Why won't tulsi gabbard Debate with me?" Or something like that.

Mahalo, Goth

[Gothmog]

51. Agreed

She needs to debate

[Cha]

52. Or if she won't.. be held Accountable

enough to make her sorry that she didn't debate Sherry.

I've never heard of such a thing.. she told others to debate MORE and she won't do it once.

[RhodeIslandOne]

63. Big head

She must read her press clippings

[Cha]

2. Why is Gabbard afraid to debate Sherry Campagna?

TG will never debate her opponents.. if this is one of the issues that tripped up Joe Crowley then it should be the same for Gabbard.

What the hell is she thinking?.. she has the signs out but she's too afraid to debate any of her primary opponents?

Link to tweet

Challenger criticizes Gabbard for ducking debate

snip//

“Blocking debates from happening through non-participation is the opposite of democracy,” said Sherry Campagna, her main challenger this year in the Aug. 11 Democratic primary, in a news release.

More..
http://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/06/30/hawaii-news/challenger-criticizes-gabbard-for-ducking-debate/?HSA=d7f7e4eb2e4a38e3f0b024cdb2fb790a449af3c6


HI-02: Hawaii Teachers Union Backs Gabbard Opponent For Congress

Harsh Criticism For Gabbard

“She was one of just three representatives, and the only Democrat who refused to condemn Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s genocidal chemical attack on his own people. After the attack, Gabbard traveled to Syria to meet with the genocidal dictator al-Assad without permission from the White House or Congress. Her trip was funded by a group with ties to al-Assad supporters and she only covered the expenses herself after the news media reported who paid for her trip.

“Then, after al-Assad bombed his people again, Gabbard continued to refuse to admit the attack had occurred. At the same time, she voted to practically ban Syrian refugees from coming into the United States after the Paris terrorist attacks, even though Syrian refugees were not involved in the attacks.”

That's not how we do things.. especially in Hawaii.

When we were discussing this on DU we had people defending her.. all kinds of pretzel logic going on.

But, Thank Goodness the Hawaii Teachers Union is NOT impressed.


Sherry Campagna appears with HSTA members at a May 22 press conference announcing the union’s endorsement of her challenge to U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in Hawaii’s 2nd District Congressional race.

RSF https://upload.democraticunderground.com/100210730725
Mahalo, RSF

[lostnfound]

12. Supportive of Assad? That's a red flag.

Alarming.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. She was also flirting with joining the Trump (mis-)Administration too I believe

She is one of the lesser Democrats we have. Didn't she dramatically resign from the DNC to support Bernie in 2016 during the primaries too?

[bettyellen]

29. She's a DINO, from a very conservative politically active family. She's had some weird

connections and views over the years. I think she’d be GOP but knows she can’t get elected that way.

[RhodeIslandOne]

65. Yet she's got some convinced she's progressive

Shes a political inkblot.

[lostnfound]

34. I had my doubts

Even though I supported Bernie in primary, something about ?Tulsi made me a little uneasy.

[msongs]

4. seems to me gabbard was critical of hillary for not debating bernie more nt

[Cha]

5. Oh yeah.

[joshcryer]

40. Right?

[betsuni]

56. Well, that was different.

Maybe she thinks we don't remember.

[Cha]

6. I'm going to

try and keep this kicked so more can see what's going on in Hawaii District 2.

Mahalo, RSF

[OnDoutside]

8. Thanks Cha ! Is there a place where people can donate to Sherry Campagna ?

[Cha]

11. I see you found NBachers

handy link to donate to Sherry Campagna, OnDoutside.

Mahalo for donating.. I know she'll appreciate it! She'll be getting money from all over and wondering how that happened when there isn't that much publicity off Island.. I'm thinking.

Gabbard won't even debate her.

[RandySF]

14. Here you go.

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/sherryforhawaii

[Cha]

16. Mahalo, RSF.. Kicking!

[NBachers]

7. I just donated - Here's the ActBlue link:

https://secure.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/55610

[OnDoutside]

9. Ha, I had just posted a question about that ! Thanks, Sherry Campagna should be supported.

[Cha]

10. Mahalo, NBachers!

Thank You for the handy link to donate to Sherry Campagna!

[Bettie]

13. Refusing to participate in debates

is a deal-breaker for me personally, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

[mcar]

15. Good that her opponent is hitting her on this!

[NCTraveler]

18. Gabbard declined well in advance.

Whatever you think of Gabbard is fine but this is a bit over the top.

Mr. Humber doesn't seem to understand it when a woman says no.

[RandySF]

20. They did everything they could to accommodate her and she still refused.

[NCTraveler]

21. There was zero question that she refused well in advance.

Correct. I agree.

[still_one]

27. Fake websites, fake news, now who does that remind me of who pushes that rhetoric, hmm let me think,

someone in the WH I think

[Cha]

36. That is the Worst Advocate for gabbard.

gabbard's Never debated anyone while calling others to debate MORE.

The reason she won't debate is that the Hawaii Teachers' Union Endorsed her Opponent, Sherry Campagna. And, one reason is gabbard's support for the war criminal, Assad.

And, all the "Fake" stuff and "Brock".. WTHF?

Mahalo, still_one!

[still_one]

37. Agree Cha. It is making excuses for a flawed candidate who is afraid to debate

Last edited Wed Jul 11, 2018, 07:16 PM - Edit history (1)

[Cha]

38. Yeah, the shite they come up with

to duck and cover.

Link to tweet

Challenger criticizes Gabbard for ducking debate

snip//

“Blocking debates from happening through non-participation is the opposite of democracy,” said Sherry Campagna, her main challenger this year in the Aug. 11 Democratic primary, in a news release.

More..
http://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/06/30/hawaii-news/challenger-criticizes-gabbard-for-ducking-debate/?HSA=d7f7e4eb2e4a38e3f0b024cdb2fb790a449af3c6

Sherry's going to get some good PR from this travesty of gabbard's.. I bet.

[rzemanfl]

28. Enjoy your stay. n/t

[Cha]

46. Yeah, I wonder if she did.. after the welcoming

committee got through with her?

[RandySF]

31. Didn't Tulsi get angry with Obama

When he denied a visa to an Indian religious figure notorious for human rights abuses?

[Cha]

35. You know you're the Worst advocate for

tulsi gabbard?

gabbard is too afraid to debate Sherry Campagna because the Hawaii Teacher's Union Endorsed Sherry. One reason being that gabbard is a supporter for the war criminal Assad.

gabbard has NEVER debated any of her opponents.. so your excuse for her is crap.

[BannonsLiver]

43. My guess is there are Putin/Russia ties as well.

[Cha]

44. I hadn't thought

of that but now that you mention it.

[GulfCoast66]

41. You signed up to DU to post this?

Did you get a phone call. Or something.

[Cha]

45. By the calibre of the post..

it sounds like it was an all hands on deck call to arms..

Seriously overplayed their hand.

[BannonsLiver]

42. Cut the crap

Tulsi, the Obama hater, is afraid to debate her opponent.

[Gothmog]

39. Why is Tulsi refusing to debate?

[Jamaal510]

47. K&R

[yortsed snacilbuper]

50. k$r

[murielm99]

53. A subversive form of censorship...

What a great description!

K&R

[Hekate]

54. Kicking this. I hope Sherry Al Campagna makes it to Congress. nt

[Cha]

69. It would be one of the best

little miracles for District 2 Hawaii

Mahalo, Hekate

[betsuni]

55. Moar and moar debates used to be good, now even one is a waste of time. 'Kay.

That's sort of ... ahem ... elitist.

[Cha]

57. Yeah, MOAR Debates used to be BETTER when they

were demanded for someone else. ahem..

But when it comes to tulsi gabbard she won't even give her Primary Opponent Sherry Campagna ONE DEBATE.

It's very "elitist".. the very Definition of ELITE.

Excellent observation.. Mahalo, betsuni!

[AlexSFCA]

58. cant wait for her to be primaried

she is only dem cause gop is not competitive in that district. She is very dim.

[RandySF]

59. She's being primaried now

https://www.sherryforhawaii.com

[George II]

60. Why would a candidate NOT participate in a debate? What is she afraid of?

[Cha]

61. tulsi gabbard obviously has no confidence

in her ability to debate. It's reported that she never would debate her opponents. She sure got on fox sux a lot and complained about President Obama.. which they liked.

This time she has a serious challenger in Sherry Campagna who has been endorsed by the Hawaii Teachers' Union.

One reason they're endorsing Sherry is because they don't like that tulsi gabbard supports Assad in Syria.

I hope Sherry and the Teachers' Union can get the word out about tulsi Not willing to Debate her.

And, gabbard is the one who demanded others Debate More.. not too hypocritical or anything.

Mahalo, George!

[George II]

64. I don't know if it's a matter of her ability to debate or she doesn't want to be confronted....

...with some highly questionable policy positions.

[Cha]

66. Right! I say both..

she doesn't have the ability to bullshit her way through all her bullshit up there on the stage with the whole state watching as Sherry Confronts her

It's Hawaii.. we don't fall for rightwing gish galloping.. and since she Never would debate in all 6 years.. there must be something in her past she didn't want brought up, either.

[RhodeIslandOne]

62. I wonder if the people who attacked Joe Crowley are good with this?

[kcr]

74. And he did debate Ocasio-Cortez

Those attacks were, as usual, BS, just like the claim he's running a 3rd party campaign. And of course it's crickets here.

[ehrnst]

67. k&r

[Cha]

70. Mahalo, ehrnst!

[brer cat]

68. K&R

[Cha]

72. Thank You, brer cat!

[Mosby]

71. KnR

[Cha]

73. Founder of Women's March Endorses @SherryForHawaii for Congress

Link to tweet

[SidDithers]

75. Kick...nt

Sid

[oasis]

76. You can run, but you can't hide from the people.

Tulsi needs to go.

[lunasun]

77. K&R

[Gothmog]

78. From my twitter feed

Link to tweet