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Celerity

(43,469 posts)
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 05:19 AM Mar 2022

Tulsi Gabbard says US 'not so different' from Russia on free speech

Former Hawaii congresswoman defended spreading Kremlin-backed conspiracy

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tulsi-babbard-russia-biden-speech-b2037274.html

Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, has claimed that Russia and the United States are “not so different” when it comes to freedom of expression.

Speaking with Fox News’ Jesse Watters, Ms Gabbard said the situation in the US was “not that different from what we’re seeing happening in Russia”, where news is state-controlled and challenging authority will likely lead to imprisonment, if not death.

“This is what’s so dangerous about the place that we’re in right now as a country,” said Ms Gabbard of the US, where the news is not controlled by the government, on Tuesday. “Freedom of expression is directly under threat and under attack.”

“And you’re right. It’s not so different,” she continued, without any apparent irony. “What’s happening here is not that different from what we’re seeing happening in Russia, where you’ve got state TV and controlled messaging across the board. This is where we’re at.”

snip

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Tulsi Gabbard says US 'not so different' from Russia on free speech (Original Post) Celerity Mar 2022 OP
What's gotten into her? COL Mustard Mar 2022 #1
yes, she has snapped it would seem (or her actual true colours all along are coming out) Celerity Mar 2022 #2
She's ridiculous Dorian Gray Mar 2022 #15
If we weren't different, she would be in jail now. nt Samrob Mar 2022 #78
She is a russian asset.... FarPoint Mar 2022 #11
That's a bunch of horseshit. You can't just call someone a Russian asset. Calista241 Mar 2022 #46
Agreed AntivaxHunters Mar 2022 #48
I think she's a Russian asset. hamsterjill Mar 2022 #68
May be confusing Russian ASSET with AGENT. Hortensis Mar 2022 #72
Others disagree edhopper Mar 2022 #50
She was apologizing for Assad Dorian Gray Mar 2022 #14
Her uncensored political rant is complaining about political censorship in America? 🤔 TheBlackAdder Mar 2022 #61
Pretty much Dorian Gray Mar 2022 #66
I think she's been compromiZed and is a Russian asset.. Kittycatkat Mar 2022 #21
She's been compromiZed and is a Russian cutout. Kittycatkat Mar 2022 #22
When was she reasonable? She's been saying this for years. yardwork Mar 2022 #28
She was always a Troll . She made have said some reasonable things to win in an liberal area JI7 Mar 2022 #35
She grew up in a cult. viva la Mar 2022 #40
If she had been reasonable it was ages ago. LiberalFighter Mar 2022 #63
She was always like that tenderfoot Mar 2022 #64
She is a Green... Demsrule86 Mar 2022 #75
what the eff is she talking about? eShirl Mar 2022 #3
It's the "Liberals are the real fascists" narrative. maxsolomon Mar 2022 #74
She needs to BlueMTexpat Mar 2022 #4
Putin infiltrated the US govt at the highest levels. Irish_Dem Mar 2022 #5
I mean Dorian Gray Mar 2022 #16
He bought half of US congress, sitting president, US media. Irish_Dem Mar 2022 #25
I was being snarky about her Dorian Gray Mar 2022 #65
Yep. She is indeed the lowest of the low. Irish_Dem Mar 2022 #70
Just like FarPoint Mar 2022 #49
United States three star general is a high level asset. Irish_Dem Mar 2022 #51
Yes he did.... FarPoint Mar 2022 #53
Oh yes, I agree. Thousands of assets were cultivated for decades. Irish_Dem Mar 2022 #59
How may times have you been arrested, Tulsi, for what you just said? ProudMNDemocrat Mar 2022 #6
This is a Big Lie aimed at the oh-so-oppressed Faux Noise believers. Eugene Mar 2022 #7
MAGAts claim the absolute right to criminality IF said criminality is in alignment w/ their desires Celerity Mar 2022 #8
Yet she was rewarded with the "progressive" label while betsuni Mar 2022 #9
Why even post anything from her? FarPoint Mar 2022 #10
So how is it that sounds keep coming out of her face hole? alphafemale Mar 2022 #12
Gah Dorian Gray Mar 2022 #13
At least I can say Dirty Socialist Mar 2022 #17
She reveals her loyalties. The Wizard Mar 2022 #18
Well, she's right about one thing genxlib Mar 2022 #19
I remember her...kinda......😨 634-5789 Mar 2022 #20
Drama aside she makes a good point. twodogsbarking Mar 2022 #23
What point? betsuni Mar 2022 #24
Our media is controlled by a few that may not have our best interests at heart. twodogsbarking Mar 2022 #26
That's not what she said. yardwork Mar 2022 #30
It was not my intent to repeat what she said. twodogsbarking Mar 2022 #38
Oh. I thought you were saying that was Tulsi's "good point." yardwork Mar 2022 #71
That was not her point. jcgoldie Mar 2022 #56
She is not wrong Cosmocat Mar 2022 #27
So when is she immigrating to Russia? IronLionZion Mar 2022 #29
The fact that she made this statement on FOX says all you need to know Mr. Ected Mar 2022 #31
They've got their MTG, we've got our Gabbard. It should be that mis-informants are evenly split. jaxexpat Mar 2022 #32
The choice is stark, and Tulsi Gabbard is siding with evil. dalton99a Mar 2022 #33
Can't Congress pass a law that says Gabbard isn't allowed to speak? n/t Whiskeytide Mar 2022 #34
So many traitors in our midst. spanone Mar 2022 #36
IKR? BootinUp Mar 2022 #39
I think they're willing to trade their 'love of country' for their hate of democrats. spanone Mar 2022 #41
She's fucking sick in the head dalton99a Mar 2022 #45
What is she talking about? We don't have an Alexander Litvinenko. ck4829 Mar 2022 #37
The fact that she has not been "disappeared" for saying this GoCubsGo Mar 2022 #42
Right! jcgoldie Mar 2022 #43
She's not a Dem running for office anymore, right? Iggo Mar 2022 #44
Gabbard is an example of the circular nature of political thought. mn9driver Mar 2022 #47
It's this either/or thing that's truly baffling ck4829 Mar 2022 #54
But was Gabbard really "far left"? muriel_volestrangler Mar 2022 #62
I agree AZProgressive Mar 2022 #69
Blows my mind their inability to grasp the simple concept they are free to spew stupid. I am free LizBeth Mar 2022 #52
It's true. Republicans are controlling the MSM narrative. The poorer people are the more exposed. live love laugh Mar 2022 #55
If we were really like Russia, she would be in jail, or worse... Wounded Bear Mar 2022 #57
Yep. Call me when Alex Jones falls out of a window. ck4829 Mar 2022 #58
Exactly. The fact she is saying this on America's No. 1 News Channel disproves her contention. Midnight Writer Mar 2022 #60
She's no longer hiding behind the facade Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Mar 2022 #67
If she likes Russia so much, why doesn't she go live there? Emrys Mar 2022 #73
Post removed Post removed Mar 2022 #76
Got a link on that quote? Kingofalldems Mar 2022 #77

COL Mustard

(5,914 posts)
1. What's gotten into her?
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 05:21 AM
Mar 2022

I always thought she was pretty reasonable but it seems like she’s going off the deep end in the cuckoo pool.

Celerity

(43,469 posts)
2. yes, she has snapped it would seem (or her actual true colours all along are coming out)
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 05:26 AM
Mar 2022

The US has an amazing amount of flaws (as do all nation states), but to even remotely compare it to Russia in terms of freedom of speech is insane.

Dorian Gray

(13,498 posts)
15. She's ridiculous
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 06:58 AM
Mar 2022

and this article being shared and spread in the USA gives lie to her stupid ass assertion.

FarPoint

(12,425 posts)
11. She is a russian asset....
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 06:29 AM
Mar 2022

good at her job....nothing has gotten into her or changed....deception has been her mission all along.

Calista241

(5,586 posts)
46. That's a bunch of horseshit. You can't just call someone a Russian asset.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 10:17 AM
Mar 2022

She didn't run as a 3rd party candidate in 2020, and many calling her a 'Russian Asset' feared she would. And she was capable of doing so. Joe Rogan LOVED her, before he ultimately endorsed Bernie Sanders, and his endorsement alone would have garnered her more votes than any of the 3rd party candidates in 2016.

She was a Lt. Colonel in the Army, and THEN she went on to Congress. She had a TS Security Clearance from her time in the military. She served 4 terms there on the Homeland Security and Armed Services committee. If she was a spy for the Russians (or anyone else), there's no way they'd let her voluntarily leave those committees. Not for some longshot, hail mary attempt at the Presidency. No chance, zilch, nada, zip.

is she a little crazy now, probably, but so are a shitton of people. We fucking elected Donald fucking Trump of all people, and she's way less crazy than that motherfucker. But she's definitely not a Russian asset.

If she was a Russian asset, she's gone from their best asset of all time, to being a worthless periodic rando news show guest. That's like giving someone a 24kt solid gold bar worth $50k in exchange for 5 quarters because you want a coke out of coke machine.

 

AntivaxHunters

(3,234 posts)
48. Agreed
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 10:24 AM
Mar 2022

Can we please stop the talking points & BS Liberal version of Alex Jones already? She's awful but just throwing around things is what the far right does. There's absolutely no evidence that Tulsi is a "Russian spy" and I think Pelosi pretty much knows this given her committee assignments she was assigned to. People need to have some faith in our Dem Party leadership....

hamsterjill

(15,223 posts)
68. I think she's a Russian asset.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 03:21 PM
Mar 2022

I can call her whatever I want.

That’s the difference between free speech in America and Russia.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
72. May be confusing Russian ASSET with AGENT.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 04:01 PM
Mar 2022

1. If Gabbard were a DU poster saying the same thing, she'd be what Russian intelligence has long considered a "USEFUL IDIOT."



2. If she WORKED FOR RUSSIA, one of them, she'd be a Russian AGENT. Like Rosa Klebb or Maria Butina.



3. ASSETS are those whose behaviors are of special benefit to Russia. If she or someone else ran as a political candidate and used national attention to badmouth and splinter away support for Democrats, enabling Russia's choice to take power, that person would definitely be a really good ASSET to Russia. Assets only have to be helpful; they don't have to agree to be. They can be totally free and self directed or they can be compromised and coerced, knowing or completely clueless, rewarded or ruined.

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Gabbard's history is probably too well documented for her to have become an agent at some point in her past. As a national figure, once presidential candidate ( ) she was too helpful to just be a useful idiot. That leaves asset, and the millions of useful idiots who can always/usually be fooled (because they want to be) pretty much guarantee that public figures who behave like her can, and will, be put to good use by Russia.

Dorian Gray

(13,498 posts)
14. She was apologizing for Assad
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 06:57 AM
Mar 2022

during the syria years, so she's seemed to be one ring beyond fruit loop for awhile.

JI7

(89,260 posts)
35. She was always a Troll . She made have said some reasonable things to win in an liberal area
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 08:43 AM
Mar 2022

but she was anti gay anti choice and claimed to have changed but her final days in congress were trying to take away abortion rights and lgbtq rights.

viva la

(3,315 posts)
40. She grew up in a cult.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 10:01 AM
Mar 2022

I don't think she's ever had a coherent political belief system. And she was easily co-opted by the Putin crowd.

maxsolomon

(33,360 posts)
74. It's the "Liberals are the real fascists" narrative.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 05:57 PM
Mar 2022

Liberals are suppressing Free Speech, Liberals are cancelling people who say things they don't like, Liberals are "woke", Liberals let BLM force children in to CRT indoctrination, private corporations are censoring brave Patriots like DJT, MTG, Bobert, etc.

It's a consistent grievance of the right since the Right decided to start spouting crazy shit 24/7 and tried to overthrow Democracy.

Irish_Dem

(47,226 posts)
5. Putin infiltrated the US govt at the highest levels.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 05:41 AM
Mar 2022

She is another Russian agent.

No wonder Putin has been so emboldened.

Irish_Dem

(47,226 posts)
25. He bought half of US congress, sitting president, US media.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 08:01 AM
Mar 2022

I consider anyone in the US congress a high ranking official and she was once there.

But right she was not a US president or senator.

Dorian Gray

(13,498 posts)
65. I was being snarky about her
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 03:17 PM
Mar 2022

because she stinks. But yeah, it appears that there are a lot of people willing to sell out their country and their dignity for a few russian rubles.

Irish_Dem

(47,226 posts)
51. United States three star general is a high level asset.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 10:27 AM
Mar 2022

Putin bought quite a few puppets here in the US.

FarPoint

(12,425 posts)
53. Yes he did....
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 10:45 AM
Mar 2022

Many more than we are as public citizens are aware...My guess...thousands at various levels. Let us not forget the mouth pieces for Putin on Foxx News Propaganda, Newsmax etc....

Irish_Dem

(47,226 posts)
59. Oh yes, I agree. Thousands of assets were cultivated for decades.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 12:53 PM
Mar 2022

Some worked out, some didn't.

But enough were successful in dividing and weakening the US. As Putin has said, the US was very easily manipulated.

I think Putin and Xi however greatly underestimated Joe Biden.

ProudMNDemocrat

(16,786 posts)
6. How may times have you been arrested, Tulsi, for what you just said?
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 05:44 AM
Mar 2022

What a dunderhead.

In Russia, she would have never been heard of again. Perhaps she should defect and move to Russia then if she is so unhappy in America.

Eugene

(61,937 posts)
7. This is a Big Lie aimed at the oh-so-oppressed Faux Noise believers.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 05:45 AM
Mar 2022

It makes sense if you see the "stolen election" and prosecution the January 6 putsch as an infringements on your freedom.

Celerity

(43,469 posts)
8. MAGAts claim the absolute right to criminality IF said criminality is in alignment w/ their desires
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 06:01 AM
Mar 2022

If you deny them the criminal act or prosecute them for it, they scream that THEY are the aggrieved victims.

It is a dangerous AF form of thinking. It will lead to the annihilation of the rule of law.

betsuni

(25,583 posts)
9. Yet she was rewarded with the "progressive" label while
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 06:03 AM
Mar 2022

regular Democrats were called corrupt (campaign contributions makes one beholden to corporations and wealthy donors for mysterious vague conspiracy theory reasons), warmongers, establishment, elites who hate the working class, neoliberals with the same economic policies as Republicans, crooked (teh primaries are rigged!), evil and all sorts of bullshit. Hope all those assholes are happy.

FarPoint

(12,425 posts)
10. Why even post anything from her?
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 06:28 AM
Mar 2022

Pure and simple...she is a russian asset of Putin......it is known.

 

alphafemale

(18,497 posts)
12. So how is it that sounds keep coming out of her face hole?
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 06:34 AM
Mar 2022

Consequences for saying idiotic things is not a loss of freedom.

The Wizard

(12,546 posts)
18. She reveals her loyalties.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 07:34 AM
Mar 2022

Her Russian allegiance is out in the open. Many suspected her of being a Putin sympathizer when she was in Congress undermining Democrats. Her pension should be revoked for treason. Make her defend treason.

twodogsbarking

(9,784 posts)
26. Our media is controlled by a few that may not have our best interests at heart.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 08:02 AM
Mar 2022

Even our government keeps news from us.

Cosmocat

(14,567 posts)
27. She is not wrong
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 08:03 AM
Mar 2022

cause the likes of her and the entirety of the "conservative movement" are driving this country in that direction more and more each day ...

IronLionZion

(45,494 posts)
29. So when is she immigrating to Russia?
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 08:08 AM
Mar 2022

Many Republicans can't tell the difference either so they should all move to Russia. White immigrants are called "expats" which is appropriate for people who are the opposite of patriots.

Mr. Ected

(9,670 posts)
31. The fact that she made this statement on FOX says all you need to know
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 08:11 AM
Mar 2022

A Russian asset speaking out on a compromised American television entertainment network about the similarities between the vacuum of Russian media and what the right wing portends for all of us.

Tulsi, we hardly knew ya, because your life is a lie.

jaxexpat

(6,841 posts)
32. They've got their MTG, we've got our Gabbard. It should be that mis-informants are evenly split.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 08:20 AM
Mar 2022

Except Gabbard's practically a pariah in her party while MTG is the "brand" in hers.

spanone

(135,857 posts)
41. I think they're willing to trade their 'love of country' for their hate of democrats.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 10:08 AM
Mar 2022

It is perplexing.

ck4829

(35,079 posts)
37. What is she talking about? We don't have an Alexander Litvinenko.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 08:49 AM
Mar 2022

And Alex Jones has yet to be pushed out of a window.

---

Now is she referring to the "suicideds" like Gary Webb (Who Tucker Carlson once defamed)? That would actually have some weight. And she was a Representative, she had access to levels of information and intel beyond a whole lot of other people, she should just say that government forces killed Gary Webb.

Link to that defamation:


GoCubsGo

(32,086 posts)
42. The fact that she has not been "disappeared" for saying this
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 10:11 AM
Mar 2022

is proof enough of how wrong she is. Nobody from the government is feeding her Polonium-laced tea, or poisoning her underpants with Novachuck. If you think it's so fucking dangerous here, Tulskyo Rose, you are free to leave.

mn9driver

(4,428 posts)
47. Gabbard is an example of the circular nature of political thought.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 10:22 AM
Mar 2022

If you go far enough to the left, you end up sounding like the far right.

I had a friend many years ago who was quite active in protesting against Vietnam, the Cold War, Nuclear Weapons and other things. Her outlook was solidly left. It still is, but at some point she slipped over the line and now she sounds an awful lot like Gabbard.

Her Facebook posts now read as if they were written by Putin himself, with the US as the perpetrator of all the terrible things in the world, including Ukraine. It’s strange and sad to see this.

ck4829

(35,079 posts)
54. It's this either/or thing that's truly baffling
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 11:23 AM
Mar 2022

The US has a sad and horrific history on many issues. And there are still a lot of issues going on to this day.

And you can criticize them, you should criticize them, you should call out racism from government and institutions, corruption, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, state-sanctioned violence, etc.

But then to take that, OK, and then say "Russia is NOT the US so therefore..." and turn it into this idyllic paradise, a land of milk and honey, when it's not. And there are plenty of otherwise high-functioning people who think do this and it's crazy.

muriel_volestrangler

(101,347 posts)
62. But was Gabbard really "far left"?
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 02:05 PM
Mar 2022

For instance, did she advocate the nationalization of industry? A maximum wage? Her only view on taxes picked out by Politico was 'eliminate offshore tax breaks": https://www.politico.com/2020-election/candidates-views-on-the-issues/tulsi-gabbard/

I don't think she went that far to the left.

AZProgressive

(29,322 posts)
69. I agree
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 03:24 PM
Mar 2022

Her health care plan was to the right of Warren & Sanders. She felt it wasn’t “American” to get rid of private insurance. Plus there is the transphobia and voting present on impeachment. Also her countless appearences on Fox News. This latest comment is for her right wing fans.

LizBeth

(9,952 posts)
52. Blows my mind their inability to grasp the simple concept they are free to spew stupid. I am free
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 10:35 AM
Mar 2022

to call out their stupid. Free speech is not the demand to be able to spew stupid and also a demand we all must lose our free speech and stay quiet.

ck4829

(35,079 posts)
58. Yep. Call me when Alex Jones falls out of a window.
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 12:25 PM
Mar 2022

For amusement, I did the math and I estimate a journalist dies in the US once every 4 fours and that was 1776 to now.

Russia? 6 a year, and that's only from it's great glorious refounding that made it better than Jesus in the eyes of the Qheads.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_journalists_killed_in_the_United_States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_journalists_killed_in_Russia

6 a year is a whole order higher than 1 every 4 years.

Tulsi really doesn't know what she is talking about here.

Emrys

(7,250 posts)
73. If she likes Russia so much, why doesn't she go live there?
Fri Mar 18, 2022, 04:14 PM
Mar 2022

Sorry, I'm relishing throwing back a line that was regularly chucked at we Western peaceniks when we were trying to do something about impending nuclear armageddon back in the 1980s.

I may not tire of doing this any time soon.

Response to Celerity (Original post)

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