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Renew Deal

(81,860 posts)
Mon Nov 21, 2016, 11:07 AM Nov 2016

Why didnt Tulsi Gabbard join 169 of her colleagues in denouncing Trump appointee Stephen Bannon?

Though Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is a rising star within the Democratic Party, ultimately endorsed Hillary Clinton for president (after first endorsing Bernie Sanders, of course) and easily won reelection this year, she’s been ominously quiet on the issue of President-elect Donald Trump’s appalling appointees and nominations. Most notably, her signature did NOT appear with 169 of her colleagues in the House of Representatives on a Nov. 16 letter to Trump denouncing his nomination of notorious white nationalist Stephen Bannon to be his “chief strategist” (this Mother Jones profile explains in nauseating detail how Bannon has long championed white supremacists).

“Since the election there have been a number of incidents across the country in which minorities, including Muslim Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Jewish Americans, have been the targets of violence, harassment and intimidation,” states the letter. “Mr. Bannon’s appointment sends the wrong message to people who have engaged in those types of activities, indicating that they will not only be tolerated, but endorsed by your Administration. Millions of Americans have expressed fear and concern about how they will be treated by the Trump Administration and your appointment of Mr. Bannon only exacerbates and validates their concerns.”

That Gabbard wouldn’t sign such a letter is remarkable (though Democrat Colleen Hanabusa just took office to replace the late Mark Takai as 1st District Representative, she signed the letter, according to this printed list of all the signees compiled by The Boston Globe). Though Gabbard’s view on Bannon’s appointment isn’t publicly known, what is known is that Bannon seems to like Gabbard. In fact, according to this Nov. 15 article in The Hill, Bannon is a “big fan” of Gabbard.
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http://mauitime.com/news/politics/why-didnt-rep-tulsi-gabbard-join-169-of-her-colleagues-in-denouncing-trump-appointee-stephen-bannon/

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Why didnt Tulsi Gabbard join 169 of her colleagues in denouncing Trump appointee Stephen Bannon? (Original Post) Renew Deal Nov 2016 OP
Apparently she is meeting with Trump today - DURHAM D Nov 2016 #1
her anti-Muslim past has never left her so I am sure she is more than willing to still_one Nov 2016 #3
Ouch, that's harsh. I don't much about here except she comes from a diverse state Bucky Nov 2016 #11
Here is an article: JTFrog Nov 2016 #12
Thanks. Reading it now Bucky Nov 2016 #14
She was a darling of the fox news hosts slamming President Obama for not equating still_one Nov 2016 #15
And she's meeting with him? cilla4progress Nov 2016 #2
"Ethical?" Good joke. Gabbard cozied up to conservative billionaire Hortensis Nov 2016 #5
I think 2naSalit Nov 2016 #9
If she's an "infiltraitor" as you say, then her not signing makes no sense. Bucky Nov 2016 #13
She's been "coming out" as her real self for some time. Hortensis Nov 2016 #17
CNN says considered for jobs at Defense, State, and UN. Hortensis Nov 2016 #19
Here is a huffington post article the talks about what you just said and more still_one Nov 2016 #16
Anything for a job interview at Trump Palace. (nt) Paladin Nov 2016 #4
And some people wanted her as Sanders VP, and even wated her to run for president some day! lunamagica Nov 2016 #6
Wasn't she also mentioned for chair of the DNC? femmocrat Nov 2016 #7
Yes, she was! lunamagica Nov 2016 #8
Who didn't see this MFM008 Nov 2016 #10
Weird Nevernose Nov 2016 #18
tulsi is an islamaphobe. i literally don't understand the left's love for her. La Lioness Priyanka Nov 2016 #20
I believe her name was mentioned today on msnbc flamingdem Nov 2016 #21

still_one

(92,204 posts)
3. her anti-Muslim past has never left her so I am sure she is more than willing to
Mon Nov 21, 2016, 11:21 AM
Nov 2016

embrace this group of bigots and racists


Bucky

(54,013 posts)
11. Ouch, that's harsh. I don't much about here except she comes from a diverse state
Mon Nov 21, 2016, 01:16 PM
Nov 2016

Can you elaborate on her "anti-Muslim past"?

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
5. "Ethical?" Good joke. Gabbard cozied up to conservative billionaire
Mon Nov 21, 2016, 11:33 AM
Nov 2016

Sheldon Adelson some time ago, and Adelson supports Trump. My guess is Adelson's background patronage of Gabbard, whose reelection campaign in her Democratic district meant she had to keep her mouth shut, is the reason she's being received by King Trump in his tower. If she finally "comes out" and joins hard-right petitioners seeking a share of the government spoils, it'll at least be good for her district.

Bucky

(54,013 posts)
13. If she's an "infiltraitor" as you say, then her not signing makes no sense.
Mon Nov 21, 2016, 01:28 PM
Nov 2016

Isn't hiding your intentions the whole point of being a mole?

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
17. She's been "coming out" as her real self for some time.
Mon Nov 21, 2016, 02:05 PM
Nov 2016

(Too bad more of her constituents don't read the news or they'd be very aware of it.) She was presumably keeping her head down during her reelection campaign--careful to avoid anything offensive on the evening news, while Adelson made her excuses with the Trump campaign.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
19. CNN says considered for jobs at Defense, State, and UN.
Mon Nov 21, 2016, 02:20 PM
Nov 2016

"Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is meeting with President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team Monday for a possible top job in the new administration, a source said.

Gabbard, who backed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary, is being considered for jobs at the Defense Department, State Department and the United Nations, the source said."

Although she may well be conservative, she's not an auto-pigeonhole and could well be part of the alt-right's left-wing counterpart, the "alt-left." Both have a lot more in common with each other than with the people they despise in the mainstream.

Nevernose

(13,081 posts)
18. Weird
Mon Nov 21, 2016, 02:14 PM
Nov 2016

I guess no one's 100% progressive on anything, but the links above look pretty bad. It would be be thing if she differed on tax policy, but bigotry? What an asshole.

flamingdem

(39,313 posts)
21. I believe her name was mentioned today on msnbc
Mon Nov 21, 2016, 02:37 PM
Nov 2016

related to possibly taking a position or working with Trump in some way. Didn't exactly hear it but it made me cringe.

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