DU Poll: Would Tulsi Gabbard be a good VP choice?

[thesquanderer]

I am aware of the negatives about Gabbard, and I won't be voting for her in the primary. But I am among those who was impressed with her debate performance, and I think she could possibly be an asset on the campaign trail. So here's the question...

Regardless of what you think about her positions (or allegiances or whatever other questions you have about her):

Assuming the goal is to put together a ticket that beats Trump, do you think Gabbard would be a good choice for VP?

96 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Yes
	7 (7%)
	No
	86 (90%)
	Yes if our candidate is male, but not if our top of ticket is female (at least based on the males and females currently available to lead the ticket)
	3 (3%)
	Yes for some candidates but not others (but not simply based on gender) - please add comment as to who you think she'd be a good or bad running mate for
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Seriously?

Yes, she handled herself pretty well, but she doesn't belong anywhere near the White House. Ann Coulter loves her, and that tells me all I need to know.

[saidsimplesimon]

76. Say no more, I agree.

[Claritie Pixie]

2. No. please do some research on her.

She is not who she pretends to be.

[tblue37]

8. Trojan horse. nt

[obamanut2012]

40. +1

[MontanaMama]

53. That's what Malcolm Nance says.

He's been sounding the alarm bells about Gabbard for at least a couple of years.

[Hekate]

85. We are in good company, then

[get the red out]

66. Absolutely!!!

[ificandream]

23. That's for sure...

She's a wolf in sheep's clothing.

[crazytown]

3. A good VP for President Putin perhaps :)

[still_one]

4. I think she would be better than Pence

[Wounded Bear]

18. Actually, you might be right...

[gldstwmn]

45. That's setting the bar pretty low.

[rzemanfl]

72. Our cat would be better than Pence. n/t

[still_one]

73. ++++++++++++++++++

[Gothmog]

5. NO

[exboyfil]

6. Amy Klobuchar

Others might work as well, but I think she gives the most balance.

[McKim]

7. Any Candidate that is Against War!!!

Any candidate who is against war has my support. She is right that wars of choice are draining our treasury while our people go without. We could have so many wonderful things without the wars!

[Claritie Pixie]

11. That's her hook, yes.

But please look closer. She's the darling of those who want to destroy the Democratic Party.

[Apple Fritter]

13. THIS.

She is so anti-war. If not VP OR president then at least a cabinet position.

[mahina]

80. We all have to be aware of just this decision making process.

If I agree on a really important point, she must be right about everything else important and hold my values.

We are wired to fill in the blanks cognitively it would just really have got to be aware of that. Right after the debate she went on Breitbart and was then was tweeted in support by Bill O’Reilly among others, lots of far right wingers. Be careful.

We know her very well here. She’s not what you think.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287170596

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. Even one whose fans include David Duke, Richard Spencer, Tucker Carlson

and Ann Coulter?

[qazplm135]

70. baloney

a candidate absolutely has control over who endorses them. When you do things that lead to Duke, Spencer and Bannon endorsing you and saying how much they love you and that you would fit into a Trump administration...which is what Bannon said explicitly...then maybe you should stop doing those things.

Those folks didn't endorse Sanders. Why? Because he isn't doing or saying or supporting things that they like or want to encourage or think would fit into a Trump administration.

She's anti-war. Apparently that's all some folks need to like her.

[ValidateThis]

30. She's not against war

any more than any of the other dem candidates.


She coddles brutal dictators and has a record as a homophobe and anti-Muslim bigot. When lefties say they like her I SMDH. Some of the same drooling idiots who voted for Stein seem to like her.

[obamanut2012]

42. She was vetted for a job in Trump's Admin

Yeah, no.

[happyaccident]

77. She's not against war, just regime change, she likes despots and dictators

Terrorists are open season and they are everywhere. The u.s. protects those dictators from whoever gets labeled a terrorist. There another recent thread today that shows what she's really about. She sucks bigtime, fuck her "charisma".

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. NEWP

[thesquanderer]

15. What is NEWP? (n/t)

[WhiskeyGrinder]

59. A fancy way of saying "no."

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. More reasons why not - and not just no, but hell, no.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/tulsi-gabbards-campaign-is-being-boosted-by-russophiles

Gabbard has also been one of the few prominent Democrats in the country to downplay the findings of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election. The report found no evidence of a conspiracy by the Trump campaign to support that meddling. But it did provide extensive details of that malicious influence campaign, and of the Trump administration's efforts to impede the special counsel’s investigation.

But while her House colleagues ramp up their own investigations, in part based on those findings, Gabbard has called for the country—and her party—to move on. “The conclusion that came from that Mueller report was that no collusion took place,” she told Fox News last month. “Now is the time for us to come together as a country to put the issues and the interests and the concerns that the American people have at the forefront, to take action to bring about real solutions for them."

...

Gabbard’s media strategy has also been counterintuitive for a national Democrat. She has made several appearances on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, which, while being one of the most popular platforms on that medium, is a haven for Trump-supporting guests. Gabbard also is among the few Democrats who has a captive audience on Fox News, owed largely to her willingness to criticize Barack Obama, as well as her party’s planks on both Russia and foreign policy in general. Tucker Carlson, a primetime host on that network, has publicly defended her.

Though she has not courted their support, some prominent figures in the white nationalist community have flocked in Gabbard’s direction. David Duke, the former KKK leader, has heaped praise on her. And on several occasions, Richard Spencer, the avowed white supremacist, has tweeted favorably about her, including once again this week.

[emmaverybo]

29. Thank you for this important info.

[oasis]

68. +1.very strong condemnation of Gabbard, and facts to back it up.

[jberryhill]

12. Gosh, Isn't Joe Lieberman Still Available?

[emmaverybo]

33. Lol. Traitorman?

[Shell_Seas]

14. The Drudge Report declared her the winner of last night's debate.....

That should tell you all you have to know.

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/450597-drudge-instant-poll-shows-tulsi-gabbard-winning-first-democratic-debate-in

[thesquanderer]

26. OTOH, appealing to non-Dems is part of what lets a ticket win the White House.

So while winning the Drudge audience is not something I'd like in our President, I don't necessarily see it as disqualifying for our VP.

Put another way: Would Gabbard on the ticket as VP increase our chances of winning purple states?

And winning more states tends to mean winning more house and senate seats on their coattails.

That's really the question. It's not about liking or disliking Gabbard, it's about how she impacts our odds of winning, and winning big. That's what makes it worth considering, for me.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

31. Yeah, but what if she doesn't appeal to actual Democrats?

Her fans include Tucker Carlson, David Duke and Richard Spencer, which will not endear her to anybody to the left of Darth Vader.

[thesquanderer]

36. No Dem is going to vote for Trump (or stay home) because Gabbard is on the ticket.

But I think some non-Dems who are on the fence could be persuaded to vote for our candidate if Gabbard is on the ticket.

For VP, we don't need someone Dems love, because virtually all Dems will be coming out and voting for our candidate regardless. We need someone to win over as many other folks as we can... a big role of the VP is broadening the ticket's appeal, not doubling down on a smaller portion of it. The fact that she has a lot of appeal outside the base is part of what she could bring to the ticket, as a positive not a negative.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

39. Fortunately she has no chance of being anywhere near the Dem ticket.

The only non-Dems who might vote for the ticket if she's on it would be the likes of Richard Spencer, David Duke and Ann Coulter, as well as Assad and Putin if they were citizens. I'm sure the other candidates know that and won't touch her with a ten-foot balalaika.

[MrsCoffee]

51. +1

[emmaverybo]

34. I don't see the qualifications, any particular skill-set, or ability to gain voters for ticket. NT

[obamanut2012]

43. lolololololololololol

[Progressive2020]

16. I Would Say No

I don't know too much about her, so no, at this moment. If we get a Progressive candidate (Warren?), maybe Gabbard could be in the Cabinet, Secretary of Defense. Still, I though that she was unnecessarily rude to Congressman Ryan. I am not sure about her, but maybe I will learn more about her as time goes on.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

20. See post #10 if you want to know why she doesn't belong within a country mile

of the WH or any cabinet office.

[Greg K]

19. nope

[Wounded Bear]

21. I'm not convinced she makes a good House Rep...

[thesquanderer]

44. VP probably has less power than a House Rep ;-)

...at least as long as the Pres is alive!

[ificandream]

22. She fooled me last night, but ...

Then I saw a few links that scared the hell out of me.

Like this one:

She won the Drudge poll after that debate?

[link:https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2019/06/26/watch-tulsi-gabbard-speaks-to-breitbart-news-in-debate-spin-room/

And this. ...

She was under consideration for a Trump cabinet post?

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/democratic-rep-tulsi-gabbard-consideration-trump-cabinet/story?id=43696303&fbclid=IwAR0riT-8L9qXUReV8_LsVjQZ-ARicbduFCVlpH-iQ0oPROW7h_O9jl_RFb4

No. No. No.

[poli-junkie]

24. Putin likes her. She's another Jill Stein.

[we can do it]

25. Oh hell NO.

[rurallib]

27. Which Party?

[ValidateThis]

28. Hell to the no on that

Only one or two of our candidates would make me ponder not even voting if they were the nominee in the general. She’s one.

She’s obviously Jill Stein 2.0, Putin approved to cause division and peel off the looniest elements of the wacko left college town crew. She’s no democrat. She’s a bigot through and through.

[Me.]

32. The Candiate who Gave An Interview To Breitbart After The Debate

and rec'd kudos from Coulter?

[mahina]

35. Please know that everything she said that resonated with you was carefully cultivated to do so,

Rather than springing from her thoughts and beliefs. She is a very skilled tactician and has been working since she ran for City Council to run for President.

She left every elected office before her term was out save for her House term.

She’s not a bad person, and I agree with her about some things. Be careful of assuming because you agree with her on some things that you see the world the same way or that she shares your values because I’d bet a lot that she does not.

[W_HAMILTON]

37. LOL

[MrsCoffee]

38. Not just no, but hell no.

You can't say "regardless of what you think about her positions" would she be a good choice for VP. It's exactly her positions that would make her a horrible choice for VP.


What are you basing your opinion on? What do you think would make her an asset? Why were you impressed?

[thesquanderer]

41. Answering your questions...

I think she was a strong communicator with a good presence, good anti-war platform, and at least generally reasonable on the rest. But as to why I think she could be an asset, more importantly than any of that, please see post #26 and Post #36.

[obamanut2012]

46. lololololol

[msongs]

48. she could be his staff director after he goes back to vermont post election nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

49. OK, I thought the OP was pretty funny, but this is even funnier.

Gabbard as Secretary of State? Nina Turner as Bernie's VP and David Sirota as his press secretary?

You're kidding, right?

Please tell me you're kidding.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

57. Stop pulling my leg.

[floppyboo]

52. I also think she would make a great SOS.

Sirota could always go back to investigative reporting. He would be great as press secretary.
I'd bet buckets of money if I could that he will pick Warren, if she doesn't end up winning.

[MrsCoffee]

58. You know what is disgusting?

Her comments about "homosexual extremists" and siding with Assad over Obama for starters. She defends Russia and Putin against our own intelligence community.

Not much chance of Bernie being on the ticket, so I'm not worried about her getting any cabinet position.

[MrsCoffee]

69. "I applaud her for not taking the word of the liars, cheaters and murderers in the intelligence"

agencies at face value." If by face value you mean overwhelming evidence.

And she apparently hasn't changed her personal views on abortion or homosexuality.

However, in a 2016 interview with the publication Ozy, Gabbard suggested that her personal beliefs on homosexuality actually haven’t changed:

It was, she says, the days in the Middle East that taught her the dangers of a theocratic government “imposing its will” on the people. (She tells me that, no, her personal views haven’t changed, but she doesn’t figure it’s her job to do as the Iraqis did and force her own beliefs on others.)

Her pro-Assad stance is there for all to see. Try google.

[thesquanderer]

61. re: "I like Nina Turner. I think she can really fire up the base"

I don't think we need to fire up the base. The base is as fired up as they need to be to come out to vote Trump out. What we need is someone to expand beyond the base. I don't think Nina Turner helps us get the "purple" vote.

[obamanut2012]

71. snort

[roscoeroscoe]

55. Can I please vote

F no?!

[stonecutter357]

56. ffs hell no !

[CanonRay]

63. No! She's this cycles Jill Stein

[redstatebluegirl]

74. You are kidding right?

[EndGOPPropaganda]

75. Only if you like people who help Breitbart and Fox

[BlueJac]

78. Un real poll???

[OilemFirchen]

79. She and de Blasio said all the right things last night.

Unfortunately, they share a character flaw:

They're both shameless fucking liars.

[thesquanderer]

82. Funny, those are the two who most beat my (admittedly low) expectations.

Though I'm still glad to say I think Warren won the night.

[OilemFirchen]

83. Not funny at all.

And I love twisted humor.

[Baltimike]

81. FUUUUUUUUUCK NO. nt

[Hekate]

84. Not just no, but hell no

[Alpeduez21]

86. Not only no but HELL no

[greatauntoftriplets]

87. When hell freezes over.

[TexasBushwhacker]

88. No, but as a veteran, she might be good to run the VA n/t

[Devil Child]

89. Yes n/t

[LiberalLovinLug]

90. She'd be great!

Trump threw the political landscape topsy turvy. There is no regular way to win anymore. We have to have a candidate, or VP, that appeals across lines. At least a toe in the water. And she speaks very well. Its a shame she is so falsely maligned in here. OMG she is okay with talking with bad rulers! Even if it prevents invasion and that cost. Spending money at home instead...shocking! Somehow that's the same as Trump selling the country out behind closed doors.
She is one of, if not the, most sincere candidates up there.

[thesquanderer]

91. I forgot I had posted this poll! In fact, I'm come to think more positively of her since then,

and I'm really surprised at the venom against her. I suspect that a bunch of it may be a result of how she aligned herself with Sanders rather than Clinton in 2016, and many here really hate Sanders, so she may be persona non grata by extension. I bet Sanders-2016 supporters generally think better of her than Hillary-2016 supporters. (Plus her positions are also closer to Bernie's than Hillary's.)

[LiberalLovinLug]

92. Me thinks you speak the truth

I think its a combination of that and a genuine bias in the MSM as well. She's treated as some kind of outsider, even though her only defining position is her aversion to wars of aggression. As an ex service person, and her experience in Iraq etc. Otherwise she is close to Warren and Sanders in her other positions.

I find it so baffling the fragility in here when a candidate speaks out against some aspect of party leadership or past alliances etc. Isn't this a party primary where if this is not the time and place for new ideas, and critiques of the status quo , then when is that time?