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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTulsi Gabbard won't debate Democratic opponent, sparking accusations of hypocrisy
This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by berniesandersmittens (a host of the General Discussion forum).
Tulsi Gabbard's defense of Vladimir Putin as well as her denial that Syria's Assad killed his people with chemical weapons are thought to be reasons why Gabbard won't debate (so as to avoid tough questions).
Ms. Gabbard called for more debates between Hillary Clinton and her favorite Bernie Sanders in 2016:
from The Guardian yesterday:
It is not uncommon for dominant incumbents to generally avoid debates. But Gabbards decision to decline to participate in such a forum has exposed her to charges of hypocrisy, since she forcefully advocated for adding more debates between Clinton and Sanders in 2016 in a high-profile split from other DNC leaders.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/10/tulsi-gabbard-how-a-progressive-rising-star-is-a-paradox-for-the-left
JCanete
(5,272 posts)she only stands to lose ground and is already winning...
And yes, I'm comfortable saying this looks like hypocrisy and she should be hammered for it.
George II
(67,782 posts)Gothmog
(176,683 posts)msongs
(73,227 posts)R B Garr
(17,965 posts)over more debates for Hillary is truly hypocritical considering her current dodges. Debates for thee, but not for me.
Response to msongs (Reply #2)
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Cha
(317,701 posts)she was more than willing to debate gabbard.
Response to Cha (Reply #78)
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Bernardo de La Paz
(60,320 posts)Response to Bernardo de La Paz (Reply #83)
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Bernardo de La Paz
(60,320 posts)http://persephonemagazine.com/2013/01/can-we-please-stop-using-the-term-butthurt/
Can We Please Stop Using the Term Butthurt?
One word that is particularly common on the internets is butthurt, typically used sarcastically or to ridicule someone who is whining about something they dont like. I mentioned my distaste for the word to a friend of mine earlier this week. I had no idea that the word even meant that, she said. Her first thought was that it was some rape joke, and she found it to be rather confusing in the context. She had to look it up in order to discern its common meaning. But her first thought was right. It cant be separated from that meaning, and thats my problem.
Just think about it. The term implies less of pain in the ass, I sat on something unpleasant and something far more sexist and homophobic. This is mostly because of the context the word is typically used in. Sandra is in a bad mood because Hugo took her parking spot? Shes just butthurt. Mike wont stop complaining that his bro beat him playing video games? Butthurt. Essentially, the term is used when someone is upset that someone else has gotten the better or them or beaten them or bested them in some way. That is to say, they dominated them. You know, like when someone is raped. This just isnt funny. Not only is the term sexist, because it hinges on domination and anal rape, which is primarily a male device, but it is also homophobic. Im pretty sure that gay men dont think the threat of anal rape is hilarious, and Im also pretty sure they dont enjoy an act they enjoy once again being used as a display of cruelty, disgust, and derision.
The English language is so wide and varied that surely we can think up a word that doesnt have such awful connotations. No, its not the worst thing anyone can say. The thing is, danger lurks in seemingly harmless words like this. Words like this contribute to the ever-present rape culture that makes our society perilous for marginalized groups. So come on, I know youre creative. Cant we think of something better?
Cha
(317,701 posts)to Gloat for her on DU.
oasis
(53,432 posts)Cha
(317,701 posts)go Vote for Sherry Campagna!
Response to Cha (Reply #14)
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Cha
(317,701 posts)of all the gloating you're doing in her name.
Response to Cha (Reply #84)
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Response to oasis (Reply #3)
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Cha
(317,701 posts)oasis
(53,432 posts)The trolling poster is no way a Kamaaina.
We did our part Cha. Mahalo to you for your honest effort
Cha
(317,701 posts)thanks for the treat
Telling us all just how "butthurt" we were.. when that one needed to check herself.

Take care Cha. And thanks again for having my back.
Cha
(317,701 posts)oasis
(53,432 posts)Tulsi should be about the business of mending fences and establishing herself back into the good graces of the D.C. Democrats she will be working with. A landslide victory in 2018 doesn't mean she's "golden" in 2020.
Thanks for the update Cha
Cha
(317,701 posts)this isn't the only tweet on it. But I better not post anymore.
Mahalo, oasis:patriot.
Ccarmona
(1,180 posts)And shes always working for us. Ive met her and have been on Conference calls with her and were her number one priority.
I didnt agree with her meeting with Assad, but respect her decision to do so.
Where has she EVER defended Putin? Thats just a ridiculous, uninformed comment.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Like she did last time.
oasis
(53,432 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)And earned the respect of the voters over your tenure in office (as a Democrat).
oasis
(53,432 posts)her for his cabinet. What about her caused him to get that kind of an idea?
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)My only point was that she is liked by her constituents and will win re-election easily.
oasis
(53,432 posts)Alrighty then.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Apologies if I misunderstood what you were saying.
Can you elaborate on the point you were making when you asked the question about her and Trump?
oasis
(53,432 posts)Which one of them could be elected to congress as a Democrat? I'm curious as to why he would consider any Democrat.
Please note that I used a
at the end of that post.
But Trump often supposedly "considers" things that don't end up happening (and may not have even been considered).
Remember when he was going to make a deal with "Chuck and Nancy" on immigration?
oasis
(53,432 posts)to join the "team". C'mon now.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)What is it that makes questionable character and untrustworthiness so obvious to some and so irrelevant to others? Does it really only take chanting some capital-P progressive mantras? Would you really hire this woman to run your business, give Gabbard the passwords to your accounts?
Bernie Sanders sure wouldn't. She offered herself to him after attaining a national name by betraying her position on the DNC, but after taking a few pictures on the same stage he's kept her carefully outside his team. Endorse because she gets press but keep your mouth shut around her.
Btw, Trump's biggest donor is believed to influence Trump's foreign policy and has reportedly given $20M to elect house Republicans. If he's donating anything more than advice to Gabbard's reelection, he's doing it via dark money.
vsrazdem
(2,194 posts)Since she did not serve in the Trump administraiton I don't see the point of this comment.
oasis
(53,432 posts)That's to your point.
Try ask yourself why would Trump, who highly values loyalty, even consider a Democrat. Hell, he didn't give his pal Chris Christie a cabinet post.
vsrazdem
(2,194 posts)oasis
(53,432 posts)He gives Gabbard the honorable mention. Do you get it yet?
obamanut2012
(29,243 posts)OnDoutside
(20,862 posts)Donald Trumps unorthodox US presidential transition continued on Monday when he held talks with one of the most prominent supporters of leftwing Democrat Bernie Sanders.
The president-elects first meeting of the day at Trump Tower in New York was with Tulsi Gabbard, a Democratic maverick who endorsed the socialist Sanders during his unsuccessful primary battle with Hillary Clinton.
Over the past few days Trump has also held talks with Mitt Romney, who once branded him a phony but is now under consideration for possible secretary of state, Ted Cruz, whom he labelled Lyin Ted during the Republican primary campaign, and Democrat Michelle Rhee, the former schools chief of Washington, who is mooted as a possible education secretary.
SNIP
In October last year she tweeted: Al-Qaeda attacked us on 9/11 and must be defeated. Obama wont bomb them in Syria. Putin did. #neverforget911. She was then among 47 Democrats who joined Republicans to pass a bill mandating a stronger screening process for refugees from Iraq and Syria coming to the US.
Media reports have suggested that Trumps chief strategist Steve Bannon is an admirer of Gabbard. Last week, when 169 Democrats signed a letter condemning Bannons appointment by Trump for encouraging white nationalism, she was not among them.
Cha
(317,701 posts)trump is FACTS.. the accusation of "bashing" is Ludicrous.
Democrat Tulsi Gabbard Defends 'Frank and Positive' Trump Meeting
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/why-democratic-rep-tulsi-gabbard-met-donald-trump-n686976
After meeting, Gabbard vows to work with Trump
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/307071-after-trump-meeting-gabbard-says-we-cant-let-divisiveness-destroy-our
Cha
(317,701 posts)Union and all these endorsements.
https://www.sherryforhawaii.com/endorsements/
Your accusation of "bashing" because someone wants Gabbard to debate Sherry Campagna is ludicrous.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Being critical of her not wanting to debate is totally fair and reasonable.
Cha
(317,701 posts)https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/why-democratic-rep-tulsi-gabbard-met-donald-trump-n686976
After meeting, Gabbard vows to work with Trump
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/307071-after-trump-meeting-gabbard-says-we-cant-let-divisiveness-destroy-our
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)
Cha
(317,701 posts)suppose to cover it up.. according to that poster.
Speaks to poor judgment.. that and Assad.
Mahalo, Jackie
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Lots of Democrats have said they would work with Trump on various things.
Generally bringing up someone's "connections" to Trump is meant to malign the person.
Cha
(317,701 posts)OnDoutside
(20,862 posts)Facts are a terrible thing to try and walk away from.
Cha
(317,701 posts)FACTS.
OnDoutside
mcar
(45,812 posts)But an active participant.
Cha
(317,701 posts)probably going to win.. just counting on signs and name recognition.. the signs are all over the place.
It's like the freaking Twilight Zone!
mcar
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)Usually when someone talks about someone's connections with Trump, they are doing so to bash the person, but maybe that's not what is happening in this case.
oasis
(53,432 posts)debate that never happened.
(lurkers please note: The use of the phrase, "debate that never happened" should not be misconstrued as a "bash"
.
still_one
(98,883 posts)outrage quite eye-opening
Perhaps you only have problems when what you call bashing only occurs with those candidates you either support or that won't stir things up
Did you have a problem when Gabbard criticized Hillary for NOT having more debates? I don't recall that, and that someone points out her hypocrisy for not debating, and her bashing of other Democrats, crickets
The sword cuts at both ends.
Cha
(317,701 posts)Union..
HI-02: Hawaii Teachers Union Backs Gabbard Opponent For Congress
snip// From your link.. the whole article should be read!
Harsh Criticism For Gabbard
She was one of just three representatives, and the only Democrat who refused to condemn Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assads 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 unions endorsement of her challenge to U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in Hawaiis 2nd District Congressional race.
http://www.civilbeat.org/2018/05/hawaii-teachers-union-backs-gabbard-opponent-for-congress/
More Endorsements for Sherry!
https://www.sherryforhawaii.com/endorsements/
oberliner
(58,724 posts)When you only look at her education vote, shes fine, he said.
Rosenlee said the real sticking point was with Gabbards views on foreign policy.
That is kind of interesting.
In any case, Sherry Campagna seems great also.
Cha
(317,701 posts)the nerve to debate Sherry Campagna.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)May whoever wins the primary go on to defeat the Republican decisively!
George II
(67,782 posts)joshcryer
(62,536 posts)Crowley debated AOC and look where it got him.
Cha
(317,701 posts)who the Hawaii Teacher's Union Endorsed..
HI-02: Hawaii Teachers Union Backs Gabbard Opponent For Congress
snip// From your link.. the whole article should be read!
Harsh Criticism For Gabbard
She was one of just three representatives, and the only Democrat who refused to condemn Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assads 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 unions endorsement of her challenge to U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in Hawaiis 2nd District Congressional race.
http://www.civilbeat.org/2018/05/hawaii-teachers-union-backs-gabbard-opponent-for-congress/
oasis
(53,432 posts)Cha
(317,701 posts)oasis
(53,432 posts)Cha
(317,701 posts)world didn't compare to the gravitas of truth from Sherry Campagna!
Response to Cha (Reply #16)
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Cha
(317,701 posts)I want something better from my Rep.
obamanut2012
(29,243 posts)And, she has said horribly bigoted stuff, and has praised Putin while slamming Obama.
It is pretty bad you think she is A-OK.
Cha
(317,701 posts)Obama. fox loved gabbard.
Now what does she think of putin? Still think he's hot shit and Obama bad?
Me.
(35,454 posts)and look what happened to him
Edited to add:
At a congressional primary debate between Rep. Joseph Crowley and his Democratic challenger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, there was a notable absence: Crowley.
The debate, hosted by The Parkchester Times in the Bronx and moderated by reporter Robert Press, instead featured a surrogate on the part of Crowley. Debating Ocasio-Cortez in his place was former New York City Councilwoman Annabel Palma.
https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/news-politics/joe-crowley-sends-annabel-palma-to-debate-in-his-place
This is the second primary debate in which Mr. Crowley was a no-show. A spokeswoman for Mr. Crowley said he had scheduling conflicts that wouldnt allow him to attend the two debates, inevitably leaving voters to wonder what are we, chopped liver?
Indeed, the snubs should be galling not only to Ms. Ocasio-Cortez and Mr. Crowleys constituents in New Yorks 14th Congressional District, in Queens and the Bronx, but also to anyone who cares about the democratic process.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/19/opinion/joseph-crowley-alexandria-ocasio-cortez.html
oberliner
(58,724 posts)SkyDancer
(561 posts)their challengers. People deserve to have a real choice along with a free & fair election.
I fully support debates. This is democracy and debates are democratic.
Tom Rinaldo
(23,181 posts)OnDoutside
(20,862 posts)Dem representative could be defending Putin. How crazy is that ????
riversedge
(80,026 posts).......Although their prospects are grim, Gabbards critics say her views on foreign policy and tolerance for dictators such as Bashar al-Assad deserve another look.
As one of the few Democrats to meet with Donald Trump following his election, Gabbards unorthodox positioning has drawn scrutiny at a time when progressives have rallied their midterm messaging around opposition to the president. Her highly controversial visit last year to Syria, where she met with Assad, also raised eyebrows both nationally and at home.
The wake up call, for most of us, came when Gabbard met with Trump soon after his inauguration and then with Assad, instead of marching on DC with us and the rest of the Hawaiis congressional delegation during the Womens March in protest of what has become an unprecedented abolition of human and civil rights in America, said Sherry Alu Campagna, an environmental scientist who is among Gabbards most well-known primary challengers.
The wake up call, for most of us, came when Gabbard met with Trump soon after his inauguration
The incumbent clearly has an agenda that does not involve her constituents and we are waking up to the fact that our needs are taking a back seat to her ambitions.........................
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Cha
(317,701 posts)Devil Child
(2,728 posts)Cha
(317,701 posts)Union and all of these Endorsements.
Gabbard is too chicken to debate Sherry..
HI-02: Hawaii Teachers Union Backs Gabbard Opponent For Congress
She was one of just three representatives, and the only Democrat who refused to condemn Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assads 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

Sherry Campagna appears with HSTA members at a May 22 press conference announcing the unions endorsement of her challenge to U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in Hawaiis 2nd District Congressional race.
snip//
Campagna, a commissioner on the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women and the Hawaii state chair for the 2017 Womens March, said at the news conference she never wanted to be a politician.
And I clearly am not a politician, she said. I have always had a place in my heart for advocacy and activism, and I enjoy the freedom that came with that.
More..
http://www.civilbeat.org/2018/05/hawaii-teachers-union-backs-gabbard-opponent-for-congress/
More Endorsements for Sherry..
https://www.sherryforhawaii.com/endorsements/
George II
(67,782 posts)Gabbards enthusiasm for dictators was enough to help lead the Hawaii teachers union to endorse Sherry Campagna, Gabbards most prominent challenger. But Gabbard has refused to debate her opponents, preventing them from getting much traction, and is likely to win in a walk.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/8/11/17649744/hawaii-primary-elections-2018-live-results-david-ige-tulsi-gabbard
oberliner
(58,724 posts)The Democrats in her district, who know her best, chose her overwhelmingly.
Gothmog
(176,683 posts)Response to Gothmog (Reply #66)
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NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)And made the topic the Obama administration. That might get her engines revved up.
Cha
(317,701 posts)Just got back from voting for Sherry Campagna!
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Similar numbers to her victory in 2016.
Voltaire2
(15,377 posts)She crushed it in the primary.
Her district has spoken.
InAbLuEsTaTe
(25,516 posts)Squinch
(58,875 posts)and he's had quite a number of threads that rile the folks up and get them fighting.
I'm no fan of Tulsi, but John, your slip is showing.
Cha
(317,701 posts)Gabbard is my rep and I voted against for a lot of reasons.
I don't think her record should be swept under the rug. This was posted before the primary election.
Squinch
(58,875 posts)mastered the art, in a very short tenure here, of repeated posts that cause a lot of arguments on long standing lines of division here.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)As she faces off against her Republican challenger in November.


