Gabbard accuses Hirono, Democratic colleagues of religious bigotry

[RandySF]

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard took aim at Democratic colleagues, including U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, accusing them of religious bigotry in their questioning of Brian Buescher, a nominee to the U.S. District Court of Nebraska, in an opinion piece published by The Hill yesterday.

Such a schism in Hawaii’s Democratic congressional delegation is highly unusual. Hirono’s office wasn’t told of the piece before it ran. In a statement issued today, Hirono called Gabbard’s opinion misguided and suggested it was influenced by arguments advanced by “right-wing ideologues.”

“Senator Hirono, asks all judicial nominees – particularly those who have expressed very strong personal ideological views in conflict with Supreme Court precedent – if they can be fair. She asked Mr. Buescher, who has a clear record of anti-choice activism, whether or not he could separate his personal beliefs from decisions he would make if confirmed for a lifetime appointment on the federal bench,” said Will Dempster, a spokesman for Hirono, in a statement. “Over the past two years, the senator has been attacked by right wing ideologues for her examination of Donald Trump’s ideologically-driven nominees to the courts. It is unfortunate that Congresswoman Gabbard based her misguided opinion on the far-right wing manipulation of these straightforward questions.”

Gabbard’s opinion piece argues that for years “politicians have weaponized religion for their own selfish gain, fomenting bigotry, fears and suspicious based on the faith, religion or spiritual practices of their potential opponents.”



https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/01/09/breaking-news/gabbard-accuses-hirono-democratic-colleagues-of-religious-bigotry/

[dsc]

1. The Knights of Columbus is a far right anti gay group

and it is perfectly fair to ask nominees about membership in it.

[pnwmom]

4. Yes, as a Catholic I will say that K of C does NOT speak for the Church or Catholics in general.

And I also think the court has an imbalance, with 6/9 members being Catholic. Most of them were put there because of the R's view that they will automatically be an anti-choice vote.

[Cha]

9. Excellent question.. and I hope

verification of the answers will be forth coming.

[msongs]

3. gabbard has weaponiZed her views on glbt for her career gains nt

[50 Shades Of Blue]

5. Sending Gabbard to the cornfield!

[RockRaven]

6. How close was the runner up in her primary the last time around?

and/or can we recruit a challenger from her district with enough name recognition to have a chance?

She's an embarrassment, and behaving like what the Russian's call a "useful idiot." I'm all for the Democratic Party being a big tent, but let's not invite in propagandists and ass-clowns.

[apcalc]

7. Agree. Picking on Marie? Drop Gabbard like a hot potato.

[Cha]

10. Gabbard refuses to debate her primary

opponents in Hawaii.. so it wasn't close at all.

I'm hoping that changes since she'll have to debate on a national stage.

[msongs]

12. most recent opponent should try again with a better campaign. driving around

tulsi side of oahu several times for example did not see even one sign with the opponents name on it - sherry alu campagna a native hawaiian

gabbard refusing debates: https://theintercept.com/2018/08/03/tulsi-gabbard-primary-challengers-hawaii/

[jcgoldie]

8. The more I read the more I think the vetting that comes with running for president...

...is not going to do Gabbard any favors in her political career.

[Cha]

11. Who's gabbard calling "selfish"?! Sen Mazie

Hirono? Who's donating her salary to the Hawaiian Food Bank during the #trumpShutDown?

Reply from Mazie's office via the WaPo..

Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard accuses fellow Democrats of 'religious bigotry' in questioning judicial nominee

Hirono’s office responded Wednesday that Gabbard was mischaracterizing her questioning of Buescher, and that the senator was voicing her concerns about the nominee’s past public statements rather than his religion.

“It is unfortunate that Congresswoman Gabbard based her misguided opinion on the far-right wing manipulation of these straightforward questions,” Hirono spokesman Will Dempster said in a statement.

He added that over the past two years, Hirono “has been attacked by right wing ideologues for her examination of Donald Trump’s ideologically-driven nominees to the courts.”

“Senator Hirono asks all judicial nominees — particularly those who have expressed very strong personal ideological views in conflict with Supreme Court precedent — if they can be fair,” Dempster said. “She asked Mr. Buescher, who has a clear record of anti-choice activism, whether he could separate his personal beliefs from decisions he would make if confirmed for a lifetime appointment on the federal bench.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/hawaii-rep-tulsi-gabbard-accuses-fellow-democrats-of-religious-bigotry-in-questioning-judicial-nominee/2019/01/09/2c17ecdc-1467-11e9-90a8-136fa44b80ba_story.html?utm_term=.97039859a6e2

Since I can only c/p 4 paragraphs these are the ones I chose.. if you want to read more.. please go to the link.

[yardwork]

13. I don't know what Gabbard's game is, but I don't like it.

[RandySF]

14. I think Gabbard somehow tied up with the Russians

The Intercept and Russia Today love her, Trump considered her for a Cabinet position and she’s been praised by David Duke and Richard Spencer. She’s also very supportive of a Hindu religious leader with a nasty human rights problem in India.

[yardwork]

15. I think so too. Her position on Syria promotes Putin's agenda.

[JI7]

21. she was pushing the DNC conspiracy BS which was pushed by wikileaks, russia ,right wingers etc. also

[disillusioned73]

32. Conspiracy?? She resigned FROM the DNC...

What conspiracy are you speaking of??

[obamanut2012]

16. I think I know what it is, but am not posting it

I've had my only hide ever because of a critical Gabbard post.

[2naSalit]

20. +1

[Cha]

18. Not very smart going after Sen Mazie Hirono

for "religious bigotry" and "selfishness" whatever her damn game is.

[BannonsLiver]

22. She's the chaos candidate

Her aim isn’t to win the nomination. I’ll leave it to your imagination as to who would fund that and who would benefit most.

[obamanut2012]

25. +1

[Cha]

27. I think you're right. Btw, I read Gabbard's

name wasn't on the list of Democrats who Condemned the Steve Bannon appointment.

Democrats condemn Bannon appointment

https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/democrats-bannon-trump-strategist-231315

she's never been vetted before.

Her work on behalf of Assad is not the only foreign connection that could get in the way of Gabbard’s higher political ambitions. Gabbard is the first Hindu member of Congress, and she has ties to American Hindus who support nationalist causes in India.

The fault lines between Gabbard and most of her party began to emerge years ago. In 2015, she was among a minority contingent of Democrats who joined a Republican bill to restrict refugees coming to the United States from Syria and Iraq. She embraced the term “radical Islam” and, alongside Republicans, attacked President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for not using it, even though many see it way to demonize Muslims.

After the 2016 election, Gabbard met with President-elect Trump, who was reportedly considering her for several administration posts. The two aligned on some key foreign policy goals. Gabbard said at the time that she used the meeting to discuss her legislation to end what she described as “our country’s illegal war to overthrow the Syrian government.” Her name was missing from a letter from 169 House Democrats around that time condemning Steve Bannon’s White House appointment.

Now that she’s running for president, it will be impossible for Gabbard to avoid questions about her foreign policy record, in interviews and on debate stages later this year—a forum she has avoided for the past four years by declining to debate primary challengers running against her in Hawaii who wanted to confront her over her foreign policy agenda.

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/01/tulsi-gabbard-is-running-for-president-can-she-shake-her-ties-to-dictators-and-nationalists/

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211666552

[BannonsLiver]

29. One of the things I love about your posts

Is that they are always backed by facts and documentation.

[Cha]

30. Mahalo, BL..

[Baltimike]

17. Jimmy cracked corn. nt

[DFW]

19. Gabbard is making ill-advised, awkward moves early in her campaign

The really stupid, highly divisive and offensive ones come later on.

[DFW]

23. If Gabbard thinks the path to the nomination lies with attacking fellow Hawaii Democrats

She might as well spare herself the time, effort, and money. That’s one campaign that won’t even get as high off the ground as the proverbial lead balloon.

[ananda]

24. Here's the thing. I like Hirono.

I'll keep my comments on Gabbard to myself.

[democratisphere]

26. Democrats need to unite behind one person that does not have issues

and represents the ideas and values of the Democratic Party.

[SidDithers]

28. Why should learned religious beliefs be any less scrutinized than learned political beliefs?...nt

Sid

[Gothmog]

31. I trust Senator Hirono compared to Gabbard