CBS: Gabbard says Harris hatched "political ploy" to "smear" Biden on race

[ucrdem]

Video at the link:
........................
BY CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ / JULY 8, 2019 / 5:00 PM / CBS NEWS

Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is accusing her Democratic presidential primary opponent Sen. Kamala Harris of staging a "political ploy" to smear former Vice President Joe Biden's reputation and his record on civil rights.

In an interview on CBSN's "Red & Blue" that streamed Monday, Gabbard said Harris has been "leveling this accusation that Joe Biden is a racist — when he's clearly not — as a way to try to smear him." She tweeted a similar sentiment earlier in the day.

(snip)

"Really what she's saying saying is her position is the same one she was criticizing Joe Biden for," she said. "So this is just a political ploy and I think a very underhanded one just to try get herself attention, to move herself up in the polls."

"I think we need to be above that," Gabbard added. "All of us."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tulsi-gabbard-says-kamala-harris-hatched-political-ploy-to-smear-joe-biden-on-race/
................

As a fellow female candidate, Gabbard is in a unique position to call out Harris on this, and so far is the only candidate who has. So props for showing some courage. And as a California Harris voter and constituent, I am also in a position to fully agree with what Gabbard has expressed on the matter. Harris needs to apologize and knock off the nonsense before she does more damage.

[JI7]

1. Gabbard is instigating and trying to cause problems in the Democratic Primary. Just as this issue is

dying down she gets into it. if you really support Biden you would look at her entire record and realize this isn't about defending Biden. if she really had a problem with it she could have said something when it happened but instead she was complaining about Elizabeth warren getting attention and claiming she was being ignored.

It's also an attempt to deal with her own anti gay record in case she is called out on it.

[ucrdem]

2. It isn't dying down. Every time I look at a TV sidewise I'm seeing a replay.

There's no way to put that genie back in the bottle. The best Harris could do is issue a full apology and drop out of the race. There's no way this feud will help us win zip. That's just my opinion of course but it's not hard to read the tea leaves. We've seen this movie too many times already.

[JI7]

9. Still what i said about Tulsi Gabbard is true. she is an opportunist here and it's about HERSELF

she has her own issues she needs to defend . and you are falling for it by promoting her bs.

[ucrdem]

10. She's a Democratic candidate and her picture is in the forum banner.

Frankly I don't know a lot about her but she's earned her right to speak out on this issue and she's the only one who is at the moment.

[JI7]

13. maybe you should learn about her

[ucrdem]

15. I didn't say I'm supporting her. But she's right on this issue and I appreciate her candor

and courage in speaking out.

[crazytown]

28. "Frankly I don't know a lot about her" ?

Oh c'mon, she's in, famous, staring with her resignation from the DNC in 2016.If you truly do not know much about Tulsi, then proudly and loudly wear the tag of 'willfully ignorant'.

[ucrdem]

31. I know she's a Democratic representative and that she earned a place in the last debate.

Yes there are rumors swirling about everyone but that's one swirl I never paid much heed to, sorry. She thought we should stay out of Syria. Well, so did Biden and so do I. She fought in Iraq. Okay she supported Bernie but I'm not going to hold it against her as lots of people do and did including Elizabeth Warren.

[crazytown]

33. She flew to Syria and met Assad,

was vetted for Trump's cabinet. As reported her, gave an interview to Breitbart after the debate. Are you sure you follow politics?

[ucrdem]

35. So did John Kerry.

Sorry I never bought the Assad-gassed-his-own-people charge and I don't see any reason he would do that or most of the other Dictator du Jour crimes he's accused of.

[crazytown]

36. Wow

[ucrdem]

37. Assad is beside the point. Gabbard is one of our candidates and has as much standing

to speak out on this matter as the rest of them. I'm glad she did and I wish the others would.

[JI7]

48. so Obama and Biden are wrong then ? John Kerry was Secretary of State .

[Prosper]

53. Forcing Biden to restate his accomplishments

should result in penalties to accusers and be denounced as frivolous .

[emmaverybo]

3. Gabbard is right about this. And I agree that whatever anyone thinks of Gabbard's own record,

she was courageous to call Harris out on her “political ploy.”

[ucrdem]

6. Thank you.

It's not the only issue in the video but it's an important one if we really want to retake the WH in 2020.

[JI7]

12. this is about Gabbard and her own anti gay, anti muslim

record.

[ucrdem]

16. I can only say that none of that came up in the CBS interview which is about 10 min. nt

[JI7]

18. it's well known to those who know about her record that's how we know this has nothing to do

with defending Joe Biden. we can see through it for what it is. and you are falling for it.

Let Joe deal with it as he is doing.

[ucrdem]

23. He needs defenders and surrogates. If that's what Gabbard is putting herself forward as,

she's doing a good job.

[JI7]

24. this is about her own record and agenda . has nothing to do with how she feels about Biden

[ucrdem]

32. She isn't promoting Biden, she's saying that Harris is pursuing a rotten strategy. And I agree. nt

[pnwmom]

27. She previously accused Harris of religious bigotry, simply because

Harris asked a judicial nominee who belonged to a right wing Catholic group if he could support a woman's right to choose.

Harris is a favorite target of Tulsi's. No wonder Tulsi has so much support among people like Steve Bannon and the Fox news crowd.

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

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.”

The congresswoman later zeroes in on the recent questioning of Buescher, without mentioning Hirono by name. Both Hirono and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) had questioned Buescher last month about whether he could rule impartially on issues related to abortion and same-sex marriage, noting that Buescher was a member of the Knights of Columbus, which has taken public stances on both.

[ucrdem]

38. LOL, Harris is currently all over FOX. Turn it on for 5 minutes. nt

[cwydro]

41. FOX?

[ucrdem]

42. They show the debate clip at least once per half hour.

Yesterday they were also rotating a clip of Harris at the Essence festival. How do I know this? I see it the gym. Most of the TVs show sports and music but a couple show local news and this week they're tuned to FOX. I hope it's not permanent.

Yes,

[Kaleva]

30. I don't think you know the meaning of the word "courageous".

"courageous
adjective
possessing or characterized by courage; brave:"

"courage
noun
the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery."

https://www.dictionary.com/

I fail to see the pain, danger, or difficulty that Gabbard is now facing for saying what she said.

[ucrdem]

40. You can see the pushback right here.

As for courage I would include "principled" and "just." I'm not seeing that in Harris's current approach and I'm really disappointed in her.

[pnwmom]

4. If anyone "hatched a political ploy," it was Tulsi accusing Kamala of religious bigotry,

because Kamala dared to ask a court nominee about his affiliation with a far-right Catholic group.

Now she's accusing Kamala of smearing the Catholic Senator Biden.

Tulsi sees an advantage in attacking Kamala. I suspect Tulsi's going after the Catholic vote.

[ucrdem]

5. She's not attacking Harris. She's calling her out for pulling a dangerous and damaging stunt.

That last thing I expected Harris to do when I voted for her for senate was to go nuclear on Biden or any other Dem for any reason but this is completely objectionable and needs to stop now.

[pnwmom]

7. Harris NEVER said Biden was racist. Or even came close to it. And Biden HIMSELF

apologized because he recognized that what he said about Eastland and Talmadge was hurtful.

So why, after he's apologized, are his supporters still attacking Harris for bringing up the issue?

[ucrdem]

8. Oh please. The point of the stunt was to make Biden confess and apologize.

It failed but the press is so eager for drama they completely ignore the facts and pretend the emotional appeal is sufficient to make Harris' case. It isn't and her defenders aren't helping her. And Harris is my senator and I deplore her behavior and intend to communicate that to her.

[pnwmom]

17. Yeah, she's your Senator but he's been your fav and you see everything through

that prism.

[ucrdem]

20. No I'm seeing through the prism of 2020. I supported Clinton last time and spoke out

against letting candidates who weren't Democrats into the race. And unfortunately I was right to worry. Well, this worries me and I have a sick feeling that just letting it go is going to wreck our chances like it did last time.

[pnwmom]

22. Obama actively encouraged Hillary to run last time,

but he has been taking a determinedly neutral stance this time.

I don't know why some decide name recognition is more important than anything else, when we have several other strong candidates in the race.

[ucrdem]

26. Fine, defend and promote them.

But this is about Biden and Harris. And I have to chuckle at some of the other issues you bring up but they have nothing to do with the matter at hand and I hope you find peace.

[thesquanderer]

50. re: "Obama actively encouraged Hillary to run last time"

...but did not publicly endorse until quite late. We may not know who he "actively encouraged" behind the scenes this time (could be one person, multiple people, or no one).

[5starlib]

11. Because unlike Cory Booker, she won't full accept his apology and let it go

As a matter of fact, she sounded like she wasn't done with the issue. I think the next debate, one of the undercard candidates will try to filet Harris just like she did to Joe. They will go after her I predict.

[ucrdem]

14. She's running on it.

It's about all she has to run on at the moment.

[True Blue American]

19. You said it!

Planned stunt backfired and drove blacks to back Biden. They are not dummies and most worked hard to get where they are.

They also do not need freebies like down payments on houses. My neighborhood is fully integrated, all races, all friends. No one even thinks about it.

[ucrdem]

21. I hope you're right.

Biden has an amazing ability to withstand hammer blows but this is getting way out of hand.

[True Blue American]

25. The media is

Keeping it alive, but now they are on to the Epstein sordid case that is blowing up all the corrupton that surrounds the group in this Administration.

Barr finally realized the pile he landed in and recused himself.

[ucrdem]

29. Yes Epstein will help it blow over.

But having Harris out there talking about it at every opportunity is going to assure that it stays alive.

[True Blue American]

39. I can not understand why

Some candidates keep pushing Special Interests to buy votes. Do they not realize this is what drove so many Democrats into the Republican camp?

They need votes from everyone, not just each group they decide to back.

[ucrdem]

43. It's completely short-sighted and cynical.

She wasn't getting any traction and it was conspicuous in SC. So this is her SC ploy. It will kill her in Iowa and most Super Tuesday states, but she's going full burn on South Carolina.

[True Blue American]

44. But even there

The blacks came out in droves to back Biden. I will never understand why Politicians who are supposed to be smart still try to peddle freebies to one group.

Maybe I am not smart enough to be one, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn!

[thesquanderer]

52. re:"They...do not need freebies...My neighborhood is fully integrated...No one even thinks about it"

It's possible that not all neighborhoods are like yours... It is a complicated issue.

[Skya Rhen]

63. My prediction as well...

[Dream Girl]

54. She pretty much asked him when did you stop being a racist

[thesquanderer]

56. re:"Harris NEVER said Biden was racist. Or even came close to it."

Yeah, she came close to it. "I do not believe you are a racist" is probably the second most direct way of saying someone may be racist. You can say that isn't how she meant it, but whether that was her intent or not isn't the point, it is indeed a phrase that "comes close" to calling someone a racist, and it can be heard that way.

Related: the kinds of jokes discussed at this link.

[OnDoutside]

34. Lol !!! I'll give her top marks for neck !

[BlueTsunami2018]

45. True. But the time to say this was immediately following the debate.

Everyone could see what it was in real time, the time to support Joe and shut this ridiculousness down was right after it happened.

[Skya Rhen]

57. True - I believe that Tulsi waited to see which direction the wind was blowing and she is right

to conclude that most of America feel that Joe was unfairly attacked. Just look at Twitter and in the comments section of the Washington Post, New York Times and HuffPost (all left-leaning sites). The general consensus is exactly what Tulsi is stating.

Tulsi saw an opportunity and took it. That's politics.

Harris' campaign should have expected this.

[hlthe2b]

58. Yes, this. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction...

Newton's Law: "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." applies to politics as well.

It is the rough & tumble of politics....

[JustAnotherGen]

46. Congratulations ucrdem

You carried water for an opportunistic Decoy for dark forces loved by Bannon. Bravo.

BTW - I prefer Biden to Harris.

This op keeps up the fury over nothing.

I have zero fucks to give about anything Tulsi says. She doesn't want anyone looking at her homophobia, religious bigotry, and anti abortion background.

She also doesn't want anyone looking at her visit to Syria -
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/26/tulsi-gabbard-bashar-al-assad-syria-democrats

Democrats were silent on Thursday as Tulsi Gabbard, one of the party’s sitting lawmakers in Congress, announced that she had met with Bashar al-Assad during a trip to war-torn Syria and dismissed his entire opposition as “terrorists”.

Gabbard, a Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, disclosed her meeting with the Syrian president on Wednesday, during what her office called a “fact-finding” mission in the region.


Syria peace talks: rebels appear to rule out ceasefire role for Iran
Read more
“Initially I hadn’t planned on meeting him,” Gabbard told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “When the opportunity arose to meet with him, I did so, because I felt it’s important that if we profess to truly care about the Syrian people, about their suffering, then we’ve got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we could achieve peace. And that’s exactly what we talked about.”

She has no business being on that stage with Joe Biden - OR - Kamala Harris.

Truthfully? I would like to know why folks at DU are supporting Gabbard.

Harris and Biden supporters have made very clear why they are supporting these two.

IRL all I've heard is my son in the military an avowed Libertarian and his friends both Republican and Libertarian would support Gabbard.

Libertarians are evil Republicans who didn't get their pony.

That's all.

[JI7]

49. the OP has now gone as far as to Deny Assad used chemical weapons on his own people

which Biden and Obama both agree happened.

one doesn't have to be a supporter/nonsupporter of Biden and Harris to know see what Gabbard is up to and it has nothing to do with supporting or defending either of them.

[JustAnotherGen]

60. Yeah - I noticed that too

Seriously folks - we have ONE job.

Beat Trump.

[thesquanderer]

55. re: "Libertarians are evil Republicans who didn't get their pony."

Dems can have a libertarian streak as well... especially when it comes to foreign policy.

I'm not sure what you mean about the pony. The Kochs are basically libertarian, and have more ponies than about anyone.

[JustAnotherGen]

61. The example I used is that of a friend's son

And trust me - she's just about had it with him and his 'friends'.

If you haven't been my ride or die since you were old enough to KNOW better - don't expect me to listen to your stupid ignorant TRUMP VOTING asses now.

BTW- my great grandfather was a leftist libertarian and the folks in Elko Nevada kept voting him into the Justice of the Peace job for years. But you know what else he was?

He wasn't an angry young white guy with a massive chip on his shoulder who 'dialed in' at life.

No one was a bigger proponent of gambling, prostitution, integration, and women being able to chart their own course than the guy off the boat from France who envisioned an America that included everyone without needing a damn law for it to happen.

These Libertarians today? They aren't fit to drink my dead 21 years great grandfather's dirty bathwater.

They are evil.

[Princetonian]

47. I expect Harris will continue to play identity politics in order to win SC and free media coverage.

I wonder if they have decided on the next post-debate T-shirt yet?

[Skya Rhen]

51. Kamala has met her match!

[StarfishSaver]

62. So much for Harris and her supporters supposedly "not letting this go"

How is anyone supposed to let this go if people won't stop talking about it and Biden's supporters won't stop repeating it?

I'm starting to think that some people don't want to let it go - they just don't want Harris to be in the conversation.

[R B Garr]

64. Has something changed in the last 24 hours?

You’ve been all over these threads touting Harris’ debate attack as the single most defining moment, slamming Berkeley and submitting long posts in support of discussing a 40-year old issue. Now everyone is supposed to ignore the continued and relentless media questions. What’s changed?

[StarfishSaver]

65. You either have me confused with someone else or you're purposely lying about me

since, other than submitting long and informative posts explaining and clearing up people's misconceptions about busing used for desegregation, I've done none of the things you're claiming.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you have me mixed up with someone else.

[R B Garr]

66. What has changed in the last 24 hours that now you

are admonishing people to move on, given that you have posted for days to the contrary. Thanks for describing your posts on the subject, but you must be confused as well. I’m just curious about the turnabout in admonishments. Thanks.

[Cha]

67. Well, ucr.. I should

say.. that as my Rep I can't stand Gabbard, but I find it very interesting that she would be calling this out. Looking for attention herself.. and on it goes.

You know I'm one of those who didn't like the way Harris did that at all..

"Admonishing her opponents that Voters don't want a food fight.." and then proceeded to "throw a plate full of spaghetti" at Joe Biden. Seems hypocritical to me.

[ucrdem]

68. LOL @ plate of spaghetti, that was the best line of the night Cha!

[Cha]

69. I know.. and I certainly

do not take credit for it.. merely passing it on from a DUer I read.. and sorry I didn't remember to note who said it!

[ucrdem]

70. We need a t-shirt for that DUer:

"I was that plate of spaghetti!"

[Cha]

71. Lol! yes, by all means..

whip out the Tee-shirts!