Hillary Clinton appears to suggest Russians are 'grooming' Tulsi Gabbard for third-party run

[Amused]

To be honest, I've wondered about this myself: Why the concerted, coordinated adoration from the alt-right echo chamber.? Even David Duke fawned praise on her and continued to do so even after she called him out for being a racist pig?

It's been downright weird how the effort seems so coordinated.

Hillary Clinton suggests Russians are 'grooming' Tulsi Gabbard for third-party run

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said Thursday the Russians are currently "grooming" a Democrat running in the presidential primary to run as a third-party candidate and champion their interests.

www.cnn.com

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said Friday the Russians are currently "grooming" a Democrat running in the presidential primary to run as a third-party candidate and champion their interests.

The comment appears to be directed at Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who has been accused of being cozy with Russia in the past.

"I'm not making any predictions, but I think they've got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate," Clinton said, speaking on a podcast with former Obama adviser David Plouffe. "She's the favorite of the Russians."

Clinton never names Gabbard, but there are only five women running for President -- Gabbard, California Sen. Kamala Harris, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and author Marianne Williamson -- and none of the other woman have been accused of being boosted by Russia.

"They have a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her so far," Clinton said.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Even a third party run for Gabbard will hurt no one!!
She is insignificant as far as having any real following!!

 

[Moonbeam]

I read she has ruled out any third party run.

 

[nakedfrog]

Even a third party run for Gabbard will hurt no one!!
She is insignificant as far as having any real following!!

I think it's too early to say that, if Biden gets the nomination, I can envision a number of disillusioned folks voting third party.

 

[Bitek]

IDK, but I've had concerns for a while that she seemed alarmingly aligned with Russian policy goals.

I've joked she's a Russian asset, but seeing Congressional actors like Dana Rhorbacher and his connections to Russia, I don't take it for granted they aren't trying to cultivate assets.

I would also assume Russia is still at war against our democracy, and attacks can come from many forms, not just online trolling and disinformation.

Either way, I don't like her positions regardless of where they are coming from.
At this point, I view Gabbard as a dangerous liability to D 2020 chances and hope she is off the stage as quickly as possible.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

This about sums it up!

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1185295332034301953

 

[BurnItDwn]

Tulsi wore the uniform and put her life on the line for the US.
Hillary didn't.

Of all the candidates, I trust Tulsi second most
(behind Sanders of course).

 

[Amused]

Tulsi wore the uniform and put her life on the line for the US.
Hillary didn't.

Of all the candidates, I trust Tulsi second most
(behind Sanders of course).

So did I. And it's not always a good judge of character. Sure, it helps, but when one offers to derail an election and cavorts with dictators and refuses to explain why, I question their sincerity.

In this case. the alt-right has been putting on a coordinated an concerted effort to prop her up. And this can only be for one reason, for her to run a third party, election disrupting campaign.

We'll know the second she steps down, or announces an independent or 3rd party run.

If she doesn't, I'll be the first to eat my words. But up to now, this looks like what the plan is.

 

[woolfe9998]

She's also been very weak on impeachment, only just now coming out in favor of an inquiry. Still, I think Clinton should not have gone public with this allegation unless or until Gabbard announces a third party run, which she has previously disclaimed.

Since Gabbard has taken more pro-Russia positions than the others have in the past, I wouldn't be surprised if Russia is currently organizing an online campaign to promote her, but that doesn't mean that Gabbard is complicit. Clinton should be more cautious is making these kinds of accusations.

 

[Amused]

She's also been very weak on impeachment, only just now coming out in favor of an inquiry. Still, I think Clinton should not have gone public with this allegation unless or until Gabbard announces a third party run, which she has previously disclaimed.

Since Gabbard has taken more pro-Russia positions than the others have in the past, I wouldn't be surprised if Russia is currently organizing an online campaign to promote her, but that doesn't mean that Gabbard is complicit. Clinton should be more cautious is making these kinds of accusations.

I don't think Clinton implied Gabbard's knowing complicity. I think the attention from the alt-right and Russia and the online bots have been totally without Gabbard's knowledge as to why. But I do think it's all to give her the incentive to run a 3rd or independant campaign to cause disruption.

The alt-right/bot support has been too coordinated and concerted. David Duke continued to heap praise even after she called him a racist pig and rebuked his prior praise. It's too fucking mechanical.

 

[Zstream]

Yes, she is awful! I mean how come she isn’t for abortion up until 9 months? I mean she can’t even get with the democratic principles of “government is my religion” or banning straws and other stuff. This Tulsi lady is just the worst..

 

[pauldun170]

Gabbards response is an indicator she is unworthy.

 

[Amused]

Gabbards response is an indicator she is unworthy.

Agreed. Holy crap what a reactionary and Trumpian response.

 

[Amused]

Yes, she is awful! I mean how come she isn’t for abortion up until 9 months? I mean she can’t even get with the democratic principles of “government is my religion” or banning straws and other stuff. This Tulsi lady is just the worst..

Actually, she's always been pro-choice.

She's always been a climate change science supporter.

She's always been a social program supporter.

The ONLY thing the alt-right props her up for is her isolationist stance and dictator support

 

[uclaLabrat]

They probably have a hard on for the anti science stance as well.

 

[senseamp]

She appears as a shill to me as well. RT is pushing her hard, and so is Fox News.

 

[woolfe9998]

After doing some further reading, I am very uncomfortable with Gabbard's bashing of the media, including having made a false that than an NYT article, which I just read, accused her of being a Russian asset. And also her claim that the dem primary is being rigged against her by DNC, similar to her claim that the DNC rigged the primary against Sanders last time. I've had enough of these asshole pols claiming everything is "rigged" just because they can't win. They're undermining faith in the system in service of their own egos.

Also, her response to Clinton's accusation was absolutely horrible and only makes her look more guilty of what she's accused of. At the moment, I don't think there's good evidence that she's a Russian asset. I do, however, think she's bad news.

 

[VRAMdemon]

The fascination from the alt-right comes partly from her ties to unsavory fascist connections

US Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard Faces Protest for Ties with Hindutva Fountainhead RSS

The flyers explained, "The RSS is a paramilitary in India which was founded in 1925 and grew with inspiration from the Nazis and Italian Fascists. They have created affiliated groups all over the world. Today they rule India through the BJP political party."

The RSS who Tulsi is in bed with were behind the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and were directly implicated in the 2002 Gujarat riots to massacre Muslims.

Ironically, Tulsi got her Hinduism via ISKCON, which refuses to identify as Hindu (they call their religion "Krishna Consciousness"). But the ISKCON splinter cult her family belongs to has apparently copped to being "Hindu." Regardless, the RSS is a ugly optic for her.

A Black protester said that the RSS is the "KKK of India."

When she was asked about her RSS affiliation, with specific names and details, she tried to deflect by calling the question "religious bigotry." The questioner pointed out, "I didn't mention any religion. I asked about a paramilitary organization modeled after those of Italian and German fascists. Why is she tarnishing Hinduism by calling questions about RSS money 'bigotry'?"

Sadly...I'd still vote for her against Trump...

 

[Maxima1]

Tulsi wore the uniform and put her life on the line for the US.
Hillary didn't.

Of all the candidates, I trust Tulsi second most
(behind Sanders of course).

She could have been an roofer and had a higher annual chance of dying. Etc.. The vast majority of military deaths/injuries are concentrated in a few combat positions.

This is a good example of why I think former military should be barred from holding public office. Too many people go gaga over it.

Military worship hurts US democracy | Brookings

The gap in civilian and military experiences in the United States over the 17 years since 9/11 has led to persuasive, persistent, and unrealistic myths that have eroded faith in civilian leadership of defense policy.

www.brookings.edu

You don't protect my freedom: Our childish insistence on calling soldiers heroes deadens real democracy

It's been 70 years since we fought a war about freedom. Forced troop worship and compulsory patriotism must end

www.salon.com

Also, her response to Clinton's accusation was absolutely horrible and only makes her look more guilty of what she's accused of. At the moment, I don't think there's good evidence that she's a Russian asset. I do, however, think she's bad news.

Who the fuck says this? She'll be a rather trivial influence thankfully if she doesn't run third party. Hopefully she doesn't.

“Now that Mueller has reported that his investigation revealed no such collusion, we all need to put aside our partisan interests and recognize that finding that the president of the United States did not conspire with Russia to interfere with our elections is a good thing for our country,” said Gabbard, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate.

She continued, “Because if the president had been indicted for conspiring with Russia to interfere with and affect the outcome of our elections, it would have precipitated a terrible crisis that could have led to civil war. So we should all be relieved that President Trump was not found to have colluded with the Russians.”

 

[NostaSeronx]

All democrats are russian veal tasting, vote Trump the one and only true all american grilled steak! #EatThePresidentTastesLikeTurkeyBeef #Cannibalism2020

 

[Maxima1]

Tulsi Gabbard rules out running as an independent presidential candidate

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said Thursday she will not run as an independent candidate if she fails to win the Democratic presidential nomination.

www.cnn.com

Edit: Never mind. I thought previously she had said it earlier than late August, but I'm not finding anything except the article. So that seems to be the only time. She hasn't denied Hillary's accusation so far.

 

[Victorian Gray]

She's an Assad apologist/enabler. If I was an American I *might* vote for her as county dog catcher.

 

[Jhhnn]

Well.... they groomed Jill Stein & she made the difference in WI, MI & PA. Some people just turn out to be useful idiots. Go figure.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Im glad everyone seems to be over their anti-conspiracy theory stance.

 

[ivwshane]

Tulsi wore the uniform and put her life on the line for the US.
Hillary didn't.

Of all the candidates, I trust Tulsi second most
(behind Sanders of course).

Ah the old, “you served in the volunteer army therefore you can do no wrong” schtick. I’ve got news for you, there ain’t nothing special about people who served in the military, they are no more or less patriotic than anyone else.