Former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard shares a problem with President-elect Trump. Democrats and their allies see Gabbard and Trump as enemies of the state.
In her 2020 presidential campaign, Gabbard dared to criticize two of her Democratic primary challengers, Joe Biden and then-Sen. Kamala Harris. This criticism made Gabbard a smear target.
When Gabbard criticized former first lady and failed 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, this further angered the Democrats. Clinton began the smear campaign, calling Gabbard, a veteran of the Iraq war, a “favorite of the Russians.”
Clinton began the “Russian” smear while also smearing her 2016 GOP challenger, Donald Trump. Clinton’s campaign helped finance the infamous Steele Dossier that included lewd accusations about Trump.
One of the many implications of the exposed “Russia hoax” was that Russian President Vladimir Putin would blackmail Trump into doing his bidding. Clinton called Trump “Putin’s puppet.”
Though the “Russia hoax” failed, Democrats learned a valuable lesson. They knew there was money and publicity in political hoaxes. California Rep. Adam Schiff promoted the “Russia hoax”; he is now a U.S. senator-elect. Some in Washington think payback could be coming.
When Trump nominated Gabbard to be his director of national intelligence, Democrats were quick to smear Gabbard, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve. Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Clinton ally, called Gabbard a “likely Russian asset.”
In her 2024 book “For Love of Country,” Gabbard wrote about the “Russia hoax.” While she was a Democrat in Congress, she writes, she saw her fellow Democrats and some Republicans accept “the fake story concocted and spread by Hillary Clinton about (Trump) ‘colluding’ with Russia ‘to steal the election’ and support it with “no questions asked.”
In the 2024 election, voters gave Trump a Republican-controlled Congress.
One of the lessons of the Republican sweep is that voters are tired of hoaxes and lies about Trump and his supporters.
When Harris repeatedly failed to explain her plans for the economy, foreign policy, national security, or defense, she called Trump a “Nazi,” “felon,” “racist,” etc. Voters were tired of these dangerous and false campaign smears. Voters told her so by re-electing Trump.
Wasserman Schultz’s argument against Gabbard is that she met with Syria’s Bashar al-Assad in 2017. France issued an arrest warrant for al-Assad for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In 1998, then-president Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton met Yasser Arafat in Gaza City. Arafat was the leader of the Palestinian Black September assassins at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Did Wasserman Schultz forget? Does she have double standards? Would she have voted to impeach Clinton?
After Wasserman Schultz’s smear of Gabbard, Trump expressed his support for his nominee.
In a statement issued by his transition team, Trump said, “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength. Tulsi will make us all proud!”
Political dirty tricks may be one reason Trump is rumored to be seeking Congress’s help in getting his nominees’ recess appointments. This would depart from Congress’s advice-and-consent role for Cabinet officials. Is such a departure needed?
Trump may be convinced that the country needs to depart from the political divisiveness. He could use Wasserman Schultz’s irresponsible smear of Gabbard as support for her recess appointment.
James Patterson is a writer in Washington. (He is NOT the well-known author of best-selling popular fiction.)
Reprinted with Permission from DC Journal – By James Patterson
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
Once anyone within the Democrat Party dares to question the direction or so-called “wisdom” of the leadership of the Party, they automatically become an enemy to be smeared and destroyed by any means necessary. That is just how the Democrat Party has operated quite openly and consistently over the last few decades. Claiming someone is a Russian agent or plant out to destroy “our democracy” (we are a representative republic by the way, NOT a democracy) is standard fare of the Left. Russia has become the all-purpose boogeyman that the Democrats whip out whenever they want to try and slander anyone, they feel has spoken out against either Democrats or their agenda. At this point, only the most gullible and utterly clueless percentage of our society should still be falling for this ludicrous line of attack at this point.
By the way, Tulsi Gabbard is not the only one of Trump’s proposed Cabinet that is being targeted by the Democrats and their allies in the MSM with this worn out and tired charge of being in league with Russia. At least half a dozen of Trump’s Cabinet picks have already been targeted for this line of attack. By the time the Senate confirmation hearings roll around, I expect this will be the opening salvo against every single one of Trump’s nominees by the Democrats on the committee. It’s all the Democrats have got.
The Democrats and the RINOs still serving in the Senate want to drag out the confirmation process of all of Trump’s picks for as long as possible to delay Trump’s agenda once again. Look for a number of the old guard RINOs (McConnell and his merry band of faux Republicans) to make a lot of noise about the need for “preserving the process” and how important their role of advise and consent is in the coming weeks. That is why Trump won’t get his recess appoints. This from the same RINOs that rubber stamped the likes of Garland, Mayorkis and the rest of Team Biden’s Cabinet during the Senate confirmation process 4 years ago.
Winning the election was just the start of the battle to reclaim the country. Now the next step is getting the Republicans in Congress off their collective a$$es to support the POTUS that people elected. We, the People, still have a lot of work to do in that area, so we don’t squander this rare opportunity. Hopefully everyone is up to the task.
If Democrats hate you, you must be doing something right, Gabi!
Goes to show that the Demos will not relent from their attacks on Pres. Trump and his allies. MSM will continue to be the “voice” of the adversary to spread disinformation to the ignorant people who continue to believe the lies.
All indications are that Tulsi Gabbard is a woman of good character. Those who. have falsely accused her of wrongdoing are the wrongdoers. To go against the Commandment that prohibits bearing false witness against someone is a serious matter. Tulsi Gabbard put her life on the line by her service in the U.S. Army and those who smeared her in various ways ,well, I reckon it could be said her life was put on the line again — just by being Tulsi Gabbard . So, praise for Tulsi – for her courage, her sense of honor , and fortitude . Good article James Patterson, Well Done !
Most Republicans are smart and of
course the opposite holds true of democrats. I say this because 1. Republicans see Tulsi Gabbard is an asset to America and the smears are typical left wing trash that we all see. It’s amazing how the left keeps up their treasonous acts yet thinks we don’t see it. I hope when Trump takes office he can expose and prosecute these fools along with biden for wasting billions to protect is assets in the Ukraine. Tax dollars to benefit him.
Tulsi Gabbard indeed. I would not be surprised if that evil creature was……..It’s hard for me to say………..but I bet she is…………heterosexual!!! A straight military officer in this day and age. The horror.
Once she talked about other Dems she had a target on her back the hate the Dems have for her is so bad and then when she switched parties that is it. Tulsi Gabbard the hate they had for her when President Trump had her for a pick the lies and hate just came out from every Dem in the White House. She is a great pick a true patriot and a military officer,she has done more in her life then all those that hate and condemn her. She will be great in President Trump’s cabinet.
Hang tough lady, hang tough.
Folks, the afterglow will be over soon. Its going to be tough sledding with slim majorities. President Trump is going to need our continued support against the evil arrayed against him. There will be battles lost but lets focus on winning the war against these commies.
We need to remember that Nancy Pelosi herself laid out what she termed the “Wrap-up Smear”. The Democrats would leak a series of false accusations against an opponent just before coming out and making their false accusations public. When their lapdogs in the media ran with the story with absolutely no research behind it, but just quoting “an anonymous source (the Democrat who planted the story). The rest of the party members would then jump on the victim claiming the false accusation had been verified by the press. As it seems, lies can race around the world multiple times before truth has even left the gate.
Anyone that doesn’t agree with the demonrats and their party are automatically ‘enemies of the country’. They are the ones to look out for which is why I changed parties years ago. This is NOT the old democratic party. If I wrote what I really think of the Bidens, Hillary, etc they would not print my message.
The liberal especially Hillary should not talk she has been all spectrum of being AntiAmerican activities
If the democrats and rinos want to bash and nitpick PRESIDENT TRUMPS nominees why don’t they run a background check on every politician.Approve these people for what good they can do instead of crucifying them.Maybe,just maybe PRESIDENT TRUMP has researched these people.Why don’t you democrats and rinos look at who we elected and by how much and let him get AMERICA back on track because its a trainwreck now.
I hope that the great ‘silent’ majority who elected Trump will also know that the anti-Tulsi garbage is just that….garbage. We’re SO lucky to have such a quality and classy lady as Director of National Intelligence. Enough garbage!!! We’re SICK of their smears!
I say screw Tribalism… and YES to independent / common sense contemplation! Another words… YOU GO GIRL !!!!
If only the size of the heart of that party matched the size of its mouth,.maybe it would be livable with,as it is they choke and strangle everything, they don’t allow anyone who does not sing in sync with them to breath And they are so off the key
Anyone that does not regurgitate the Democratic extremist Marxist talking points is a target. All they know all they know how to is lie cheat and smear. I do not understand how anyone can identify with that party.
I love Tulsi. She was my pick for vice president. (No offense JD). While I may not agree with her on everything I trust her honesty, her measured way of speaking and presenting opinions, and her devotion to our nation.
Democrats seems to have nothing to offer us other than hate, lies and deceptions thereby insulting the intelligence of everyone. Aren’t they ashamed of how it truly defines them?