# The Tulsi Gabbard Presidential campaign thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 12, 2019, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665 "2019-01-12T23:59:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2019, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/1 "2019-01-12T23:59:54Z")
So Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who is an alleged Democrat, is running for Congress. And she begins her campaign by criticizing other Democrats who call Trump nominees out for using their religious biases as a basis of discrimination. She claims that if a person discriminates against people on the basis of religion, and they are called out for it, they’re being discriminated against. She didn’t name names, but it was implied that she was referring to her fellow Hawaiian, Senator Maizie Hirono. > **[Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard accuses fellow Democrats of ‘religious bigotry’ in...](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=.a2edc5695351)** > > Gabbard, who is mulling a 2020 presidential run, criticized her Democratic colleagues without naming them in an op-ed in the Hill. She’s an investor in cryptocurrency [https://www.ccn.com/u-s-lawmaker-tulsi-gabbard-discloses-ethereum-and-litecoin-investments/](https://www.ccn.com/u-s-lawmaker-tulsi-gabbard-discloses-ethereum-and-litecoin-investments/) She supports Bashar Assad > **[Tulsi Gabbard, slammed for backing Assad in Syria, says she'll run for U.S....](https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2019-01-13/ty-article/tulsi-gabbard-slammed-for-backing-assad-in-syria-says-shell-run-for-president/0000017f-df8b-d3ff-a7ff-ffab22080000)** > > \*\*\* She opposed a House resolution calling for religious freedom in India. > **[Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu in US Congress, on Modi, Hinduism, and linking...](https://qz.com/india/628124/tulsi-gabbard-the-first-hindu-in-the-us-congress-on-modi-hinduism-and-linking-islam-to-terror)** > > The congresswoman from Hawaii was treated like royalty on her visit to India last year. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/2 "2019-01-13T00:20:36Z")
I could see her getting it done against Trump in the election. I cannot see her getting the nomination, though. She is not progressive enough on social justice issues for a lot of progressives. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/3 "2019-01-13T00:26:29Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > I could see her getting it done against Trump in the election. I cannot see her getting the nomination, though. > > She is not progressive enough on social justice issues for a lot of progressives. I can’t see Republicans voting for a Hindu. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/4 "2019-01-13T00:27:18Z")
I’m having a hard time unraveling that… Does she mean that people should be allowed to discriminate, just because they claim that their religion requires it? If that’s what she means, then that’s enough of a deal-breaker for me. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/5 "2019-01-13T01:00:50Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I can’t see Republicans voting for a Hindu. I’m slightly amused that she is a convert to Hinduism and not of Indian descent, while the most prominent Indian-Americans in politics are Bobby Jindal (born Hindu but a Catholic convert) and Nikki Haley (born Sikh but a Methodist convert). And I agree that too many people will be put off by her religion. I wish it wouldn’t matter, but it does. And I want the Democratic Party to win this time. ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/6 "2019-01-13T02:35:45Z")
I’ve never voted for an R or D in a Prez election, but I would consider voting for her based on foreign policy alone. At this rate though, Trump seems to be on the right track re: military pullouts. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/7 "2019-01-13T02:43:43Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m having a hard time unraveling that… Does she mean that people should be allowed to discriminate, just because they claim that their religion requires it? Add me to the confused list. Need clarification. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/8 "2019-01-13T03:02:21Z")
I live in Hawaii, and I do not sense any excitement for her run. She’s popular in her present office, but I think this bid will fizzle out early on. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/9 "2019-01-13T03:15:38Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Add me to the confused list. > > Need clarification. Individual 1 has nominated candidates for the executive branch who have anti-gay and anti-minority beliefs. When questioned about it, they say they believe those things because their religion says they have to. When people like Senator Hirono call them on it, saying their views disqualify them from the positions they are nominated for, Tulsi Gabbard says such people as Senator Hirono are prejudiced against religious people. ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/10 "2019-01-13T03:17:05Z")
I’m guessing this, which I’m finding out about today, has been brought up before in past threads. [Steve Bannon spoke highly of and wanted to meet with Gabbard in late 2016](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/307106-bannon-set-up-trump-gabbard-meeting) ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/11 "2019-01-13T03:31:59Z")
She’s criticized Israel, so she won’t be allowed the nomination. I like her and the fact she’s Hindu is a positive for me because the Abrahamic religions are the cause of all the world’s problems. I would consider voting for her over Trump. ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/12 "2019-01-13T03:37:13Z")
I might be willing to vote for her, but as I said to one of my Republican friends lately, I think the country is at least another generation away from electing a non-Christian(professing). Even with a big liberal political swing, I can’t see it being enough to win a general election. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/13 "2019-01-13T03:46:12Z")
> [@DJ\_Motorbike](#): > > the Abrahamic religions are the cause of all the world’s problems. Wow, really? There were no problems in the areas of the world that weren’t under the influence of the Abrahamic religions? ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/14 "2019-01-13T04:33:18Z")
The cult she belongs to isn’t exactly regular Hinduism. It splintered off of ISKCON. Now ISKCON denies that their religion is Hinduism, and Chris Butler, the guru who splintered and formed the cult the Gabbards belong to, also says he isn’t Hindu. Tulsi’s extremely homophobic father Mike Gabbard claims to be Catholic, but then he has been participating in the [ISKCON splinter cult from the start](https://ramaransonvsthecult.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/tulsi-gabbard-cult-born-and-raised/). This _New Yorker_ article “[What Does Tulsi Gabbard Believe?](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/11/06/what-does-tulsi-gabbard-believe)” goes into some depth on that cult, the [Science of Identity Foundation](https://www.scienceofidentity.org/). > [@](#): > > But a number of Butler’s former disciples recall a harsher, more authoritarian atmosphere. Defectors tell stories of children discouraged by Butler from attending secular schools; of followers forbidden to speak publicly about the group; of returning travelers quarantined for days, lest they transmit a contagious disease to Butler; of devotees lying prostrate whenever he entered the room, or adding bits of his nail clippings to their food, or eating spoonfuls of sand that he had walked upon. Some former members portray themselves as survivors of an abusive cult. Tulsi was raised in this tightly-knit cult, attended its schools, and began her political career following her father’s example in opposition to LGBT rights. She has married a husband who is also involved in it. Yet she avoids ever mentioning it or telling the truth about her and her family’s participation in it. Once she becomes more nationally prominent and gets looked at more closely, she will either have to own up to her cult connections or look like she’s trying to hide something. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/15 "2019-01-13T04:38:01Z")
[I just don’t trust her at all](https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/05/tulsi-gabbard-president-sanders-democratic-party). Not when that disgusting lump Steve Bannon loves her and is full of praise for her. What bothers me the most about her is her enthusiastic fandom of Hindutva extremist Narendra Modi, which is connected with her opposition to the resolution for religious freedom in India. ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/16 "2019-01-13T04:40:09Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Wow, really? There were no problems in the areas of the world that weren’t under the influence of the Abrahamic religions? Its influence is hard to over emphasize. I’m barely being hyperbolic. She’s talking too much about peace & doesn’t seem to go along with the mainstream narrative of “Assad is le ebil villian we must go to war!~!!!” You have to be pro war to be considered a viable Democrat. Which is also the reason the TV tells everyone to hate Trump. Hillary was _supposed_ to have been elected and the military industrial complex was _supposed_ to have gotten their war with Assad, Russia and Iran, but things didn’t turn out that way. Trump was ostentatious enough to deflect the media at every turn. I don’t have confidence that Tulsi will be capable of the same. Still, I wish her all the luck. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/17 "2019-01-13T04:42:25Z")
Frankly I think she has enough charisma to play all of that off. Unlike almost all the rest of the Democratic field, she actually has a very marketable image. If she really goes on the warpath with her campaign, being extremely proactive and not just reactive, it could build up enough momentum that all that potential baggage gets rolled over. I’m looking at the candidates of this election the way Don Draper would look at them. To win this election - not other elections, not past elections or hypothetical elections but _this_ election - the successful candidate will have to become a brand, a human meme. Nothing less than “iconic” will do. ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/18 "2019-01-13T05:06:10Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > What bothers me the most about her is her enthusiastic fandom of Hindutva extremist Narendra Modi What’s the nature of your objection here? I gather that Modi is a supporter of Hindu identity for India. What’s the problem with that? Are you worried about Sikh genocide? Do you similarly object to the fact that Israeli & American governmental leaders (Chuck Schumer being one for example) support Israel strongly as a jewish nation? There are a lot of Congressmen on both sides of the isle who are enthusiastically Zionist. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/19 "2019-01-13T05:35:54Z")
> [@DJ\_Motorbike](#): > > She’s talking too much about peace & doesn’t seem to go along with the mainstream narrative of “Assad is le ebil villian we must go to war!~!!!” You have to be pro war to be considered a viable Democrat. [Here](https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/649458891168714752) is what her peace talk looks like: “Bad enough US has not been bombing al-Qaeda/al-Nusra in Syria. But it’s mind-boggling that we protest Russia’s bombing of these terrorists.” ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2019, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665/20 "2019-01-13T05:40:51Z")
Social media influencers and mainstream media are going all out against her right now. In the must pass defense authorization bill that was ushered through congress last year there was a provision that authorized war with Iran. It was quietly slipped in by the industrial military complex. Tulsi was a critic of and asked for debate on the subject. The idea that Gabbard is a sexist racist homophobic bigot is patently absurd. She’s being shilled against so hard because she’s a critic of the military industrial complex. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tulsi-gabbard-presidential-campaign-thread/827665.md?page=2)