Tulsi Gabbard may not be entirely helpful for the Sanders campaign.

[Koinos]

I think that Tulsi Gabbard might not be the best spokesperson for the Sanders campaign. I foresee potential problems for the Sanders campaign with what appears to be her association with an anti-Islamic Indian nationalist party (BJP). Religious persecution of Muslims in India is a major human rights problem.

See this Alternet article:

"The Curious Islamophobic Politics of Dem Congressmember Tulsi Gabbard"

http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/curious-islamophobic-politics-dem-congressmember-tulsi-gabbard

Excerpts:

But the case of Tulsi Gabbard becomes less curious and more expected once you look at her links to a different set of ethnic and religious hardliners: the Hindu nationalist Indian Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Since her election to Congress, Gabbard has tied herself closely to this party, which has a history of condoning hatred and violence against India's Muslim minority. Many of her stateside donors and supporters are also big supporters of this movement, which disdains secularism and promotes religious sectarianism....

Why did Gabbard work so hard to shield BJP abuses from congressional review? The answer lies in her base of supporters. The BJP draws on support from the large Indian expatriate community through an organization called the Overseas Friends of BJP. In August of last year, the group convened a large number of Indian American BJP supporters in Atlanta as part of an eight-city tour designed to prepare for Modi's first visit to the United States the following month.

[thereismore]

1. You are assuming people actually give a damn about anything anymore. nt

[Koinos]

6. Muslims in India are directly affected by this persecution.

I think that both of our candidates should be cautious about any anti-Islamic connections. Muslims are already getting treated badly by Republicans.

[blm]

2. I've always gotten a spooky feeling from her - emphasis on the 'spook' aka CIA.

She garners the most publicity and camera time when she is targeting Obama on foreign policy and siding with GOP as she did on the refugee vote.

I have never seen her find a TV camera when she sides with Obama on an issue.

I don't see her as a real Sanders supporter.

[JaneyVee]

4. Yeah its weird. Her entire schtick was...

Throwing red meat to FOX News. If they needed someone to trash Obama on foreign policy for not be hawkish enough and being too politically correct, she was their go to.

[Mufaddal]

3. I've been pointing this out for the last couple of days

with that link and others. A few people get it, many don't.

The fact that many don't is also why none of that matters. I'd like to say American voters care about what goes on in other places, but let's be real: most don't, especially when it comes to India (which probably closely follows only the entire African continent in terms of places Americans care least about).

To conclude: Hers is not an endorsement of which any progressive should be proud, but tactically it will probably only help and not hurt. Obviously I'm ambivalent about that fact.

[blm]

5. I think she did it for HER future needs and ambition, not Sanders or ours.

.

[Koinos]

8. I hope Sanders is aware of her history and intentions.

[Koinos]

7. I think you are right in saying that Americans don't get it.

My concern is based upon my acquaintance with a young Indian student whose family was affected by anti-Islamic sentiment.

[Mufaddal]

9. Hey, you don't have to tell me

My wife and I live with Islamophobia daily in the US, and compared to Indian Muslims our situation is peachy. Sure, our religious centers get attacked damn near every other day, and members of our community across the country are the target of regular hate crimes, but all of that pales in comparison to the violence Modi and his thugs have unleashed on the Muslim population in India. Gabbard's relationship with the BJP/RSS should scare the living daylights out of most anyone, but it would require possessing an actual attention span long enough to learn a little about another country.

[Koinos]

10. I hope for the best for you and your wife.

I agree with you and sympathize with you.

Not only do Americans know little about what is going on in other countries, they also know next to nothing about their own country. Many don't even know the three branches of government, although they wave the flag and the constitution every chance they get. And people in other countries often have more knowledge of US history than Americans do.

Anti-Muslim speech and behavior in this country and elsewhere sickens me. Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric alone should ban him from any political office. But many people cling tightly to their anger and hatred these days.

[Mufaddal]

11. Thanks!

We'll get by. We are considering moving out of the country if Bernie loses the primary, but emigrating to anywhere halfway decent is pretty difficult.

[Koinos]

14. Europe is not a good idea right now.

And, for different reasons (including Zika), Central and South America could be tough.

[LexVegas]

12. Is she any worse than Cornel West and Killer Mike? Or Susan Sarandon? nt

[Her Sister]

13. wow!

Just wow! Bigot much!!