In full statement, Gabbard calls impeachment a "partisan process", Democrats "extreme".

[RandySF]

Washington, DC -- Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D, Hawaii) today released the following statement today on her vote regarding the impeachment of President Trump:

Throughout my life, whether through serving in the military or in Congress, I’ve always worked to do what is in the best interests of our country. Not what’s best for me politically or what’s best for my political party. I have always put our country first. One may not always agree with my decision, but everyone should know that I will always do what I believe to be right for the country that I love.

After doing my due diligence in reviewing the 658-page impeachment report, I came to the conclusion that I could not in good conscience vote either yes or no.

I am standing in the center and have decided to vote Present. I could not in good conscience vote against impeachment because I believe President Trump is guilty of wrongdoing.

I also could not in good conscience vote for impeachment because removal of a sitting President must not be the culmination of a partisan process, fueled by tribal animosities that have so gravely divided our country. When I cast my vote in support of the impeachment inquiry nearly three months ago, I said that in order to maintain the integrity of this solemn undertaking, it must not be a partisan endeavor. Tragically, that’s what it has been.

On the one side — The president’s defenders insist that he has done nothing wrong. They agree with the absurd proclamation that his conduct was “perfect.” They have abdicated their responsibility to exercise legitimate oversight, and instead blindly do the bidding of their party’s leader.

On the other side — The president’s opponents insist that if we do not impeach, our country will collapse into dictatorship. All but explicitly, they accuse him of treason. Such extreme rhetoric was never conducive to an impartial fact-finding process.

The Founders of our country made clear their concerns about impeachment being a purely partisan exercise. In the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton warned against any impeachment that would merely “connect itself with the pre-existing factions,” and “enlist all their animosities, partialities, influence, and interest on one side or on the other.” In such cases, he said, “there will always be the greatest danger that the decision will be regulated more by the comparative strength of parties, than by the real demonstrations of innocence or guilt.”

Donald Trump has violated public trust. Congress must be unequivocal in denouncing the president’s misconduct and stand up for the American people and our democracy. To this end, I have introduced a censure resolution that will send a strong message to this president and future presidents that their abuses of power will not go unchecked, while leaving the question of removing Trump from office to the voters to decide.

I am confident that the American people will decide to deliver a resounding rebuke of President Trump’s innumerable improprieties and abuses. And they will express that judgment at the ballot box. That is the way real and lasting change has always occurred in this great country: through the forcefully expressed will of the people.

A house divided cannot stand. And today we are divided. Fragmentation and polarity are ripping our country apart. This breaks my heart, and breaks the hearts of all patriotic Americans, whether we are Democrats, Republicans, or Independents.

So today, I come before you to make a stand for the center, to appeal to all of you to bridge our differences and stand up for the American people.

My vote today is a vote for much needed reconciliation and hope that together we can heal our country. Let’s work side-by-side, seeking common ground, to usher in a bright future for the American people and our nation.



https://www.tulsi2020.com/press/2019-12-19-tulsi-gabbard-releases-statement-impeachment-president-trump?utm_source=email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=impeachment_vote

[pnwmom]

1. Sounds like she's getting ready for a 3rd party run. nt

[Hekate]

15. Yep. Her work is not yet done.

On the plus side, DUers seem to be waking up about her true nature.

[Cha]

2. Bull. Gabbard is Ignoring the RULE of LAW &

Gaslighting for her own agenda.

The other Dem Rep from Hawaii, Ed Case, is a "Moderate" and voted for Impeachment.

[yardwork]

20. Then she's admitting that she's not a leader. She should resign.

Incapable of making a decision = incompetent.

[onecaliberal]

4. Russian puppet say what?

[FBaggins]

5. Wait. She served in the military?

She seems to fit that into almost everything she says.

[RockRaven]

6. Uhh... "Bye Felicia"

if only that would suffice to rid us of her....

[brush]

36. Perfect response..."Bye, Felicia." She's a non-entity.

Who cares what she thinks.

[sprinkleeninow]

7. Bonkers. Take a hike...eom

[grantcart]

8. Apparently the courier carrying instructions from Putin got held up on the way

[John Fante]

9. Her efforts to get Trump re-elected begin in earnest.

[SergeStorms]

10. So, Tulsi....

you say, "I’ve always worked to do what is in the best interests of our country." Oh, really? You don't believe Donald Trump has done enough damage to our country to deserve impeachment? Kids in cages, separating parents from their children, some of which may never be united as a family again? Gutting the EPA, taking warning labels off of carcinogenic chemicals, making our water and air dirtier and more poisonous than before? Gutting the ACA so millions can't afford any type of healthcare, but offering no alternative like he promised? Stealing money from other programs to pay for his ridiculous wall? Running his mouth like a Tasmanian Devil on methamphetamine, making the U.S. the laughing stock of the world? Sucking up to dangerous and deadly dictators while trashing allies we've cultivated over many decades? These are but a few of the many disastrous policies put forth by Donald Trump, and I haven't even mentioned anything regarding the Mueller Report or the Articles of Impeachment!

Go to hell, Tulsi. You're no more a Democrat than Donald Trump is a decent human being.

[thesquanderer]

37. You can't impeach based on those other things, they're not part of the articles.

But there was enough there to still vote for it.

[SergeStorms]

39. I'm aware of that.......

just trying to run down a little of the litany of bullshit Trump has done to hurt this country, and like I said, that wasn't even touching on the Mueller report or the Articles of Impeachment. Tulsi has to get her head screwed on right, but I think it's too late for that. I think she's looking to be the resident Democratic punching bag on FOX Noise, or some other sinister waste of time.

[Grokenstein]

11. Go straight to hell and send us back a selfie.

But thanks for proving that Hillary was absolutely right about you.

[Cha]

16. lol

[sacto95834]

12. Her Job as a Representative...

is to decide if there is evidence that the President committed a high crime or misdemeanor. The Senate tries the President. Its NOT her job to decide what the Senate does.

She doesn't know for sure that the Senate won't remove the Orange Menace. Hope springs eternal.

That said, if she as a Representative won't pass articles of impeachment, the Senate won't be able to consider them.

She wants to censure the President, good. Knowing this Senate, maybe a deal can be reached where the House releases the Articles to the Senate in which the Senate agrees to vote it down, but also agrees to censure the President in return and bring this mess to an end.

[stopdiggin]

13. Gabbard proving once again

1) not a Democrat, and 2) is sailing in waters far too deep for her abilities.

A non-decision like this shows less character than an actually no vote. Definition of weasel.

[Lady_Chat]

14. She wants attention, it's best to ignore her.

She wants to be the center of attention, the more people are talking about her, the more she likes it...don't give her the satisfaction.

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. No point in reasoning with her, it seems, but her argument is easily refuted

"On the one side — The president’s defenders insist that he has done nothing wrong. They agree with the absurd proclamation that his conduct was “perfect.” They have abdicated their responsibility to exercise legitimate oversight, and instead blindly do the bidding of their party’s leader."
OK, that makes sense; she agrees with us the Republicans are putting party before country.

"On the other side — The president’s opponents insist that if we do not impeach, our country will collapse into dictatorship. All but explicitly, they accuse him of treason. Such extreme rhetoric was never conducive to an impartial fact-finding process.

The Founders of our country made clear their concerns about impeachment being a purely partisan exercise. "
But in the previous paragraph, she admitted it's the Republicans who are making it a partisan process! She is handing them a veto over the application of the law. And yeah, if you allow them to do whatever Trump tells them, and refuse to let him be held to account, then you're forming a dictatorship. A dictatorship is literally when everyone blindly does the bidding of a leader, and she's saying she's happy with the Republicans doing that, and won't resist it.

But she's oh-so-concerned with the 'extreme rhetoric' of fighting against that. Even when that rhetoric, as she admits, hasn't actually accused Trump of treason. It's just, for her, accusing him of abuse of power that is 'extreme'.

If Gabbard were on DU, she'd be banned as a troll.

[duforsure]

18. Claiming partisanship as an excuse not to vote for or against

Does nothing but shows contempt for the rule of law, the truth , abuse of power for personal gain, bribery, extortion, lying, and her oath she took to defend against these crimes against our Democracy, and shows how scared she is of trump and putin. Just another fraud posing as someone who really cares about our country.

[Recursion]

19. For people who ask, "why do you call her a Russian plant?"

It has a lot to do with repeating Russian talking points like this.

[yardwork]

21. +1

[thesquanderer]

38. Not sure about the plant, but certainly an asset, willing or not. (n/t)

[Hav]

22. The partisan argument is such a bs talking point

used by the Republicans and it's not surprising that Tulski follows their playbook (again).
By that logic, the President could do whatever he wants. As long as his party stands by him, any impeachment process would be partisan and therefore should not be pursued. It's complete bs by a side that knows they are wrong. You judge a case on its merits, not by taking a count who is taking which side.

It's not that the standards for impeachment have changed from the Democrats' side. It's the Republicans who put party over country and make it partisan by not holding the President accountable for anything.

[MineralMan]

23. Soon, I expect she'll be announcing the suspension of her campaign.

I mean, it's obvious to anyone that she has no chance of rising in the polls as a Democratic primary candidate. I'm not sure why she's still in it at this point, frankly.

What she will do after that I do not know, and do not much care.

[pnwmom]

24. If she runs as an Independent we should care. She could get the same tiny percent Jill Stein did.

And Stein's voters alone in the 3 key states were enough to swing the election.

[MineralMan]

25. I suppose there is that risk, but there's nothing we can do about that.

If she decides to run as a third-party candidate, we can't stop her. So, I'd just as soon see her drop out now.

[bluedye33139]

28. She will draw many more right-wingers than Democrats

[redstatebluegirl]

26. Why doesn't she just change parties and go with her people.

[bluedye33139]

27. She misrepresents Hamilton's meaning

He is explaining difficulties of impeachment. He is not warning against any impeachment that breaks into factions. He is stating that it will break into factions naturally because this is how politics and Game Theory works.

Her misrepresentation is either a profound misreading or deliberate deception. Here's the passage:

"A well-constituted court for the trial of impeachments is an object not more to be desired than difficult to be obtained in a government wholly elective. The subjects of its jurisdiction are those offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men, or, in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust. They are of a nature which may with peculiar propriety be denominated POLITICAL, as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself. The prosecution of them, for this reason, will seldom fail to agitate the passions of the whole community, and to divide it into parties more or less friendly or inimical to the accused. In many cases it will connect itself with the pre-existing factions, and will enlist all their animosities, partialities, influence, and interest on one side or on the other; and in such cases there will always be the greatest danger that the decision will be regulated more by the comparative strength of parties, than by the real demonstrations of innocence or guilt."

This passage does not warn against any impeachment that is not bipartisan. Rather, it argues that any impeachment will be political and partisan. Ugh!

[Bayard]

29. Ms. Gabbard:

Shut up. Go away.

You voted, "Present", yesterday. You are a chickenshit.

[redqueen]

30. Just think, if not for Hillary's assist, Tulsi probably would have dropped out by now.

[seaglass]

31. Well she isn't running for reelection, she's never going to win the presidency, will only meet

debate requirements with her libertarian/republican/BoBer supporters and she will never be President - so there's that. Funny how often Hillary is right.

Why should she drop out, she's the same as other low-polling/low-support candidates who have no chance of winning.

[redqueen]

33. Except that her support is almost entirely from Republicans.

And she wouldn't be polling where she is if not for the boost.

[seaglass]

34. Who knows, Repubs love Dems who attack their fellow Dems and that's one of Tulsi's skills. She is

also supported by BoBers.

[Hav]

35. And Bloomberg picked up that support

Her support has collapsed from both sides now, that's why she didn't qualify. Stop blaming Clinton again and again for calling out the favorite of the Russians.