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Today, former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard announced that she is leaving the Democratic Party, calling its leaders quote “an elitist cabal of warmongers.” Here’s Matthew Tsai for more on the story.
This morning, former congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard announced that she would be leaving the Democratic Party.
Gabbard made the statement on the first episode of her new podcast: The Tulsi Gabbard Show.
In the 28-minute announcement, Gabbard outlined the story behind why she originally joined the Democratic Party and the main reasons she ultimately decided to leave it.
Tulsi Gabbard: I can no longer remain in today’s Democratic Party. It’s now under the complete control of an elitist cabal of war mongers driven by cowardly wokeness. Who divide us by racializing every issue and stoking anti-white racism. Who actively work to undermine our God-given freedoms enshrined in our constitution. And who are hostile to people of faith and spirituality. Who demonize the police, who protect criminals at the expense of law-abiding Americans. Who believe in open borders, who weaponize the National Security State to go after their political opponents and above all are dragging us ever closer to nuclear war.
Gabbard elaborated on her thoughts on nuclear war in her appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast today.
Tulsi Gabbard: A nuclear war could break out in a week, in 30 days. We are staring over the precipice of that nuclear brink now more than ever before... People need to know that this is the reality we’re facing. That our leaders have pushed us and led us to this brink of nuclear war.
Multiple Republicans have used Gabbard’s announcement to blast Democrats in general. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on Twitter:
Majorie Taylor Greene: Bad news for Democrats, Tulsi Gabbard isn’t the only one leaving the Democrat party. Skyrocketing inflation, terrifying crime, deadly borders, unaffordable gas & energy, and an unwanted war with Russia are all serious issues affecting every single American & caused by Democrats.
Many Democrats seem to have an indifferent response. Some, like Pennsylvania representative Malcolm Kenyatta, questioned if Gabbard was ever really a Democrat.
Annenberg Radio reached out to USC Professor Robert Shrum for a comment. Shrum, who was once described by The Atlantic Monthly as “the most sought-after consultant in the Democratic Party,” had this to say:
Robert Shrum: In all honestly, this is of no significance whatsoever. She was a marginal figure as a Democrat at best, as the primaries demonstrated in 2020. And that’s about all I have to say with respect to her decision.
Moving forward, Gabbard has not said which party she would join.
