"Russian Agent" Endorses Joe Biden

[Don1]

Just in... 

Tulsi Gabbard has dropped out and endorsed Joe Biden with this statement: 

"I know Vice President Biden and his wife and am grateful to have called his son Beau, who also served in the National Guard, a friend," Gabbard said in a statement. "Although I may not agree with the Vice President on every issue, I know that he has a good heart and is motivated by his love for our country and the American people."

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/politics/tulsi-gabbard-ends-2020-campaign/index.html 

In an effort to destroy Tulsi Gabbard, strategists within the Democratic Party establishment had created a narrative that she is a Russian agent, Russian tool, Russian Useful Idiot, etc. Yet here she is rationally, independently endorsing Joe Biden. 

This narrative is exactly the kind of thing that will be used against Biden in the general election. The Republican spin machine will quote media and powerful Democrats calling Tulsi a Russian agent. Bernie, too, eventually. Then, they will ask "Why are Russian
agents endorsing Biden?" Independents will be very confused by this.

It's time for strategists and media to stop spreading this false narrative and it's time for us to start coming together.

Go Unity!

[LanternWaste]

1. More accurately (and less biased) "Useful Idiot endorses Biden."

"Go Unity!"

So try it (it doesn't hurt).

[LAS14]

2. I can't tell who's saying what in this post, but no responsible Democrat that I know..

... of called her a Russian "agent." "Asset," yes, but that would not require her knowledge or cooperation.

[bluedye33139]

3. I don't worry about that one bit

The bot activity from outside the country did have a few interesting data points, including weird levels of support for Sanders and Gabbard. That doesn't mean that they were working for the Kremlin, and I don't think anyone has even ever suggested that. The same bots push Donald Trump, make weirdly divisive racial comments in an effort to tear America apart, and generally are obnoxious.

I see nothing wrong with any comment by anyone within the party, and there's no evidence that the DNC was in any way pushing allegations of Russian employment regarding Tulsi Gabbard.

[tinrobot]

4. She's a rounding error.

Not that important.

[W_HAMILTON]

6. Child, please.

Russia might be the only place on the Earth where she can get these sort of favorables:

[Don1]

8. News is not government

46% favorable is less than half. Favorability is related to policy. They seek a non-interventionist who is corrupt. She's anti-war and should be, but she's not corrupt.

This false narrative against Democrats is also going to hurt us later in the General Election.

[LanternWaste]

10. Will not be an issue in the general election.

The last thing both idiot trump and his surrogates want to bring up is election meddling.

(since we're both merely guessing and prophesying...)

[W_HAMILTON]

15. In authoritarian Russia, news is most certainly government.

If you aren't familiar with what RT (Russia Today) and Sputnik News are, go educate yourself instead on the issue instead of making nonsensical posts about how Gabbard suddenly isn't a Russian asset -- not agent, but asset (not the difference) -- simply because she finally dropped out and chose to endorse Biden.

And 46% favorable is more than double any other Democratic candidate received. Her 10% unfavorable was almost less than half any other Democratic candidate received.

Face facts.

[The Magistrate]

17. 'News' On That Channel Is The Government, Sir

Do not imagine for a moment it is not. Nor is favor towards her result of her policies being favored. The Russian apparat is not composed of idiots. They knew her campaign was not going to achieve the nomination, let alone the office. She was groomed as a spoiler, as someone who could attract some body of support that might prove disruptive to the eventual Democratic nominee's campaign. The goal is simply to continue Trump in office, they know him and can rely on him. He's been laundering their cash for years and years.


"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Midnight Writer]

7. Yes, I'm sure this will be a big issue in the General Election.

How in your mind is attacking "the Democratic Party establishment" a call for unity?

[Sloumeau]

9. You wrote the following:

In an effort to destroy Tulsi Gabbard, strategists within the Democratic Party establishment had created a narrative that she is a Russian agent, Russian tool, Russian Useful Idiot, etc

I would be curious to know what evidence you have that strategists within the Democratic Party establishment created such a narrative that she is a Russian agent. What I believe actually happened is that articles like the following appeared:

[link:https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/russia-s-propaganda-machine-discovers-2020-democratic-candidate-tulsi-gabbard-n964261|]

Russia's propaganda machine discovers 2020 Democratic candidate Tulsi Gabbard
Experts who track websites and social media linked to Russia have seen stirrings of a possible campaign of support for Hawaii Democrat Tulsi Gabbard.

Feb. 2, 2019, 5:03 AM MST
By Robert Windrem and Ben Popken

The Russian propaganda machine that tried to influence the 2016 U.S. election is now promoting the presidential aspirations of a controversial Hawaii Democrat who earlier this month declared her intention to run for president in 2020.

An NBC News analysis of the main English-language news sites employed by Russia in its 2016 election meddling shows Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who is set to make her formal announcement Saturday, has become a favorite of the sites Moscow used when it interfered in 2016.

Several experts who track websites and social media linked to the Kremlin have also seen what they believe may be the first stirrings of an upcoming Russian campaign of support for Gabbard.

Since Gabbard announced her intention to run on Jan. 11, there have been at least 20 Gabbard stories on three major Moscow-based English-language websites affiliated with or supportive of the Russian government: RT, the Russian-owned TV outlet; Sputnik News, a radio outlet; and Russia Insider, a blog that experts say closely follows the Kremlin line. The CIA has called RT and Sputnik part of "Russia's state-run propaganda machine."

All three sites celebrated Gabbard's announcement, defended her positions on Russia and her 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, and attacked those who have suggested she is a pawn for Moscow. The coverage devoted to Gabbard, both in news and commentary, exceeds that afforded to any of the declared or rumored Democratic candidates despite Gabbard's lack of voter recognition.

Gabbard was mentioned on the three sites about twice as often as two of the best known Democratic possibilities for 2020, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, each with 10 stories. Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren had fewer. In each case, the other contenders were treated more critically than Gabbard, with headlines like "'Don't Run': Vermont Paper Begs Bernie Sanders Not to Seek US Presidency in 2020" and "Sexist much? Biden blames 'conservative blonde woman' for shutdown, 'forgets' Ann Coulter's name."

"Her promulgation of positions compatible with Russian geo strategic interests can help them mainstream such discussion in the [Democratic] party," said Alex Stamos, former chief security officer at Facebook and now an NBC News analyst. Gabbard, said Stamos, helps them with all their "lines of attack."
...

Apparently, the Russians got really interested in Tulsi, and we may not fully understand the reason why they did. Then, I think, certain people made assumptions as to why the Russians liked Tulsi. I am not aware of a deliberate strategy by the Democratic Establishment strategists to target Tulsi. If you have evidence of this, I would like to see it.

[mathematic]

11. I guess it's true, everybody loves Joe Biden

I guess when Hillary said "nobody" she really meant nobody.

[William769]

12. 🚑

[Don1]

13. :grouphug:

[LanternWaste]

14. "how is that going to help?"

"It sounds very negative, not a discussion of how to refine a necessary nuanced policy..."

We get it... you're very invested in Gabbard and like to pretend she's been treated unfairly by a nefarious cabal of Democrats. Tough old world, eh?

[Don1]

16. I am not very invested in Gabbard.

I am not invested in Gabbard at all. I barely knew who she was until I started hearing all these conspiracy theories that she's a Russian agent and that Putin is trying to use her as a useful idiot, that she's going to become a spoiler, and that she was going to run as an independent.

Here is what I am invested in: principles and values. Democracy and objectivity are two of my values and as such fairness in elections and primaries. Seeing the Democratic Party establishment making stuff up about a candidate like Bernie and Gabbard actually has driven me away from the moderate side, where I am inclined.

This is still why I am Undecided, asking for objectivity and challenging people logically, but that isn't what your response is about.

So, do you agree or will you claim again that I am very invested in Gabbard, when I am not?

[oasis]

18. Dipshit deplorables don't know who the hell Tulsi is. The GOP

"spin machine" would be wasting time developing the Russia agent narrative you describe.

Btw, 90 percent of Republicans are okay with anything Russian.

[Macima]

19. Strawman. Hillary called her an asset, not agent

And she's an asset to them.