Tulsi Gabbard BACKGROUND (GENERAL/CAREER) Personal Information: Tulsi Gabbard NOTE: Tulsi Gabbard Is The First American Samoan Elected To Congress, First Elected Hindu, And A Veteran. “Gabbard's resume is a political operative's dream. She is the first American Samoan elected to Congress. She was the first elected Hindu (she took her oath of office Bhagavad Gita) and one of two female combat veterans to join Congress in 2013. Oh, and the then-31-year old was also the youngest woman in Congress at the time.” (Amber Phillips, “Rep. Tulsi Gabbard The Democrat That Republicans Love And The DNC Can t Control,” The Washington Post, 10/15/16) Education: Bachelor of Science In Business Administration, Hawaii Pacific University (The Associated Press Accessed 11/21/16) Work Experience: 2013 – Present: Congresswomen (D-HI) 2010 – 2012: Honolulu City Council 2009 – 2010: Deployed With Hawaii Army National Guard 2006 – 2009: Legislative Aide To Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) 2004 – 2005: Deployed With Hawaii Army National Guard 2002 – 2004: Hawaii State Legislature TOP QUESTIONS FOR TULSI GABBARD Political Vulnerabilities Opposition To Trump, Support For Sanders Background: Gabbard is a liberal Democrat, a backer of Bernie Sanders in the Democrat primary, and former member of the DNC, prior to resigning to protest Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She had harsh criticism for Trump during the general election. • While you may not be asked to support President-elect Trump’s political agenda on all issues, will you refrain from any criticism of his administration, and support his initiatives as they pertain to veterans affairs? Interview Over VA Hearing Background: In 2014, Gabbard missed a Veterans Affairs hearing into the VA clinic care crisis to do an “extreme surfing” interview with Yahoo News, which she later sent out in a fundraiser. • Are you prepared to apologize for the incident in which you were doing a media interview and surfing during a VA hearing and pledge not to allow something similar to occur as Secretary? Policy Questions General Department of Veterans Affairs Policy • Given that many of the issues facing the VA appear to be management issues, why does your experience, having never run an agency or served as an executive, make you the right person to fix this struggling agency? • With suicide rates for veterans far above the national average, what types of methods would you recommend to stem the tide of veterans’ suicide? • What are your thoughts on providing veterans struggling with wait times private insurance vouchers to purchase health care services from non-VA medical providers? • What is your view on the benefits (including legal status and eventual citizenship) that illegal immigration that sign up to serve in our armed forces should receive? TRUMP-PENCE REMARKS Trump According To West Hawaii Today, Gabbard Has Said That “Trump Suffers From Ignorance, Bigotry, And Arrogance.” “Gabbard, who is also up for re-election, late Tuesday added "Trump suffers from ignorance, bigotry, and arrogance. This is a very bad combination. The Philippines has been one of the United States' most reliable allies, and many Filipinos, including those who live in Hawaii, have relatives who fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States to defeat imperial Japan. In fact, Filipino immigrants have historically been some of the most patriotic and hard-working who have ever set foot in the United States.” (Graham Mildrum, “Community, Legislators Respond To Donald Trump Labeling Philippines ‘Terrorist Nation, ” West Hawaii Today, 8/10/16) When Donald Trump Called For Blocking Muslims From Entering The U.S., Gabbard Said Trump Was Trying To Exploit People’s Fears. “Tulsi Gabbard, the first ever Hindu to be elected to the US House of Representatives, today slammed Republican frontrunner Donald Trump for his call for blocking all Muslims from entering the US, saying he is trying to exploit people's fears for his own political purpose. ‘It's clear what Donald Trump is doing; he's trying to exploit people's fears for his own political purpose. I think it's important to look at where are these fears coming from, these unfunded generalised fears of all Muslims,’ Congresswoman Gabbard told the CNN in an interview.’” (“Donald Trump Is Trying To Exploit People s Fears Tulsi Gabbard,” NDTV, 12/9/16) When Asked How She, As A War Veteran, Reacts To Seeing Donald Trump’s Success In The Republican Primaries, Gabbard Responded That A Commander-In-Chief Is Not Someone That Talks About Carpet-Bombing Entire Countries In The Middle East. “GLAMOUR: How have you a war veteran who looks first and foremost for a commander in chief with good judgment reacted to seeing Donald Trump a candidate who's advocated for a war crime pick up even more speed toward the Republican nomination? CTG As a soldier, I've served with the most brave people in an institution that's built on integrity, honor, and duty. This is why I'm working very hard to support Senator Sanders not only to get through the Democratic primary, but also to win the presidency. He is the only candidate on both sides who understands the cost of war, who has that foresight to keep our country safe, and who will make sure that our military power is not being when and where it shouldn't be. A commander in chief who has a military mind-set is not someone who's talking tough, chest puffed up, wearing the Air Force bomber jacket, talking about carpet-bombing entire countries in the Middle East.” (Emily Mahaney, “Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Talks Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, And Why She’s Voting Against Hillary Clinton,” Glamour, 3/11/16) After Bernie Sanders Dropped Out Of The Democratic Primary, Gabbard Said She Would Vote For Hillary Clinton ?Given The Remaining Choices." ?Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), one of Bernie Sanders's top supporters in the Democratic primary, says she'll vote for Hillary Clinton. ?Given the remaining choices, like Bernie Sanders, I will be casting my vote for Hillary Clinton,' Gabbard told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in a story published Wednesday." (Jesse Byrnes, "Sanders Supporter 'l?ulsi Gabbard wm Vole For Clinion,?1?hg?m 8/4/16] Pence No Records Found. GENERAL CONTROVERSY In 2014, Gabbard Missed A Veterans Affairs Hearing Into The VA Clinic Care Crisis To Do An ?Extreme Sur?ng" Interview With Yahoo News, Which She Later Sent Out In A Fundraiser. ?Gabbard seems happy to soak up the spotlight from both sides, but it's gotten her in trouble at least once. During the 2014 August recess, she went 'extreme surfing' with Yahoo's Chris Moody and sent out the Clip as a fundraiser. Meanwhile, the Honolulu Civil Beat noted that while Gabbard was out on the water, she missed a Veterans Affairs hearing into the VA clinic care crisis." (Amber Phillips. "Rep. 'l'ulsi Gabbard The Democrat 'l?hal Republicans Love And The DNC Can 1 Control," 10/15/16) ?Gabbard Is A Wildcard Who Has Given Democrats As Many Headaches In Her Nearly Three Years In Congress As She Has Blessings." "But ifyou thought this was an isolated incident, you haven't been paying attention to Tulsi Gabbard. In fact, this week's drama has plenty to do with the party's young, outspoken star's demonstrated willingness to speak out in ways her party would rather she not. Gabbard is a Wildcard who has given Democrats as many headaches in her nearly three years in Congress as she has blessings." (Amber Phillips. "Rep. 'l'ulsi Gabbard The Democrat 'I?hal Republicans Love And The DNC Can 1 Control," The Washington Post, 10/15/16) CONTROVERSIAL POLICY In 2016, Gabbard Supported And Helped Introduce Gun Control Legislation. "One day after 170 Democrats ended their sit-in on the House ?oor over a lack of movement on gun control, a bipartisan group of representatives that included Tulsi Gabbard sprang into legislative action. Gabbard, D-Hawaii, joined eight other House members Friday, including four Republicans, in the introduction of legislation aimed at restricting the sale of firearms to individuals placed on the No-Fly List and Selectee List, subsets Of the broader Terrorism screening Database." (Max Dible, "Gabbard Among Bipartisan Group Introducing Gun Control Legislation," Hawaii Tribune Herald 6/26/16] "Gabbard Did Not Establish A Substantive Public-Policy Record During Her One Term In The State House -- Where At 21 She Was The Youngest In State History -- Or During Her Abbreviated, Two- Year Stint On The City Council.? (Derrick Del?ledge, "Gabbard In Spotlight With Bipartisan 7/18/13] 0 ?Other Democrats, Speaking Privately, Marvel At The National Attention Gabbard Has Received Given Her lnexperience And Thin Policy Resume.? (Derrick D1. 1?1111,,1G111111ra 111 Spotlight w1111 Bipartisan Group??omw 7/18/13) POLITICAL ACTIVITY On November 6, 2012, Tulsi Gabbard Contributed 000 To Hanabusa For Hawaii. 111111111151 1111 111111.111 - Accessed 11/20/16) Full Mum: ILnst. First. Middle Tulsi Gabbard b.1111 07 Recent)! Mailing Address 11 06 2012 ?11119 2: Coca i 2 FLC IL) nurr'ber of contributing 1 i i ?3 'edeml commuter.- 0 Each Queue! 111 Puroo - - -- 2000.00 Name 0! Emplowr Occupation US H0ose 0! Representative Congresswoman Receipt For. 2012 Ltectron Cycle-to?Dtite Pmr?ary General O'Jier lspec?'yl 2000 00 On November 6, 2012, Tulsi Gabbard Contributed 000 To Friends Of Mazie Hirono. 1 11111115 011141211: Hirono," 1. Accessed 11/20/16] SCHEDULE A (FEC Fonn 3) ITEMIZED RECEIPTS Usesepnteecheduleis) loreachcategoryoithe DetailedSumnaryPage roe one NLMBER (check only me) 11[?115 MADE OF COMMITTEE (In Fat) Friends of Mazie Hirono Ful Name (last. ?rst. mu) Tilsi Gabbard DateolReoeipt A. mm m? 2012 I I I I 11 Clty State 21 Code FEC 10 runes oi contributing leoeral partied mace. Name oi Employer Occupation Requested mm Requeaed Hece?pt For. 2012 Election cycle-to-Dete Tulsi Gabbard Stated That She Started Her Own Film Production Company Because She Was Interested In Film And Television. "In between tours of duty, she worked as a legislative aide to Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka. Citing a long-term interest in film and television, last year she started her own film production company, Kanu Productions.? ("Hawaii, 2nd House District Tulsi Gabbard (minimum 11/6/12) On Her 2012 Financial Disclosure Statement, Tulsi Gabbard Reported Earning $11,487 From Kanu Productions. SCHEDULE I EARNED INCOME exceeding $1,000. See examples below. Exclude: Military pay (such as National Guard or Reserve pay), iederal retirement programs. and benefits received mder the Social Security Act. Source Type Amount ?unsw- woo W. swan-rm WW ?9.00. Spams-he NA EC QJj-i?u i CAD-afi?lmo do So Lon red? ?unS Emmi ll?i?? . Node Congress 0? Speech (?(1213 hoe On Her 2013 Financial Disclosure Statement, Tulsi Gabbard Reported Losing $747 From Kanu Productions. Revolving Door No Records Found. Bankruptcy No Records Found. Liens No Records Found.