Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii)

(CNSNews.com) -- Apparently because Hillary Clinton suggested today that she is being groomed by the Russians to mount a third party run, presidential contender Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) tweeted a sarcastic "thank you" to the former first lady and described her as the "queen of warmongers" and the "personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long."

In a podcast interview earlier today, Clinton said, "I’m not making any predictions, but I think they’ve [Russia] got their eye on somebody who’s currently in the Democratic primary and they’re grooming her to be the third-party candidate. She’s the favorite of the Russians. They have a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her so far and that’s assuming Jill Stein will give it up because she’s also a Russian asset.”

Hillary Clinton. (YouTube)

Politico reported that Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill confirmed that Clinton was referring to Gabbard.

In response, Gabbard tweeted, "Thank you @HillaryClinton. You, the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long, have finally come out from behind the curtain."

"From the day I announced my candidacy, there has been a concerted campaign to destroy my reputation," said Gabbard, a combat veteran who served in Iraq. "We wondered who was behind it and why. Now we know -- it was always you, through your proxies and powerful allies in the corporate media and war machine, afraid of the threat I pose."

Gabbard continued, "It’s now clear that this primary is between you and me. Don’t cowardly hide behind your proxies. Join the race directly."

Gabbard has been a member of Congress since 2013. She is a Samoan American and a Hindu.