Why Tulsi Gabbard Should Not Skip The Next Debate

Will She Continue To Be A Political Fighter — Or Become A Sideliner?

On the morning of December 9th, Americans woke up to devastating and shocking news that was the Afghanistan papers. Generals and leaders from the highest echelons of the American military apparatus — the Blob — privately admitting confusion, defeat, and carelessness in an effort that cost the American people trillions of dollars and countless lives.

That night, the only candidate running for President to specifically end these wars and bring our troops home, Tulsi Gabbard, announced that she would not be attending the December democratic debate, whether or not she met the threshold, and provided no explanation (other than the fact that she would instead spend that time in New Hampshire and South Carolina).

Congresswoman Gabbard is only one qualifying poll away from making the important debate and has crossed the 200,000 donor threshold as well. Just last week, the once self-proclaimed “top-tier” candidate Kamala Harris dropped out after a sharp decline in polling and fundraising that started with Tulsi’s blistering public attack of her record during the July debate.

Since then, Tulsi has seen her poll numbers remain fairly steady around 2–4%, but has seen some strong polling performances in places like Iowa and New Hampshire. Another presidential debate is arguably one of the best ways to reach a large number of people and to generate media coverage. She should not sit on the sidelines.

Tulsi Gabbard is not Joe Biden now or Trump in 2016. Stepping away to protest unfair rules or bias against her would not make an impact at her polling level. She should utilize every chance in these critical days before the Iowa caucuses to put her ideas in front of the American people.

While much of the attacks come to her from the Democratic party, she is, in fact, one of the most progressive candidates on the stage. She should’ve made it a mission to expand her base by talking about her landmark ‘single-payer-plus’ healthcare plan, climate change, education, and other issues of importance at the next debate. Two months before the first votes are cast, she is still virtually unknown by most Americans and has not been able to prove her policy chops on issues outside that of foreign policy.

Even so, the December debate presents an opportunity like no other to call out fellow candidate Pete Buttigieg’s shady time at McKinsey & Company where he worked as a “consultant” in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his openness about taking dark money from high-dollar ‘bundlers.’ Not to mention, she would surely have more time to speak — she’d be one of only 7 or 8 candidates on the stage.

I certainly do not like the media landscape either, but it is unfortunately very difficult to can’t operate a large-scale campaign outside of it. Both Bernie and Trump learned to utilize it. She should, too. The elite circles in Washington certainly haven’t been nice to Tulsi — to say the least —and I have covered this time and time again.

The fact is, she is not known or not taken seriously by a vast majority of voters. Playing the game — being in there and talking to the American people is important, even if it requires being strong in the face of petulant, elitist snobs at the moderating table and the weaklings on the stage with her. Sitting out, though, is unacceptable.

If her problem with the DNC is serious — as it should be — she should publicly call out the politicians and back-room dealers by name. Not showing up makes her look weak — and I know she’s not.

As of now, sadly, most in the media-military-industrial-complex see Tulsi’s message of peace as a fringe one and have continued to smear her. That is a problem that will not be solved by alienation from the general public and a schedule comprised of only small town events. It requires the better articulation of her positions in public settings, like these debates, that give her the widest reach possible.

Tulsi’s donors and strong supporters should not try to justify this decision. Tell her and the campaign that you’re disappointed. You wanted a fighter. Not a sideliner.