Triage (/ˈtriːɑːʒ, triˈɑːʒ/) the process of determining the priority of treatments based on the severity of the condition; allocating finite resources where they can do the most good

A soldier who has been to war knows what is needed isn’t often what is wanted. No one wants to retreat. No one wants to put up the white flag. No one wants to make choices when all options are undesirable.

Hawai’i Rep. Tulsi Gabbard served a 12-month tour at Logistical Support Area Anaconda in Iraq, where she worked in a field medical unit as a specialist with a 29th Support Battalion medical company. She was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal at the end of this tour. Gabbard understands triage.

The DNC didn’t call for postponement of voting- nor did Biden or Sanders. Nor did Donald Trump. This put lives at risk. Someone had to do the right thing. Gabbard assessed the situation and made the right decision to save lives.

She announced the end of her campaign, saying: “The best way I can be of service at this time is to continue to work for the health and well-being of the people of Hawaii and our country in Congress, and to stand ready to serve in uniform should the Hawaii National Guard be activated.”

Drawing sharp criticism from Sanders’ people and her own, Gabbard spoke highly of Sanders and indicated support of Joe Biden as the nominee chosen by voters and the DNC. Many people are asking why.

It wasn’t enough for Gabbard to simply exit the race. She had to extend support to the leading candidate. If Gabbard had backed Sanders, this might have earned renewed energy for Sanders. The call for people to get out there and vote would mean more potential contamination.

If Gabbard had been silent about the remaining candidates, the election process still would have surged for having been narrowed to a final two. Biden appears to be the chosen one. Some feel he was chosen by voters, some say it was the DNC that chose. Regardless of how or why, the last weeks of the primary turned to Biden.

Gabbard’s exit from the race acknowledged the election results and responded to the fact that people may die from having voted last Tuesday. This isn’t conspiracy theory. Every day we have evidence of the rapid spread of COVID-19. Tulsi made the responsible and terrible decision because it was the best of her options if saving lives is the mission.

The focus of Gabbard’s life has been service to those most in need. If not for COVID-19, it’s safe to assume she’d have stayed in the election until July. Her principal mission throughout the primary has been to raise awareness of the cost of war; she’d have used every minute of the election process to promote peace. She’d have supported the nominee after the official announcement. The need for a response to the national health crisis altered Gabbard’s course.

Gabbard’s leadership is clear, though the Democratic party, mainstream media and subsequently the public haven’t recognized this. Her pleas for the country to prepare for COVID-19 in advance were ignored. Following the February debate, Gabbard communicated on social media she would have ensured discussion of COVID-19 had she not been excluded from participation.

One month ago, COVID-19 could have received national attention. Instead, Americans were offered substantial bickering about billionaires.

In February, Gabbard called for action to protect the health and safety of the American people.

Gabbard calls for action in February to safeguard the country

In the first days of March, Gabbard called attention to effective practices in other nations dealing with COVID-19 and offered solutions to help Americans.

On March 12th, Gabbard introduced H Res 897, the first legislation to extend UBI relief to Americans impacted by COVID-19.

At this time, Gabbard is working on a response to COVID-19 within her home state of Hawaiʻi. On March 18th, Gabbard and Hawaiʻi Lt. Governor Josh Green, a practicing physician who has served as the state’s lead official coordinating its COVID-19 coronavirus response, hosted a telephone town hall for 10,000 Hawaiʻi residents to inform and answer questions about quarantine protocols, testing, the impact on small businesses and what’s being done to secure the needed medical supplies to diagnose, treat, and care for Hawaiʻi’s residents.

“It is critical to keep people informed about what is happening in our state and country in response to this global pandemic. I want to thank Lt. Gov. Josh Green for joining me to answer people’s questions and update Hawai‘i residents on local and national actions. I will be hosting additional virtual forums to make sure my constituents have the information they need to be safe and weather this crisis,” Gabbard said in a press release.

Gabbard points to the predicted 25 million (60% of CA population) cases of coronavirus in the state of California alone within the next 8 weeks. She notes the futility of only encouraging people not to come to Hawaiʻi as well as the ineffectiveness of taking people’s temperatures when they arrive in the state because people can be spreading the disease even when symptoms aren’t apparent.

Hawaiʻi Governor Ige heeded Gabbard’s call to institute a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine of anyone who travels to Hawaiʻi, a practice already being done in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and China’s capital city Beijing. Gabbard’s recommendation is for visitors to be monitored to make sure that they’re in compliance with the quarantine. Residents returning to the state will be in house quarantine, separate from their relatives or others who are in the home. Visitors will be quarantined in their hotel room. The mandatory quarantine in Hawai’i will begin in five days, though Gabbard is asking for an immediate start.

Following Gabbard’s March 18th town hall with Hawaiʻi residents, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta announced she will host a telephone town hall at 7 p.m. Friday for residents of Georgia’s Sixth District. Numerous states are offering similar online meetings to inform and answer questions of residents.

Gabbard’s announcement to end her campaign and her statement of support for Biden has many on social media attacking her while others cheer the departure of the last remaining female candidate, the first combat veteran, Hindu-Christian, indigenous Pacific Islander to run for president.

Throughout Gabbard’s campaign, those who dislike her cited reasons more visceral than concrete. Some who felt Gabbard’s vote of “present” on impeachment was wrong don’t deny Gabbard’s vote plus Censure H.Res 771 would have held Trump accountable while the failed impeachment trial has not. As Gabbard warned,Trump’s public approval increased post-impeachment, strengthening his campaign for re-election.

The latest wave of Gabbard attacks come from Sanders’ supporters and her own. They feel betrayed. There was a similar response when Gabbard voted “present.” Consideration of Gabbard’s reasons and the disastrous unfolding of the impeachment case restored the support of many who had questioned her integrity and criticized her judgment.

Gabbard’s choices may be vexing, but as with the impeachment vote, she makes difficult decisions in the best interest of the country. Gabbard is right not just in ending her campaign, but also in supporting Biden. In her exit speech, she states that her support isn’t an endorsement of Biden’s record or his platform. Her support of Biden was the best option to hasten an end to the primary election- the most immediate action to save lives.

Those who claim Gabbard has betrayed her principles and label her a traitor are perhaps unfamiliar with strategic triage. Gabbard’s assessment of the country’s needs, prioritization and action will save lives.

Hawaiʻi is taking bold action to address COVID-19 and serves as an example to the country. Ending her campaign to prioritize focus on the pandemic, Gabbard’s actions appear consistent with the “Service Above Self” and “Lead With Love” messages of her campaign and her life. Her soldier’s heart informs her as she confronts a new enemy in COVID-19. Gabbard is no longer a candidate for Commander in Chief, but she demonstrates her qualifications to lead the country through crisis now more than ever.