The past week has been tumultuous in the United States. The Democratic primary election occupied nearly all the news feeds just a week ago. Today there’s little in the news about the election, except for voting postponement announcements. The new focus is on the pandemic. COVID-19 is officially real for Americans.

The level of anxiety expressed on social media indicates the arrival of COVID-19 was under-anticipated, yet for months other nations have communicated the need for immediate worldwide action to address the spread of the virus. Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been a consistent voice highlighting the urgent need for the United States to prepare.

The February 21, 2020 Democratic debate featured many attacks on billionaires, but little substantive discussion to demonstrate to voters who the candidates are and what they propose. Gabbard has been excluded from the debate stage since November. The candidate who managed to insert discussion of foreign policy, corruption and service to Americans into the June, July and November debates, communicated she would have ensured discussion of COVID-19 and issues of foreign policy if she had been included in the February debate.

Over 3 weeks ago Americans might have heard about COVID-19 & upcoming actions in Iraq had Gabbard been included in The February debate.

March 15th is the next scheduled debate. It has been relocated and reformatted. Instead of taking place in Arizona, it will be held in Washington DC and in lieu of holding a debate between the remaining candidates, it will be between two of the three candidates. On Super Tuesday, Gabbard qualified to participate in the final two debates. A few days after, the DNC changed the qualification requirements to once again exclude Gabbard. Neither Sanders nor Biden have objected to the exclusion of the third candidate.

DNC Changes Debate Qualification Rules after Super Tuesday, Eliminating Only Tulsi Gabbard

The exclusion of Gabbard from the March 15th debate will again be a loss for voters with specific regard to the current health crisis. Gabbard is familiar with effective protocol for identifying and containing the virus, she references successful practices of countries such as South Korea and Scotland and calls for the United States to implement similar life-saving practices. Gabbard is the co-chair of the House Nursing Caucus, making her keenly informed about issues for medical personnel. It would be good to hear a voice for the growing problems nurses face with this pandemic.

The public is now receiving wider coverage of COVID-19, however Gabbard’s proposed measures to help Americans impacted by the virus aren’t reported. On March 12th, Gabbard introduced H. Res 897, legislation to provide help to offset economic hardship associated with COVID-19.

Most certainly Sanders and Biden will be asked to address COVID-19 in the March 15th talk. Perhaps Gabbard’s work on this issue will be represented by the two candidates who are included in the talk.

A century after women fought for and won the right to vote, it’s difficult to accept that an exceedingly qualified woman like Gabbard is denied her rightful place at the podium. The DNC dismisses the last remaining female candidate, a combat veteran who has served the country well.

Few Democrats question this.

Given the climate in the primary, it’s not realistic to expect ideas that benefit Americans will be shared if informing voters means crediting Gabbard. This is the overarching problem in government that Gabbard speaks about in her town halls- the refusal to support good ideas and legislation because doing so might help the opponent win his next election, even when the legislation would help Americans. Gabbard wants this to change.

With school, work, sports and social events rapidly being cancelled due to COVID-19, from the safety of sanitized homes, perhaps this is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the way the Democratic primary election has unfolded and what this means for the future of the country.

The primary began with 29 candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. Eight months ago, 25 candidates had active campaigns. On Super Tuesday, there were five candidates. Now there are three (only two acknowledged by the DNC.)

The debates have done little to inform voters. The DNC seems more interested in creating a ratings spectacle than informing the country. What voters know of the candidates comes mainly from following the candidates on social media and for some, individual research of service and voting records of the candidates. Research of candidate records takes time, time that many don’t feel they have. Voters end up relying on their gut feeling or what the media presents. This has harmed Gabbard’s campaign.

Despite the fact Gabbard’s trip to Syria was authorized and this diplomacy occurred in effort to avert a repeat of the mistakes of the Iraq War, the suggestion she’s an apologist to the Assad regime is repeated in the media and by opponents. If members of Congress had shown similar courage to travel to Iraq to verify facts in 2002, they would have been named a Saddam apologist. Vilification in the media is the reward for demanding facts and securing peace.

It’s not just in the media. The legislature will attack as well, sometimes in frivolous ways. In 2003, France refused to support the war in Iraq due to lack of verified proof of weapons of mass destruction. In retaliation for France’s demand for verification of WMD, the Republican Chairman of the House Committee on Administration, Bob Ney, changed the name French fries to Freedom fries on the menu item in three Congressional cafeterias. Walter B. Jones then directed the three House cafeterias to change all references to French fries and French toast on menus, and replace them with Freedom fries and Freedom toast. A wave of American restaurants followed the example.

While Americans ate Freedom food, Tulsi Gabbard went to war.

Gabbard’s opposition to unconstitutional warmongering and corruption has earned her a barrage of negative media and disinformation throughout her campaign. Fact verification is important in times of war and elections.

The cost of war is real. Gabbard is the only candidate talking about it.

The 2020 Democratic primary has vanished many candidates well ahead of the July nomination. It’s not just Gabbard. Seasoned representatives such as Michael Bennet and Jay Inslee were largely ignored by the DNC. Bennet remained in the race until February 11, 2020. There was little trace of his campaign in the public view.

Of all who lost their preferred candidate along the way, those who voted for Buttigieg, Klobuchar or Warren merit the most compassion. These voters loved their candidates the longest, they supported their candidates financially and gave energy to posting about his or her campaign for months- sometime arguing with friends, family, or strangers on behalf of this candidate. When election day arrived in their state, these voters proudly, happily cast their vote for the person they believed in most. They posted about it. These voters then watched for election results with great hope, soon after learning their choice was no longer in the running.

It isn’t a good feeling to have one’s carefully considered vote rendered meaningless. Voters wonder about the timing of the canceled campaigns. It seems orchestrated towards ensuring the DNC’s choice, not towards honoring the voice of voters.

The sudden end of the campaigns of Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Warren illustrates how the acceptance of corporate and Super Pac money compromises a candidate. All three candidates conducted robust campaigns then accepted to bow out when asked. It’s unlikely Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Warren feel Joe Biden is the best candidate to defeat Trump and lead the nation, but the DNC tells them this is their new position. Voters are asked to believe Biden is the best choice as well. Sadly, even Bernie Sanders is prepared to align with this idea.

Examples of why Biden is not the best option in the field of candidates are visible. Even if Biden’s record of service and voting wasn’t problematic, his recent outbursts towards voters, his misnaming the office he’s running for or the town he is standing in- these incidents are concerning. Biden isn’t the strongest candidate of the original 29. He’s not even the strongest of the final three, but according to the DNC, Joe’s the one to go toe to toe with Trump.

My name is Joe Biden, I’m a Democratic candidate for the US Senate.

Sanders’ silence about the DNC’s manipulation of the primary process puts an undeniable dent in his proud claim of career consistency as fighter of the good fight. As in 2016, Sanders compromises himself when he aligns with the DNC. His failure to defend the sanctity of a fair election process is inexcusable given his own experience. Resistance and solid right action is the path to victory when battling a corrupt system. Sanders’ capitulation to the DNC will cost him the nomination. His supporters are not like those of Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Warren. Sanders’ voters aren’t likely to settle in to Vote Blue No Matter Who, even if Joe is Bernie’s friend.

It appears neither Sanders nor the Democratic party learned from 2016. The focus of the party today is primarily on defeating Trump when it should be showing what the party can do for Americans. The absence of leadership, honesty and right focus will result in the very thing the entire party is so focused on fighting: four more years of Trump.

Great leadership requires consistent right action and service to the larger group ahead of self-interest. The DNC considers the larger group it serves to be the Democratic Party, not the whole country. The GOP is not different. This is the state of the nation. What is a great party leader for the DNC or the GOP isn’t necessarily a great president for the nation.

Donald Trump was elected. It wasn’t because of Bernie Sanders. It wasn’t because of Dr. Jill Stein. It wasn’t the Russians. It was the corruption and hubris of a two-party system that no longer believes its job is to serve the nation. Trump listened to voters and used what he heard to win the election.

Tulsi Gabbard’s campaign matters. She’s the only candidate doing what Trump did in 2016- she’s the only one telling us the truth about both parties. Unlike Trump, Gabbard’s record shows selfless dedication to service to the country. When she calls out corruption, when she says there needs to be an overhaul of both parties, her record of service and right action indicates it will be done right.

Trump wants us the believe he already made America great again. Now he’s moved on to keeping America great, but the bulk of Americans looking at their paycheck to paycheck existence aren’t convinced. The corruption in Washington DC has far from ended under Trump’s administration. Trump supporters point out he donates his paycheck. Trump’s businesses are filled with government employees and foreign officials as paying guests. It’s clear Trump gains much more than the $400,000.00 annual POTUS salary from his presidency. Trump’s flagrant nepotism, favor granting, and government grant perks given to his friends, family members and donors, as well as Chinese and Turkish leaders don’t help the average American, but they benefit Trump personally.

Trump gets away with wrongdoing in part because the Democrats have never admitted their own wrongdoing. The DNC doubled down to defend their corrupt practices and continue them today. Democrats seem to think sending in a billionaire or a centrist touched by Obama will sway voters to vote Blue. It’s not true.

The DNC would have voters believe the best leader for the party and the country is a candidate who has a long history of undermining the middle class, taking money from big donors, in particular from people in the credit card field and the financial industry, who has been caught plagiarizing, who was the architect of increased incarceration and promotion of war.

What of the other options in that original field of 29?

There is nothing noble about a candidate who turns his back on promises made to his voters simply because he’s told to do so. There’s nothing honorable about a candidate who makes pinky promises with the children of her supporters one day, then obeys a command to give up her election efforts the next. There’s nothing reassuring about a candidate who apologizes for truth about corruption and shows loyalty to those who do him harm instead of standing up for fair elections and allies.

Against the efforts of the DNC and corporate media to undermine her campaign, Gabbard’s grassroots effort made it to the final three. It’s good Tulsi Gabbard remains in the fight. She’s the only candidate talking about the cost of war. She’s the only candidate talking about peace. She is the only candidate reaching across party lines to speak to and listen to the concerns of Americans. Gabbard takes no Super PAC or corporate money- she answers to no one but God and the American people.

Money has corrupted our political process. The persistent campaign of Tulsi Gabbard exposes this. Her campaign is a hard-fought grassroots campaign that plays by the rules. It’s difficult to gain ground when the rules keep changing, but Gabbard made it to the final three. Instead of celebrated, she is vilified and excluded. Meanwhile, a billionaire who entered, disrupted, and exited the race according to his whim was welcomed. If he had remained in the race, there would be no call for Bloomberg to end his campaign in March. The billionaire would have a podium at the March 15th debate with Sanders and Biden. This is the reality of Citizens United.

Gabbard is honest, authentic and principled. The lack of opportunity to speak in the debates and nationally televised town halls means many voters still don’t know who Gabbard is or that she’s still running. Some who know Gabbard is still a choice call for her to end her campaign because they say she’s not viable. The definition of viable is “capable of working successfully.” Gabbard’s grassroots campaign has been smeared, silenced and erased for over a year; Gabbard is still standing. Her campaign clearly is capable working successfully. If given equal opportunity to speak to Americans on a national level, the numbers would show her true viability.

The absence of outrage for the exclusion and erasure of a combat veteran and distinguished Congresswoman who serves the country well is strange. We’re in strange times, but there have been stranger times in our history. Strong leadership and a collective American will to claim the right to a fair election process are needed. The country must address the damage Citizens United has done to election integrity.

America has been lulled to inattention and persuaded by disinformation. Those with the most money control public perceptions. Voters reject their strongest advocates because transmissions on phones and tablets tell them 24/7 to love the weakest options and hate the strongest. Told the ones who obey all commands are the heroes, voters give them their confidence, then the so-called heroes drop out one by one on command.

Tulsi Gabbard doesn’t compromise her principles, she doesn’t bend to corruption and she doesn’t drop out on command. Since she announced her candidacy in January 2019, voters have been told she’s is the devil for doing all she can to keep America out of senseless war, but Gabbard’s record of service and voting across her eight years in Congress tells the truth. Gabbard looks at each issue on its merits, informs herself and makes decisions based on what’s in the best interest of Americans.

With the shadow of COVID-19 upon us, it’s hard to think about unfair media coverage, primary election manipulations or the fact the United States is bombing Iran-backed forces in Iraq with no declaration of war. It’s hard to think about what it means that on March 11th a bill to reauthorize abusive government surveillance powers, titled the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act, cleared the House by a vote of 278 to 136, with 152 Democrats and 126 Republicans voting yes. View the full roll call here. Gabbard voted NO.

The DNC and the media report that the primary is over, and Joe Biden is the best they’ve got. Sanders and Gabbard are asked to drop out now because unity, because Vote Blue No Matter Who.

Sanders may step down for his friend Joe, but Tulsi Gabbard is in this for all Americans, not just for her party. The primary is not over until the nomination in July. Vote Blue No Matter Who is not in the best interest of the country. If it’s unity with corruption, if it’s a call to stop listening to your better judgment and step in line with what you’re told, it’s dangerous. It brings to mind the cautionary writing of Hannah Arendt and Philip Zimbardo’s 7 Steps to Evil.

7 steps to evil — Philip Zimbardo

Seven Social Processes that grease the slippery slope of evil

Mindlessly taking the first small step

• Dehumanization of Others

• De-individuation of Self (anonymity)

• Diffusion of Personal Responsibility

• Blind Obedience to Authority

• Uncritical conformity to group Norms

• Passive tolerance of evil through inaction or indifference

Tulsi Gabbard shows the country she serves something greater than the DNC. She speaks to and listens to Americans across party lines. In Gabbard, there is potential to heal the deeply divided nation. While Trump is on his podium telling half the country that the other half is the enemy, Gabbard speaks to Americans across party lines, listens and shows respect to all. She encourages Americans to do as she does- to listen to each other, to find common ground and to come together as a country to make things better. Gabbard’s professional and personal record is one of selfless service to others and right action. Her goal to end corruption and usher in a new era of cooperation and peace resonates for Americans across political boundaries.

Gabbard meets with adversity that would crush the average person. Strong in body, mind and faith, she persists. A spiritual person might see this as Gabbard having help from a higher source. Given the biblical proportion of the world’s current challenges, even the most ardent nonbelievers concede it’s a miracle Gabbard remains in the race with so much working against her.

The United States needs strong, capable leadership to inspire cooperative action to help the many, not the few. The DNC believes a weaker version of some of Trump’s worst traits is the way to defeat him. Sanders supporters believe moral consistency is enough to ensure victory, ignoring the need to fight. If Sanders can’t stand up to the DNC, he’s not likely to succeed against Trump.

Tulsi Gabbard alone can defeat Trump. The contrast between the 38-year-old female combat veteran and the 73-year-old businessman-reality TV personality is significant. Two key differences between Gabbard and Trump are military service and faith.

Gabbard is a combat veteran with a long record of advocacy for US Veterans. She continues to serve as a Major in the US Army. Gabbard has in-depth understanding of foreign policy. Her experience in the military and in Congress serving on the Homeland Security, Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees make her uniquely qualified for the job of Commander in Chief. Gabbard studies the issues, looks to the constitution and founding documents, listens to advisers, but the final decision is her own.

Trump accepts military medals as gifts from fans, but never served the country in uniform. He continues to place service members in harm’s way and has disrespected families of fallen soldiers. Unlike Gabbard, Trump’s lack of experience and understanding of complex foreign policy issues makes him reliant on advisers to make sound judgments on foreign policy, yet he frequently refuses information from the advisers.

Gabbard is a Hindu-Christian who doesn’t use her faith for personal gain. Raised by a Catholic father, she was shown Christ’s teachings of love for one another is the same as love for God, making a powerful case for love and kindness. The Hinduism of her mother places a similar emphasis on love and kindness. The Hindu concept of Ahimsa, which means “not to injure” or “compassion,” refers to one of the key virtues for Hindus. It’s a form of loving kindness like that of Christianity. These belief systems shaped Gabbard. Her experiences in war in Iraq and Afghanistan contributed a heightened understanding of the need for religious tolerance and equality. Gabbard demonstrates her faith through her actions without imposing her beliefs on anyone. Gabbard- described by SC Rep Trey Gowdy as “the most Christlike member of Congress”- is a fierce advocate for religious freedom for all.

In contrast, Trump’s connection with religion seems exclusively reserved for Christians, contingent on personal and political gain. His life is void of examples of service or unselfish behavior. Trump uses the National Prayer Breakfast to promote himself and disparage others. Trump answers to no one- not his party, not Americans and especially not God. His supporters like this, largely because people are tired of representatives who capitulate to the system once elected. They’d rather see someone fight the system- even if the fight isn’t to benefit them. It’s harder to reconcile the continued support of Trump’s Christian base that refuses to recognize the inconsistency between the words and actions of the administration.

4 U.S. Code § 8.Respect for flag- No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America

Gabbard served in Iraq and Afghanistan

Trump’s failure to anticipate and quickly address the COVID-19 outbreak is unacceptable. The need for effective leadership is more urgent than ever.

If the Democratic party is interested in winning the election and serving the country’s best interest, they aren’t showing it. They’ve gone far to undermine their best chance to reach Americans and take back power in November. The DNC prefers four more years of Trump corruption if defeating him means nominating a progressive who will end their own corruption.

Gabbard’s efforts to focus American attention on COVID-19 many weeks ago, her call for free testing for the virus and implementation of effective practices of other countries used to detect and control the spread of the virus, and her swift legislative effort H. Res 897 to help Americans deal with the economic hardship presented by COVID-19 show she has the intelligence, compassion, and foresight of a great leader.

The strange exclusion of Tulsi Gabbard from participation in the final two debates for which she qualified isn’t just a loss for Democrats.

It’s a loss for the entire country.