Democratic presidential candidate and Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) voted present on the articles of impeachment that were voted upon today against President Trump. This came as a shock to the political world. Gabbard had not announced how she was going to vote prior to the actual vote. She has voiced support for censuring President Trump instead of impeachment. A censure is a formal statement of disapproval and would not remove the president.
This comes as Gabbard has refused to participate in the next Democratic debate, which is tomorrow December 19. According to the New York Post, “‘I instead choose to spend that precious time directly meeting with and hearing from the people of New Hampshire and South Carolina,’ she said in her tweet. Just six Democratic candidates have qualified for next week’s debate, according to the Times. Billionaire Tom Steyer, former Vice President Joe Biden, South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren will face off on Dec. 19.”
The articles of impeachment that were voted upon Article 1: Abuse of Power: “The fact of this charge is above dispute. He asked Ukraine’s President, in a phone call, for the favor of investigating the Bidens. Democrats argue they have to move fast and now because this is about the coming election in 2020. He’s trying to harm the democratic process in real time.”
Article 2: Obstruction of Congress: “The White House has ignored subpoenas for documents and testimony from agencies in the executive branch, including the Pentagon, the State Department and the Office of Management and Budget. Officials in Trump’s Cabinet and top aides in the White House have also ignored subpoenas.”
According to The Hill, Gabbard spoke about impeachment by saying, “and just all the factors that go into really trying to figure out what is the best action to take for our country. And for democracy. It’s not a simple or easy decision to make”.
Additionally, she said, “Trump won his election, and as unhappy as that may make us as Democrats, he won that election in 2016. [Impeachment] will only further divide an already terribly divided country.”
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has not shown any support for censuring. According to The National Review, Pelosi stated, “I think censure is just a way out. If you want to go, you gotta go. If the goods are there, you must impeach. Censure is nice, but it is not commensurate with the violations of the Constitution should we decide that’s the way to go.”
Recently, Gabbard appeared on the Mike Huckabee Show on TBN describing how Huckabee and herself love the United States and she hopes to find common ground to heal the divide between the right and the left. View her appearance below:
You and I may disagree on various issues, but at our core, we love our country and we appreciate the values, principles, and freedoms enshrined in our constitution. This common ground is the path forward to bridge the divides between us. #TULSI2020 @GovMikeHuckabee pic.twitter.com/fu8Mz2PGft
— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) December 15, 2019
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