Hillary Clinton is still a little peeved about Russian involvement in the 2016 election. The former candidate recently vented about the Russians “grooming” a Democrat as a 3rd party candidate for 2020. Those reading between the lines figured that the former first lady was talking about Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.
Gabbard defended herself on Twitter this weekend, referring to Clinton as the “queen of warmongers.” The Hawaiian lawmaker also received support from two other democratic candidates: Andrew Yang and Marianne Williamson.
Yang argued that Gabbard should be above criticism since she served in the US Military. He tweeted, “Tulsi Gabbard deserves much more respect and thanks than this. She literally just got back from serving our country abroad.”
Tulsi Gabbard deserves much more respect and thanks than this. She literally just got back from serving our country abroad.
— Andrew Yang🧢 (@AndrewYang) October 19, 2019
Williamson felt that an attack on Gabbard was an attack on women trying to enter politics. She posted on her feed, “The Democratic establishment has got to stop smearing women it finds inconvenient! The character assassination of women who don’t toe the party line will backfire. Stay strong Tulsi Gabbard. You deserve respect and you have mine.”
The Democratic establishment has got to stop smearing women it finds inconvenient! The character assassination of women who don’t toe the party line will backfire. Stay strong @TulsiGabbard . You deserve respect and you have mine.
— Marianne Williamson (@marwilliamson) October 19, 2019
Clinton spokesperson Nick Merril explained why a claim like this may be made against Gabbard. “This is not some outlandish claim,” he told CNN. “This is reality. If the Russian propaganda machine, both their state media and their bot and troll operations, is backing a candidate aligned with their interests, that is just a reality, it is not speculation.”
Merrill later walked back his comments, saying of Clinton, “She doesn’t say the Russians are grooming anyone. It was a question about Republicans.”