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Of President Trump’s cabinet picks, Tulsi Gabbard, a former representative from Hawaii, could have the hardest time making it through the confirmation process. On Thursday, with several key senators still undecided, she appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee for an all-important hearing as senators grilled her on her past remarks about Edward Snowden and her unorthodox views on Russia and Syria. Here’s what Times Opinion columnists and contributors thought of her performance.
Michelle Goldberg Senator Mark Kelly’s questions about Gabbard’s skepticism that Bashar al-Assad was behind two chemical weapon attacks in Syria were pointed and effective. Kelly demonstrated her willful credulousness in the face of dubious characters who tell her what she wants to hear.
Jacob Heilbrunn Poised and confident in her opening statement, Gabbard deftly turned the brouhaha about her close ties to a secretive sect in Hawaii into an opportunity to defend Hinduism and depict herself as a hapless victim of religious intolerance. Talk about playing the D.E.I. card.
W.J. Hennigan Gabbard received glowing endorsements at the beginning of the hearing from Senator Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa, and former Senator Richard Burr, who praised Gabbard’s military and public service. As a former chair of the Intelligence Committee, his commendation may go a long way in providing cover for wary Republicans.
Nicholas Kristof Asked who she blames for the Ukraine war, Gabbard said bluntly, “Putin started the war in Ukraine.” After her past blather about Russia’s “legitimate security concerns” and in a hearing full of her evasions, that was a reassuring acknowledgment of a reality that should be obvious to all.
Curt Mills Gabbard, who has a reputation as an outsider, looked like a seasoned political professional from the very start. Her opening line was a home run: She said she was motivated to be director of national intelligence because of the intelligence failures that led to the war in Iraq.
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