Nomiki Konst, a Bernie surrogate, criticizes Tulsi Gabbard.

[Eric J in MN]

Tulsi Gabbard told Sean Hannity that the impeachment process isn’t transparent enough.

Nomiki Konst says that’s a Republican talking point.

[TomCADem]

1. Sanders first top tier candidate to back Gabbard in war of words with Clinton

I don't know. It seems like Bernie's campaign had been all in with Tulsi Gabbard even as she has been moonlighting as a Fox News talking head.

https://vtdigger.org/2019/10/22/sanders-first-of-top-tier-candidates-to-back-gabbard-in-war-of-words-with-clinton/

Sen. Bernie Sanders has defended fellow Democratic candidate for president, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, against accusations made by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the congresswoman is being “groomed” as a Russia-backed third-party candidate for president.

“Tulsi Gabbard has put her life on the line to defend this country,” Sanders said in a statement Monday evening. “People can disagree on issues, but it is outrageous for anyone to suggest that Tulsi is a foreign asset.”

* * *

The Hawaii congresswoman has also faced sharp criticism for her decision to meet with Bashar al Assad, the president of Syria, in 2017. Assad faces widespread allegations of committing crimes against humanity during eight years of civil war in his country.

Nina Turner, senior adviser and campaign surrogate for Sanders, spoke out in support of Gabbard over the weekend, before the Vermont senator did so himself.

[mopinko]

3. except that hillary said it was the republicans who were grooming her.

and for a third party run, not for a job as a spy.

[Dem4Life1102]

5. No

That was a misquote. Clinton said the Russians not the republicans

[thesquanderer]

7. It is the reverse... but there is ambiguity in the way it was phrased.

She did say the word "Russians" but exactly what that word applied to is vague. As I was saying elsewhere:

I believe this transcript is correct, edited to the pertinent parts...

Plouffe: "So {Trump's} going to try and drive the people not to vote for him but just to say, ‘you know, you can't vote for them either.’ And that seems to be, I think, to the extent that I can define a strategy, their key strategy right now."

Clinton: "Well, I think there's going to be two parts and I think it's going to be the same as 2016: ‘Don't vote for the other guy. You don't like me? Don't vote for the other guy because the other guy is going to do X, Y and Z or the other guy did such terrible things...They're also going to do third party again. And I'm not making any predictions but I think they've got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third party candidate. She's the favorite of the Russians.

The question is about who the words "they" and "their" refer to -- it's ambiguous, which is what caused the confusion in interpretation. But in the full context, it makes sense if "they" and "their" refer to Trump and his Republicans, i.e. "the right." Yes, Clinton is talking about someone being groomed, and she talks about that person being the favorite of the Russians, but the quote does not actually say the Russians are the ones doing the grooming. It is, at least, open to interpretation. It can be "The right is trying to groom someone for a third party run. This person they're grooming is a favorite of the Russians." This is, essentially, the version that was corrected from the original reporting that people had been responding to.

[Blue_true]

10. Hillary didn't say what you just claimed. The New York Times misquoted her and wrote

a retraction. She said that republicans were likely grooming a female democratic primary candidate for a third party run. Hillary did say that Jill Stein was likely a Russian asset.

[thesquanderer]

6. I think that statement was from before that clarification was made. (n/t)

[vsrazdem]

2. I defended her right to continue on here as she is a candidate, but she is making it REALLY hard.

If she is so unhappy with the way things are being dealt with, maybe should should do some sould searching as to whether she wants to continue in the Democratic party.

[Thekaspervote]

4. Bernie.... still talking about Clinton.. let it go!!!

[thesquanderer]

8. It *is* a Republican talking point. If it's true, it's true, regardless of...

...whether the person saying it is a Bernie surrogate or anyone else. Is there anything wrong with anyone calling Tulsi out on this, regardless of whether they are affiliated with another campaign or not?

BTW, IS Nomiki Konst is a Bernie surrogate (i.e. someone Bernie puts out on the campaign trail or makes available for media appearances with the intent of representing him or speaking on his behalf)? She does not appear to be presented that way here. Just the fact that someone supports Sanders (or worked on his behalf in 2016) does not mean they currently represent his campaign. AFAIK, she is not a spokesperson in any capacity, and Sanders supporters ARE allowed to have other jobs...

[Eric J in MN]

9. Nomiki Konst says she's a Bernie surrogate

...in her Twitter Profile:
===
Intersectional Feminist. Anti-Fascist. Challenging big money & status quo. Alum:
@theyoungturks

@siriusxm

@CBSNlive
Surrogate
@berniesanders
It's "No-me-KEY"
===