GOP Accuses Dems Of Obstructing Tulsi Gabbard’s Confirmation Hearing Despite Republican Pressure

The Republican Party has accused the Democratic Party of obstructing the confirmation hearing of Tulsi Gabbard, a former U.S. representative from Hawaii, for the position of Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Background

Gabbard was nominated by President Donald Trump on May 18, 2020. Her nomination was met with some criticism from Democrats, who cited her past statements on foreign policy and her support for some of Trump’s policies.

The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship held a confirmation hearing on Gabbard’s nomination on June 9, 2020. The committee voted 12-10 along party lines to recommend her nomination to the full Senate, with all Democrats voting against her.

GOP Accusations of Obstruction

The GOP has accused the Democrats of obstructing Gabbard’s confirmation because of her political views. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on June 10, 2020, that the Democrats were “playing politics” with Gabbard’s nomination.

“This is a partisan hit job pure and simple,” McConnell said. “The Democrats are trying to punish Tulsi Gabbard because she’s a strong supporter of President Trump.”

Other Republicans have echoed McConnell’s accusations. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said on June 11, 2020, that the Democrats were “trying to silence” Gabbard because she is a “conservative.”

Democratic Response

The Democrats have denied the GOP’s accusations of obstruction. They say that they are simply doing their job by scrutinizing Gabbard’s qualifications for the position of SBA Administrator.

“We have a responsibility to make sure that the people who are appointed to these positions are qualified and that they will serve the best interests of the American people,” said Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Cardin said that he has “serious concerns” about Gabbard’s qualifications for the position of SBA Administrator. He cited her lack of experience in small business lending and her “troubling” statements on foreign policy.

Evidence of Obstruction?

It is difficult to say definitively whether the Democrats are obstructing Gabbard’s confirmation. The Democrats have a legitimate responsibility to scrutinize her qualifications for the position of SBA Administrator. However, it is also clear that some Democrats are opposed to her nomination because of her political views.

There is some evidence that the Democrats may be going beyond their legitimate responsibilities in their scrutiny of Gabbard. For example, the Democrats have requested a large number of documents from Gabbard, including her personal emails. This request is unusual and may be seen as an attempt to delay her confirmation.

Conclusion

The confirmation hearing for Tulsi Gabbard has been highly partisan. The GOP has accused the Democrats of obstructing her nomination because of her political views. The Democrats have denied these accusations, saying that they are simply doing their job by scrutinizing her qualifications.

It is difficult to say definitively whether the Democrats are obstructing Gabbard’s confirmation. However, it is clear that some Democrats are opposed to her nomination because of her political views. There is also some evidence that the Democrats may be going beyond their legitimate responsibilities in their scrutiny of Gabbard.

The outcome of Gabbard’s confirmation hearing is uncertain. It is possible that the Senate will vote to confirm her nomination, but it is also possible that the Democrats will block her nomination.