TULSI NOW | |
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Campaign | 2020 United States presidential election (Democratic Party primaries) |
Candidate | Tulsi Gabbard U.S. Representative (2013–present) Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives (2002–2004) |
Affiliation | Democratic Party |
Status | Announced: January 11, 2019 Formal launch: February 2, 2019 |
Headquarters | Kapolei, Hawaii |
Key people | Rania Batrice (campaign manager)[1] Erika Tsuji (spokesperson)[1] |
Slogan | Lead with Love[2] |
Website | |
www |
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U.S. Representative
from Hawaii's 2nd district
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The 2020 presidential campaign of Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district, began on January 11, 2019.[3] If Gabbard were to win, she would become the first female, Hindu, and Samoan president in American history, and would be the youngest person to ever hold the office at the age of 39.[4]
Background
Gabbard had been a rising figure in the Democratic Party in the lead-up to the 2016 election cycle, when she served as Vice-Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).[5]
On October 19, 2018, Politico reported that Gabbard was "weighing a 2020 presidential bid" but would not make an announcement until after the 2018 midterm elections.[6] On December 12, 2018, Gabbard said on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews that she was "seriously considering" running for president in 2020.[7]
Democratic primary campaign
Launch
Gabbard confirmed her intention to seek the Democratic presidential nomination on January 11, 2019, in an interview with CNN's Van Jones.[3] On January 24, she formally launched her campaign by releasing a video on her website.[8] She held a kickoff rally in Hawaii on February 2.[9]
In her campaign launch, Gabbard called on “every one of us" to take a stand against "neolibs and neocons” from both parties “dragging us from one regime change war to the next”; the military industrial complex and foreign policy establishment starting a ‘New Cold War' arms race; and "self-serving politicians" with vested interests in perpetual war.[10]
In February 2019, an NBC news report stated that Gabbard's campaign was being promoted by a number of news and social media outlets that were linked to Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections.[11] Glenn Greenwald criticized NBC for relying on a firm that had previously tried to imitate "an elaborate ‘false flag’ operation" that would plant the idea that Alabama Senatorial candidate Roy Moore was being supported by a "Russian botnet".[12][13] According to Gabbard, NBC had told her would publish the story the week after her launch, but instead published it two hours before her launch speech.[14]
In a campaign email released later that week, Gabbard said that “media giants ruled by corporate interests … in the pocket of the ‘establishment war machine' deploy journalism “to silence debate and dissent” and use rhetoric “that could lead to nuclear war".[15][16][17]
Campaign management
Shortly after the announcement, campaign manager Rania Batrice and consulting firm Revolution Messaging, having been hired only for the campaign launch, departed from the campaign. Politico reported that sources "familiar with the campaign" referred to Gabbard as "indecisive and impulsive".[1] Her staff though insists that the vacancy in the campaign manager position is the result of "careful deliberation, not campaign dysfunction."[18]
Debates
Gabbard was the most searched for candidate on Google after both the first and second Democratic primary debates.[19] During the second debate, Gabbard pointedly criticized Kamala Harris's record as attorney general of California, accusing her of holding innocent people on death row.[20][21]
In May 2019, the DNC announced that candidates would need to have at least 130,000 individual donors and have received at least 2 percent support in four qualifying polls between June 28 and August 28 in order to qualify for the third primary debate.[22] Such polls could be national or early primary state polls, published by any of the 16 DNC-certified organizations.[23] On August 2nd, the Gabbard campaign announced that it had met the donor threshold to qualify, but had not yet reached the polling threshold.[24]
On August 23, the campaign released a statement noting that, in contrast to six polls being released in the two weeks following the first debate, only two were released in the two weeks following the second debate, and argued that the lack of polling was "particularly harmful to candidates with lower name-recognition". The campaign statement, and later Gabbard in interviews, said the poll selection process "should not be made in secret by party bosses", that it lacked "transparency" and that it would create a "lack of trust in the process".[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]
By August 26th, two days before the deadline, the Gabbard campaign had exceeded the threshold on only two qualifying polls. The campaign called on the DNC to expand the selection of polls considered for qualification, noting that Gabbard had exceeded the 2 percent threshold on 24 other polls, including several from respected polling firms, that were not considered in the DNC's list.[35][36][37][38] When her assertion regarding transparency was challenged by CNN's Jim Sciutto, Gabbard criticized a lack of explanation by the DNC for why certain polls are qualifying while other "very credible, recognized" polls are not; the reduced frequency of polling; the demographics of the voters being polled; and "more importantly: where polls are not taking place."[39] By the latter Gabbard alluded to the fact that between the July and September 2019 debates only one qualifying poll had taken place in any of the four early primary states. (See the primary calendar and the list of published statewide polls.)
Realclearpolitics columnist Michael Tracey argued that DNC's debate qualification criteria were "increasingly absurd", citing "two polls sponsored by the two largest newspapers in two early primary states" that were not certified by the DNC and called upon the DNC to honor its declaration in its December 20, 2018 debate 'framework' where it had declared “Given the fluid nature of the presidential nominating process, the DNC will continuously assess the state of the race and make adjustments to this process as appropriate.”[40][41] The Gabbard campaign echoed Vox.com editor Aaron Rupar pushed back on claims that the process lacked transparency, writing that the qualification and polling requirements were made public months in advance, and that expanding the polling criteria so close to the debates would have constituted unfair interference.[42]
FiveThirtyEight analyzed which candidates would meet the qualification criterion of 4 polls for the September 2019 debates under three different polling rule sets based on slight changes to the DNC's current rule set. If all polls would be considered, Gabbard would qualify with 9 polls and Tom Steyer with 7 polls. If all polling organizations rated by FiveThirtyEight as having a quality rating of at least B- would be eligible, Gabbard would qualify with 5 polls and Steyer with 4 polls. If only polls conducted via telephone would be counted, both Gabbard and Steyer would not qualify with only 2 polls and also Julian Castro would not qualify with 3 polls. Geoffrey Skelley, the author of this analysis concluded, "there’s an argument to be made that the DNC’s list of eligible pollsters helped make or break qualification for those candidates on the bubble — Gabbard and Steyer in particular."[43]
The Directors of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion criticize the DNC's qualification criterion in their podcast, "Why public opinion polls should not be used to determine presidential primary debate eligibility." College Director Lee Miringoff and Director of Innovation Jay DeDapper argue that the problem is, the margin of error of these polls is "way beyond the precision that these polls are being used for. 2% you are in, 1% your are out." They also criticize the number of voters being polled as so small that it results in a very wide margin of error and a potential for large swings in reported numbers: "In one poll 2 people name Yang and 1 Gabbard, and the next poll flips it around .... The numbers are not inaccurate, but it's like cutting a diamond with a jackhammer. It doesn't work. Polls should not be used this way." Poll Director Barbara Carvalho advocates for other measurements of political support than polls, e.g. donations raised. Carvalho says the past tells that the use of national polls rather than state polls gives an advantage to candidates with strong name recognition, but a lesser known candidate can become "one of the players down the road" as votes start being counted in an early primary state. Carvalho emphasizes that polls in early primary states give a better "sense of a candidate's political support early in the race." DeDapper was critical of the fact that most polls have been national polls, but "there is no national primary obviously. The national polls are therefore inexact. It's a bad use of polls."[44]
Fundraising
In mid-2017 Gabbard pledged to no longer accept money from political action committees.[45] In October 2018 The Intercept reported that she was one of only four members of Congress who had pledged not to accept corporate campaign donations.[46][47]
In the first quarter of 2019, the campaign raised $4,495,770, with $1,995,770 from individual donations and $2,500,000 transferred from Gabbard's congressional campaign.[48] The campaign has met the polling and the individual donor requirements of the DNC's qualifying criteria for participating in the June and July 2019 debates.[49]
In the second quarter of 2019, the campaign raised $1,567,204 which brings the total to $6,062,974[48] with 69.0% coming from "small dollar" donors giving $200 or less.[50]
Lawsuit against Google
On July 27, Tulsi Now Inc. filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that the internet technology company suspended the campaign's Google Ads account without reason and that the company had treated the campaign's mail differently than it treated other campaigns' mail. The lawsuit seeks "an injunction against Google from further meddling in the election and damages of at least $50 million."[51]
Military service during campaign
Gabbard left her campaign from August 15–25 to serve with the Hawaii Army National Guard in Indonesia during a joint military training exercise with the Indonesian National Armed Forces.[52]
Polling
Gabbard has polled in single digits in national polls. Gabbard has polled at 1% in several major polls.[53][54][55] In a poll conducted between July 9 and 18 of registered Democrats in New Hampshire, Gabbard and former Representative Beto O'Rourke were tied in sixth place at 2%.[56]
On August 19, Gabbard garnered 4.8% of the Iowa State Fair Straw Poll, placing 7th in a field of 24.
Policies
Endorsements
- U.S. Senators
- Mike Gravel, former U.S. Senator from Alaska (1969–81); Democratic candidate for president in 2008 and 2020[57] (co-endorse alongside with Bernie Sanders)
- U.S. Representatives
- Ron Paul, former member of U.S. Representative from TX-22 (1976–1977, 1979–1985) and TX-14 (1997–2013), former Libertarian nominee in 1988 and Republican candidate in 2008 and 2012 (primary endorsement)[58]
- State legislators
- Mike Gabbard, Hawaii State Senator from District 20 since 2006; Republican nominee for U.S. Representative from HI-02 in 2004; Gabbard's father[59]
- Local officials
- Bill Paparian, former Mayor of Pasadena, California (1995–1997); Green nominee for U.S. Representative from CA-29 in 2006[60] (Independent)
- Others
- Natalia Cordova-Buckley, actress[61]
- David Crosby, musician[62]
- Jimmy Dore, comedian and political commentator[63]
- Kim Dotcom, entrepreneur and political activist[64]
- Charlotte Laws, author, cable news commentator, activist.[65]
- Sean Ono Lennon, musician[66]
- Tim Pool, political commentator[67]
- Joe Rogan, host of the top-ranked podcast The Joe Rogan Experience[68]
- Oliver Stone, filmmaker[69]
- Lee Stranahan, investigative reporter for Sputnik News[70]
- Nassim Nicholas Taleb, essayist, scholar, statistician, risk analyst, and former trader[71]
References
- ^ a b c Strauss, Daniel; Thompson, Alex (January 29, 2019). "Tulsi Gabbard campaign in disarray". Politico.
- ^ DeRensis, Hunter (January 14, 2019). "Are the Democrats ready for Tulsi Gabbard?". The National Interest. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
- ^ a b Kelly, Caroline. "Rep. Gabbard says she will run for president in 2020". CNN. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
- ^ Astor, Maggie (January 11, 2019). "Tulsi Gabbard, Representative From Hawaii, Announces Democratic Presidential Bid". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
- ^ Alcindor, Yamiche (February 28, 2016). "Tulsi Gabbard, Rising Democratic Star, Endorses Bernie Sanders". The New York Times. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
- ^ Thompson, Alex (October 19, 2018). "Tulsi Gabbard weighing 2020 presidential bid". POLITICO. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ MSNBC, Tulsi Gabbard: "I'm Seriously Considering" Running For President | Hardball | MSNBC, retrieved December 17, 2018
- ^ McAvoy, Audrey (January 24, 2019). "Hawaii's Gabbard formally launches campaign for president". Associated Press. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- ^ Bowden, John. "Tulsi Gabbard officially launches 2020 campaign". The Hill. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "Tulsi Gabbard's Full Speech - Presidential Campaign Launch". 4President.org. 4President Corporation. February 2, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ Windrem, Robert; Popken, Ben (February 2, 2019). "Russia's propaganda machine discovers 2020 Democratic candidate Tulsi Gabbard". NBC News. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ Shane, Scott; Blinder, Alan (December 19, 2018). "Secret Experiment in Alabama Senate Race Imitated Russian Tactics". The New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
- ^ Greenwald, Glenn (February 3, 2019). "NBC News, to Claim Russia Supports Tulsi Gabbard, Relies on Firm Just Caught Fabricating Russia Data for the Democratic Party". The Intercept. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
- ^ Taibbi, Matt (August 9, 2019). "Who's Afraid of Tulsi Gabbard?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
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(help) - ^ "Tulsi Gabbard Emerges As Most Outspoken Anti-War Candidate in Decades". The Maui Independent. February 20, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
"Our freedoms and democracy are being threatened by media giants ruled by corporate interests who are in the pocket of the establishment war machine," she said. "When journalism is deployed as a weapon against those who call for peace, it threatens our democracy as it seeks to silence debate and dissent, creates an atmosphere of fear and paranoia, and stokes the rhetoric that could lead to nuclear war."
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(help) - ^ Cimmino, Jeffrey (February 10, 2019). "Gabbard Attacks the Media in Fundraising Email: 'Media Giants Ruled by Corporate Interests,' In the Pocket of the 'War Machine'". The Washington Free Beacon. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
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(help) - ^ Cocke, Sophie (July 25, 2019). "Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard sues Google for $50 million". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Honolulu, HI. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
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(help) - ^ Wang, Amy B (July 28, 2019). "'A different type of vibe': What does Tulsi Gabbard's 2020 run say about America?". The Washington Post’’. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
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(help) - ^ Cummings, William (August 1, 2019). "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is again the most-searched candidate on Google during Democratic debate". USA Today. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Flynn, Meagan (August 1, 2019). "'You owe them an apology': Gabbard's attack highlights Harris's complex death penalty record". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Greenwood, Max; Easley, Jonathan (August 4, 2019). "Harris shows she can take debate punch after Gabbard attack". The Hill. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Epstein, Reid J. (August 28, 2019). "Democratic Candidates Jostle, and Gripe, as Debates Winnow the Field". The New York Times. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
- ^ Prokop, Andrew (August 29, 2019). "Here's the finalized lineup for the September Democratic debate". Vox. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Axelrod, Tal (August 2, 2019). "Gabbard reaches donor threshold for September debate". The Hill. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
- ^ "Tulsi Gabbard's campaign wants the DNC to change debate qualifying poll requirements - Politics News - ABC News Radio". abcnewsradioonline.com. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Spangler, Todd; Aschbrenner, Annah. "As debate lineup solidifies, some 2020 Democrats cry foul over polling requirements". TheStarPress. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Prince, Molly (August 23, 2019). "Tulsi's 2020 Campaign Urges DNC To Adjust Debate Criteria As She Sits Just Shy Of Qualifying | Daily Wire". www.dailywire.com. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
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(help) - ^ Aschbrenner, Annah; Wu, Nicholas (August 29, 2019). "Lineup cut in half: Here's who made the third Democratic presidential debate". USA TODAY. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
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(help) - ^ "Gabbard campaign wants more transparency in Dem debate requirements – Indica News". indicanews.com. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Santucci, Jeanine (August 29, 2019). "Tulsi Gabbard tells Fox News host Tucker Carlson that DNC debate criteria isn't transparent". USA Today. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
- ^ Camp, Frank (August 31, 2019). "WATCH: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Shreds 'Lack Of Transparency' From DNC That Shut Her Out Of The Next Debate". The Daily Wire. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Carlson, Tucker (August 28, 2019). "Gabbard: Lack of transparency causing lack of trust in the government". Fox News. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Quijano, Elaine (August 28, 2019). "Tulsi Gabbard back on the campaign trail". CBS News. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Quijano, Elaine (August 28, 2019). "Tulsi Gabbard: There's no circumstance where I won't support Democratic nominee". CBS News on YouTube. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Skelley, Geoffrey (August 26, 2019). "Here's Who's Qualified For The Third Democratic Debate". Fivethirtyeight.com. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
- ^ McLaughlin, Seth (August 26, 2019). "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard knocks DNC over debate qualifying rules". Washington Times. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
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(help) - ^ Jha, Ritu (August 26, 2019). "Gabbard campaign wants more transparency in Dem debate requirements". Indica News. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
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(help) - ^ Tulsi2020 (August 23, 2019). "Tulsi Gabbard's Campaign Calls On the DNC to Ensure Transparency in Debate Requirements". Tulsi2020.com. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Hains, Tim (August 29, 2019). "Gabbard Confirms She Will Not Run As Third-Party Candidate". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ Michael Tracey (August 21, 2019). "Gabbard Victimized by DNC's Dubious Debate Criteria". Real Clear Politics.
- ^ "DNC Announces Framework for the 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary Debates". Democrats. December 20, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ^ Rupar, Aaron (August 30, 2019). "Tulsi Gabbard vs. the DNC: her complaint about debate exclusion, explained". Vox. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
- ^ Skelley, Geoffrey (August 30, 2019). "What If The Third Debate Were Based On Different Polls?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ^ "Poll Hub: Cut the Criteria". Marist Poll. August 30, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ^ Ahmed, Akbar Shahid (January 31, 2019). "Tulsi Gabbard Claims Anti-War Credentials After Accepting Over $100,000 From Arms Dealers". Huffington Post. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
- ^ Lacy, Akela (December 2, 2018). "In Democrats' First Bill, There's a Quiet Push to Make Public Campaign Finance a Reality". The Intercept. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
- ^ Cohen, Rachel M.; Grim, Ryan (October 14, 2018). "Nearly Every Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Still Takes Corporate PAC Money". The Intercept. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
- ^ a b "GABBARD, TULSI Candidate for President ID: P00009183". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
- ^ Strauss, Daniel; Montellaro, Zach (May 24, 2019). "Jay Inslee hits 65,000-donor threshold to make the Democratic debates". Politico. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- ^ "In 2020 Democratic Fund-Raising, Five Candidates Stand Out". New York Times. July 16, 2019. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
- ^ Daisuke Wakabayashi (July 25, 2019). "Tulsi Gabbard, Democratic Presidential Candidate, Sues Google for $50 Million". New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ^ @TulsiGabbard (August 15, 2019). "#WhyTulsi. While Tulsi is overseas serving in uniform for the next two weeks, let us be her voice and tell the world why we need her to be president. 🙏🏽 -V. #sheserves #tulsi2020" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Blair, Chad (May 22, 2019). "Gabbard Continues To Poll Poorly In Presidential Field". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- ^ "2020 Democratic Presidential Nomination". RealClear Politics. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- ^ Gasparino, Charles; Moynihan, Lydia (May 24, 2019). "Biden, Buttigieg, Gabbard hit Wall Street for money despite class warfare rhetoric". Fox Business. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- ^ Rodrigo, Chris Mills (July 21, 2019). "New CBS poll shows Biden with 7-point lead in New Hampshire". The Hill.
- ^ "Here is @mikegravel2020's official written endorsement of @tulsigabbard for president of the United States". Instagram.com. Primo Nutmeg. August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ McLaughlin, Aidan (May 6, 2019). "Ron Paul Backs Tulsi Gabbard's 2020 BidIn Appearance On Russian TV: 'She's Good On Foreign Policy'". Mediaite. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- ^ "Tulsi Gabbard launches presidential campaign at Waikiki event". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. February 2, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
- ^ Paparian, Bill (February 16, 2019). "Tulsi Gabbard could be the president America needs". Pasadena Star-News. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
- ^ Cordova, Natalia [@YOSOYCORDOVA] (August 1, 2019). "Yes!!! So proud of you @TulsiGabbard !!! But mostly, I'm so grateful to have a candidate like you" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @thedavidcrosby (November 22, 2018). "Tulsi you just got me as a strong supporter.....well spoken" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Jimmy Dore Supports Status Coup as NBC Denies It Media Credentials for Debate". June 26, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Dotcom, Kim [@KimDotcom] (August 1, 2019). "I like the say-it-how-it-is candidate for president @TulsiGabbard. You know that I embrace the truth and I always support truth-tellers. Do me a favor and invest just an hour of your time this week to learn about Tulsi and her message. I think you'll be impressed like me" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @charlottelaws (June 29, 2019). "Gabbard / Booker for 2020" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Lennon, Sean Ono [@seanonolennon] (July 15, 2019). "Please RT. Only 174 $1 donations by midnight to reach goal for @TulsiGabbard !pic.twitter.com/KTOCZp0NNR" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Conservatives Defend Tulsi Gabbard Explaining Exactly Why I Support Her". June 29, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Joe Rogan: Tulsi Gabbard's my girl, I'm voting for her I decided, I like her". May 2, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ @theoliverstone (May 17, 2019). "It seems like a dream that @TulsiGabbard could become #President, but I'd still love to see it happen. Tulsi vs. Trump in 2020 -- what a debate! And I bet you the lady would win. http://bit.ly/2LNGdoB http://facebook.com/TheOliverStone" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Radio Host and Fmr. Trump Supporter Explains Why He's All In For Tulsi" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Nassim Nicholas Taleb [@nntaleb] (May 10, 2019). "This is to express my warm support to @TulsiGabbard … to stand up against the sinister militaristic lobby!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.