Gab, Gab, Gabbard

Gabbard highlights service, ability to work with others.

Monday, April 9, 2012 | 1:46 p.m.

"At only 30 years old," Honolulu City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard (D) "already has a long resume," which includes "being the youngest person elected to the state Legislature" and "two deployments to the Middle East" with the HI Nat'l Guard.

"Gabbard is one of four candidates to check out papers" for HI-02, "although she had not yet filed as an official candidate."

Gabbard said during a Maui News interview on April 6 "that she's no stranger to challenges. When she sought an open West Oahu seat in the state Legislature in 2002, friends told her she was 'crazy.'" ... Nevertheless, she saw an opportunity, campaigned door to door and won the seat."

Gabbard "said she wants to serve those 'who have no voice,' who she describes as 'real people, neighbors struggling to make ends meet, working two to three jobs to put food on the table.'"

Gabbard joined the HI Nat'l Guard in '03. Then, in the summer of '04 "as her two-year term in the Legislature was coming to an end, Gabbard said she learned the soldiers she trained with, the 29th Brigade Combat Team, were being deployed to Iraq, but her unit, the Medical Command, would not be deployed. She said she could have stayed home to continue her political career or set aside her career in elected office and volunteer as an enlisted soldier in Iraq. She chose the latter." Gabbard: "It did not take me long to realize there was no way I could stay home and watch my brothers and sisters in uniform march off to Iraq without me."

"She said her job as a medical operations specialist included the 'sobering' task of reviewing the daily list" of HI soldiers "either injured or killed in action and making sure they were taken care of in medical facilities in Iraq or flown to facilities in Germany" or the U.S. "Gabbard said the soldiers' sacrifices 'gives me the motivation and inspiration to do what I can to fight for our great country, to fight for them and what they sacrificed for and be a voice for them.' And she said that's why she's running for Congress."

"Gabbard said she believes the United States should not be in Afghanistan and should withdraw troops as soon as possible." Gabbard: "We need to be investing in our own country. Our resources can best be used elsewhere."

"Gabbard said her emphasis in Congress would be to improve the economy, which supports essential services such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid; support small businesses; and protect the environment."

"She took aim" at rival ex-Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann (D), "saying he's connected to and funded by large corporate interests. She said it's 'well known' that Hannemann's experience" as a CEO "has led to an attitude of 'my way or the highway.'" Gabbard: "That way will not be effective as one of 435 members of Congress. I work well as a member of a team and have great relationships with our congressional delegation and would work well with Gov. (Neil) Abercrombie (D)" (Perry, Maui News, 4/8).