‘Disqualifying’: Fox Contributor Hammers Tulsi Gabbard After Refusing Four Times to Call Snowden a Traitor
Marc Thiessen, a Fox News contributor and former chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush, called Tulsi Gabbard’s refusal to call Edward Snowden a traitor during her Thursday confirmation hearing “disqualifying.”
Gabbard faced multiple rounds of heated questions from Democrats on the Intelligence Committee as she seeks confirmation to serve as President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence – one of the most powerful roles in the U.S. government.
Colorado’s Michael Bennet (D-CO) asked Gabbard, “Is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?”
“Senator, I will also repeat my answer. He broke the law,” she replied as Bennet cut back in:
You said earlier that you were offended by a question that my colleague from Kansas asked, which I think was his duty as somebody on this committee to to fulfill his responsibility to advise and consent. We are not here to be a rubber stamp for the president of the United States. Let me ask you again. Do you believe, as the chairman of this committee believes, as the vast majority of members of our intelligence agencies believe that Snowden is a traitor?
“Senator, if confirmed,” Gabbard replied again before being cut off:
This is when the rubber hits the road.
This is not a moment for social media.
It’s not a moment to propagate theories, conspiracy theories or or attacks on journalism in the United States. This is when you need to answer the questions of the people whose votes you’re asking for to be confirmed. As the chief intelligence officer of this nation. As my colleagues said, this is not about you. It’s about the people that serve the intelligence agencies of the United States. Is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America? That is not a hard question to answer when the stakes are this high.
“Senator, as someone—” Gabbard started again as Bennet insisted, “Yes or no? Is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?”
“As someone–” she started again as Bennet said, “We can move on.”
The Washington Post’s Josh Rogin summed up the exchange on X, writing, “Senator Bennet asks four times “Is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?” Tulsi refuses to answer.”
Thiessen replied to Rogin and added, “This is disqualifying.” He later defended his take against X users who suggested that Bennet was using an unfair line of questioning. “Is Edward Snowden a traitor?’ is not a gotcha question it’s a softball question,” he replied.
Watch the clip above.
