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Tulsi Gabbard's post-presidential track record has been problematic shows no signs of improving.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who made history as Chicago's first openly LGBTQ+ woman of color to hold the office of mayor, announced last week she would only grant interviews about her two-year anniversary as mayor to journalists of color.
Gabbard took umbrage with this decision.
Mayor Lightfoot's blatant anti-white racism is abhorrent. I call upon President Biden, Kamala Harris, and other leaders of our county\u2014of all races\u2014to join me in calling for Mayor Lightfoot's resignation. Our leaders must condemn all racism, including anti-white.— Tulsi Gabbard \ud83c\udf3a (@Tulsi Gabbard \ud83c\udf3a) 1621611353
Gabbard called for President Biden and Vice President Harris to demand Lightfoot's resignation from the office of Chicago mayor, citing "anti-White racism"—a concept most sociology experts agree is a logical fallacy.
There's no such thing as anti-white racism in america, just centuries of perfectly valid reasons not to afford them any more special treatment now.— Alex Churn (@Alex Churn) 1621612180
i am begging you to explain to me what you think racism is\n\ngiving reporters of color an opportunity to ask questions about topics that concern them over whities is not racism— noodle (@noodle) 1621712209
It's Vice President Kamala Harrispic.twitter.com/7RGpP7ANH7— United for the People (@United for the People) 1621617273
I was born with white skin but I DON'T base my identity on "being white or of the white race" because I am in the majority & I don't stand out. \n\nI do not have to fight harder or protect myself because of my skin color. \n\nSo, anti-white racism isn't really a thing, Tulsi.— Ireland in Philly\ud83c\udf0a (@Ireland in Philly\ud83c\udf0a) 1621716720
It's Vice President Harris to you tulsi gabbard.— J D Cross (@J D Cross) 1621633435
Lightfoot's decision to allow only journalists of color for the interviews was because of the over-abundance of White journalists she encountered upon her election.
"[I was] struck since my first day on the campaign trail in 2018 by the overwhelming Whiteness and maleness of Chicago media outlets, editorial boards, the political press corps, and yes, the City Hall press corps specifically."
Did you bother to find out WHY she is doing what she is doing? Trying to make newsrooms a bit less the domain of white men?— Jeff Nye (@Jeff Nye) 1621698496
Anti-white racism? There is nothing in the United States, no systems, no unwritten understandings, nothing structural, institutional, cultural, or historical that gets in my way because I'm white.— Nels Nelson (@Nels Nelson) 1621615048
Tulsi Gabbard: \u201ccancel culture is destroying this country. We need to come together and embrace the aloha spirit.\u201d\n\nAlso Tulsi Gabbard:— Communist and Fascist Thirst Traps (@Communist and Fascist Thirst Traps) 1621613143
That's Vice President Harris to you, boo boo.pic.twitter.com/z0bxkkCn0i— chris evans (@chris evans) 1621623971
I commend Mayor Lightfoot. \n\nThere are very few women making decisions in news rooms in Chicago. There are even fewer women of color making decisions in news rooms in Chicago. My Uncle was Managing Director of Chicago Defender in the 1920's. The Mayor gets it!— VOTE IN EVERY LOCAL, STATE, GENERAL ELECTION! (@VOTE IN EVERY LOCAL, STATE, GENERAL ELECTION!) 1621615158
Gabbard, who is no longer a representative of the state of Hawaii, hit Fox News less than 24 hours after she left the House of Representatives to bad-mouth the use of gender-neutral language.
"It's [the use of gender neutral language] the height of hypocrisy for people who claim to be the champions of rights for women to deny the very biological existence of women," she said, in a statement eerily echoing author JK Rowling, whose own transphobia became well-known in the summer of 2020.
Love Hillary, hate Hillary, whatever. But I for one absolutely loved how she destroyed Tulsi Gabbard\u2019s presidential campaign, exposed her as Russian asset, and pushed her to out herself \u2014 without even mentioning her name. Simply brilliant.— Andrea Junker (@Andrea Junker) 1621615339
anti-white racism literally isn\u2019t a thing because we as white people are the oppressors and not the oppressed and saying otherwise only holds us back as a society\u2014you claiming your \u201coppressed\u201d is literally oppressing every1 else— resident le$bean (@resident le$bean) 1621638365
That\u2019s Vice President Harris to you, you unwitting Russian asset.— Eden Varela \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Eden Varela \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1621647299
How long before we see Tulsi announce on Fox that she\u2019s switching parties?— Brian Casey (@Brian Casey) 1621781086
You are ridiculous. The Chicago press pool has vast numbers of white reporters. Giving reporters of color opportunities is not only positive, it\u2019s important. White press voices have been the standard in journalism and interviews. Creating a new standard isn\u2019t anti-white.— Ben Clovis (@Ben Clovis) 1621612206
Gabbard's presidential campaign did not go very far, but as a voice in the political world, her right-wing statements have the potential to drum up support for regressive rhetoric.
Gabbard's status as a public figure may never grant her policy-making power again, but her voice is too destructive to be ignored.