Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, announced on Sunday that she is endorsing Bernie Sanders' presidential bid. Gabbard resigned from her post as the Democratic National Committee's vice chair to support Sanders.
Gabbard's endorsement came a day after Hillary Clinton swept the South Carolina primaries, as reported by HNGN.
"There is a clear contrast between our two candidates with regard to my strong belief that we must end the interventionist, regime change policies that have cost us so much. This is not just another issue. This is the issue, and it's deeply personal to me," Gabbard told NBC's "Meet the Press."
"As one of the first female combat veterans to serve in Congress and the first American Samoan and Hindu member of Congress, Congresswoman Gabbard is a role model who embodies the American ideal that anyone can dream big and make a difference. She is also a colleague in Congress and a friend, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside her when our Party unites behind whoever emerges as our nominee," read a statement by DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz accepting Gabbard's resignation, reports CNN.
Gabbard also explained her decision in a YouTube video in which she said the United States should avoid "interventionist wars of regime change. As a veteran of two Middle East deployments, I know first hand the cost of war. I know how important it is that our commander-in-chief has the sound judgment required to know when to use America's military power and when not to use that power. As a vice chair of the D.N.C., I am required to stay neutral in democratic primaries, but I cannot remain neutral any longer. The stakes are just too high. That's why today I'm endorsing Senator Bernie Sanders to be our next president and commander in chief of the United States. We need a commander in chief who has foresight, who exercises good judgment, and who understands the need for a robust foreign policy which defends the safety and security of the American people, and who will not waste precious lives and money on interventionist wars of regime change. We can elect a president who will lead us into more interventionist wars of regime change, or we can elect a president who will usher in a new era of peace and prosperity," Gabbard said, according to The New York Times.
"Congresswoman Gabbard is one of the important voices of a new generation of leaders. As a veteran of the Iraq War she understands the cost of war and is fighting to create a foreign policy that not only protects America but keeps us out of perpetual wars that we should not be in," said Sanders in a statement accepting Gabbard's endorsement, reports The New York Times.
