by Andrew Walden
Governor Neil Abercrombie’s wife, Nancie Caraway touts Tulsi Gabbard’s “transformation and reflection, particularly in regards to human rights for all people.” Gabbard’s endorsers in the race for the Democratic nomination in CD2 include Emily’s List and the Feminist Majority PAC. Katie Vlietstra, President of Women Under Forty PAC says, “I can’t think of a better role model for young women thinking about running for office!” Even Dennis Kucinich has got in on the act.
This is funnier than John Waihee being conned by Ron Rewald.
As anybody who hasn’t been living under a rock for the last 20 years knows, the Gabbard family is affiliated with the politically active, anti-gay marriage, Chris Butler ‘Science of Identity’ cult. Interviewed by Hawai`i Free Press, former cult member Rebecca Rogan dismisses any claim that Tulsi or her parents have distanced themselves. Says Rogan, “Tulsi is a pure devotee. She is a little plant, a Holy Basil…. You don’t just leave, you are totally black banned if you leave. I’ve been banned. If I come around the cult security people start pointing and whispering. If they hear I am coming, there are phone calls all over the place.”
When Honolulu Magazine in 2004 asked Mike Gabbard about Butler's group, then-state Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, shot back in response: "I smell a skunk. It's clear to me that you're acting as a conduit for The Honolulu Weekly and other homosexual extremist supporters of Ed Case."
Rogan reports seeing Tulsi at cult gatherings as recently as 2010. She says Mike and Carol Gabbard are at gatherings almost every week.
Rogan says, “when I see Tulsi’s sign wavers in Kailua, 80% of them are cult members. They wouldn’t be there if she wasn’t in the cult…. I sign-waved for Mike.” Likewise, Rogan points to numerous cult members filling out the ranks of Gabbard’s contributors.
Civil Beat February 28 helpfully explains the situation in an article titled “Gabbard Campaign Benefits from Generous Family Support”:
“…contributors include Nancy Cardinet ($2,500) and Walt Cardinet ($5,000) of San Jose, Calif., who are related to Carol Gabbard; Gabbard's ex-husband, Eduardo Tamayo ($520); and former campaign manager Devin Bull ($5,000) and his wife, Kunti Bull ($5,000). Besides her mother, other treasurers listed in Gabbard's campaign reports with the Federal Election Commission are Robert "Rock" Riggs (who also gave $754 and is Sen. Gabbard's office manager) and Talia Tamayo Khurana, who appears to have contributed under the name Talia Khurana ($5,000). Talia Tamayo Khurana is related to Eduardo Tamayo; Gabbard's FEC filing also lists a contributor named Vikram Khurana ($5,000).”
Tulsi has also received massive funding from green energy scammers associated with the Abercrombie administration.
Rogan went through divorce from her cult member husband beginning in September, 2010 and left Science of Identity over the next few months.
Rogan says, “(Mike and Carol Gabbard) are THE marriage counselors for the cult. Mike speaks for The Master at prayer gatherings. Mike initiates people for The Spiritual Master.” Inside the cult “we never called him ‘Mike’, he was 'Krishna Katha das' and Carol Gabbard was 'Devahuti desi.'” In emails Rogan forwarded to this reporter, Mike and Carol Gabbard sign email responses to Rogan from the mikegabbard.com url with these names or with the initials “Kkd” and “Dhd.”
In a five-page letter Rogan says she sent to Mike and Carol Gabbard in mid-2010, Rogan criticizes the result of “all the years and times we were counseled by you both.”
Rogan tells the Gabbards, “…we are instructed that the woman should submit to her husband. …the vedic principle that the women should submit to the man has the potential to create (big) problems in the marriage by re-enforcing to the man that he need not make any effort and that everything should come from the woman….”
Meanwhile, Emily’s List President, Stephanie Schriock says: “Our research shows that women voters want leaders like Tulsi right now.”
As absentee voters cast their ballots in the approach to the August 11 Primary, Gabbard’s camp has slipped out a couple of hints which will give them deniability after the fact.
The Times of India July 30 headlines, “Tulsi Gabbard: First Hindu in race for US House.”
In the on-line audio of an August 1 KHVH interview with Rick Hamada (39:40) a caller asks about Tulsi about DOMA and Christian principles, Tulsi answers the DOMA question. Hamada reminds her about the Christian principles question, and Tulsi replies, “I am a practicing Hindu”.
That’s called a “limited hangout”—ironically, it’s a propaganda technique Abercrombie often employs. This time the joke is on him.
As part of the cult, Rogan moved to Hawaii from Australia about ten years ago. She’s uncertain on the year, explaining “we don’t look at things that way.” Says Rogan: “My ex-husband founded ‘Australians Against the Promotion of Homosexuality.’”
According to Rogan, Mike Gabbard once related the story of how he deceived an Advertiser reporter:
“The Advertiser is run by fags and they’re out to get me. They asked me outright if I am a disciple of the Jagadguru and I said, ‘No’ -- but I answered it in a certain way so the answer was really ‘Yes’.”
“He was laughing about how he twisted the answer to say ‘no’ but he really is a disciple.”
Mike, Carol, and Tulsi Gabbard did not respond to a request for comment from Hawai`i Free Press.
May 9, in response to President Obama coming out in favor of gay marriage, Tulsi Gabbard said: “I congratulate the President for taking a strong stand on marriage equality for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation. I understand his journey, and stand with him on this issue. This is why in Congress I will work for the repeal of DOMA and support and co-sponsor the Respect for Marriage Act.”
Endorsing Gabbard, the gay marriage advocates of ‘Equality Hawaii’ proclaim: “We applaud Gabbard’s evolution on issues of equality in our state – this is an evolution that many have had over the past decade, and one which many will continue to have in the months and years to come. We believe in Gabbard’s commitment to our community, and to helping heal and move our state forward on issues of marriage equality."
Describing the cult’s attitude towards gays, Rogan explains: “We called them ‘faggot’ because it rhymes with ‘maggot’ because they eat shit.”
When this is over, will Abercrombie and his cronies eat crow?
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