Letter: Criticism of Gabbard unseemly, premature

In response to your editorial (“Gabbard should focus on her job,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, Jan.22), I suggest U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard be given a fair chance before making judgments on her viability as a presidential candidate.

Your editorial argues, “Rather than persisting with this long-shot campaign, (Gabbard) should buckle down on the job she now holds.”

In support of your assertion, you cite only two incidents occurring some time ago where arguably she was insufficiently attentive.

But one of them was nothing more than a well-founded effort to broker a peace deal in Syria. Some of us thought that was a good-faith effort at statesmanship, rather than being “naive,” “political malpractice” and a “low point,” as you allege.

The fact that a state senator has entered the race for Gabbard’s seat — one whose accomplishments, if any, were omitted in the editorial and elsewhere in your paper, hardly proves your point (“Kai Kahele officially announces 2020 bid for seat in Congress,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 22).

It’s one thing to be parochial in supporting a candidate from our state. But it is unseemly and premature to blast that person just days after her announcement.

Mike Kappos

Waikiki

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