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This is the first appropriately probing, but perceptive and empathetic profile of Tulsi Gabbard that has been published in the mainstream press. Most coverage of her has just been awful. No surprise that @KerryHowley provides the one exception nymag.com/intelligencer/…
Yeah, Tulsi had a "strange" upbringing in the sense that it bears little relation to how most Americans are brought up. But that imbued her with a set of experiences which have enabled her to resist mainstream conventional wisdom, and forge a genuinely independent trajectory
She doesn't operate from the same philosophical premises as typical left/liberals, even if she often arrives at the same policy prescriptions as they do. This results in a combination of fury -- largely from fellow Dems -- and intrigue. The idiosyncrasy is central to her appeal
What's deemed "strange" per the confines of mainstream US politics is also worth considering. Lots of people find the claim that an ancient Galilean rose from the dead and will return to rule over Earth rather "strange." Perhaps even stranger than belonging to a Hare Krishna sect
One thing I lightly disagree with: "There is no cohesive ideology that explains the idiosyncratic political positioning." It's true: Tulsi transcends typical partisan boundaries. But that doesn't mean she lacks a cohesive political outlook. Just requires extra effort to discern
Tulsi does have an atypical personal background and political trajectory. If anyone is going to explore her biography, better for it to be someone like Howley, who has the acuity to discuss it in way that isn't reflexively judgmental. Ultimately, Howley's conclusions are positive
I see some Tulsi supporters are upset about the piece. I can understand why. But if you're a presidential candidate, you have to expect that your background is going to be scrutinized. And this was about as fair a scrutinization as you're going to get from the mainstream press
