posted 10-13-2015 02:01 PM                  

By Jesse Byrnes

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), a vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), on Tuesday slammed party tactics that penalize candidates for participating in unsanctioned debates.

"I think this is a simple issue of democracy, a simple issue of freedom of speech and really of invigorating our process here," Gabbard said on CNN ahead of the first Democratic presidential debate Tuesday night.

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Gabbard, who along with fellow DNC vice-chair Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, has for weeks pushed back on the limited schedule of six Democratic debates, made headlines this week after saying that she was disinvited from the first debate.
She suggested her freedom of speech was being stifled, while a DNC spokesperson told The Hill that the focus of the first debate in Nevada and others "should be on the candidates" and "all that was asked of Ms. Gabbard's staff was to prioritize our candidates and this important opportunity."

The campaign for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) floated an invitation for Gabbard to attend as one of their guests, which she "politely declined," she said on CNN Monday night.

Sanders has joined the call for more opportunities to debate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, a movement led primarily by former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley.

DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Calif.) closed the door on more debates last month and stood firmly behind the clause barring candidates from other events.

But Tuesday night's debate has revived calls for the issue to be revisited.

Gabbard said Schultz "claimed a month ago that she had spoken with, communicated and consulted with officers of the DNC about her decision to limit debates to six" and about the clause.

"That never occurred. I can tell you, speaking for myself, that I didn't find out her decision until after the fact. There was no consultation and no communication," Gabbard said.

"If we look at this going forward, I think it's important to recognize how this policy is really undemocratic," Gabbard continued, noting that many Democratic debates are on weekends and holidays.

"By getting rid of this retribution policy of punishing our candidates for participating in events being hosted by ... state parties or local chambers of commerce or whomever, I think it's not good for our democracy," Gabbard concluded.