Republican Party of American Samoa Chairman Taulapapa today hailed the Senate confirmation of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence by a 52-48 margin, with all the chamber’s Democrats voting against her.
“While I am disappointed by (former Republican Senate leader) Mitch McConnell’s vote against Tulsi, I am deeply disturbed and angered that not a single Democrat voted in favor of Tulsi to become the first person of Samoan ancestry to serve in the cabinet of a President of the United States,” said Taulapapa. “I don’t know if it was racism, sexism, her Hindu faith or Democrat prejudice, but I am comforted that all the rest of the Senate Republicans voted for her.”
Taulapapa went on to urge local Democrats to see the Senate Democrat vote to be the last straw in maintaining their fealty to their party, which now is popular with only 30% of the American public according to recent polls. “That result seems consistent with a Pasquines Poll that found 71.0 percent support for Donald Trump in American Samoa, the highest of any territory,” he said. “Since today is Lincoln’s birthday, I want to make an offer to members of the American Samoa Democrat Party. Come over to us. Bring your Democrat party membership card to any of our party officers in the next 10 days, and we will exchange it for a Republican party card at no dues cost for the rest of the period of your membership.”
American Samoa long has been the U.S. Army’s premier recruiting station, with more Samoans serving in the Army per capita than any other state or territory. “The Pentagon reports that since President Trump’s reelection, army recruitment has had its best months in years in December and January. I expect our young men and women also will sign up in records numbers thanks to the pride the Trump administration is bringing back to the military,” noted Taulapapa,
