A Democratic presidential candidate tussled with television co-host Meghan McCain on Wednesday over her feelings about Syria and whether its President Bashar al-Assad is a threat to the United States.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, was on "The View" and faced a tough line of questioning from McCain.
McCain, the daughter of the late Republican Sen. John McCain, said she sees Gabbard as an "Assad apologist" because she does not support calling the dictator an enemy of the U.S.
"When you say regime change is hurtful to the country, but gassing children isn't more hurtful, it's hard for me to understand where you come from a humanitarian standpoint if you were to become president," McCain said.
Gabbard responded, "You're putting words in my mouth that I've never said."
McCain quickly shot back, saying, "You did not say that Syrian President Assad is not the enemy of the United States? Say it now, clarify it."
Gabbard started to respond but McCain interjected again, asking her original question.
"An enemy of the United States is someone who threatens our safety and our security," Gabbard said. "There is no disputing the fact that Bashar al-Assad in Syria is a brutal dictator. There is no disputing the fact that he has used chemical weapons and other weapons against his people.
". . . My point is that the reality we are facing here is that since the United States started waging a covert regime change war in Syria, starting in 2011, the lives of the Syrian people have not been improved. Their well-being has not gotten to a better place. Their suffering has not decreased, it has increased.
"In addition to the fact that al-Qaida is stronger in Syria today than ever before."
Gabbard added she is against the U.S. getting involved in regime change wars and conflicts because they rarely have the best interests of those countries' residents in mind.
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