Tulsi Gabbard DNI confirmation has doubts ….

The former House member,  military Vet. and Democrat IS in confirmation trouble….

The Director of National Intelligence IS a serious NON-Poilitical job…..

Gabbard has NOT fit that previously….

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, is changing her tune on a key intelligence-gathering authority she once sought to repeal as her Senate confirmation hangs in the balance.

Gabbard’s past criticisms of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act have emerged as a central issue in her confirmation process, leaving GOP senators — including some in leadership — increasingly skeptical about the former Democrat’s confirmation prospects.

In her first public comments since being nominated, Gabbard told us in an exclusive statement that she now supports Section 702, saying the program is “crucial” and “must be safeguarded to protect our nation while ensuring the civil liberties of Americans.”

“If confirmed as DNI, I will uphold Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights while maintaining vital national security tools like Section 702 to ensure the safety and freedom of the American people,” Gabbard said….

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Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) also sent us a statement Thursday night supporting Gabbard’s 702 stance — a key indicator of how the GOP leadership is thinking about her nomination.

“Tulsi Gabbard has assured me in our conversations that she supports Section 702 as recently amended and that she will follow the law and support its reauthorization as DNI,” Cotton said.

That last part is important because, if confirmed as DNI, Gabbard would need to certify the statute annually in order for intelligence collection to continue under the 702 program.

Next steps: Gabbard’s public statement is likely to reassure Republicans who are on the fence about her nomination. But there are a handful of other issues that have come up during her meetings with senators, including her views on Ukraine, as well as secret visits to Syria and Lebanon while serving in Congress.

There’s also the fact that Gabbard’s foreign policy views are anathema to Republicans, particularly defense hawks. Gabbard isn’t expected to get any Democratic votes, so she can’t afford to lose more than a few Republicans….

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