Tulsi Gabbard 'paid to mask connections' to alleged pyramid scheme tied to her childhood Hindu sect
Source: The Independent
Wednesday 29 January 2025 13:27 EST
Tulsi Gabbard’s campaign paid a firm to “mask connections” to an alleged pyramid scheme linked to a secretive sect she grew up in, according to a report. The Senate Intelligence Committee is set to grill President Donald Trump’s pick to serve as director of national intelligence on Thursday over her questionable connections and background.
Since she was named as nominee to the post, she has faced questions and pushback given her previous statements and her history with foreign nations. Lawmakers have been scrutinizing Gabbard’s ties to the Science of Identity Foundation and the Hong Kong-based marketing firm QI Group, the Wall Street Journal reports. Gabbard was raised in the secretive sect whose members pledge absolute loyalty to its reclusive guru, Chris Butler. The sect has long been tied to QI — accused of running a pyramid scheme in several countries.
Gabbard attended a Science of Identity boarding school in the Philippines and spent her formative years and schooling sheltered from outside influences, her late aunt told The Independent in 2022. According to the Journal, Gabbard’s campaign paid the PR firm Potomac Square Group, based in Washington D.C., to “mask the connections” between the sect, the marketing firm, and the politician.
But the clean-up was reportedly steered by a former follower of the sect — Sunil Khemaney — who is also a long-time political fundraiser to Gabbard and sits on the board of a QI subsidiary. Tulsi Gabbard is set to be grilled by the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday. But now reports of her ‘paid to mask connections’ to a sect in her past have come to light
Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/tulsi-gabbard-senate-hearing-sect-b2688454.html
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Irish_Dem
(63,826 posts)BumRushDaShow
(147,180 posts)has some degree of it. We're seeing those at the extreme end of it.
Irish_Dem
(63,826 posts)I cannot give you the citation.
The premise of the article was that anyone who seeks high office, especially the US presidency,
must have a high degree of narcissism. To think you can be the most powerful man in the world.
And to make life and death decisions.
So yes I think we see a lot of confidence in these politicians that goes into narcissism.
Some of it may be needed for the job. Being an insecure neurotic who is constantly fearful and
second guessing himself would not work out in the WH.
But yes we can see that some have enough confidence to do the job, and do it well.
Others cross over into mental illness and a personality disorder.
And yes to get elected to high office there needs to be some sociopathy. All that lying during the campaign,
taking off the books donations, etc.
There may be some common traits among presidential candidates, but I haven't yet voted for anyone who presented as narcissistic.
Irish_Dem
(63,826 posts)I am using the language of the author.
Most presidential candidates present as very confident.
We are discussing how and when the line is crossed into narcissism.
I got the impression that the article to which you refer was painting all presidential candidates as highly narcissistic, and I'm not prepared to accept that.
generalbetrayus
(726 posts)cases want to be president." — Kurt Vonnegut
Irish_Dem
(63,826 posts)Anyone who wants to be POTUS has to be crazy.
erronis
(17,760 posts)and personal humanity and humility is what frustrated the power brokers.
rampartd
(1,528 posts)"krishna consciousness" is a cult.
cbabe
(4,616 posts)Kid Berwyn
(19,105 posts)That Cult