At the first debate, Tulsi Gabbard proved to be the only peace candidate who will put American interests first but she has an uphill fight against election rigging that was already apparent in the first debate.

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Right from the beginning of the first Presidential debate, it was clear that the debate was aimed as a promotional for Elizabeth Warren. During the first half, Warren was often addressed first on the major issues. Candidates were asked to compare their positions to those of Warren.

To a large applause, Tulsi came out strong on the first question and addressed the key issues important to most Americans. This is important as she she was not asked about most of these issues during the debate.

Here is Tulsi's First answer:

"First, of all, let's recognize the situation we're in, that the American People deserve a President who will put your interests ahead of the rich and powerful. That's not what we have right now.

"I enlisted in the Army National Guard after the Al Qaida terror attacks on 9/11 so I could go after those who had attacked us on that day. I still serve as a major. I served over 16 years, deployed twice to the Middle East, and in Congress served on the Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Affairs for over six years.

"I know the importance of our national security, as well as the terribly high cost of war. And for too long, our leaders have failed us, taking us from one regime change war to the next, leading us into a new cold war and arms race, costing us trillions of our hard-earned taxpayer dollar and countless lives.

"This insanity must end. As President, I will take your hard-earned taxpayer dollars and instead invest those dollars into serving your needs, things like health care, a green economy, good-paying jobs, protecting our environment and so many more."

This was followed by a thunderous applause. The audience eagerly waited for more Tulsi but was disappointed by the debate hosts on most issues.

On climate change and the environment, where Tulsi has the most progressive legislation with the Off Act (which takes us off fossil fuels and nuclear power), Tulsi was denied the chance to answer the question. On immigration, where Tulsi has the most solid solution, she was denied the chance to answer the question. On the discussion of the drug war and prison, where Tulsi has introduced legislation to legalize marijuana, she was denied the chance to answer the question. On the wealth gap, where she is a leader on the issue, she was denied the chance to answer the question. Others, such as Warren, Corey Booker, and Beto O'Rourke, were given domestic policy questions in area after area while Tulsi was routinely denied the chance to answer, even when she raised her hand. By the end of the first section, other than her introduction, she had only been given one short comment on a question.

Much later, she was asked an attack question, based on her parents' position and her childhood position on LGBTQ rights, though Tuls has the strongest pro-LBGTQ voting record (100%) of anyone on the stage, her parents were effectively put on trial in the debate. Tulsi talked about how, in the Iraq War, she risked her life for her LBGTQ brothers and sisters and they would have risked their lives for her. She spoke of her 100% pro- LBGTQ record. Note that Warren was not asked about the fact that she was a Republican until age 47 or about the animosity she showed towards the Palestinian people in her 2016 letter to Barrack Obama, demanding he increase funding to Israel's military. Booker was not asked about his votes against importing prescription medicine (which would have lowered drug prices) or his record of receiving donations from Big Pharma. But Tulsi was attacked on an issue that related to her parents and her youth.

Corey Booker was allowed to jump in after she answered and say that risking her life for her LBGTQ brothers and sisters and her 100% record of supporting the LBGTQ community was not enough. When had Booker, who has a weaker voting record, ever risked his life for anyone?

Though Booker was allowed to attack Tulsi who had risked her very life for others, Tulsi was not given a chance to rebut or respond to Booker's comments.

Tulsi was the only candidate hit with an attack question from the hosts and the only candidate was attacked by another debater without an opportunity to defend herself.

The best heated exchange of the evening came between Tulsi Gabbard and Tim Ryan regarding his insistence that the U.S. continue to engage militarily in Afghanistan and Central and South America.

Tulsi: "Is that what you will tell - is that what you will tell the parents of those two soldiers who were just killed in Afghanistan? 'Well, we just have to be engaged?' As a soldier, I will tell you, that answer is unacceptable."

(The audience loudly applauded her reaction.)

"We have to bring our troops home from Afghanistan where we have lost so many lives. We've spent so much money. Money that's coming out of every one of our pockets, money that would be going to communities here at home, meeting the needs of people at home.

"We are no better off in Afghanistan today than we were when this war began. This is why it's so important to have a President and Commander-in-Chief who knows the cost of war and who's ready to do the job on day one. I am ready to do that job when I walk into the Oval Office."

(More thunderous applause)

Ryan was given extra time (unlike Tulsi when Booker went after her) to respond to Tulsi comments. Among Ryan's statements as to why we had to stay in Afghanistan was his claim that the Taliban had flown planes into buildings on 9/11.

Tulsi was ready. "The Taliban didn't attack us on 9//11. Al Quida did."

Apparently, Ryan had forgotten the official story of 9/11.

After the debate, I spoke with members of a focus group who had watched the event and had been deciding between the candidates. In spite of the limited time Tulsi was given, the members of the group voted unanimously that Tulsi was the winner of the debate.

The times given to each candidate don't lie. Before the debate, the candidates were each told they would receive twelve minutes. In Tulsi's case, she only received six minutes and 39 seconds. Had it not been for the interchange between her and Ryan, which was counted into her time, she would have received even less.

Tickets to the debate for a couple were sold for $4500. An individual was $3000, The hosts of the debate were working for a war profiteer and this may explain why Elizabeth Warren and other war hawks were promoted during this debate. Observers are hoping the next debate will be presented more fairly.

In spite of the limited opportunity to speak, Tulsi got her message across. She will end the regime change wars and bring the money home to meet the needs of the American people. Tulsi has declared housing to be a human rights, supports Medicare for All and College for All and is pushing the strongest green act being proposed.

Authors Bio:
Henry has been a professor of political science and legal ethics and an advisor to many successful candidates for public office. He is currently working on a book about the inequality crisis in America.