The Civil Beat staff has voiced frustration over its inability to get timely responses from you or your staff. Here’s my own recent experience:

As one of your constituents — and an Army veteran — I submitted a question to your website several weeks ago. After getting no response, I followed up on Aug. 14 with a phone call to your Washington, D.C., office.

An apologetic aide told me I’d be hearing back within a day or so. So far, nothing. I’m now asking more openly.

In July, as reported by Associated Press: “A bitterly divided House panel has voted to condemn President Obama for the May swap of five Taliban leaders for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was held prisoner in Afghanistan for five years.”

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard was sworn into Congress at the start of 2013 by the body’s top Republican, John Boehner.

votetulsi.com

It was a party-line vote, with only you and one other Democrat, Mike McIntyre of  North Carolina, voting with 32 Republicans.

I wrote, and then phoned, to ask why you had voted that way.

In 2011 Israel released 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a single Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. It sent a powerful message about how much Israel valued its men and women in uniform.

Your House vote violated the Soldier’s Creed — all the more remarkable given your own military service and admirable track record on behalf of our veterans.

Did you think swapping, say, two Taliban for Bergdahl — but not five — would have been acceptable? Or maybe none, because they were said to be so dangerous? Would you have been wiling to let Bergdahl rot in captivity?

Was your vote opposing Bergdahl’s release because you thought he was a deserter? That’s something for a military court to decide, once he’s been returned home safely.

The Soldier’s Creed contains 13 sentences. In this context, one stands out: “I will never leave a fallen comrade.”

Your House vote violated the Soldier’s Creed — all the more remarkable given your own military service and admirable track record on behalf of our veterans.

So why would you stand with House Republicans who clearly have an anti-Obama ax to grind?

Perhaps the explanation lies here: The “coconut wireless” is full of speculation that you’re going to run against Sen. Brian Schatz in two years. Perhaps you think it good strategy to position yourself to his right.

But whatever your political calculations, wouldn’t it make good sense to be responsive to your constituents, and to your community’s media?

With aloha,

Dave Pellegrin