House Democrat Fumes After CBS’ Brennan Asks if Experience is ‘Necessary’ for Tulsi Gabbard: ‘Of Course It’s Necessary!’

Jim Himes (D-CT), the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, acted like he couldn’t believe his ears Sunday when asked about President-Elect Donald Trump’s pick for National Intelligence Director.

Trump announced last week he was appointing former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to the lofty post.

On Face the Nation, host Margaret Brennan brought up Gabbard’s lack of qualifications for the job.

“You’re the ranking member on the Intelligence Committee,” Brennan began. “She never served on that kind of committee.Do you think experience is necessary? Is she fit for the job?”

Himes laughed before answering, “Margaret, how far we have come that on a major news show the question we’re examining is, ‘Is experience necessary for one of the most powerful positions in the land?’ Of course, it’s necessary!”

Himes continued by torching Trump’s picks to Brennan:

You know, it’s a little bit like our obsession right now with the ethics committee report on Matt Gaetz. You know, I mean, how is it that this is what we’re focusing on? Matt Gaetz is, by any standard, completely unqualified to be the attorney general, and yet we’re sort of focused on this, you know, cherry on the cupcake of the ethics report.

…

So, these people are manifestly unqualified, and, you know, they’re not prepared to run the very complicated organizations they’ve been asked to run. But history is a hard judge, and a Republican senator who takes a vote to consent to the appointment of Matt Gaetz — a chaos agent — a performative social media, no respect for the rule of law individual. The Republican senator who votes to confirm Matt Gaetz or Robert Kennedy or Tulsi Gabbard, will be remembered by history as somebody who completely gave up their responsibility to Donald Trump.

Watch the clip above via Face The Nation on CBS.