Tulsi Gabbard fought back against what she called “smears,” declaring she is nobody’s “puppet” before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Curt Mills Gabbard, who has a reputation as an outsider, looked like a seasoned political professional from the very start. Her opening line was a home run: She said she was motivated to be director of national intelligence because of the intelligence failures that led to the war in Iraq.

Tulsi Gabbard faced tough questions Thursday about past comments about Russia, Syria and government leaker Edward Snowden during a Senate confirmation hearing on her nomination to lead the U.S. intelligence service.

Senate Intelligence members pressed Tulsi Gabbard, the nominee to be director of national intelligence, on her national security record.

WASHINGTON >> Former U.S. Rep.Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s choice to be director of national intelligence, faced harsh criticism of her past defense of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden and comments seen as supportive of Russia at a confirmation hearing today.

Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden defended former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), President Trump’s nominee to be director of national intelligence, following a fiery confirmation hearing in the Senate on Thursday.

Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick to be Director of National Intelligence, refused to call Edward Snowden a traitor at her confirmation hearing.

Tulsi Gabbard appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday as part of her confirmation process to serve as director of national intelligence.

Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump's selection to become director of national intelligence, spent much of her confirmation hearing feuding with a screaming senator over Edward Snowden.

Preferring to defend spy agencies and line up behind the hawkish consensus, the bipartisan elite ignores the director of national intelligence nominee’s rampant Islamophobia.

Trump's pick to head U.S. intelligence has broken with its assessments several times since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.