On Monday, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) tweeted the names and employers of 44 San Antonio residents who donated the federal maximum to President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign.
Castro, whose district includes much of San Antonio, claimed the donors “are fueling a campaign of hate that labels Hispanic immigrants as ‘invaders.’” Castro is the twin brother of Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro and chairs his presidential campaign, as reported by Daily Caller.
“Sad to see so many San Antonians as 2019 maximum donors to Donald Trump — the owner of @BillMillerBarBQ, owner of the @HistoricPearl, realtor Phyllis Browning, etc. Their contributions are fueling a campaign of hate that labels Hispanic immigrants as ‘invaders’, Joaquin Castro tweeted and proceeded to name local businesses whose owners gave the maximum to Trump’s campaign.
Eleven of the 44 donors shown in Castro’s post listed their employment as “retired.”
The names and employers of campaign donors are publicly available in Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, but publishing lists of opposing donors in the area and their places of employment, is outside the norm for members of the House of Representatives, as reported by Daily Caller.
Several Republicans teamed up to blast Castro after he posted the names of several Trump donors online. (Continued Below)
House Republican Leader, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) took to Twitter where he wrote, “Targeting and harassing Americans because of their political beliefs is shameful and dangerous. What happened to ‘when they go low, we go high?’ Or does that no longer matter when your brother is polling at 1%? Americans deserve better.”
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) was harshly critical of Castro as well, warning the Democratic congressman: “This isn’t a game. It’s dangerous, and lives are at stake. I know this firsthand. If the events of this past weekend taught us anything, it’s that we need to stop seeing our neighbors as political enemies. This kind of dangerous targeting isn’t how we heal our nation.”
Congressman Doug Collins (R-GA) said, “This is dangerous, reckless, and has to stop. Freedom of speech should never be threatened for political gains, and no American should be targeted for their beliefs.” (Continued Below)
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway also pushed back during an interview on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.” She said, “It doesn’t matter that it’s public record. It matters that he’s put together some kind of target list and he’s trying to make life miserable or worse for law-abiding citizens who are expressing their First Amendment right to put their money where their politics is. He’s a member of Congress, he has a responsibility and accountability to protect the population, not to try to make them a target.”
GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel wrote on Twitter, “Joaquin Castro is shamelessly defending the ‘target list’ of @realDonaldTrump’s supporters that he tweeted. Not only is Castro a sitting Dem Congressman, he’s the chair of Congressional Hispanic Caucus. It’s dangerous, reckless and Nancy Pelosi needs to condemn it.”
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) tweeted, “This is grossly inappropriate, especially in the wake of recent tragic shootings. This win-at-all-costs mentality, publicly targeting an opponent’s supporters, and encouraging retaliation is dangerous and not what Texans have a right to expect from their members of Congress.”
Senior Advisor for President Trump’s 2020 campaign, Katrina Pierson expressed, “Members of the press, what the f**k?” Targeting private citizens with rhetoric that could incite violence is irresponsible and unacceptable!”
Donald Trump Jr. responded to Pierson and wrote, “No one holding their breath waiting for the main stream media to denounce this. Their outrage only goes one way.”
He added, “Of course publishing a political enemy list, with employer info no less, is wrong. Other than causing sheer intimidation & possible violence what purpose could it serve? Especially this week when the lunatic fringe on both sides of the political aisle committed heinous crimes.” (Video Below)
Official tweets and videos:
Targeting and harassing Americans because of their political beliefs is shameful and dangerous. What happened to “when they go low, we go high?” Or does that no longer matter when your brother is polling at 1%? Americans deserve better. https://t.co/PiFcifpxc1
— Kevin McCarthy (@kevinomccarthy) August 6, 2019
If the events of this past weekend taught us anything, it’s that we need to stop seeing our neighbors as political enemies. This kind of dangerous targeting isn’t how we heal our nation.
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) August 6, 2019
This is dangerous, reckless, and has to stop. Freedom of speech should never be threatened for political gains, and no American should be targeted for their beliefs.https://t.co/kz3seQytR9
— Rep. Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) August 7, 2019
This is grossly inappropriate, especially in the wake of recent tragic shootings. This win-at-all-costs mentality, publicly targeting an opponent’s supporters, and encouraging retaliation is dangerous and not what Texans have a right to expect from their members of Congress. https://t.co/Ecw4mszp4Y
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) August 6, 2019
(Continued Below)
No one holding their breath waiting for the main stream media to denounce this. Their outrage only goes one way. https://t.co/f5hpm6kQ9P
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) August 6, 2019
Of course publishing a political enemy list, with employer info no less, is wrong. Other than causing sheer intimidation & possible violence what purpose could it serve? Especially this week when the lunatic fringe on both sides of the political aisle committed heinous crimes. https://t.co/KH8SPACbAp
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) August 7, 2019
Castro said he did it so people would “think twice before supporting a guy who is fueling hate in this country.”
Joaquin Castro is shamelessly defending the “target list” of @realDonaldTrump’s supporters that he tweeted.
Not only is Castro a sitting Dem Congressman, he’s the chair of Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
It’s dangerous, reckless and Nancy Pelosi needs to condemn it. pic.twitter.com/eIlDFcqvEA
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) August 7, 2019
Castro also responded to GOP leader Kevin McCarthy and he claimed that “no one was targeted or harassed” adding that McCarthy is “trying to distract from the racism that has overtaken the GOP. He further said, “Donald Trump has put a target on the back of millions. And you’re too cowardly or agreeable to say anything about it. How about I stop mentioning Trump’s public campaign donors and he stops using their money for ads that fuel hate?”
Donald Trump has put a target on the back of millions. And you’re too cowardly or agreeable to say anything about it.
How about I stop mentioning Trump’s public campaign donors and he stops using their money for ads that fuel hate?
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) August 7, 2019
Tim Young demanded that he delete his account: “No one was targeted? … you mean other than the names of people that you published along with where they were employed? You know what you did. Delete your account.”
No one was targeted? … you mean other than the names of people that you published along with where they were employed?
No one was targeted? … you mean other than the names of people that you published along with where they were employed?
You know what you did. Delete your account.
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) August 7, 2019
