Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro thought it was a wise idea to name people in his area who donated to President Donald Trump.
But not only did Rep. Castro get attacked by many for doing what he did, he made another mistake and it could cost him his next election, The Washington Examiner reported.
Edward Steves, owner of a manufacturing firm that he said is the oldest company in San Antonio, told the Washington Examiner that he once hosted a fundraiser at his house that raised over $300,000 for Julián Castro’s mayoral campaign.
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But Joaquin’s tweet and follow-up statements chastising local Trump donors may backfire for his own reelection races, Steves said.
“He’s probably got 44 people that are going to contribute heavily to whoever might run against him in the primaries,” Steves said.
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Donald Kuyrkendall, president of a San Antonio commercial real estate company, shared concern about his family’s safety and wondered what the Castro brothers hoped to gain by the Twitter outing of Trump donors.
“Were his intentions to incite people to picket Bill Miller’s barbecue or to come to Don Kuyrkendall’s house, you know, assault my wife, make nasty comments?” Kuyrkendall said.
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Kuyrkendall said that in wake of the tweet, his lawyer reminded him that he once donated to Julián Castro’s mayoral campaign.
Not a wise idea by any stretch of the imagination before, but now it is one that injured himself in his efforts to intimidate supporters of the president.
Original Story:
Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro, whose brother is a Democrat candidate for president, put targets on the back of donors to President Donald Trump and he thinks it is fine.
The representative decided that it would be a wise idea, as the nation is tense, to publish the names of private citizens who donated to the president.
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These were not big donors or famous donors or something of public importance. The idea was to intimidate these people.
There could be no other reason than to intimidate them and others who are considering donating to the president.
“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,’” he said with a list.
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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.’ pic.twitter.com/YT85IBF19u
— Joaquin Castro (@Castro4Congress) August 6, 2019
Only one journalist, Huffington Post author Yashar Ali, had the common sense to call out Castro for his reckless act.
“The campaign of a member of congress targeting individual donors, and their businesses, to another campaign (and not famous billionaires) is a terrible and dangerous precedent to set.
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“Also, this isn’t even Joaquin Castro’s opponent. Not that it would be ok if it were. Awful,” Ali said, to which Castro to responded.
The campaign of a member of congress targeting individual donors, and their businesses, to another campaign (and not famous billionaires) is a terrible and dangerous precedent to set.
Also, this isn’t even Joaquin Castro’s opponent.
Not that it would be ok if it were.
Awful https://t.co/jNd3DU154F
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) August 6, 2019
“Yashar, I respect your work and writing. I’m certain that NY Magazine and Huff Post have printed similar graphics with name and employer many times before because it’s not private and it’s publicly reported. There’s no private addresses, phone numbers, etc. No ‘call to action,’” Castro said.
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Yashar, I respect your work and writing. I’m certain that NY Magazine and Huff Post have printed similar graphics with name and employer many times before because it’s not private and it’s publicly reported. There’s no private addresses, phone numbers, etc. No “call to action.” https://t.co/TxjoTITDbI
— Joaquin Castro (@Castro4Congress) August 6, 2019
“Congressman, that comparison doesn’t make sense to me. When news orgs publish the names of donors they are newsworthy.
“But someone merely donating $2,700 does not make them newsworthy. Sure it’s public info but why is a member of congress doing this? It sets a bad precedent,” Ali said.
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Congressman, that comparison doesn’t make sense to me. When news orgs publish the names of donors they are newsworthy. But someone merely donating $2,700 does not make them newsworthy. Sure it’s public info but why is a member of congress doing this?
It sets a bad precedent
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) August 6, 2019