Texas Representative Joaquin Castro's stunt he pulled this week by shining a spotlight on San Antonio citizens and businesses who donated to President Donald J. Trump backfired spectacularly as he was harangued for the obvious danger and division his tweets promoted. But, unfortunately for Rep. Castro, the ire did not come just from conservatives and Trump supporters, but also his own donors. Apparently, the list of MAGA supporters also included folks who gave to Castro's campaign as well.
On Sunday night, Rep. Castro tweeted, "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.’"
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?.
— Joaquin Castro (@Castro4Congress) August 6, 2019
Their contributions are fueling a campaign of hate that labels Hispanic immigrants as ‘invaders.’ pic.twitter.com/YT85IBF19u
Fox News reports that Wayne Harwell's name was on the list, and that he also gave $1,000 to Rep. Castro in 2011. However, after the congressman's attempt to shame him, the real estate company owner says that he will no longer back the candidate.
"I was also on a list of people that gave to Castro and if he dislikes me enough that he wants to put my name out there against Trump, I’m not going to give money to him," Harwell told Fox News. "Obviously Castro feels pretty strongly against me."
"I think some of the Democratic rhetoric is more hateful than some of Trump’s rhetoric,” he added. "I think the San Antonio community needs to take a real deep look at what Castro is doing. Why is he doing this?"
"If he wants to play in Washington, he needs to move to Washington," the San Antonio resident said. "If he wants to play in San Antonio, he needs to at least be sensitive. The rest of the community is sensitive. We’re sensitive to both Republican and Democrat views. A lot of us here in San Antonio are independents."
The Washington Examiner also reports that at least six of the 44 individuals "outed" by Castro have previously financially supported Rep. Castro, or his brother Julian Castro in their political careers.
"it is just amazing to me that he would do that," William Greehey, a philanthropist who donated $5,000 to Joaquin Castro’s congressional campaign in 2013, told the Washington Examiner.
"Then he's calling me a racist because I'm supporting Trump. I mean, this is just ridiculous," Greehey added. "There's a lot of things you don't like about the president and his tweeting, but here Castro is doing the same thing with his tweeting."
As Katie covered, even MSNBC was shocked the congressman would do something so irresponsible and subsequently defend his actions.