Democrats Embrace Intimidation of Trump Voters
Robert Hampton, American Renaissance, August 8, 2019
Democrats consider Donald Trump supporters white supremacists.
Democratic Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro pushed this message in a viral tweet that doxed Trump donors: “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.’” The tweet included a graphic with nearly 50 names, along with the donor’s employer unless he was retired.
Rep. Castro is not a kooky backbencher. He is the chairman of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus and manages his brother Julian Castro’s presidential campaign. He is a leader in the Democratic Party. He believes intimidation is justified against ordinary Americans.
Republicans, conservative commentators, and a few journalists expressed outrage.
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
EVERYONE needs to tone the hateful partisan rhetoric way down. This is WRONG & Castro should retract it. In our constitutional Republic, the People rightly hold their representatives accountable; elected representatives should not be vilifying & doxxing their own constituents. https://t.co/rrgQbK7PLU
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) August 6, 2019
Joaquin Castro encourages violence against Trump donors. He doesn’t even have to say it. We all know by now the left knows what to do. https://t.co/f1E9tpB2yV
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) August 6, 2019
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
However, Rep. Castro did not retract or apologize.
The congressman insisted his tweet did not target anyone or encourage harassment. He claimed he was just reacting to “the fact that President Trump spends donor money on thousands of ads about Hispanics ‘invading’ America.” Those ads, according to Rep. Castro, “put a target on the back of millions.” He agreed to stop publicizing Trump donors if the president “stops using their money for ads that fuel hate.”
In an MSNBC interview, Rep. Castro denied responsibility for any harassment. MSNBC host Willie Geist told the congressman that some of the donors are already being harassed. Many of them were retired or were housewives — not powerful special interest groups. Mr. Geist asked whether it was right for Rep. Castro to denounce President Trump’s alleged incitement while doing the same thing to these donors.
“This was already circulating. I shared it, so I didn’t create the graphic,” Rep. Castro replied.
Some powerful journalists supported Congressman Castro. One was MSNBC host Joe Scarborough:
Any business that donates to Trump is complicit and endorses the white supremacy he espoused in Charlottesville, with his “send her back” chants, and by laughing at shouts that Hispanic immigrants should be shot. Donors’ names are on FEC reports. They are newsworthy.
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) August 6, 2019
If your business funds Trump’s campaign, then you are supporting white supremacy.
Full stop.
Look at his rallies.
Listen to the chants of “Send her back!”
Hear the calls of “Shoot them!”
Your money funds that.
Your business supports that.
You are complicit.— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) August 7, 2019
Mr. Scarborough supported Mr. Trump’s campaign in 2016 and considered serving as his running mate.
Many progressives also endorsed the doxing. “Chairman Castro, They don’t like it when you name their donors,” tweeted Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a member of the far-left “Squad.” “The public needs to know who funds racism.”
The outrage against the donor graphic did not dissuade any of these figures. A precedent has been set: It’s okay to encourage harassment against Trump donors and supporters. Ordinary citizens must suffer for their alleged white supremacy.
Six of the outed Trump donors had previously given money to the Castro brothers. They were not pleased by the tweet.
“[H]e’s calling me a racist because I’m supporting Trump. I mean, this is just ridiculous,” William Greehey told the Washington Examiner. “I’m just hopeful that none of this gets serious and that my grandchildren and children will be not intimidated by this stuff,” said Donald Kuyrkendall.
There will be no consequences for Rep. Castro. Other powerful Democrats will probably do the same thing to Trump supporters in their area. Boycotts, harassment, and media smears are all weapons of intimidation. Anyone who is “an enabler of white supremacy” is a legitimate target.
Most Democratic presidential candidates say Mr. Trump is a racist. A few candidates claim he is an avowed white supremacist and enables white nationalist terrorism. Most Democrats believe white nationalist terrorism is one of the greatest threats to America and think the average Trump supporter is at least partially responsible.
The satirical website The Babylon Bee published an article this week that joked that Democrats are demanding a national Trump voter registry. The sad fact is that this could soon be a serious idea. The Left sees Trump voters as white nationalist sympathizers who give rise to terrorism. Why not create a national Trump voter registry? Why not make a vote for Mr. Trump a “red flag” for gun purchases? Democrats may soon have the power to do this.
Whether white Americans like it or not, a vote for their own interests makes them “racists.” It’s well past time for them to shed their fear over this label and stand up for their nation. The Left won’t back down — neither should average Americans who want a civilized country.