Six people on a donor list that Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) published online donated to him and his brother, former Obama administration official Julian Castro.
Joaquin Castro posted a list of donors to President Donald Trump on Twitter this week. It had the names and workplaces of 44 San Antonio residents.
The Castros reside in the southern Texas city and Julian Castro, who is running for president, is a former mayor there.
Joaquin Castro said that it was “sad to see” the residents donating the maximum amount to Trump’s reelection campaign, adding: “Their contributions are fueling a campaign of hate that labels Hispanic immigrants as ‘invaders.’”
“It is just amazing to me that he would do that. Then he’s calling me a racist because I’m supporting Trump. I mean, this is just ridiculous,” William Greehey, a philanthropist and former CEO of Valero Energy, who donated $5,000 to Joaquin Castro’s congressional campaign in 2013, told the Examiner.
Edward Steves, who owns a manufacturing company and held a fundraiser for Julian Castro’s mayoral campaign that he said drew in over $300,000, said that those on the list are now motivated to contribute to Trump or other opponents.
“He’s probably got 44 people that are going to contribute heavily to whoever might run against him in the primaries,” Steves said.
Donald Kuyrkendall, president of a real estate company, said Castro’s intentions weren’t pure.
“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. “I’m just hopeful that none of this gets serious and that my grandchildren and children will be not intimidated by this stuff.”
“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 said. “Obviously Castro feels pretty strongly against me.”
“I think some of the Democratic rhetoric is more hateful than some of Trump’s rhetoric,” he said. “I think the San Antonio community needs to take a real deep look at what Castro is doing. Why is he doing this?”
“I’m a naturalized citizen, I love the United States of America, I think our president is doing an amazing job. He’s not a racist, I’m not a racist, and for them to be totally trying to be brainwash people, I think it’s just garbage. I think it’s just going to backfire on them, really,” she added.
Another retiree said that the post was backfiring.
“I’ve had several phone calls this morning and people who have not donated to Trump, have said they’re going to. This has made them decide,” she said, calling on Castro to delete the post and apologize.
Trump weighed in late Wednesday, writing on Twitter: “I don’t know who Joaquin Castro is other than the lesser brother of a failed presidential candidate (1%) who makes a fool of himself every time he opens his mouth. Joaquin is not the man that his brother is, but his brother, according to most, is not much. Keep fighting Joaquin!”
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