MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, star of the popular "Morning Joe," defended Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro on Tuesday night after the congressman published a list of San Antonio citizens who have donated to President Donald J. Trump's re-election campaign. Critics said the move, despite this being publicly available information, could lead to targeted harassment of these individuals and their businesses. But, the television host said these donors are "newsworthy" because in his mind "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." But, if that's the case, then how does Scarborough defend his glowing adoration and more than generous screentime that he gave to candidate Trump in 2015 and 2016?
"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,'" Rep. Castro tweeted. on Monday.
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
Matt summed up Tuesday why the move was so dangerous quite nicely:
"This is bush league. All these people did was exercise their right to free speech and association by supporting the president of the United States. Castro’s defense is that there is no telephone numbers or addresses. It’s all public information. Yeah, but let’s not be stupid, congressman. There are those who have way too much time and money on their hands who will find these people and harass them. You narrowed the search for the unhinged. And yes, it’s your side that’s become crazy not us."
But Scarborough obviously wouldn't agree with Matt. Scarborough said again on Twitter, that "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."
If your business funds Trump’s campaign, then you are supporting white supremacy.
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) August 7, 2019
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.
The fact is that MSNBC had Trump on "Morning Joe" dozens of times during 2015. The host spoke glowingly of him, gave him a platform, and said he would be open to being Trump's running mate as the vice president.
ah yes. the good old days of scarborough making trump into a “legendary figure." https://t.co/tDnfGwiBiR
— T. Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) August 7, 2019
Scarborough and his co-host Mika Brzezinski went so far as to even host an exclusive town hall with the candidate in February 2016.
Got a question for @realDonaldTrump? Send it to @Morning_Joe @JoeNBC @morningmika! Use #TrumpSCTownHall pic.twitter.com/fWheA81oUM
— Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) February 17, 2016
So, if merely donating to President Trump makes you a neo-nazi, then what does giving millions of dollars worth of free airtime make you? Scarborough is full of crap on this issue.