Democrat Robert Menendez, on beach in Puerto Rico.
The mainstream media has given little attention to Democrats’ excursion to Puerto Rico over the weekend while the party complains about President Donald Trump causing Americans hardship over the partial government shutdown caused by their refusal to fund his southern border wall.
“The only significant coverage or commentary has been in conservative media,” Breitbart News reported about the Democratic Party’s exorbitant trip to the Caribbean island getaway.
No money for wall or paychecks, but plenty for Caribbean paradise?
More than two dozen members of the Democrats’ legislature and more than a hundred of its influential political supporters made it to the tropical shores of Puerto Rico to soak in the sun and catch a play aimed at bashing President Donald Trump – on taxpayer dollars.
“Some 30 Democratic lawmakers left the government shutdown behind Friday on a chartered flight to Puerto Rico for a winter retreat with 109 lobbyists and corporate executives during which they planned to see the hit Broadway show Hamilton and attend three parties – including one with the show’s cast,” the Washington Examiner divulged. “Those attending the Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC winter retreat in San Juan planned to meet with key officials to discuss the cleanup after Hurricane Maria at a roundtable Saturday, [b]ut the weekend is packed with free time for the members and their families on the trip.”
To get a feel for the fiscal irresponsibility of Democrats during the trip taken while they complain about Americans not being paid during the partial government shutdown, one Twitter post provided some of the expenses that were put on taxpayers’ tab.
“While the government shutdown drags on, dozens of Congressional Democrats are staying at $289/night hotel in Puerto Rico this weekend and watching $350/ticket showings of Hamilton,” Andrew Scurria tweeted Friday.
Another tweet uncovering the Democrats’ winter retreat was complete with a photo of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) taking in the rays on the sunny beach while standing shirtless in his swimming trunks.
“Spotted: Sen. Bob Menendez on the beach at a resort in Puerto Rico on Day 22 of the partial government shutdown,” David McAlpine tweeted Saturday. “Reports say dozens of Dems are in PR for the CHC BOLD PAC winter retreat – including meetings on Maria cleanup, and a party with PR’s Hamilton cast.”View image on Twitter
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Sen Menedez on the beach.
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Still bashing GOP, lauding Dems
Two major leftist news hubs, CNN and NBC News, pointed little attention toward Democrats basking in the sun and only mentioned their efforts to bolster Hurricane Maria aid, but they were quick to rip into the Republican Party for its so-called apathy to American government workers who are not getting paid during the partial shutdown.
“CNN’s Brian Stelter – host of Reliable Sources and a de facto editorial mouthpiece for the network’s executives – attacked conservatives on Sunday for objecting to media ‘sob stories’ about the shutdown,” Breitbart News’ Joel B. Pollack noted. “Yet CNN paid little attention to the Democrats’ trip, [as] the only recent articles at CNN.com about Puerto Rico as of Sunday afternoon were an op-ed arguing against diverting relief funds for Puerto Rico to build President Donald Trump’s border wall – which may happen if he declares an emergency – and an article previewing the Puerto Rico premiere of Hamilton. On air Sunday, the network discussed Puerto Rico in the context of Hamilton and the funding issue — and also reported that Democrat presidential candidate Julian Castro – a former Obama administration official – will campaign there.”
The left-leaning news network known for its iconic peacock followed suit, lauding Democrats’ trip to Puerto Rico and taking the opportunity to tell Americans how in-tune the party is with supporting its Latino base.
“NBC News covered the Democrats’ visit to Puerto Rico in glowing terms, in an article titled, “Latino House Democrats to make show of strength in Puerto Rico,” Pollack pointed out. “The overwhelming majority of Latinos in Congress are Democrats and now that their party is in charge in the U.S. House, they want Puerto Rico’s recovery to be a priority.”
No apologies
A memo of the exorbitant trip was sent out to Democrats, despite the current financial crisis going on in America during the temporary shutdown.
“We are excited for you to join us for CHC BOLD PAC’s 2019 Winter Retreat in San Juan, Puerto Rico!” the memo exclaims, according to the Washington Examiner. “Each year, this retreat serves as a way for our CHC BOLD PAC Members and friends in the D.C. community to come together to escape the cold and discuss our shared priorities for a stronger and more prosperous country.”
And Democrats evidently made no attempt to cut costs to alleviate the toll of the government shutdown.
“The event is taking place in a seaside resort where rooms go for $429 a night,” the Examiner’s Paul Bedard informed. “Food is being provided.”
Besides politicians, hundreds of family members and attendants were slated to run up taxpayers’ tab over the weekend.
“BOLD PAC – the political arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – chartered a 737 for members, their families and chiefs of staff to attend the weekend,” Bedard noted. “The memo said the weather will be a balmy 80 degrees. The dress code is ‘resort casual.’ A spokesman would not identify the members, but Secrets obtained a list that included several congressional leaders. On the list was Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but an official in her office said that she did not make the trip.”
The shutdown did little to dampen Democrats’ spirits to add some financial strain on the economy – money that could have been allocated to strengthen national security at the United States-Mexico border wall – or fund unpaid government paychecks during the partial shutdown.
“This year’s winter retreat promises to be our most widely attended yet with over 220 guests, including 39 Members of Congress and CHC BOLD PAC supporters expected to attend and participate!” the planning memo stated.
Democrats were little affected by the timing of their luxurious Caribbean retreat.
“But the junket comes at an awkward time, on the day 800,000 federal workers did not receive their first paycheck of the shutdown – with many worried about basic living expenses like food,” Bedard explained.
Pointing the finger in the other direction
Yet key Democrats were anything but bashful about admitting their attendance at the mid-winter getaway and they, instead, attempted to divert negative attention onto the president.
“House Democrats voted to open the government multiple times; sadly, Senate Republicans and President Trump are continuing to put partisan politics ahead of our country, forcing the government to remain shut down,” PAC Chair Rep. Tony Cardenas announced in a statement, according to the Examiner.
Emphasis was placed on hurricane aid efforts and assurances were given that Democrats would make their way back to the mainland if anything breaking regarding a potential end to the shutdown took place.
“As our Bold PAC members make their way to Puerto Rico for this important weekend – the largest contingency of House Democrats to visit Puerto Rico where they’ll be hearing from Commonwealth and local elected officials about the ongoing recovery efforts – we will be closely monitoring the situation in Washington,” Cardenas insisted, according to Fox News. “If there is any progress by Senate Republicans or the White House to reopen the federal government, then we will act accordingly.”
He tried to explain away the exorbitant trip as if it could not be rescheduled at a time when the nation could more easily bear the cost.
“This gathering was planned months before Trump decided to shut down the federal government for his unnecessary and costly border wall,” the Democratic leader continued, as reported by the Examiner. “The purpose of hosting Bold PAC’s retreat in Puerto Rico is to see and hear from the more than 3.5 million American citizens who have been working tirelessly to rebuild their lives on the Island after Hurricane Maria. This remains a national priority, and it is necessary for us to be there and honor our fellow American children, seniors, veterans, men and women.”