Donald Trump again tried to attract the support of frustrated fans of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Saturday in an early morning tweetstorm knocking Hillary Clinton’s choice for vice president.
Trump wrote that Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), a moderate on trade issues and abortion rights, was “the opposite of what Bernie stands for.”
He claimed Sanders supporters were “outraged” with his selection, which proved that the Vermont senator “fought for nothing.”
Trump pointed to Kaine’s vote in support of the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal and the $160,000 he accepted in gifts as governor and lieutenant governor of the state. Though Kaine’s actions were permissible under Virginia’s lenient gift laws, former Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) faced corruption charges for accepting similar gifts. His conviction was thrown out by the Supreme Court in June.
Unlike McDonnell, Kaine did not exchange official favors in response to the gifts and he has never faced corruption allegations.
Trump spokesman Jason Miller also trumpeted the gifts in a statement to reporters, branding the Virginia senator “Corrupt Kaine.”
See Trump’s tweets below.
Is it the same Kaine that took hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts while Governor of Virginia and didn’t get indicted while Bob M did?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2016
The Bernie Sanders supporters are furious with the choice of Tim Kaine, who represents the opposite of what Bernie stands for. Philly fight?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2016
Tim Kaine is, and always has been, owned by the banks. Bernie supporters are outraged, was their last choice. Bernie fought for nothing!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2016
Leaked e-mails of DNC show plans to destroy Bernie Sanders. Mock his heritage and much more. On-line from Wikileakes, really vicious. RIGGED
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2016
Tim Kaine has been praising the Trans Pacific Partnership and has been pushing hard to get it approved. Job killer!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2016
Oh goody.
Doubtful he will get a single Jill Stein supporter.
More of a job killer than all those clothes you and Ivanka shill that are made overseas?
The real reason for this tweet-storm is contained in two words in the second tweet: “Philly fight?” He’s trying to sow discord in the party before the convention so it will turn out more like his disaster. Not thinking this will happen. Clinton is running a tight ship compared to Drumpf floating aimlessly around on flotsam and jetsam.
Probably more upset that the announcement means that the press isn’t talking about him.