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Republicans Keep Outsourcing Heat on Democrat Joe Donnelly

Indiana's Donnelly faces 'Mexico Joe' taunts outside fundraiser

Sen. Joe Donnelly
Sen. Joe Donnelly / Getty Images
July 27, 2017

Twelve days after it was revealed that Sen. Joe Donnelly (D., Ind.) was invested in a company that recently outsourced manufacturing jobs to Mexico, the senator faced taunts of "Mexico Joe" as he exited a Washington, D.C., fundraiser.

Donnelly has taken steps to escape further criticism for his investment in Stewart Superior, a company that has been in the family for generations. He has since sold his stock in Stewart and scrubbed all mention of the Mexico factory from its website.

The steps have not quelled attempts by Republicans to make Donnelly's outsourcing hypocrisy a major political issue as he gears up to defend his seat in 2018.

Members of the National Republican Senatorial Committee were prepared outside a Tuesday afternoon fundraiser attended by Donnelly with signs calling him "Mexico Joe" and pointing out his May 2016 statement that outsourcing is "unpatriotic."

A spokesman for the NRSC said Donnelly "better get used to" the critique.

"Whether he’s at a swanky Capitol Hill fundraiser or back in Indiana, Joe Donnelly won’t be able to hide from the fact that he profited from shipping jobs overseas," said spokesman Bob Salera. "Mexico Joe had better get used to folks calling him out for his outsourcing hypocrisy."

Republican groups have also pressed Donnelly to answer questions regarding what he will do with his profits from Stewart Superior. He has been urged to donate the profits, which from 2014 to 2016 were as high as $80,000, to charity.

Donnelly's campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the Republican strategy.

Donnelly, however, has continued to make outsourcing one of his primary issues.

Just last week, Donnelly highlighted his work to advance the End Outsourcing Act and directly criticized Carrier for utilizing Mexican labor costs in the same way as Stewart Superior.

Donnelly left the fundraiser without engaging the Republican protesters.