Cafe owner threatened for not hosting Romney

Oscar Aguirre, who runs Rosa Linda's Mexican Cafe in Denver. / KCNC

A local Mexican restaurant in Denver have been caught in a political firestorm for refusing to host Mitt Romney for a campaign stop. The owners of the Denver restaurant say that since they turned down the request to host the event, they have been receiving hate mail and harassing phone calls, including death threats.

Oscar Aguirre, who runs Rosa Linda's Mexican Cafe in Denver, described such as call to CBS Station KCNC: "They say, 'I know where you live. I'm going to get you. Watch your back.'"

Aguirre said they have received 500 emails and non-stop phone calls since the story surfaced Wednesday that they refused the Romney campaign's request to host a political function.

"The way he presented it to us was because we're Latinos, we're Mormon, we're a small business, what a great venue to host a political presidential campaign stop," Aguirre said.

"Did he ask to come and eat here, or just to do a political stop?" asked KCNC correspondent Jodi Brooks.

"Be a political stop," Aguirre said.

Aguirre's parents own the restaurant, and the family decided to decline the request, "because, Mom said, we're not Republicans, we're not going to be a political campaign stop," Aguirre said, adding that the restaurant didn't want to get caught up in the presidential politics, and would have refused a request from the Obama campaign, too.

Instead, Romney visited a Chipotle in Denver last week during a break from his debate-prep session. An Associated Press photo with an employee who donned a wide-eyed look of amazement became popular on the Internet.

Local businesses becoming the subject of national politics is not new this campaign season. Last month, a Florida pizza shop owner received a backlash for giving President Obama a spontaneous bear hug that literally swept the president off his feet. After the picture flooded the Internet, The Big Apple's Pizza Yelp page was flooded with negative reviews, with statements including "shame on you" and "talk about committing business suicide."

[gordon2191]

It is funny how this fella could not provide one piece evidence that shows any "threats"... No emails, no texts, no nothing, just air...

[Mitch-Denver]

This is just another lame attempt to make Romney look bad.

How do we know this even happened? That's the problem with "stories" like this, you can prove it really happened.

What's to stop some other small business from saying the same thing happened to them except it was Obama's camp that did it?

Oh yeah...don't forget about the free advertising also.

[Mitch-Denver]

This is just another lame attempt to make Romney look bad.

How do we know this even happened? That's the problem with "stories" like this, you can prove it really happened.

What's to stop some other small business from saying the same thing happened to them except it was Obama's camp that did it?

[achememnon]

This is the typical bullying tactics that the repugs have been trying to take, in order to trample over others freedoms and right to believe whatever they choose to believe. I am not surprised by this behavior coming from the right they are supporters of the tealiban, birthers, and other racist groups that are no more than hate groups.

[BigMykul]

It is reprehensible that the owner should receive death threats. It is his business and he has the right to decide what can and will affect his business. He did not choose sides.
However, there is the possibility of his employing illegals, and thusly would not want the scrutiny that would come from the visit.

[Swift29]

Scummy BigMY, can't anybody just state your first thought w/o having to get negative for no reason? What, does every restaurant story imply that subject?

[cntrygirl3]

So where are all the cries of "free speech" that the republicans brandished for chic fa laugh? Don't recall any of the "liberals" calling to threaten the guys life. This man would never have dreamed of stopping anyone from eating at his restaurant, but it is his right not to be a "prop" for a campaign ad. Republicans think freedom of speech means only speech they agree with. Just like laws against harassment are for other people not republicans. This is just one of an infinite number of reasons to vote democratic.

[Swift29]

I wouldn't paint all Republicans as such but it is ridiculous how many wing nuts reduce themselves to this type of behavior. Makes people afraid to voice their opinions, etc. Another sad example of the right ironically creating that which they say they oppose. Of course you couldn't get that faction to recognize it because they're too busy regurgitating the bile from Rush, ADD boy, etc.

[AshBev]

Stacey Dash, an African American/Mexican actress, was called a **** and told to kill herself by a slew of democrats after she showed support for Mitt Romney on Twitter.

This is a response to her Tweet from an African American democrat, "This hurts but you a Romney lover and you **** yourself to the white man only proves why no black man married u"...

...and this one from an African American FEMALE democrat, "So Stacy Dash buck tooth ass really voting for Romney!! ***** you black and Mexican... do you think yo bloodline gone survive or something?"

There is so much HATE in this election... people are so nasty to each other... it's disgusting. This is not just a "republican" thing, CNTRYGIRL, dems can be just as quick with a knife. Stop pointing fingers... EVERYONE needs to grow up a have a little respect for each other.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/twitter-explodes-after-black-actress-endorses-romney-as-the-only-choice-for-your-future/

[phwtb100]

abbe91 replies:

As long as they make over $250,000 a year.
Thanks for "enlightening" us.

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ROFLMAO

I think you would have been MORE enlightened had you bothered to READ before you posted. It isn't just for the $250,000+. With the exception of #5, they pertain to everyone. Did you even read them before you posted?

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democracy8 replies:
phwtb100: 99.9% of your post is utter nonsense.
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Don't believe me?

www.irs.gov

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ReasonableHumanBeing replies:
Get angry much?
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Very rarely.
Do you THINK much?

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kevinkelly26 replies:
If you think running big deficits and accumulating a huge national debt are an existential threat to the US economy, that sounds like a good 'to-do' list.

Maybe it's time we man-up and start paying out bills. Just a thought.
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I agree, but NOT until they stop spending it faster than we can pay it.



All of you are in for a very rude awakening this January.
Be blessed.

[Swift29]

Not sure where this all started but PHWT the 'ol Congress will inevitably pass a band-aid bill at 5 min to midnight Dec 31st and crow about 'look what we did' so don't get your hopes up for sequestration. These guys are dumb and crooked but they'll save their butts, as always.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

No surprise that Mittwit threatened a Mexican restaurant. I'm sure he now wants them to self deport.

[ToolMangler1]

"I missed the part where Romney threatened anyone!"

Did you see the part where he supported the rights of the owner to refuse to be a political stop????
Didn't think you did... Because Romney doesn't care for the little guy..

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Face it, the truth is Romney's a rich white man unaccustomed to not getting his way. Especially from people he wants to self deport.

[wjbtms]

HERE IS WHY OBAMA LEADS IN SMALL CREDIT CARD DONATIONS IN THIS ELECTION AND THE LAST (2008), HE JUST CAN'T PLAY BY THE RULES: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/10/08/Obama-com-Owned-by-Bundler-in-China-with-Business-Ties-to-Chinese-Government

[Swift29]

Oh please. Troll scum. Get off cbs.

[judymar14]

If he refuse to host gays, religious sects, blacks, etc. He would be closed down.

[Bojax39]

Well, he implied that he would have refused to host Democrats too, since he didn't want his business to be a political venue. So by proxy, he refused to host those you mention as well. :-)

[Swift29]

Yea Judy, what Gor-Gor said.