Posted on 08/27/2004 2:19:59 PM PDT by 4.1O dana super trac pak
New York - Rep. Tom Tancredo failed Thursday to add his anti-immigration agenda to the Republican Party's national platform.
"They threw some bones at us, but we didn't really get what we wanted," said the Colorado congressman, ending his threat to wage a policy fight on the floor of next week's Republican National Convention.
Tancredo blasted the party for quashing dissent, complaining that it stacked the platform committee with delegates supportive of President Bush's plan for a new temporary-worker program that would tap current illegal immigrants. Even Thursday, after Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist adjourned the committee, Tancredo complained that the party refused to disclose names of the committee's members.
Tancredo waged his policy fight from his Colorado field office while delegates ironed out the party's agenda Wednesday and Thursday at Manhattan's Javit's Center. Party platform officials didn't return phone calls about Tancredo's complaints.
Colorado Gov. Bill Owens co-chaired the 110-member platform committee, leading a panel dealing with homeland security and foreign policy.
"The party's pretty united on the subject," Owens said.
The governor pushed for platform language asserting Bush was right to wage war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Owens also helped retain a call for an independent Palestinean state. Bush and Isreali Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, he noted, support eventual Palestinean independence. And Owens' subcommittee erased language mentioning that critics have decried the Patriot Act.
Delegates breezed through potentially contentious sections on gay marriage and abortion. In an appeal to voters who oppose the party's platform against gay marriage and abortion rights, the group voted 74 - 18 Wednesday to emphasize that "members of our party can have deeply held and sometimes differing views."
Working with conservative organizer Phyllis Schlafly, Tancredo sought to change the platform to encourage states to refuse driver's licenses to illegal immigrants; keep illegal immigrants from obtaining Social Security benefits; and oppose giving legal status to immigrants now in the U.S.
The committee instead adopted language emphasizing the need for strong borders and saying the party doesn't support amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Tancredo said the language means little because Bush's guest-worker program effectively grants amnesty. "What they've done is downright Clintonesque," he said. They say they're against amnesty when they're really for it."
Owens said Tancredo never approached him with platform changes. He declined to comment on the congressman's attempt to influence the party.
Said Owens' deputy, Sean Duffy: "(We're) not going to engage in pie fights."
You'll get 'em next time, Tom!
Let's get W re-elected, but then its Tom Tancredo for '08!!!
If that's not possible, how about a Bill Owens ticket?
LOL. Right on!
Don't give up Tom. It's going to be a long fight - we'll keep working!
The Denver Post is ultra left.
I know this is very childish of me but I feel very strongly on this issue. If there is another terrorist attack I almost hope it is proven the terrorists and their materials came from Mexico through the sieve we call our "Southern Border." Perhaps then the powers that be will do what they should have done 10 years ago.
Tancredo bump
A wild and crazy guy all right.
Tancredo bttt.
What would you expect from this "Two-Party Cartel". It's now over 80% of the people want illegal immigration stopped immediately & none in the cartel will do anything about it. So do they really deserve your vote?? They haven't earned mine.
-Tancredo ping-
To quote a saying by a famous governor of Alabama "There's not a dimes worth of difference between the Republican and Democratic parties".
I think he was off by about a nickel.
That's it. I am not voting.
I was one of the 537 Volusia County votors who put W over the top. I stood at the intersection of 95 and International Speedway Boulivard, waving a W sign.
I stated that I would crawl over broken glass to vote for W.
I give up.
Freeper #39.
Why not vote for a 3rd party candidate? Badnarik or Peroutka? At least you'd have registered a protest against the two-party cartel.
It can't be said you'd be wasting your vote, since you don't intend to vote anyway.
After November my vote is for sale to any party that promises to enforce our borders.
I don't care who - Demo, GOP, greens... if no one steps up, right now I'm inclined to drop out.
I get calls from the RNC all the time asking for money. I tell them they will get no more from me until they address illegal immigration. Hit them in the pocketbook...it is the only thing they listen to!
Apparently, the GOP is spooked over this issue. People are closing their wallets and when asked why they are telling the questioner, that if the govt. can't protect them, there is no reason for them to give money to the party.
Apparently, at least here in So. Cal., there is a whole set of talking points over this.
Given recent events its clear the GOP could care less. Consequently, I am beginning to care less about the GOP's political fortunes.
I figure the WOT is too important to give over to the Demos, but after 4 more years of illegal immigration at the current rate the WOT won't much matter.
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