Tancredo for president, group says

Rocky Mountain News ^ | January 21, 2004 | M.E. Sprengelmeyer

[Columbine]

Immigration critics in Tennessee want to draft Rep. Tom Tancredo as a protest candidate in the upcoming Republican presidential primary, but don't expect the Littleton lawmaker to become their volunteer.

"A lot of people think my politics are crazy, but I'm not delusional. I don't think I'm going to be president of the United States," Tancredo said Tuesday, in response to a new committee, "Tennesseans for Tancredo," touting a write-in candidacy on the Internet.

Some immigration critics are so upset about President Bush's proposal to offer legal status to millions of illegal immigrants that they want to field a protest candidate in Republican presidential primaries in Tennessee and elsewhere.

A Web site, www.tennesseansfortancredo.com, cites the need to "make noise, collect signatures, build a grass-roots movement that attracts citizens from all walks of life and all political parties."

With or without Tancredo's approval, they hope critics of Bush's plan will write in Tancredo during state presidential contests.

Tancredo said he supports Bush on most issues besides immigration and could not see himself having much of an effect on Bush's chances.

This week, the representative launched "Team Tancredo," a political action committee to raise money for candidates who oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants.

"Tancredo for President" bumper stickers have been floating around the Internet for more than a year.

"It's a conversation starter," he said. "And the conversation usually starts with, 'Who the hell is Tom Tancredo?' ''

[Columbine]

Seems pretty clear to me!

[Naspino]

Its all in the tagline.

[JohnnyZ]

Tancredo for president, group says

DEPORT THEM IMMEDIATELY!

[Columbine]

Exactly! I like your tagline!

Tancredo has a clear picture of himself in relation to the presidency. It's too bad that others can't see it too.

He's valuable right where he is.

[South40]

¡Gracias presidente Bush!

[Dante3]

Team Tancredo is a good idea.

[Naspino]

What am I supposed to think when I see that photo?

[South40]

What am I supposed to think when I see that photo?

Even if I could tell you what to think I never would.
If you have an opinion of the photo please offer it.

[Bikers4Bush]

Do you think so? Then why is it being reported that Karl Rove is trying to find someone from within the GOP to run against and oust Tancredo?

Seems nefarious to me.

[skeeter]

My opinion is if that one in the middle wants a job in California he'd better lose the Joe Camel t-shirt.

[dagnabbit]

Good to see this is getting a little media attention.

[Naspino]

If you have an opinion of the photo please offer it.

I don't know -- you show a picture of three hispanic men holding up licenses (Kalifornia?) and I'm supposed to dislike them and also dislike Bush by proxy? I actually don't dislike hispanics which is why I guess I'm not considered a "real" conservative.

[Ingtar]

Sounds like an excellent idea to me

[CA Conservative]

It is interesting that so many people who dislike the president's immigration proposal like Tom Tancredo... especially since Tancredo actually submitted a "guest worker" bill that is substantially similar to the Bush proposal (although with better enforcement provisions) several months ago... However, Tancredo's bill does not punish the people who are already here illegally or promise to deport them, does not deny them the opportunity to apply for a guest worker visa, nor does it prevent them from getting preference for a green card.

What is wrong with taking the similar features (register guest workers, requires jobs be offered to citizens first), add the better Bush features (fine those here illegally before they can apply for a visa, prevent them from getting preference for a green card, provide incentives for worker to return home after jobs have ended), and add the better Tancredo features (better border control, stronger penalties for employers, sticter enforcement). That sounds like a pretty good bill to me.

And remember that it will be up to Tancredo and his colleagues to get a bill passed and on the president's desk. Congress will deserve the credit (or the blame) for any immigration reform that passes. Tancredo has been in Congress for 6 years now. If he is "the man" who has the ultimate answer for the illegal immigration issue, why hasn't he been able to get it passed through a Congress dominated by member of his own party?

[ZULU]

Bush has been a pretty good President. Sure, he wasn't perfect, but when you view the DemoRats like Pelosi, Ted "The Swimmer" Kennedy, Chuckie "Chee" Schumer, Hellery Klinton, Bill Klinton, Corzine-Lautenberg (are they the same guy?), Boxer, Feinkenstein, Dean, Kerry, Edwards, Gephardt, etc, etc, we know what the alternative is.

Tancredo knows he has no chance in beating Bush - Right Now.
The point is not to damage Bush. The point is to make a point. The only way to impress some of the pinheads advising Bush, like Karlville Rove, is to send him a message. The GENTLEST and LEAST damaging message (to Bush and to us) is to write in Tancredo in the Republican Primary for President. Bush will still win, but the number of votes for Tancredo could embarass him and Karlville enough to convince him to abandon this wacky immigration amnesty idea.

[cyborg]

What is one supposed to say with this picture? I just see three guys with IDs.

[South40]

I don't know -- you show a picture of three hispanic men holding up licenses (Kalifornia?) and I'm supposed to dislike them and also dislike Bush by proxy?

Who said that? You can like them and Bush all you want.

I actually don't dislike hispanics which is why I guess I'm not considered a "real" conservative.

I don't dislike Hispanics either. I dislike lawbreakers of any ethnicity who enter our country ILLEGALLY. And I'm quite sure you're no more conservative then me.

[Naspino]

¡Gracias presidente Bush!

[Penny]

FOR OVER A MONTH now, I've been sending a daily e-mail to the Bush/Cheney team at the White House AND the chairman of the rnc.org with "TOM TANCREDO FOR PREZ IN 2004"; last week, I was officially blocked from sending e-mails to president@whitehouse.gov and vice.president@whitehouse.gov.

I wonder why? Yep . . . I know why.
Regards . . . Penny

[ZULU]

This is true. Karlville Rove is trying to get somebody to run AGAINST Tancredo and told him he wasn't welcome in the White House - all because Tancredo wants to protect Americans from illegal invaders.

A write in for Tancredo might tell Karlville not to tangle with him.