Posted on 05/06/2005 7:47:06 AM PDT by .cnI redruM
WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom Tancredo ought to reconsider his membership in the Republican Party, a Utah congressman said Wednesday after the two GOP lawmakers put an intraparty rift over immigration policy on full public display.
"I think he ought to consider his views and decide whether they're consistent with the Republican Party," Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, said of the Colorado congressman after the two clashed repeatedly during a forum sponsored by the Latino Coalition, a Hispanic business group.
Advertisement
Cannon, a leading proponent of President Bush's proposed guest- worker program, has had a running feud with Tancredo, an opponent of the plan and outspoken advocate of tougher immigration enforcement. Last year, a political action committee founded by Tancredo targeted Cannon during his primary election challenge.
The two men sat side by side on stools at Wednesday's event inside Washington's J.W. Marriott hotel, and the rhetoric got so emotional that at one point they had a comical tussle over who would get to hold the microphone next.
The debate began with a third panelist, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., denouncing unnamed people he said were exploiting the immigration issue because of bigotry, hatred and prejudice.
"If not for the undocumented workers in this country, I'd say that this room would not have been as clean and well-organized this morning," Gutierrez said.
Tancredo challenged Gutierrez when he took the microphone.
"We certainly would not want to pander to anyone on this issue, would we?" Tancredo said. "What I just heard was not that, was it?"
Tancredo repeated his long-standing call for the country to close its "porous borders" before it considers a new guest-worker program.
"It is crazy to suggest this nation should not do everything possible to secure the border," Tancredo said, saying a desire for cheap, immigrant labor could leave the borders open to terrorists or narcotics traffickers. Tancredo equates Bush's proposal to "amnesty" for illegal immigrants, saying it would reward people who entered the country illegally.
When it was his turn, Cannon immediately endorsed Gutierrez's earlier statement. He said the vast majority of Americans believe that undocumented immigrants should have "a path to citizenship" as long as they have willing employers, have not committed crimes and already are contributing to society.
Cannon said only a small minority of people "truly believe we should kick out" all illegal immigrants. He cited one of Tancredo's political allies, conservative commentator Pat Buchanan, who got about 1 percent of the vote after he left the Republican Party and ran for president in 2000 as a third-party candidate.
"I don't think there's a place in the Republican Party for racism, for xenophobia, for ideas that are fundamentally un-American," Cannon said.
Tancredo clapped quietly, saying he also sees no place in the debate for racism or xenophobia, which refers to a fear of foreign people or things.
Still, some observers - including a Tancredo staff member - interpreted it as an indirect reference to Tancredo, since he has recently toyed with the idea of following in Buchanan's footsteps and mounting a presidential campaign in 2008.
Asked after the event if he thought Tancredo was racist or xenophobic, Cannon said: "I don't know what motivates him."
In an interview, Tancredo fired back at Cannon, pointing to his primary election challenge by Republican Matt Throckmorton in 2004. The Team America PAC, founded by Tancredo and chaired by Buchanan's sister, Bay Buchanan, backed Throckmorton. Another group, Project U.S.A., placed billboards saying "Congressman Chris Cannon wants amnesty for illegal aliens. Do you?"
"Of the two of us, Mr. Cannon is the only one who has had a primary (challenge since taking office)," Tancredo said. "Evidently, there are a lot of people in his district who believe he is not Republican enough."
Tancredo has recently started traveling to early presidential primary states like New Hampshire, saying he wants to make sure the "serious candidates" put the immigration issue front-and-center in the 2008 race.
He has said it is unlikely he would actually run in - or win - a presidential race, but that he would consider a campaign if other candidates ignore the issue.
But he sees no need to leave the Republican Party.
"I believe the Republican Party is with me on the issue," Tancredo said.
"As long as that's the case, I frankly can't think why I would change. In the Republican Party, more people agree with me than with President Bush and Mr. Cannon (on immigration)."
Tancredo was facing a polite but generally skeptical crowd at The Latino Coalition event. Before he appeared, an opening speaker, while listing the VIPs invited to speak, added, "I'm sorry, but we also have Congressman Tom Tancredo."
That prompted a smattering of boos and hisses.
About 30 minutes after Tancredo, Cannon and Gutierrez left the stage, President Bush appeared for a presentation on Social Security. He got huge applause when he diverged to talk about his guest worker plan, which could go before Congress later this year.
Uh sittin in the out house yonder there
Well it looks like you at least considered the offer to buy the bridge.
Listening to the box set of michael savage(weiner) this morning?
Do you have anything constructive to add or just insults for the rest of us?
Uh yes the very constructive fact that tom tancredo is a backstabber towards Tom Delay.
This is where Tancredo puts the knife in, right?
I believe they are being leveled in the hopes of bringing him down, and with him the Republican Majority
This must be where he turns the knife, right?
However, if the Majority Leader were to temporarily step aside so that these trumped up charges can be dealt with in a less hostile environment, as they have proven to be an unnecessary distraction, it may be a productive move
And this is where he sides with the Democrats, right?
I don't agree with Tancredo about DeLay, but it's hardly backstabbing.
Uh sitting yonder wherever, could be an outhouse, and you'll get all over indignant over my speculation.
What part of "stepping aside" don't you understand. tancredo planted that seed and the liberal media went with it, and IMO, according to tancredo's wishes.
He and Orin Hatch both. Hopefully in 2006 Utah sends them both packing.
Then why did tancredo add, "step aside".
Well what else should I expect, weasle words from a supporter of a weasle politcian(tancredo).
Cannon should be tossed out, not Tancredo.
Geez, I hate to see people slandering Xenophon.
He was a brilliant and great man.
The Greeks should have listened to him. He was 100% right.
Instead, they ended up as slaves.
Still working the illegal immigration PR shill routine trying to cut down any conservative who stands for the law and for America ?
How many illegal immigrants are you employing right now?
Schwarzenegger's popularity has taken a hit because of organized attacks by the Teachers Unions, not his border policy. There have been TV adds and demonstrations against him because he is not giving teachers the moneys they want, not immigration
Dman sam, your routine is getting old. Now do you have anything to say about tancredo's backstabbing of Tom Delay.
No, ask when Tancredo stopped beating his wife- much more effective.
None, and like sam, that above line is also becoming quite tired.
So, the GOP is turing a blind eye to serious national issues and Tancredo raises these issues, so Tancredo shouldn't be part of the paty, so says the GOP.
well, seems logical. If the GOP refuses to address these issues, Tancredo, and everyone else concerned about these issues, should form or move to a different party.
Tancredo, and I, haven't left the GOP, the GOP has sold out and left us. So, I will stay with the GOP and run off those idiots polluting the party, and I hope Tancredo does so as well.
What is your stake in this game? Your comments are irrational. Your characterization of Tancredo's statements re Delay is over-the-top and it seems to be in your interest to discredit Tancredo to attack his immigration positions. Why not just debate the positions?
"Uh sittin in the out house yonder there"
Oh, I see, when I was mentioning irrational responses above, it turns out that you are actually irrational. Never mind.
Huh and tancredo's remarks saying Tom Delay should step aside are not irrational. Dude maybe you should take a reality check.
My stakes in the "game" are to show that tancredo is a grandstanding politician ala McCain, and tancredo showed his true colors with his backstabbing of Tom Delay.
He's either hiring illegals or Tancredo stole a girl friend from him. His comments are irrational, he immediately becomes hostile toward anyone who has a differing point of view, and rather than argue substance throws out insults. It's personal, whatever it is.
Besides Utah do you think Cannon with his open border position could win nationally against Tancredo? Or even in Utah for that matter in a head to head competition?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.