Tancredo Welcomes Bilbray to the Immigration Reform Caucus

tancredo.house.gov ^ | June 7, 2006 | Will Adams

[NapkinUser]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Chairman of the House Immigration Reform Caucus, welcomed Representative-Elect Brian Bilbray (R-CA) to the IRC as its 98th member. Bilbray won a special election yesterday in California’s 50th district, spanning San Diego’s northern suburbs.

“Brian has long been a strong advocate of secure borders and tough enforcement of immigration laws. As a former Member and a spokesperson for a non-profit reform group, Brian has worked with me on immigration and I know he’ll be a tremendous asset to my party as we try to block the Senate’s amnesty pact,” said Tancredo.

Bilbray ran primarily on border security. During the campaign, he promised to fight against amnesty for illegal aliens while adding personnel and infrastructure to the border. His opponent endorsed the McCain-Kennedy bill which gives blanket amnesty to illegal aliens, includes only token border security, and has a guest worker plan that ratchets up over several years.

“San Diegans sent a message loud and clear to beltway backers of amnesty: you don’t represent us. Brian had to weather a perfect storm—a sour national mood towards Republicans, and a district that is the perfect testing ground for the Democrats so-called ‘culture of corruption’ message. But a tough stand on immigration carried the day,” said Tancredo.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Why do the media journos keep referring to Bilbray as a moderate Republican?

Trying to discourage conservatives, that's all.

The MM really shot themselves in the foot by running an independent who almost gave the election to Busby.

[cripplecreek]

For real? Who?

I don't know her name. It was a democrat on PMSNBC offering advice to the republicans. That in itself said all I needed to know.

[hoosierboy]

here is a list of members

1. Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL)
2. Congressman Ernest Istook (R-OK)

3. Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO)
4. Congressman William L. Jenkins (R-TN)

5. Congressman Rodney Alexander (R-LA)
6. Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC)

7. Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-AL)
8. Congressman Ric Keller (R-FL)

9. Congressman Richard Baker (R-LA)
10. Congressman Steve King (R-IA)

11. Congressman J. Gresham Barrett (R-SC)
12. Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA)

13. Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD)
14. Congressman John Kline (R-MN)

15. Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX)
16. Congressman John R. “Randy” Kuhl (R-NY)

17. Congressman Bob Beauprez (R-CO)
18. Congressman Donald Manzullo (R-IL)

19. Congressman Michael Bilirakis (R-FL)
20. Congressman Kenny Marchant (R-TX)

21. Congressman John Boozman (R-AR)
22. Congressman Michael T. McCaul (R-TX)

23. Congressman Allen Boyd (D-FL)
24. Congressman Patrick T. McHenry (R-NC)

25. Congressman Jeb Bradley (R-NH)
26. Congressman Mike McIntyre (D-NC)

27. Congressman Henry Brown (R-SC)
28. Congresswoman Candice S. Miller (R-MI)

29. Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL)
30. Congressman Gary Miller (R-CA)

31. Congressman Michael Burgess (R-TX)
32. Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL)

33. Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN)
34. Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO)

35. Congressman John Campbell (R-CA)
36. Congresswoman Sue Wilkins Myrick (R-NC)

37. Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA)
38. Congressman Charlie Norwood (R-GA)

39. Congressman John Carter (R-TX)
40. Congressman Butch Otter (R-ID)

41. Congressman Howard Coble (R-NC)
42. Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX)

43. Congresswoman Barbara Cubin (R-WY)
44. Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN)

45. Congressman John Culberson (R-TX)
46. Congressman Chip Pickering (R-MS)

47. Congressman Geoff Davis (R-KY)
48. Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX)

49. Congresswoman JoAnn Davis (R-VA)
50. Congressman Tom Price (R-GA)

51. Congressman Lincoln Davis (D-TN)
52. Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN)

53. Congressman Nathan Deal (R-GA)
54. Congressman Rick Renzi (R-AZ)

55. Congressman Charles Dent (R-PA)
56. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)

57. Congressman John Doolittle (R-CA)
58. Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL)

59. Congresswoman Thelma Drake (R-VA)
60. Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA)

61. Congressman John Duncan (R-TN)
62. Congressman Jim Ryun (R-KS)

63. Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA)
64. Congresswoman Jean Schmidt (R-OH)

65. Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
66. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX)

67. Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ)
68. Congressman John Shadegg (R-AZ)

69. Congressman Scott Garrett (R-NJ)
70. Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA)

71. Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA)
72. Congressman Michael Simpson (R-ID)

73. Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX)
74. Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX)

75. Congressman Virgil Goode (R-VA)
76. Congressman Cliff Stearns (R-FL)

77. Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
78. Congressman John Sullivan (R-OK)

79. Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO)
80. Congressman John E. Sweeney (R-NY)

81. Congressman Gil Gutknecht (R-MN)
82. Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO)

83. Congressman Ralph Hall (R-TX)
84. Congressman Patrick Tiberi (R-OH)

85. Congressman Robin Hayes (R-NC)
86. Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI)

87. Congressman J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)
88. Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR)

89. Congressman Joel Hefley (R-CO)
90. Congressman Zach Wamp (R-TN)

91. Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA)
92. Congressman Dave Weldon (R-FL)

93. Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-MI)
94. Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA)

95. Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
96. Congressman Roger F. Wicker (R-MS)

97. Congressman Henry Hyde (R-IL)
98.

[Ignatz]

Please change the title to reflect the general reality:

Tancredo Welcomes Bilbray to the Immigration Reform Caucus Circus

[Spiff]

Those members of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus which was founded and is chaired by Rep. Tom Tancredo, make up the most conservative one third of the Republicans in the House of Representatives. In fact, those members make up two thirds of those who have earned the 100% "Best and Brightest" rating from the American Conservative Union.

They are the cream of the crop.

[Spiff]

Tancredo Welcomes Bilbray to the Immigration Reform Caucus Circus

See Post 25.

[COEXERJ145]

Looks like Bilbray has just decided to marginalize himself.

Hanging out with the biggest joke in Congress outside of the Democrat Party.

[Spiff]

Hanging out with the biggest joke in Congress outside of the Democrat Party.

The joke is on you:

Rep. Tom Tancredo's ratings from various conservative organizations:

100% "Best and Brightest" Rating from American Conservative Union (one of only 38 other Congressmen)
100% Rating from National Right to Life Committee
100% Rating from Conservative Index (Spring '05 - 75% lifetime, tied for second highest rating)
100% Rating from Concerned Women for America
100% Rating from Christian Coalition
100% Rating from Campaign for Working Families
100% Rating from FreedomWorks
98% Rating from National Tax Limitation Committee (average since 1999)
95% "Taxpayer Hero" Rating from Citizens Against Government Waste
95% Rating from Americans for Tax Reform
95% Rating from Christian Action Network
93% Rating from Eagle Forum (tied for second highest rating)

0% Rating from National Education Association
0% Rating from National Organization for Women
0% Rating from Brady Campaign
0% Rating from People for the American Way
0% Rating from Planned Parenthood
0% Rating from Pro-Choice America

[Mr. Jeeves]

Didn't Bilbray run on a strong opposition to illegal immigration and support a wall along the entire US-Mexico border? He seems just like Tancredo.

When he was in Congress before, some people considered him a RINO. They are thinking his border security position is just short-term political opportunism to get him back into office.

[cripplecreek]

If Tancredo is a RINO, I'll proudly join him.

[NormsRevenge]

I don't quite get this?

Didn't Bilbray run on a strong opposition to illegal immigration and support a wall along the entire US-Mexico border? He seems just like Tancredo.

--

You are correct if you look at a single issue such as immigration..

I guess the oddity I see is in Tancredo not being a moderate and Bilbray is on other issues..

[jwh_Denver]

"and no less so when coming from conservatives who can't disagree with the president without being disagreeable."

Oh, the Bushbots here have been so agreeable to differences of opinions on Bush.

[Defiant]

Tancredo is the canary in the coal mine, and he has performed a valuable role in this debate. It remains for some enterprising politician to listen to Tancredo's warning and take this issue to the White House in 2008. Allen might be the guy, but he is playing it a little too safe at this point. Newt might be the guy if he can overcome his baggage. We shall see.

[Spiff]

Tancredo is the canary in the coal mine, and he has performed a valuable role in this debate. It remains for some enterprising politician to listen to Tancredo's warning and take this issue to the White House in 2008. Allen might be the guy, but he is playing it a little too safe at this point. Newt might be the guy if he can overcome his baggage. We shall see.

Pence. I think Tancredo was a tad harsh on Pence's somewhat flawed compromise idea, but I think they can work together. Pence is the one to watch.

[Richard-SIA]

You left out his anti-RKBA AG, Gonzales!

[Defiant]

Bilbray is a moderate on many issues, and disappointed conservatives when he was representing a district that changed over to Democrats a few years ago. Maybe he was playing to his constituency, I don't know. He has always been rock-solid on immigration, with support for the fence and prop 187. That alone is reason to support him. In fact, the solid conservative who he barely defeated in the first primary, Eric Roach, had a position that sounded more like the Wall Street Journals, and for that reason, Bilbray may be the better choice, even though Roach is more conservative on fiscal and social issues. The border is issue no. 1 right now, up there with, and tied to, the WOT.

[NapkinUser]

"100% "Best and Brightest" Rating from American Conservative Union (one of only 38 other Congressmen)
100% Rating from National Right to Life Committee
100% Rating from Conservative Index (Spring '05 - 75% lifetime, tied for second highest rating)
100% Rating from Concerned Women for America
100% Rating from Christian Coalition
100% Rating from Campaign for Working Families
100% Rating from FreedomWorks
98% Rating from National Tax Limitation Committee (average since 1999)
95% "Taxpayer Hero" Rating from Citizens Against Government Waste
95% Rating from Americans for Tax Reform
95% Rating from Christian Action Network
93% Rating from Eagle Forum (tied for second highest rating)

0% Rating from National Education Association
0% Rating from National Organization for Women
0% Rating from Brady Campaign
0% Rating from People for the American Way
0% Rating from Planned Parenthood
0% Rating from Pro-Choice America"

Tancredo must be a RINO.

/sarcasm

"Tancredo Welcomes Bilbray to the Immigration Reform Caucus Circus"

Care to explain?

[Defiant]

Pence is an up and comer, but he may not have enough of a national profile to look at 2008. Had he gotten the majority leader post, he would have been better positioned. I think we are looking at a conservative governor (there are a couple possiblities), Senator Allen or Newt as our choices. Would love to see names like Sessions thrown in the mix, but they don't seem to be going after it.

Pence would be an interesting choice as VP. My VP preference is someone like Giuliani, who is great at expressing himself in public, and who will inspire the entire spectrum of Republican voters. As a VP, he won't have to justify his past positions on social issues, he can just say that he will fully support the policies of the administration if they get elected. And he will.

Of course, another great choice for VP would be Condoleeza Rice. Wouldn't that be something? And it would give her 8 years of work in the political arena to allow her and us to figure out if she is right for the top spot.

[Kuja]

Rudy will never be picked at VP and if he did it would be the worst move since Reagan picked Bush 41 (moderate) to be his VP. Reagan had the checkered-pants republican vote, he didn't need to get Bush on board. Pence got weak in the knees on immigration, he would likely falter on other issues when push comes to shove.

Rice no way because she is RINO.

[EternalVigilance]

FYI: While Bilbray may have used the immigration issue to win the special election, he is no conservative. He's a pro-abort and a board member of the Log Cabin Republicans.