Posted on 11/30/2006 8:30:21 AM PST by Dane
Tancredo fires back at Fla. guv Colo. congressman accuses Jeb Bush of 'happy talk'
By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News November 30, 2006 U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo on Wednesday accused Florida Gov. Jeb Bush of spouting "politically correct happy talk" in a war of words touched off by the congressman's swipe at the city of Miami as resembling a "Third World country."
In a letter responding to a blast from Bush, Tancredo said the governor did not recognize illegal immigration as a problem in Miami.
"I certainly understand and appreciate your need and desire to create the illusion of Miami as a multiethnic 'All American' city," Tancredo said. "I can also appreciate that Miami's schools graduate many outstanding students and that the cultural and ethnic diversity of the city offers many advantages to its residents.
"However, it is neither naive nor insulting to call attention to a real problem that cannot be easily dismissed through politically correct happy talk."
The letter was in response to one sent by Bush on Tuesday, after the governor learned of Tancredo's comments during a weekend summit of conservative activists in Palm Beach.
Tancredo reportedly said that unchecked immigration, both legal and illegal, was behind many of Miami's problems, including its high crime rate and poverty.
Bush described Tancredo's comments as "disappointing" and "naive" and defended Miami's diversity, citing the contributions made by people of all ethnicities. He also noted declining crime rates and improving test scores posted by minority students.
But Tancredo said it was Bush who is being naive.
"The tolerance of cultural diversity in a city or a nation is admirable up to a point, but when diversity is worshipped to the detriment of assimilation, it becomes a serious problem that undermines the civic culture that forms the basis for our democratic institutions and the rule of law," he wrote.
Besides the president's brother, civic boosters also have come to Miami's defense.
Frank Nero, president and CEO of The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County's economic development partnership, called Tancredo's statements "insulting, divisive and intellectually reprehensible."
"Perhaps (Tancredo's) next junket should be to read the inscription on the Statue of Liberty, along with a stop at Ellis Island," he said
Exactly, conveniently not mentioned by the Tancredo haters on this thread is that Cong. Tancredo did not say anything about Gov. Bush in his original remarks. Cong. Tancredo only mentioned Gov. Bush after Gov. Bush publicly criticised his fellow Republican.
Why would the governor of Florida consider illegal immigration as a problem when his brother, the President of the U.S.A. doesn't consider it a problem?
Gov. Bush and his wife, Columba Bush, are true experts on this nation's borders. After all, she tried to smuggle nineteen thousand dollars ($19,000) in new clothing and jewelry into the country in 1999 following a Paris shopping spree. On two (2) seperate occasions, she lied to the U.S. Customs Service about the value of the foreign goods she had purchased, including her false statement on her mandatory declaration form that she had purchased five hundred dollars ($500) worth of goods. After Customs agents searched Columba Bush's luggage and found the merchandise, she confessed to all of her purchases. She paid a four thousand one hundred dollar ($4,100) civil fine.
http://www.sptimes.com/News/62299/State/Gov_Bush_says_his_wif.shtml
"I happen to agree with Tancredo by the way. I've spent enough time in Miami to understand what he's talking about."
Of course there are no barrios in faire Denver, pray tell.
Maybe the Republicans who are in bed with open-border dems should switch parties since they no longer resemble conservatives.
Miami FL Crime Statistics (2005 Crime Data)
=8-0
Doesn't look good, Batman.
Hey, MURDER is only 3 plus times the national average in Miami!
Miami FL Crime Statistics (2005 Crime Data)
Many of the Tancredo haters who post on threads about him support legislation that would give legal status to millions of illegal aliens and give those millions of illegal aliens a path to citizenship. Among the strongest supporters of such legislation are Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer, Patrick Leahy, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Charlie Rangel and John Conyers. Maybe the Tancredo haters that support such legislation should become Democrats. They could feel right at home with Barney Frank and other Democrats that support that approach.
And you have the breakdown by municipality, county,zone, age, ethnicity, relationship of perp to victim, and the other elements of a VICAP report or the reporting data submission presented the FBI-Uniform Crime Report.
Or are those gross figures not subjected to analysis?
There is more to playing head games with crime reports.
There is an actual history behind every incident.
Even in the Rockies.
"Is any of this the fault of the immigrants?"
Yes, part of it. Just because our government doesn't do what it should doesn't mean there isn't any blame for the immigrants as well.
Did you support passage of S.2611, the immigration reform bill passed by the United States Senate that would allow millions of illegal aliens to obtain legal status and a path to citizenship?
Did you support passage of H.R.4437, the border security bill passed by the House of Representatives?
What potential 2008 presidential candidate or candidates do you believe would be a good president?
Whoops.
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