Presidential hopeful Tancredo’s solution to immigration problem: ‘Enforce the law’

Times-Republican (Iowa) ^ | Tuesday, July 03, 2007 | By KEN BLACK

[SittinYonder]

There are two “I’s” that are a resounding theme in any political campaign for federal office and such was the case when GOP presidential hopeful Tom Tancredo visited Marshalltown Friday.

Immigration and Iraq dominated the discussion with a group of veterans at the Iowa Veterans Home.

The Colorado congressman praised the defeat of a comprehensive immigration reform bill in the Senate this week and said his plan for fixing the illegal immigration situation in the United States is bold and controversial.

“Enforce the law,” he said. “The issue is this: Is there a solution to the problem and is that solution amnesty? And that’s really what that [Senate] bill was all about. ... We should either repeal the law or enforce it, but we should not continue to ignore it.”

Tancredo believes there are a couple of different factors at work in keeping the nation’s immigration situation at the status quo.

“For the most part, Democrats look at this issue and see a massive number of new voters,” he said. “Republicans look at immigration and see cheap labor.”

Tancredo said the issue would nearly take care of itself if more punitive penalties were levied against employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

On Iraq, Tancredo believes the troop surge will not, ultimately, be successful and believes that a policy of disengagement is needed. However, he said that does not mean a pullout from the region, but it may mean a pullout from Iraq.

Still, he noted that America will still have a role in the country. If intelligence shows Al-Qaeda cells in the country, they should be removed with surgical attacks, he advocated.

Tancredo is very critical of the Bush policy in Iraq and said he is no longer invited to the White House because he is often at odds with the president.

He said he originally favored the invasion of Iraq because, “I believed what I was told.”

One veteran asked him if the president had lied to gain support for a move against Saddam Hussein and Iraq.

“I don’t know,” Tancredo answered.

The congressman also reiterated his commitment to the August straw poll taking place in Ames. Two big names in the party, Sen. John McCain and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, have said they are not going to participate in the traditional summer test.

Tancredo said he understands their reluctance to participate.

“It was probably a good idea for them because they were going to lose,” he said.

[SittinYonder]

On Federal Spending:
“The federal government is in debt because it spends too much, not because it taxes people too little. Government spending is classified as either discretionary or mandatory. Discretionary spending includes funds for things like the military and is explicitly set by Congress on an annual basis. But the major culprit in ballooning budgets is mandatory spending for entitlement programs like medicare, expenditures which are determined by the number of beneficiaries. The only way to control the budget is to reform the entitlement programs that mandatory spending funds. Those decisions on how to allocate resources are as economically necessary as they are politically and ethically difficult. ”
-Tom Tancredo

Click for more on Tancredo on the issues.

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[bybybill]

I`m confused. What is the difference between Tancredo and Murtha on Iraq?

[SittinYonder]

In doing this ping list, I try to do a google news search for Tancredo every morning, looking for articles to post and ping.

Most mornings there has been none or one or two that are a variation of each other.

The last few days, though, Tancredo has been more and more in the news. It's still largely illegal immigration, but not entirely.

I do believe his awareness level is raising.

I'm posting a couple of more links in this thread rather than posting additional stories.

[SittinYonder]

From the Hill:

Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) is serious enough about his patriotism that he put a spotlight on the flag that hangs at all times over his garage. Tancredo, a fifth-term lawmaker, will spend much of the day with his family. They have a red, white and blue tablecloth and napkins. Last year, his wife even made patriotic ice cubes — star-shaped and dyed red and blue.

“I’ve got a red, white and blue Western shirt with ‘Vote’ written all over it,” he said. And he loves to blare the patriotic tunes. Tancredo and his wife would crank the volume on the Boston Pops Fourth of July performance “so loud you could hear it all over the neighborhood.”

Tancredo said he, too, lets his emotions get the better of him when thinking about America. He recalled becoming emotional after Sept. 11, when lawmakers spontaneously came out of the Capitol and sang “God Bless America.”

The DesMoines Register went for the headline rather than the substance:

Headline: "Tancredo: It's possible to deport 12 million"

Story:

The Colorado congressman, however, argued that tougher border security and a crackdown on employers would reduce the need for mass deportations and encourage such immigrants to return to their native countries willingly.

And from the Modesto Bee:

But Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado also was smiling because he finished third in the Linn County Republican Party's straw poll in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

First and Second were Thompson (no, not him, Tommy Thompson) and Brownback.

[SittinYonder]

I`m confused. What is the difference between Tancredo and Murtha on Iraq?

Yes, you are confused.

"there was no firefight, there was no IED (improvised explosive device) that killed these innocent people. Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood."
-Jack Murtha

Tancredo: Iraq must keep its republic

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colorado, said that he supported the “surge” in troops deployed to Iraq.

But if the US was unable to pacify Iraq, he would tell the Iraqi government that US sacrifice had brought it a republic - and “It is now up to you to keep it.”

He went on to say that it was necessary for Iraqis to defend themselves. “I want them patrolling their city and putting they their lives at risk. Then we move out.”

[bybybill]

Your last post sure is diffent from the first.

[SittinYonder]

Your last post sure is diffent from the first.

No, it's not.

[wastedyears]

***“It was probably a good idea for them because they were going to lose,” he said.***

Good man

[hophead]

But Chertoff said he can’t enforce the existing laws.

[AU72]

Enforce the law?

That's like saying the way to end discrimination by race is to stop discriminating by race.

[bybybill]

OK, your right, it`s my lying eyes again.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Demand a border fence! Build it NOW!! Beef up the border patrol and close our borders!

U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121

U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121

White House comments: (202) 456-1111

Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep

Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Toll free to the US Senate:

1-800-882-2005. (Spanish number)
1-800-417-7666. (English number)

Courtesy of a pro-amnesty group, no less!!

Republican National Committee
310 First Street, SE Washington, D.C. 20003
phone: 202.863.8500 | fax: 202.863.8820 | e-mail: info@gop.com

[OldArmy52]

Enforce existing laws?
Who’d a thunk of that?

[KeyLargo]

Immigration Fight Dividing Carpentersville

“...Trustee Paul Humpfer, who wrote the “Illegal Alien Immigration Relief Act Ordinance,” claimed ambulance bills were high because illegal immigrants were taking advantage of the health care system and said rental housing was overcrowded.

Those who support the measure also have complained about strained schools, increased crime and even public urination....”

“We had some complaints that we have a lot of people living in garages. And one woman said that every morning these grown men would come out of the garage and urinate. And then some white van would come and pick them up,” said Pat Schultz, a member of the recently formed Fox Valley Citizens for Legal Immigration. “You know in your heart that something is not right....”

http://www.nbc5.com/news/13615385/detail.html?dl=headlineclick

[debby_dee]

I’ve got a red, white and blue Western shirt with ‘Vote’ written all over it,” he said. And he loves to blare the patriotic tunes. Tancredo and his wife would crank the volume on the Boston Pops Fourth of July performance “so loud you could hear it all over the neighborhood

I think it is wonderful that he loves America so much. I think he would make a wonderful president.

[R.W.Ratikal]

“Enforce the law?” But Republican’s are in power and one of their official spokesman, Chertoff of Homeland Security, said over the weekend that the U. S. government was unable to enforce the law.

If the government in Washington is unable to enforce the law why pass more laws?

[SittinYonder]

If the government in Washington is unable to enforce the law why pass more laws?

To get them off the hook for the laws they won't enforce, I suppose.