Tancredo slams Bush over immigration

Nashua Telegraph ^ | Wednesday, Sep. 26, 2007 | By KEVIN LANDRIGAN Telegraph Staff

[SittinYonder]

NASHUA – Republican presidential candidate Rep. Tom Tancredo, of Colorado, said President Bush's failure to enforce existing immigration laws is "despicable" and leading to a domestic crisis.

If elected, Tancredo, 61, said he'd ask Congress to require the withdrawal of Social Security taxes from all employee wages to make it easier for the federal government to track and deport illegal aliens.

"If we don't like our immigration laws, if we think they are wrong, repeal them. If we don't think they are wrong, enforce them," Tancredo said during an interview with The Telegraph editorial board at Nashua High School South.

"Don't keep ignoring our laws, which this president has been doing, which is despicable," Tancredo said.

To Tancredo, Bush's failure to crack down more on employers who employ undocumented workers and to maintain border security amounts to a high crime.

"If he could be impeached for dereliction of duty, a bill could be brought. Unfortunately, that is not grounds," Tancredo said.

"He has avoided dealing with this issue to a point where we are at a crisis, I believe, and it is just unconscionable."

A six-term congressman, Tancredo said illegal immigration has become the centerpiece of his campaign, due to the role it's played in rising health-care costs, availability of jobs and crime.

"It is the most serious domestic policy we face, it has enormous ramifications for America, legal or illegal immigration, period, because of the lack of assimilation that has occurred," Tancredo said.

Employers need to increase the wages of the low-skill jobs instead of hiring illegal immigrants, Tancredo said. He insisted the private economy cost for such a move would be lower than the costs of educating and caring for those who are here illegally.

Tancredo said an illegal alien serving in the military should be placed on a path to citizenship, but all other undocumented citizens must return to their former home.

"I have compassion for people who have done it the right way," Tancredo said.

On Iraq, Tancredo said after this November, U.S. combat forces should disengage from serving as that country's police force and redeploy much of its troops elsewhere in the Middle East.

"I think we'll have to be in Iraq proper, in the oil fields. The numbers I don't know yet," said Tancredo who serves on the House International Affairs Committee.

Tancredo defended his statement on a Florida radio talk show in 2005 when he favored "taking out" Muslim holy sites if he learned fundamentalist extremists used nuclear weapons to attacks the U.S.

"What can you do to create a deterrent? I put this out there as a proposal," said Tancredo, adding he's received death threats in response to it.

"You have to think what is motivating them . . . I think they are acting because of a religious interpretation they have of Islam."

Dave Burgess, of Hudson, a member of The Telegraph Reader Advisory Network, asked if the attacks against Iraq and Afghanistan were justified based on the terrorist attacks against the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001, even though al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden has not been captured.

"I think the response against the Taliban in Afghanistan was absolutely appropriate," Tancredo responded. "To call Iraq a response to 9-11 is inaccurate."

A former junior high school teacher and federal education official, Tancredo said the U.S. role in public schools should be limited, the reason for his opposition to the federal No Child Left Behind law.

Tancredo supports converting federal spending to education block grants for the state and taxpayer-financed vouchers that let parents pick the public, private or parochial school of their choice.

"I want to focus on the kid and not the system," Tancredo added.

Consumers should be able to buy their own health insurance with the help of tax-free health savings accounts rather than get it primarily through their private employers, Tancredo said.

And he supports President Bush's threatened veto of the House-passed expansion of the Child Health Insurance Program for the states.

After the interview, Tancredo spoke and then took questions from social studies students in the school auditorium.

The Telegraph plans to interview all major presidential candidates at Nashua South.

Media students from both Nashua high schools are videotaping these sessions and plan to broadcast them live on the school's Web site with streaming audio and video. There is a link to the video at nashuatelegraph.com.

[SittinYonder]

hour long interview with Tancredo by the Telegraph's editorial board available at the link.

[SittinYonder]

TANCREDO INTERVIEW available at the link

What sets Tancredo apart from the other GOP candidates:
“I think that the fact that I have the most consistent record on immigration, along with the most consistent record on conservative issues in general. That is, Sen. Brownback has certainly been consistent on the life issue. But if you put everything together—fiscal along with social issues, then I would come out with the most consistently conservative background.”
- Tom Tancredo

Click for more on Tancredo on the issues.

Join TEAM TANCREDO

FREEPMAIL ME TO BE ADDED TO THIS TANCREDO ’08 PING LIST

[SpaceBar]

...Bush's failure to enforce existing immigration laws is "despicable" and leading to a domestic crisis.

A true statement regardless of context.

[B Knotts]

It all sounds good. I really wish Tom could get some traction.

[Millee]

Tom would make such an awesome President! More conservative then the rest.

[KarlInOhio]

but all other undocumented citizens must return to their former home.

I really hope that this was a sloppy paraphrase by the articles author and not something Tancredo actually said.

[SittinYonder]

I really hope that this was a sloppy paraphrase by the articles author and not something Tancredo actually said.

"sloppy paraphrase"? I suspect not: rather, deliberate obfuscation.

[SittinYonder]

Tom would make such an awesome President!

Millee, you and I are of like mind.

Tancredo's deliberate conservatism is unmatched by any of the other candidates currently in the race.

Duncan Hunter is a close second. The others are moderates or communists who will only suffer the continued progression of socialism.

This country desperately needs someone who understands our culture; understands our history; understands the threats and understands that to continue to survive and thrive as a nation we must cling to those values, institutions and founding principles that created the greatest experiment in governance the world has seen.

The Giulianis, the FReds, the Clintons, the Osama Obamas in this race lack the understanding to lead this nation, even if some of them (wink wink) are able to convincingly pretend.

I hope you get a chance to watch this video. It is Tancredo uninterrupted and thoughtfully answering questions. He is unashamed, specific, and right. It's not 30 seconds in a debate.

[Badeye]

Tancredo is right about the Bush administration’s position on border security and illegal immigration being ‘despicable’’.

He’s wrong about Iraq with what he says in this article, thats not much better than Murtha’s mutterings, to be blunt.

No big deal, its not like he’s viable for the job.

[SittinYonder]

He’s wrong about Iraq with what he says in this article, thats not much better than Murtha’s mutterings, to be blunt.

Did you watch the video to see what Tancredo had to say about it? Comparing what he said to what Murtha has said is moronic at best. If you don't know what you're talking about, keep it to yourself.

[Badeye]

‘Did you watch the video to see what Tancredo had to say about it? Comparing what he said to what Murtha has said is moronic at best. If you don’t know what you’re talking about, keep it to yourself.’

I read the comments in the article, and sorry, I’ll post what I think on any thread in the forum I choose.

His comment is very reminicent of Murtha’s ‘redeploy over the horizon’ comment.

[SittinYonder]

His comment is very reminicent of Murtha’s ‘redeploy over the horizon’ comment.

You can post what you think all day long, but you're dead wrong!

This is a deliberate misrepresentation on your part. You've made these comments about Tancredo and Murtha before. Deliberate, dishonest misrepresentation.

Tancredo's position is world's apart from Murtha's and your attempt to characterize them as being the same says more about you than Tancredo.

[Badeye]

‘This is a deliberate misrepresentation on your part. You’ve made these comments about Tancredo and Murtha before.’

Yo, WHACKO!

First time I EVER noted this apparent coorelation between the two.

And sorry, but Tancredo doesn’t warrant the type of ‘effort’ you are assigning to me.

Now, cut back on the coffee, and maybe get some sleep. Your losing it.

[SittinYonder]

First time I EVER noted this apparent coorelation between the two.

Sorry, you're right. It was someone else who made those comments before ... There's four or five of you who keep attempting to trash Tancredo, and sometimes it's hard to keep straight your individual rants.

I'll remember ... Badeye is "not the sharpest knife in the drawer" and "not worth the effort."

Thanks for helping me get it straight.

[Badeye]

‘Sorry, you’re right. It was someone else who made those comments before ... ‘

Ah, some rationality! Good, making a bit of progress.

“There’s four or five of you who keep attempting to trash Tancredo, and sometimes it’s hard to keep straight your individual rants.”

Pity, you are backsliding here. You cannot reproduce anything of mine to support this statement.

“I’ll remember ... Badeye is “not the sharpest knife in the drawer” and “not worth the effort.”’

Translation: “I’m embarrassed I was just handed my backside in a public forum, and now must do something to protect my fragile ego, which is web based for the obvious reason....”

“Thanks for helping me get it straight.”

No problem, its been real, its been fun...and after this its even gotten to be ‘real fun’.

[SittinYonder]

Pity, you are backsliding here. You cannot reproduce anything of mine to support this statement.

To: arnoldpalmerfan

None of the three are electable nationally, which is why this doesn’t make any difference for Tancredo.

As I’ve noted, he’s not the sharpest knife in the GOP drawer, as this demonstrates.

33 posted on 07/02/2007 2:44:26 PM EDT by Badeye ("In 2 weeks, I join the list of UNEMPLOYED". ...Goldi-Lox (karma comes around))

Something of yours to support the statement

[SittinYonder]

Pity, you are backsliding here. You cannot reproduce anything of mine to support this statement.

To: Millee

‘Conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly has defended Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado in his ongoing, public feud with fellow Republican presidential contender Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas. ‘

Occasionally, the ‘undercard’ produces the best fight. Neither of these guys will be a factor in 2008, so enjoy their brief time on stage, folks.

11 posted on 07/26/2007 10:21:24 AM EDT by Badeye (You know its a kook site when they ban the word 'kook')
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Something else of yours to support the statement

[SittinYonder]

Pity, you are backsliding here. You cannot reproduce anything of mine to support this statement.

To: antisocial

‘Maybe if you bothered to find out what his actual comments were instead of accepting what he was supposed to have said, you wouldn’t think he was a soundbite politician,’

I’ve heard his evolving explanations multiple times, just like everybody else on this website.

Sorry, he lives for the camera’s glare, no different than Chuckie Schumer, if not as regular as that turd.

40 posted on 08/30/2007 11:00:39 AM EDT by Badeye (You know its a kook site when they ban the word 'kook')
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Another of yours

[SittinYonder]

Pity, you are backsliding here. You cannot reproduce anything of mine to support this statement.

To: NapkinUser

Glad he avoided the temptation to nuke foggy bottom...thats a sign of growing up for this guy.

9 posted on 08/31/2007 2:17:26 PM EDT by Badeye (You know its a kook site when they ban the word 'kook')
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This one was yours, too.

[SittinYonder]

Translation: “I’m embarrassed I was just handed my backside in a public forum, and now must do something to protect my fragile ego, which is web based for the obvious reason....”

I'll keep going if you like. You, New Rome Tacitus (who likes to call Tancredo a racist and get his posts pulled by the admin moderator) and bybybill who made the original statement about Tancredo sounding like Murtha. Like you, he didn't bother to find out what he was talking about ... just threw the statement out there on, as you put it, a public forum.

The vitriol some people have for Tancredo on what is supposed to be a conservative website is shocking to me. As is the desire to purposefully misrepresent his statements like the liberal media does so frequently.

I understand if there are other candidates you like better. I understand if Tancredo's straightforwardness scares you, but to misrepresent and insult belittles the debate.

When confronted with it, I will point out that it is a deliberate and sustained attempt by a few to discredit Tancredo through misrepresentations, aspersions and insults.

As much as you might like to think so, my ego doesn't enter into it. My goal is to correct the record.