Posted on 11/24/2002 10:00:53 AM PST by madfly
Personal Story: Interview with Tom Tancredo Bill O'Reilly
11/21/2002
Fox News: The O'Reilly Factor
O'REILLY: Thanks for staying with us. I'm Bill O'Reilly.
In the "Personal Story" Segment tonight, as you may know, Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo has criticized both Republicans and Democrats for doing very little about the chaos on U.S. borders. Now we learn that top Bush adviser Karl Rove told Mr. Tancredo he is unwelcome at the White House.
The congressman joins us now from Denver.
All right. So tell us about this dustup with Rove.
REP. TOM TANCREDO (R), COLORADO: All right. Well, that happened, actually, quite some time ago.
I think it was probably last April when I did a story -- I mean, I did an interview with "The Washington Times," and my comments in that -- in the paper caused Mr. Rove to give me a call the next day. And I was just leaving my house, you know, with my cell phone, took the call. It says, "White House."
I think, "Wow. This is" -- and it's Karl Rove, and he -- he was very upset, of course, and, during the course of the conversation, he said -- well, I -- he said, first of all, that I was being disloyal to say the kind of things I said because I am, of course, concerned about this immigration issue. It's huge. I lay it at the feet of Republicans, Democrats, the Congress, and the administration. He was very mad about that.
I told him, "I am not disloyal to the president. Disagreeing with the president does not mean you're disloyal. I happen to agree with the president 90 percent of the time, probably 99 percent of the time. In this case, we disagree. And the issue is so big that I'm not going to walk away from it because it happens to be the White House that I'm having a fight with. I don't like this. I didn't want to pick the fight, I assure you."
But he then said -- at some point during the conversation, his comment was, "Well, don't ever darken the doorstep of the White House." That was -- that was his direct quote.
O'REILLY: So no Christmas party for you huh?
TANCREDO: Well, that's it. I was wondering what -- my wife was really upset about that. She likes the Christmas party.
O'REILLY: Yes. Was there a specific comment you made to "The Washington Times" that...
TANCREDO: Yes.
O'REILLY: What was that?
TANCREDO: Yes. I said that, if we have another event like 9/11 and if we have not done any more to protect our borders than we have done, "at that time -- and, by the way, still at this time -- "and if this event was perpetrated by someone who has come across those borders illegally or who is here legally but then overstays the visa and all of the rest of that stuff and we don't catch it, then I'm saying that the people who are killed in that attack -- we are -- the blood of those people is really on our hands in the Congress and in the administration because...
O'REILLY: All right. So he didn't like...
TANCREDO: ... frankly, who else are you going to blame?
O'REILLY: ... that because, as you know, Malvo -- subsequently, John Lee Malvo, another INS botch -- and, apparently, by his own admission, he killed 10 Americans and wounded three others. I guess he is the trigger man now for most of these things.
TANCREDO: Yes.
O'REILLY: Not the -- not only the Bush White House -- and, by the way, we called Karl Rove, and he has no comment on you. But he doesn't like you. But he doesn't like me either, I don't think.
TANCREDO: I get that feeling.
O'REILLY: Yes. I mean, you know...
TANCREDO: The president has -- you know, frankly, Bill...
O'REILLY: What are you going to do? You've got to be honest, and, if you believe what you believe -- and I think you're a sincere man -- I mean, it's your duty to speak out, even if they don't like it.
But here's the rub. Most Americans agree with you, Congressman -- and they agree with me -- that the U.S. military should be moved to the borders to stem the flow of illegal immigration, not to shut the borders down but to plug the holes. Now you just got back from the border today, right, or you were there yesterday?
TANCREDO: Last night. Last night.
O'REILLY: What did -- did you see any improvement at all?
TANCREDO: Nothing. Not only that, it is getting worse. The cartels that have been running drugs across that border for years are now running people across the border. They have taken over the illegal immigration part of this thing because it's become very, very lucrative.
They now -- it's only a thousand or $1,500 for a Mexican, but it is $30,000 for a Middle Eastern or an Asian. So they now run the show down there, and, believe me, they have organized it. They -- it is much more dangerous on the border. It is absolute warfare going on down there.
You cannot -- some of the ranchers on that border -- I do not know how they live there. How would you like to have your 13-, 14-year-old son, grandchildren, having -- if they go one mile from their home, from Grandma's house to Mom and Dad's house, they have to be armed. They have -- they cannot go alone. The harassment -- the threat to the land --
It's just amazing what's going on down there. This is a security risk. People are coming across that border who are OTMs -- that's the way they refer to it, Bill -- other than Mexicans. They are Middle Eastern. They are Asian. They are Chinese. They're coming in huge numbers. They...
O'REILLY: And, mostly, you were in Arizona, right? That's where you were...
TANCREDO: Yes, I was right by Douglas. Right by Douglas, Arizona.
O'REILLY: Right. Now the -- look, we believe you because we heard from everybody down there and nobody says it isn't happening. Everybody says it is. Everybody says...
TANCREDO: Yes.
O'REILLY: ... it's a disaster and it continues to get worse, even after 9/11, and we're sitting here going why won't they move the troops to the border? So you're saying now that the drug cartels have taken over the human smuggling because it's so lucrative...
TANCREDO: That's correct.
O'REILLY: ... and, therefore, they're more dangerous because they're more armed. They've bribed everybody they can in Mexico. They've got no problem over there. And they're coming over, and it -- the stakes are even higher. Now when...
TANCREDO: That's because we now have people...
O'REILLY: ... you present this evidence -- when you present the evidence and all the things that you've accumulated, the Border Patrol backs you up, everybody backs you up, and then you say to your Republican peers, "We need to move the troops to the border," you still don't get any support. What do they say to you?
TANCREDO: Well, what they say is, "Tom, that's an action that" -- you know, here's what the exact
I can give you the quote, as a matter of fact, from the head of the Homeland Defense Agency, Mr. Ridge. He said, when we asked him this, "Why will you not put troops on the border? It is our only hope to defend that border, and we can do it with technology and resources," and he said, "Congressman" -- he said, "There are political and culture reasons why we can't do that." Political and cultural reasons.
Now I want -- you know, somebody else is going to have to go and explain to people who are harmed as a result of people coming across this border that there are political and cultural reasons why we can't protect them. I'm not going to do it.
I'm going to do everything I can, no matter how obstreperous I become -- and I know this is going to get ugly. I know this that we may...
O'REILLY: It's already gotten ugly.
(CROSSTALK)
TANCREDO: ... in this.
O'REILLY: It's...
TANCREDO: It's already gotten ugly.
O'REILLY: But at least Ridge is honest.
TANCREDO: The only thing...
O'REILLY: At least Ridge is honest. He's telling you, "We want Hispanic votes."
TANCREDO: Yes. Straight on.
O'REILLY: Right. "We want Hispanic votes in the Republican Party."
TANCREDO: It's political and cultural reasons.
O'REILLY: And, culturally, we don't have a tradition in this country -- although Teddy Roosevelt did move troops to the border. He was the last...
TANCREDO: Sure.
O'REILLY: ... American president -- of course, if you read the Constitution, one of the mandates of the military is to protect and secure the borders of the United States. So there's no problem...
TANCREDO: Isn't that ironic? Isn't that ironic that Mexico uses troops on their border -- all the time on their side of the border?
O'REILLY: Yes. And they're getting paid by the cartel. Their troops. They're getting paid to bring the stuff in here, and we can't...
TANCREDO: On the northern border, yes, you're right.
O'REILLY: All right. Now, look...
TANCREDO: But they -- they will use their troops on the southern border to stop immigration from Guatemala. They will round up...
O'REILLY: Congressman, what I'm going to do is...
TANCREDO: ... Guatemalans.
O'REILLY: What I'm going to do is, on our Web site, billoreilly.com, we're going to have a link to Governor Ridge where people can give their opinion and a link to you. We're going to set that up tomorrow.
TANCREDO: Great.
O'REILLY: And we're going to have Americans who are interested get to give their opinion directly to Governor Ridge and directly to you. So then you can use that in any kind of legislation you may have proposed. And, Congressman, we appreciate it. We think you're right on on this issue, as you know, and we are going to continue on this story.
Thanks very much.
TANCREDO: Thank you.
O'REILLY: And I'm you can't go to the White House Christmas party, but I won't be going either. So maybe I'll come down there...
TANCREDO: Maybe we'll still get invited. Who knows?
O'REILLY: Yes. We'll have our own party.
Upcoming, as THE FACTOR moves along, it's all over. The bachelor has proposed on ABC TV, But some Americans think this is just atrocious. We'll be right back with that opinion in a moment.
Tell that to Bob Dornam.
Do I think the opposition would make hay of such an incident - of course they would. Now should we stop the defense of this nation because an 18 year might get killed. Well guess what, if we don't stop it many Ameicans of all ages will get killed. Did you notice the part of smuggling in ME men.
There are plenty of reasons to put the military on the border and I can't think of one not to do it. That 'goat herd' could have just as easily have been killed by a Border Patrol - should we then stop the BP, of course not. Tell the family of the park ranger who was killed, tell the family of the deputy in California who was murdered, tell the family of the nun in Oregon who was murder, tell that to the families of the people killed by the 'railroad killer', we could go on and on. Those are just a few - there must be hundreds or thousands of Americans who have been killed because we have done nothing.
Has the police department of any city ever killed anyone accidentally - did we disband the police department. Will we stop the Iraqi war when we kill one innocent. This just makes no sense.
You know if we take the actions necessary now - many innocents will be saved. Did you think that 'goat herd' might not have been killed had we kept the border safe early on and not let it get in the condition it is. It will be safe for everyone - goat herders, included.
If something is the right thing to do - then dad gummit do it!!! Don't sit around and wait for something you are sure the Democrats, media and Mexican government are going to love, or that will safe for your politican career.
That says it all!
I have called Tankredo's office, and explained some of the problems with troops on the border, the aid listened to what I had to say, and said I never thought of those things, it doesn't look like it changed anyone's mind.
The problems on the border will continue to increase, until the administration in power has the desire correct the problem.
Welcome to George Herbert Walker Bush's New World Order.
But I'll bet little Tommy and the other Clintonoids will be there.
If the US is that incapable of mustering the political strength to tackle the most basic of gov't responsibilities than it's high time we brought ALL our resources home and cleaned our own house first. Does nobody in power has love of country anymore (Tancredo notwithstanding)?
To say this is infuriating is an understatement.
Well, what do you think they have been doing in Kosovo, Korea, the Berlin wall, etc.
Our present enemy is not made up of tank brigades, big guns, huge bombers, or fighter planes. They are terrorists. A small number of people who can slip around and do a lot of damage. To say our military is only good for fighting 'big wars' doesn't make sense. I do not believe it is so - but if it is, then our leaders have failed miserably in predicting who or what our enemies will be in the future.
What do you consider smuggling in ME men, but military attack?
Yes it is unfortunate you don't think this is what they should be doing, because we don't have time to do anything else and have any effect.
Now whether while we sit and debate whether it is legal to put military on the border, whether it will ruin the morale of the military, whether they are not trained to guard borders {?}, whether we will have to suspend the posse (can't spell it) law, whether they will have to 'establish a perimeter', even as someone once said, need places to billet these soldiers, someone seems to bringing the war to us. Now let's debate for a few more months but don't think how many more will come in before we make a decision.
I am all for a wall, and all for beefing up the Border Patrol. How long do you think that will take. A month, 6 months, 2 years? Do you realize what can happen in that time. How many potential terrorsts do you think has come across that way in the last 2 years? A minute number? How many did it take to destroy the WTC? How many did it take to kill those people around DC? But let's wait until we can hire and train Border Patrol, and build a wall. Let's not use the people we already have and yes they are trained to do this, this is exactly what some of them have been doing for the past years.
The other issue relating to our border policy is that it enables terrorists entry into our country. This controversy about who should guard our borders, the INS or the military is a waste of time without an iron fist committment from our politicians to honor our Constitution and protect the citizens from attacks with weapons of mass destruction. There is no reason why a joint force of INS and military couldn't work along with border sensors and the political will from Washington to protect America.
If there is another attack, there will be blood on the hands of the sick politically correct traitors in our government, Republicans included. There is no excuse for putting the wellfare of lawbreaking foreign nationals ahead of law abiding, american citizens. The way we're being betrayed by our own representatives is just, EVIL.
I think NO one gets to be President pure..you must be a politician and have some debts owed..that is just a fact. GWB is on open border guy..I do not know why but he is ..He resents those making noise about it as he would like it unnoticed
Now we will know his heart in 3 years if he puts a MODERATE Republican up against the man that leads the charge for America to live up to it constitutional responsibility and secure the border
i voted for Bush..but I never thought he was god
I am hoping that is not true. This guy is a hero to me
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