Tancredo raises cash for illegal immigrant

Rocky Mountain News ^ | December 14, 2002 | By Katie Kerwin Mccrimmon

[holyscroller]

U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, who has attacked illegal immigration, plans to help raise money for a 5-year-old Mexican boy with leukemia whose parents brought him to the U.S. unlawfully.

Tancredo will join Peter Boyles, a talk-radio host with KHOW-AM (630), for an on-air fund-raiser Wednesday morning.

Boyles and Tancredo will try to help Oscar Hernandez, who needs a $314,000 bone-marrow transplant to save his life.

Tancredo did not return phone calls Friday.

His spokeswoman, Lara Kennedy, said Tancredo's position on illegal immigration is separate from his desire to help a sick child.

"He acknowledges his sympathy for this child and is willing to help," Kennedy said.

But, she said, Tancredo remains firm in his belief that any family here illegally should be deported.

Oscar has been receiving care at Children's Hospital, but because the boy is here illegally, he is not eligible for government assistance.

And Children's Hospital's policy is that it won't perform expensive procedures like the bone marrow transplant without a guarantee of payment. To do so would imperil services to other families, Dori Beister, president and CEO of Children's Hospital, said in a written statement.

"The hospital staff makes every effort to find other resources and organizations that can appropriately provide care," Beister said.

Oscar got sick about a year ago. At first, chemotherapy worked. But the cancer has returned. Now the bone marrow transplant appears to be his best hope.

His older brother, Jonathan, appears to be a perfect match. To raise money, Oscar's father, Pedro, has been building little donation boxes with Oscar's picture. So far, the family has raised a few thousand dollars - far short of the sum they need.

Boyles said he's unsure how much money he can raise. But he's willing to give it his best shot.

"Is it better to light a candle or curse the darkness?" Boyles said, quoting Shakespeare. "Maybe we can come up with a down payment for Children's."

Boyles said it was his idea to get help from Tancredo.

Some callers to Boyles' show disagreed with attempts to help an illegal immigrant. Who better to blunt those concerns than Tancredo, who is a diehard opponent of illegal immigration?

"Tom's got a good heart," Boyles said. "We have to do what we can."

[holyscroller]

The real tragedy is that Mexico does not care for their own. I feel sorry for the parents who resorted to illegally entering our country in an attempt to get help for their son, but I feel even more sorry for the many parents in this country whose children die for the lack of a similar procedure.

[holyscroller]

This is the first time I've heard of a hospital holding the line on unlimited free health care for an illegal. They wouldn't hesitate to demand payment up front for an American kid, so it's good to see that at least the rule applies to illegals too. I see the loophole coming though where they're still going to get stuck with the bill. The radio guy says they're hoping to come up with the "down payment." That down payment will be the last money the hospital will ever see if they do the procedure.

[Illbay]

Gee, lots of FReepers are gonna start jumping ship from the S.S. Tancredo now.

[Mr. Mojo]

Perhaps....but hopefully even more will jump onboard.

[Reagan Man]

Does anyone think, Tom Tancredo is being a bit hypocritical?

[Illbay]

Look at #2 and #5. I'm shown to be right already.

[Mr. Mojo]

Very small sample, but you're indeed right so far. This thread isn't too popular, it appears.

[madfly]

It is my opinion that Mr. Tancredo is simply showing where he stands and that is the issue of the plight of the innocents who are illegally as well as the plight of the property owners who have to clean up "toxic waste dumps" from the 100 to 200 people who trespass their land daily, as well as the toll the high numbers of immigrants put on our cities all over the nation. This is a complex issue. I love Mexican food and Mexican culture and I have met great people traveling in old Mexico. I would have not problem helping to raise money for a child's operation. Tancredo is not a hypocrite, he is just as concerned for a natural born citizen who might not get health care if things keep spinning out of control, as am I. The concern about controlling the influx of non-citizens with limited skills to our country is a concern to all, even to LEGAL immigrants. One can be concerned about the all the problems without being prejudiced or racist, you know. Or do you?

[madfly]

ping

[Blood of Tyrants]

Hospitals don't provide unlimited "free" healthcare to anyone. The law only requires that if you show up at the emergency room that you will receive treatment. If it is not immediately life threatening, you will be treated and sent on your way.

[philetus]

I would be willing to chip in for bus fare back to Mexico.

[deport]

a Tan bump your way.....

[The Obstinate Insomniac]

That was an intersting ping
I thought ping was a call to other freepers but you addressed no one.

[Zack Nguyen]

Good for Tancredo. A child needs help. End of story.

[madfly]

Mexico has many fine Hospitals, Medical Schools and teaching Hospitals. President Fox has proclaimed that he is president of all Mexicans; those in Mexico and those in the US. Why isn't he or his gov't providing care for this child or the many patients that are being brought to the US for free hospital services. Seems that this story about raising money is somehow fishy, when all the hospitals and ER's in Arizona and other border states are in danger of closing down because they do not refuse care to those who cannot pay.

This case is not an Emergency procedure. This seems staged. If there is time to "raise money" there is time for the health care community of Mexico to step up and take care of this child. Seems like the scenario has put Tancredo in a no-win situation. Support the fund-raising for the Mexican child, or be known as being a big bad racist. It's no secret that Tancredo is getting pressured for his stand on Illegal Immigration, in spite of being praised by the citizens of the border states.

[madfly]

ping

[madfly]

ping

[madfly]

lol, how'd I do that :) . . . could be too much holiday cheer, dear

[deport]

Yep, hope the goodwill can be shared with others

[madfly]

ping