Mexican ambassador criticizes Tancredo over ID card debate

Associated Press ^ | 5/23/03 | Solomon Banda

[Tancredo Fan]

Mexican ambassador criticizes Tancredo over ID card debate

By P. SOLOMON BANDA

Associated Press Writer -- 5/23/03

DENVER (AP) - Mexico's ambassador to the United States, Juan Jose Bremer, criticized Rep. Tom Tancredo on Friday for ''unbecoming behavior'' in the debate over the use of ID cards issued by Mexican consulates.

Tancredo, R-Colo., on Thursday displayed a mock-up of the card with a photo of Mexican President Vicente Fox. The card listed his occupation as ''El Presidente'' and said his parents' citizenship was unknown.

Tancredo, an outspoken supporter of strict immigration enforcement, was announcing a bill to restrict the use of the consular identification cards.

Bremer sent a letter to Tancredo's Washington office Friday expressing ''profound discontent'' over his actions.

''It is clear that, as a United States congressman, you are totally entitled to express your political opinions. However, such unbecoming behavior, which additionally constitutes a lack of respect for my country's institutions, is neither acceptable nor honorable of your investiture as a member of the U.S. Congress,'' Bremer wrote.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter.

State Rep. Michael Garcia, D-Aurora, said Tancredo should have shown more respect.

''I think he's right on many of these issues, but he doesn't have to resort to using these kinds of plays on race, ethnicity and national origin,'' Garcia told The Denver Post.

Tancredo's press secretary, Lara Kennedy, did not immediately return a phone message after business hours Friday.

She said earlier the poster was not anti-Hispanic and that Tancredo had displayed the poster before without arousing complaints.

''The congressman is not against the right of any foreign government issuing a card. The issue is the United States recognizing the ID card as a legitimate form of ID when it lacks validity and security measures,'' Kennedy said.

''We wanted to educate other members of Congress that a federal agency was accepting a foreign identification,'' she said.

She said the Treasury Department allows use of the matricula consular and similar cards for banking and other services in violation of federal regulations.

Tancredo's bill would block the Treasury from recognizing the matricula consular card.

Gov. Bill Owens on Friday signed into law a bill that bars cities from providing services to those with identification cards such as the matricula consular.

The Mexican Embassy said Friday the card contains anti-counterfeiting features. Embassy spokesman Miguel Monterrubio said Mexico has issued the cards for more than 100 years to help protect its citizens abroad.

''If some public institutions and some financial institutions accept this document as an ID, it's because they share our view that the document is safe,'' Monterrubio said.

AP-WS-05-23-03 2137EDT

[Tancredo Fan]

The arrogance of Mexican government jerks like Bremer never ceases to amaze. Fox is an insignificant pest in the U.S., and that's about it.

[Tancredo Fan]

Tancredo ticks ticks.

[RJayneJ]

I bet he shows up on The Facter real soon!

Quote of the Day by twas

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Glad to see Tancredo isn't being bullied or intimidated into silence.

No one cares what illegal alien sympathizers have to say anyway.

[Kuksool]

Wow, I never knew America is a province of Mexico.

[Travis McGee]

bttt

[Mr. Jeeves]

"However, such unbecoming behavior, which additionally constitutes a lack of respect for my country's institutions..."

And what are they? Cocaine, corruption, and debt.

(apologies to Winston Churchill for the paraphrase)

[janetgreen]

tancredo@mail.house.gov

Let's all write to Tom Tancredo and tell him how much we appreciate him.

[janetgreen]

New faxes on this very subject are up at www.numbersusa.com

[txdoda]

"However, such unbecoming behavior, which additionally constitutes a lack of respect for my country's institutions"

EXCUSE ME.....

Don't I remember reading that this *so-called secure* mexican I.D. card IS NOT listed as an acceptable form of ID
in MOST of the states of MEXICO ??? Including Mexico City.

How has the mexican gov't convinced itself and it's citizens, that the USA has a never-ending supply of jobs, that are THEIR'S for the taking ??

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

If the Mexican government wants to accomplish Reconquista, can't they at least have the flood of immigrants apply for legal status? Can't they at least tell us their agenda up front???

[NormsRevenge]

Tom Tancredo is the "Joe McCarthy" of his day to some, it would seem, and I mean that in an approving way.

Give 'em Hell, Tom!

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Tom Tancredo's a good man, Washington may not support him much but the people overwhelmingly do.

[Duramaximus]

Mexico's ambassador to the United States, Juan Jose Bremer, can go pound sand where the sun doesn't shine for all I care.

He is a part of the problem, and Rep. Tancredo is the solution.

[RonF]

Damn tacky for Tancredo to display a bogus ID for the President of Mexico. Such mockery ill becomes the U.S. Congress, and he's right to be called on it.

I completely oppose any public entity, or any private entity acting on behalf of the government, accepting these ID's for anything other than a strong indication that the holder is an illegal alien.

[txdoda]

I bet he shows up on The Facter real soon!>>>>>>>

Hey, Tom Tancredo was on Joe "Scarborough's County" tonight
on MSNBC speaking about these PHONY I.D.'s.....and as usual
he was GREAT.

Joe is really good too, I have started watching his show every night.
He said next week his show is going to cover more of our
INVASION by the illegals, and some of the idiots who have now decided to give them *reduced tuitions* in OUR schools.

[FITZ]

State Rep. Michael Garcia, D-Aurora, said Tancredo should have shown more respect. ''I think he's right on many of these issues, but he doesn't have to resort to using these kinds of plays on race, ethnicity and national origin,'' Garcia told The Denver Post.

Plays on race, ethnicity, and national origin for using Fox's picture on a matricula card? Fox is a white European-ancestried person so race has nothing to do with it. His ethnicity is half Spanish, one fourth Irish-American and one fourth Mexican, his national origin is Mexican. So what is the "kind of play"? Fox is challenging the sovreignty of the United States ---he is making a claim over us, even trying to subvert our laws.

[FITZ]

It'd be different if Tancredo was mocking the Mexican IFE card which is the form of identification Mexico uses. The matricula card isn't used in Mexico ----it is an absurd document that the Mexican government insists we accept but it will control.

[junta]

Like Mexican state official Michael Garcia as well.