Bush team strikes back against Tancredo

Denver Post ^

[KantianBurke]

Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., renewed his fight with President Bush over immigration laws Monday, mixing his pointed criticisms of the president's policies with lavish praise for Bush's leadership. It wasn't enough, however, to win over the president's aides. Tancredo said he got a second call in four days from the White House, this one complaining about the tone of a letter he sent the president offering "some political advice."

"I want to be polite. I really like the president. I really like him a lot," the Colorado lawmaker said shortly after he was berated by Ken Mehlman, White House director of political affairs.

The president's senior political adviser, Karl Rove, upbraided the two-term conservative Friday over statements he made attacking Bush in a Washington Times interview.

"The president is not on our side," Tancredo told the paper, complaining that Bush supports an "open door" border policy that could lead to another terrorist attack. "Then the blood of the people killed will be on this administration and this Congress."

Tancredo didn't dispute any of the quotations. He was just surprised, he said, that the White House took so much offense at them.

Tancredo, who heads the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, long has been an outspoken critic of Bush's immigration policies. Earlier this year, he came within one vote of blocking House passage of a Bush-supported bill to allow individuals who are in the country illegally to become legal residents.

None of Tancredo's previous comments stirred the White House to action as much as his interview with the Times, a conservative newspaper with a strong following among the president's senior advisers. In a luncheon meeting with the paper's editors and reporters Thursday, Tancredo argued that the president's policies are a threat to national security.

Hoping he could open discussions between the president and members of his caucus over the issues, Tancredo on Monday sent the president a letter restating his "strong opposition" to open borders. It didn't mention the flap over his Times comments.

"I, like most Americans, am immensely thankful that our nation has the great fortune of having you at the helm of the ship of state to guide us through this difficult time in history," Tancredo wrote. "Your courage and determination have been inspirational, and I will do all I can to support your efforts to destroy every vestige of those organizations that pose a threat to our way of life."

That was neither a retreat nor an apology, Tancredo said. "What I hoped was we could have some sort of dialogue on this."

At the very least, Tancredo said, he hoped it would prompt Bush to issue a statement backing the reorganization of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. In the letter, Tancredo also noted that Rove had not met with him or the caucus over the issue despite repeated invitations.

Tancredo said he has never been involved in so public a dispute with someone he admires.

"This is not pleasant for me. If the issue didn't demand it, I wouldn't do it. This one happens to be enormously important."

[DoughtyOne]

"The president is not on our side," Tancredo told the paper, complaining that Bush supports an "open door" border policy that could lead to another terrorist attack. "Then the blood of the people killed will be on this administration and this Congress."

Tancredo made the bold opening, then refined the definition of exactly what he was refering to.  Neither you, I or anyone can rationally refute these two sentences.

Look, we are not closing our borders.  Docks are seeing spys and known terrorists slipping into our nation.  Our southern border is wide open, with only a token force to stem illegal immigration.

You and I might like to support Bush on every issue, but on this one we simply cannot.  Why did we go to all the trouble to create a Homeland Defense office then completely ignore illegal immigration?  Why are we going to all the trouble to make our citizens jump through hoops just to take a flight, but we can't demand that foreign nationals go through a proper immigration screening process?  This should be obvious to anyone with an open mind.

When the day comes where US citizens are more concerned with loyalty to their man instead of to their nation, it won't be day at all.
The long cold night will have already begun.

[TomGuy]

The Bush team needs to get a clue.

Gopusa.com poll is not running in their favor at the moment:

GOPUSA Poll

Which of the following statements best summarizes your position on illegal immigration?

Illegal aliens should be deported because they broke the law in order to get here.
-- 68%

Amnesty should be granted to certain illegal aliens covered under President Bush's proposals.
-- 2%

A moratorium should be placed on all immigration until the illegal immigration problem can be fixed.
-- 27%

There should be no restrictions on immigrants who wish to enter the United States.
-- 1%

GOPUSA Poll

[colorado tanker]

The possibilities for bringing terrorists and/or explosives through the sea cargo system are pretty scary. Huge numbers of those shipping containers go in and out of port every day.

[sinkspur]

On-line polls are self-selecting, and are, therefore, worthless.

[AmericanInTokyo]

pro-Tancredo, dissention-in-the-ranks BUMP

[sarcasm]

"The president is not on our side," Tancredo told the paper, complaining that Bush supports an "open door" border policy that could lead to another terrorist attack. "Then the blood of the people killed will be on this administration and this Congress."

Bump for the truth.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

As far as the borders go,"go lock up and turn on the NO VACANCY"sign!

[gitmogrunt]

Boot Lickers never like Truth Tellers.

[MissAmericanPie]

I will for sure be writing him in on my ballot in 2004. For all the blathering about terrorists coming in from Canada and aboard ships, putting military on both borders is certainly a step in the right direction as far as controlling the terrorists from the south and the north.

It's certainly better than Bush's idea of how to combat terrorists. "If you want to fight terrorism, help someone, be compassionate", I can barely believe that kind of drivel comes out of his mouth. What is someone suppose to think listening to that kind of idiot idea to combat terrorism? Be nice to a terrorist, make him feel at home in America, and maybe he won't blow your rear off. What nerve Bush has standing in public and making such wild and outrageous demands on a citizenry he is doing everything in his power to expose to danger. Does he have an alcholic wet brain or does he just not give a darn?

[KC_for_Freedom]

Bump for the truth.

Re-BUMP for the truth. Tancredo is a good guy (and I am a fan of Bush, when he unsigns the ICC and supports individual rights to bare arms. But on this immigration thing, Tancredo is da man.)

[cksharks]

No hell no he is not speaking for the majority of the conservatives. He damned sure does not speak for me.I hope someone beats him in the next election. You do not pick a fight with your president on national tv or the press.If you do you can expect to get your brains beat out in the next election. Just ask Senator Smith.

[VRWCmember]

supports individual rights to bare arms.

I think we all support your right to go sleeveless.

[NetValue]

I really like President Bush but I think he is all out wrong wanting to allow illegals already here to apply for approval to stay. It is not a question of loyalty to the President or to the Party. It is a matter of Constitutionality, respect for law, and doing what is right, and doing what the voters want. We do not want any illegals. We want our borders secure. We want people seeking the good life to come here and have a good time and even earn a living as long as they are here leaglly.

[Phillip Augustus]

The debate on immigration should not be limited to implications insofar as terrorism is concerned. The debate should also impact the effect of mass Third World immigration on our culture and national identity.

[#3Fan]

Tancredo didn't dispute any of the quotations. He was just surprised, he said, that the White House took so much offense at them.

He calls Bush a murderer and then says he's surprised that offense was taken. Sheesh, Tancredo is truly an idiot.

[Timesink]

Nice URL. What's it of?