Posted on 05/13/2002 1:41:59 PM PDT by 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."
He makes a comment like that and he can't understand why the Bush Administration is upset???
However, Tancredo is stating the truth.
And making a comment like that does not help
It's like gun control. Strict immigration control will keep everyone out except the terrorists. The Coast Guard is now saying that 25 terrorists have gotten into the U.S. by stowing away on cargo ships; how's the INS going to stop that?
(Next the Buchananites will say, "see, we told you that international trade was a bad thing.")
Oh Good Grief .. let me guess this will become ANOTHER Bush Bashing thread
Glad to hear yall are going vote to get Hillary into Office
So Georgie is angry with another Republican, as usual...guess Tom won't get an invite to hang out with the Kennedy's at the White House and watch happy flicks. A Shame.
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