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."

[Pelham]

. Declaring that terrorism is the result of immigration policy is absurd on its face

Yep, there wasn't a single immigrant hijacker on Sept 11th. At least in whatever alternate universe you inhabit.

[Pelham]

? Governer Wilson and Pat Buchanon know all about just how much the American people want our borders defended. Not very much

Lol! Pete Wilson rode the coattails of Prop 187 to his last election. After which he was term-limited out of office. His last-minute support of Prop 187 helped him win the election, and cost him exactly nothing at the polls- Prop 187 was passed by over 60% of the voters.

I don't know what lesson you think he "learned", but it sure isn't that California voters are unconcerned about the border. Wilson is unapologetic for his support of Prop 187, although I've sure read a lot of ignorant drivel by East Coast "experts" who apparently no nothing of what actually goes on in California.

[Physicist]

Yep, there wasn't a single immigrant hijacker on Sept 11th.

Since I don't assume you are a hypocrite, I have to assume that since at least one gun has been used in a crime, you therefore believe that guns cause crime. I'll simply call you wrong and leave it at that.

[Sabertooth]

Since I don't assume you are a hypocrite, I have to assume that since at least one gun has been used in a crime, you therefore believe that guns cause crime.

You still working that bad analogy?

Guns are inanimate, and can't cause anything.

Immigrants, being humans, have free will. Therefore, they can be causative agents.

[Physicist]

Guns are inanimate, and can't cause anything.

Lawyering. Immigration policy (the term I in fact used) is inanimate, and can't cause anything.

Immigrants, being humans, have free will. Therefore, they can be causative agents.

Gun users, being humans, &c.

[#3Fan]

No, the American people have not. If you have information to suggest otherwise, I would welcome a chance to review it.

The mere fact that Buchanan and Wilson were villified for suggesting strengthening our borders.

[#3Fan]

Lol! Pete Wilson rode the coattails of Prop 187 to his last election. After which he was term-limited out of office.

And replaced by a Dem.

[Phillip Augustus]

Now, are you actually suggested that the American people, as opposed to the media elites vilified Buchanan and Wilson? Fact is, the American people consistently have shown in poll after poll that their opinion on mass immigration is very negative.

[Pelham]

If that's the quality of your reasoning, you should leave it at that. The first rule of holes being to stop digging.

[#3Fan]

Now, are you actually suggested that the American people, as opposed to the media elites vilified Buchanan and Wilson? Fact is, the American people consistently have shown in poll after poll that their opinion on mass immigration is very negative.

Then why aren't they demanding that our borders be sealed like they even quasi-demanded something be done about the deficit? I see no uproar over the illegal immigrant problem from the general population.

[Uncle Bill]

"Open-Borders Panderer Karl Rove"