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That being said, it is also quite possible that this is nothing but a smear and without the actual names of people, it is impossible to prove or disprove. (And you are right..it is a New York Times-style anonymous source hit piece. I imagine from the Rats, although the GOP could possibly have done it. However, if the GOP were behind it, the paper would gleefully report that "Republican sources" had pointed them to the "illegal workers," giving the paper a double hit piece.)

Yeah, I really don't know who pulled the sword.
I'm not sure a GOP source would be outed though. Anyone with a regular dialogue with the AP reporter could have planted this "anonymously." Even liberal journalists wouldn't burn a regular source over something that hurts a Republican anyway.
Think of all of the "divided Republicans" stories such a source could help generate.

Nope. They would do like the NYT and say "Republican insiders on the condition of anonymity." That doesn't burn a source, but creates more distrust, which is what they want.

I don't think the Republicans are doing anything but distancing themselves from Tancredo's comments. It is up to the people of his district to decide if that is what they wish to support.

Myself, I rarely pay attention to Mr. Tancredo, and since he is not my representative and I prefer a more diplomatic approach to solving the problem of illegal immigration, I offer my comments with the caveat that I am perhaps slightly unsympathetic to him.

However, I do not like these kinds of hit pieces. I also don't like stupid politics, which is what Tancredo practiced.

For example, if I had made a big name for myself on my immigration stand, the last thing I would do is have any kind of contract work done where there was even the smallest chance that there would be an irregularity. Period. AND I would get some sort of a written statement to protect myself...OR I would wait to have the work done until after the election. In my neck of the woods, I would not have landscaping, roofing, or drywall done unless I could get a written statement from the contractor. Period.

It is quite possible that the contractor is telling the truth and the sources are fictitious. It is also possible that the contractor is lying, having been caught. It is also possible that the contractor has been lied to by employees with fake records.

The contractor could, I suppose, provide evidence of his employees legal status.

Tancredo is not without solutions to this problem, if he is smart enough to think of them.