Tancredo fires back at Rep. Salazar, aide
M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News
Published September 22, 2006 at midnight
Rep. Tom Tancredo challenged one of his Colorado colleagues but drew no response Thursday in a flap touched off by the pope's recent comments about Islam.
On Wednesday, Tancredo sent a letter to Pope Benedict XVI urging him to resist calls to apologize over a recent speech in which he quoted a 14th century emperor who suggested that the Prophet Muhammad had inspired "things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
Tancredo's letter, which included criticisms of specific passages in the Quran, drew a strong response from Nayyera Haq, the communications director for Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo.
Haq, who is Muslim, said she was speaking only for herself when she accused Tancredo of using "hateful," irresponsible words that will alienate progressive Muslims and merely "throw more fuel on the fire."
Tancredo fired back in a written statement directed at Salazar, saying he needed to clarify whether or not he agreed with Haq.
"Either he believes that forced conversion, the suppression of religious freedom and threats to kill 'non-believers' are wrong, as I do, or he agrees with his spokesperson, who seems to think that Americans should simply sit down and shut up when radical Islamofascists threaten to kill us if we don't become Muslims," said Tancredo, whose note also referred to Haq as a "political hack."
Salazar's office declined to respond.
Carlos Espinosa, a Tancredo spokesman, later pressed the issue.
"The constituents of the 3rd District elected and pay for Congressman Salazar to represent them, not to provide a platform for one of his staffers to push a personal agenda," Espinosa said.
Featured
-
Through Your Lens
Submit your photos or see the Editor's Choice slide show here.
-
Rocky Multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Holiday Lights
Is your house the jolliest on the block? Submit your holiday lights display.
-
Holiday Gift Guide
Looking to get a jump-start on the holiday shopping season?
-
Mount Crushmore
Which four Broncos greats should be immortalized on Mount Crushmore? Vote here.
-
Bronco Dean's rant
Listen to Bronco Dean's midweek rant on the Chiefs.
-
Broncos Video
Get the latest from Dove Valley as the Broncos prepare for Sunday's matchup.
-
Calendar wallpaper
Download this month's desktop wallpaper calendar
-
Sam Adams' Open Mic
Open Mic: Stirrin' the Soup with Matt Iseman
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.