Why Tancredo never had a chance
The Rocky
Friday, December 21, 2007
- Email this
- Print this
- Comments
- Change text size
- Subscribe to print edition
- iPod friendly
Tom Tancredo's decision to leave the 2008 presidential race was always a question of when rather than if. Even so, his departure, announced Thursday, should serve as a lesson for future hopefuls who are thinking of running for high elective office.
The 6th District congressman never gained traction for two big reasons: His incendiary rhetoric and his single-issue agenda.
Tancredo refused to back away from statements - beginning as early as 2005 - suggesting that it would be appropriate for the United States to respond to a terrorist attack from Islamists by leveling Muslim holy sites. More recently, his campaign ran ads hinting that any candidate who didn't share his hard-line views on illegal immigration might be abetting terrorists who sneaked across the borders.
His tone was never expansive enough to attract voters who weren't obsessed with and angered by illegal immigration.
That played into Tancredo's second failing: He was a one-trick candidate. Yes, his focus on immigration did force lawmakers to give border enforcement the attention it deserves.
Yet, as he acknowledged Thursday, the congressman had waged this campaign for a decade, years before his long-shot presidential run began.
Voters are largely drawn to politcal leaders who inspire hope rather than incite fear. So it's no surprise that Tancredo flamed out so quickly.
Comments
Posted by Carson on December 21, 2007 at 6:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tom Tancredo’s campaign was a success in the sense that it did bring more awareness of the Revolutionaries in our government that are behind the illegal invasion of our once great nation.
None of the candidates that support the United States Constitution, the ideals of the Founding Fathers, or "We the People", have really gotten much coverage.
The campaign has been all about the candidates that seem owned by the globalization and a New World Order crowd. You know the same people that seem to own the Main Stream Media.
Posted by truth_teller on December 21, 2007 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tom Tancredo did not win because he is a fraud. He is a fraud because he did not offer any answers to any of our serious problems. He saw a parade forming around illegal immigration and ran to the front like he was trying to lead. No body followed. Look at his record. He has not even introduced an immigration bill. Why did the Rocky never report that? Why did Tom Tancredo not introduce an immigration bill. The problem is not going to get better on its own. He will never pass any piece of legislation. There are thousands of things that could be done to stop illegal immigration. Hire more border agents. Make more money available to local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws. Give the States the right to do what they want with illegal aliens. All of this would take money. All of this would take a Congressman from Colorado that would build a concensus and a voting majority to act. That will never happen with the Republicans that Colorado sends to Washington. The only way Colorado Republicans get elected is by calling Democrats names. If Walt Klein and Dick Wadhams could not use the word "liberal," they would have nothing to say. In Virginia, Wadhams name calling cost George Allen a 54 point lead over Jim Webb. Allen lost the election. Rocky, please stop reporting the name calling. Report on the issues. Report on the results. If the Colorado Republicans played for the Broncos they would never get out of the locker room. They would just sit in there and call names.
Posted by 26west on December 21, 2007 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tom Tancredo deserves much credit for emphasizing the disaster that illegal immigration is bringing to the United States. His dropping out of the Presidential race does not imply this issue is any less important. The recently passed Omnibus Energy Bill also placed construction of the double-layered border fence at the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security. Michael Chertoff will do nothing with further construction of the double-layered border fence because the Bush Admininstration has decided to leave the border open to peril of our citizens. Any candidate that is not in favor of securing the southern border does not deserve our votes.
west26
Posted by jackwoehr on December 21, 2007 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tom Tancredo prevented immigration reform.
The problem is caused by the transnational economy creating an economic impetus to guest workers. The laws did not keep pace with the realities, as so often happens.
Rep. Tancredo blocked every reform measure that did not jibe with his extreme take on immigration. Pres. G. W. Bush asked for reform at least three times, and Tancredo was integral in preventing reform.
Tancredo's legacy is essentially twofold:
1. He blocked genuine progress on his favorite issue.
2. He ratcheted up the level of fear and hysteria in the electorate for personal political profit.
It's not a pretty legacy.
Nonetheless, Tom Tancredo has most always been a model of gentlemanliness within the political system. Though his proposals have been over the top and beyond the pale, his electoral conduct has been exemplary. Many of his better-informed and wiser opponents could take a lesson from Tom in manners and gravitas in the political arena.
Posted by Carson on December 21, 2007 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe Tom Tancredo founded, "The Immigration Reform Caucus" that is now headed by Congressman Brian Bilbray.
http://www.house.gov/bilbray/irc/
Posted by Faux_Noise on December 21, 2007 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Voters are largely drawn to political leaders who inspire hope rather than incite fear."
And this is consistant with Republican successes 2001-2006 how?
Posted by gunnertwenty on December 21, 2007 at 10:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tom Tancredo forced the candidates to address the enormous negative impact illegal immigration has had on this country. While some would rather duck and cover he brought the issue to the forefront. This is the only way it will be addressed and he deserves credit for his stance. We need more people like Tancredo who are not afraid to talk about important issues and offer solutions.
Posted by gary on December 29, 2007 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tancredo never incited "fear" to or at anyone! The Denver News Agency has spent years and many articles bad mouthing Tom. But, the real voters and legal immigrants continue to see through your bad press.
Tom has won his battle....immigration is the number one issue today and always has been with the majority of the voters.
Go ahead...call us "racist" like you have in the past. Or since Nittwitt Littwin ran out of gas "mean spirited".
No...we are all "pro immigration law enforcement" and "secure our borders" period.
Reform and amnesty is not law enforcement!!
It is a giveaway of our country!
Post your comment (Requires free registration.)
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.