CARROLL: Tancredo demurs
By Vincent Carroll, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published July 9, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Rep. Tom Tancredo
Tom Tancredo has been misunderstood, and I'm allegedly to blame. He "never suggested the mayor was responsible or culpable for the singer's personal decision to substitute her anthem for The Star-Spangled Banner," he assures us in a column you can read in today's Rocky (Page 32 NEWS, or on the Web).
Indeed, Tancredo condemned John Hickenlooper last week only because the Denver mayor failed to roundly denounce jazz singer Rene Marie - as opposed to issuing a "mild rebuke" - until the day after her stunt at his State of the City address.
"My criticism was and is aimed at the mayor's lame response to an incident that happened right in front of him," Tancredo insists.
Well, that's progress. It's good to hear that Tancredo doesn't hold Hickenlooper responsible for Marie's contemptible refusal to sing the national anthem, since the mayor was as surprised as anyone when she replaced its lyrics with those of Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing.
Still, the congressman really should go back and read his own press release of July 2, which I labeled "the cheap shot of the week" (and which readers can find at the congressman's Web site). The second deck of its headline couldn't be clearer: Tancredo "asks mayor and singer to apologize for insulting America."
Nowhere in the press release is there so much as a hint that Tancredo is upset about what he now claims upset him: the mayor's failure to come out swinging in the immediate aftermath of the event. To the contrary. The congressman's press release depicts Hickenlooper and Marie as both culpable for the fiasco, just as I indicated in Friday's column. He condemned them in the same sentence, demanded both apologize and, in the second-to-last paragraph, once more regretted that "neither . . . has yet to apologize for the deliberate and offensive act."
To hear him tell it now, however, he "never suggested the mayor was responsible" for last week's anthem incident.
And he even seems to be serious.
Ivy-covered walls
In the 1920s, Harvard University instituted a new admissions policy in which an applicant's "character" would be assessed. As explained by Gail Heriot, law professor at the University of San Diego, "In practice, 'good character' at the Ivy League of the 1920s meant a diploma from one of the 'right' prep schools and letters of recommendation from the 'right' people. It meant being good . . . with a football. It even meant being tall and handsome. Most of all, it meant not being Jewish."
The goal: to reduce Jewish enrollment from nearly a quarter of the Harvard freshman class to about 15 percent.
Eighty years later, the Ivy League apparently still discriminates against high achievers, alas, but now its targets are Asian-Americans. Not that anyone likes to admit it, of course.
Consider a USA Today editorial this week. It agrees that "high-scoring Asian students face higher admission hurdles" at Princeton based upon grades and test scores, but insists that this fact "does not necessarily prove discrimination." After all, all sorts of students - oboe players, football stars, sons and daughters of alumni, and so on - receive "what looks like preferences."
So what's the big deal, USA Today reasons, if some minorities benefit from "what looks like preferences" and another minority, Asians, gets the shaft - so long as it helps colleges "get the freshman class they want"?
But it is a big deal. It's a big deal because there is a moral (and, one still hopes, legal) distinction between recruiting a musician or athlete - and even the somewhat distasteful practice of rewarding alumni loyalty at a private institution - and selecting or barring individuals because of their ethnicity.
We have to explain this to a major editorial board in 2008?
The Ivies' policy toward Jews in the early 20th century was disgraceful; to the extent it is being repeated under a different guise and against a different group in the early 21st century, it gives off the same old stench.
Vincent Carroll is editor of the editorial pages. Reach him at carrollv@RockyMountainNews.com.
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July 9, 2008
3:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
arby writes:
I've already said this but like Tancredo I'll say it agsin.
Mr. Tancredo you don't live in Denver and you can't vote there. So STFU
July 9, 2008
6:07 a.m.
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ItsJustme writes:
I haven't said this before, but I'll say it now: That's a stupid rationale arby. What, no one can talk about or have an opinion about anything unless they live in the area? Would you have all of us list our ward and precinct numbers to ensure we aren't talking out of school? Mature some and rethink your position.
July 9, 2008
7:25 a.m.
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sheepherder writes:
Thats some lib thinking Arby, you may have free speech, but only if it's what we want to hear.
July 9, 2008
7:48 a.m.
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arby writes:
itsjustme
sheepherder
Tancredo doesn't live in Denver. Because of his position he should not be making comments r.e. the mayors decision. There is a little respect that should be remembered. Mr. Tancredo doesn't understand respect obviously.
We may post our opinions here because we are unknown and probably don't hold public office. Tancredo on the other hand should learn to aim his gun before shooting.
July 9, 2008
7:58 a.m.
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ghoax writes:
the issue is that the agenda driven disrespectful lady, who instead of doing what she was requested, decided to drive her divisive racist agenda while disrespecting every single Patriot who fought hard or died to support our great country. Instead of the anthem of unity, she spewed a reworded of a song representing our hard earned freedom. To top it off, didn't even have it's own melody and had to steal ours. Criticizing Tancredo or Hickenlooper or other reactions detracts from the true problem... an irresponsible representative with a racist agenda played the crowd of citizens for chumps, and promoted her agenda, pulling race into the picture again, knowing it would be awkward for anyone to stop her. This lady, shamelessly, showed no respect and chose to promote a racist agenda instead of unity with Americans, and flat failed to provide the services she was hired or volunteered to do ...that is the issue.
July 9, 2008
7:59 a.m.
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zivo24 writes:
Well, I hope all the folks who live in Tancredo's district are taking note that he's got enough time to write several things in regard to this innocuous little incident that occured during the Mayor's state of the city address (that city being Denver).
He hasn't had time, however, to even show up for half of the floor votes in Congress during that period.
July 9, 2008
8:29 a.m.
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Charles writes:
Tancredo's point is essentially correct, that the mayor was there on the scene when it hapened and his tepid response seemed to condone the lady's outrageous actions. Someone on the mayor's staff invited this woman, and for that alone he owes the city an apology.
July 9, 2008
8:52 a.m.
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ItsJustme writes:
OK, arby, so public figures don't have the right to comment outside their district? On the contrary, public figures have a duty to make their opinions known. That accumulation of opinions is the only way we voters can determine their real stance instead of the scripted spin they use in stump speeches. And just because someone is a public figure doesn't eliminate their individual right to expression.
BTW Vince - nice use of editorial power to ensure your viewpoint is the final word. I thought you were better than this. Or are you going to allow Tancredo one more opportunity to respond? Doubtful.
July 9, 2008
8:58 a.m.
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arby writes:
To all of the above.
Mr. Hickenlooper has already apologized. Rene Marie is probably packing her bags as I write this. She won't get another gig in this town. Good!
To finish off my rant Tancredo is a jerk. Since he has a public position and doesn't live in Denver he should keep his stupid mouth shut. If he were a private citizen that would be another matter. BTW I don't live in Denver either and ecause I don't I id not think it my place to criticize the mayor.
July 9, 2008
9:32 a.m.
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SlouchingTowardBoulder writes:
Arby,
Based on your rationale, DeGette has no place talking about whether drilling should be allowed on the Roan Plateau. Not her District; it's Cong. Salazar's.
July 9, 2008
10:01 a.m.
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anarchist writes:
From Frowards post @ a front yard in need of repair at 9:16am "I am going to the bathroom to push out another republican." is this the sort of spin you mean?
July 9, 2008
10:02 a.m.
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BikerChick writes:
..
Vince,
Do you enjoy nit-picking, which diverts attention from grossly indecent behaviors by Rene Marie - seemingly endorsed by the Mayor of Denver ?
There can be no doubt - Rene Marie is a racist grand-stander. Five minutes on Google confirms that. Her comments are strikingly similar to those of Michelle Obama, an otherwise nice lady. Why are you silent in that regard ? When the two women fail to assimilate, the entire nation is offended.
With regard to the Mayor's Annual Report, there can be no doubt - somebody on the Hickenlooper staff erred to invite and approve the Rene Marie appearance, and fail to verify her racially biased background in advance.
There can be no doubt, in the aftermath - Hick tap-danced for a full day - blowing off Fox-31 and many other reputable media troops - before he took the time to seriously consider the mess. That he failed to stand up IMMEMDIATELY by asking the 'lady' to leave the assembly is reprehensible, poor judgment and stupid.
In his foolish silence, was Hick catering to a segment of the electorate ? YUP.
In criticizing Tancredo, you reveal your imbedded bias, and lower yourself in the eyes of many. The U S Congressman properly criticized Rene Marie, a flaming racist bigot, and the lack of stalwart behavior by the Mayor. Our children and grand-children watched intently, and learned a bad example from both Rene Marie and Hick. The details on the part of the Congressman matter not; his points resonate with the majority.
C'mon Vince, you are a better man than that. Why not the same fervor nit-picking the Bill Ritter double-speak ? Your DRMN position demands some sense of balance. Shape up !
Repeat after me - Rene Marie is a flaming racist bigot.
Your sophomoric attack on Tancredo is a wag-the-dog attempt - one that wise readers immediately see through.
..
July 9, 2008
12:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
jay writes:
"Do you enjoy nit-picking, which diverts attention from grossly indecent behaviors by Rene Marie - seemingly endorsed by the Mayor of Denver ?"
hick endorse her actions?
where do you folks on the far right come up with this stuff.
tancredo remains irrelevant.
July 9, 2008
12:40 p.m.
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db writes:
Makes me glad I don't live in denver - as a veteran
I would have stopped that insulting rendition asap.
Good comment, B.C.
July 9, 2008
2:05 p.m.
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blh1616 writes:
SlouchingTowardBoulder - I would like to correct something. Tancredo and DeGette have a voice on the Roan Plateau if the vote is decided in Congress, otherwise there is no need to have a vote.
July 9, 2008
10:21 p.m.
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JJ writes:
This whole issue in my mind is just one more example of an issue that does not effect how I live my everyday life. To hash and rehash it is a waste of energy. Let's keep the focus on issues that are blaring in this nation: lack of adequate health insurance/care for thousands, high gas and food prices, lack of a national energy policy, the WAR in Iraq which is sapping funds for our infrastructure, wearing out our Armed Forces, I could go on. Let's come together and solve those problems instead of worrying about someone singing the wrong song. I can tell you that living in CD 6 Tancredo has done nothing for our district unless you count making sure the wealthy fat cats get their tax cuts. That's about it. He's the absentee Congressman.