SPEAKOUT: Right to expect more outrage from mayor
By U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
On July 3, the Rocky Mountain News, in a front-page story, reported that "Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper is changing his tune. Initially, Hickenlooper soft-pedaled the surprise performance of the 'black national anthem' by a popular jazz singer who had been tapped to sing The Star-Spangled Banner at his annual State of the City address Tuesday.
"But by Wednesday the mayor belted out some harsh words for the chanteuse."
The editor of the Rocky's editorial pages, Vincent Carroll, then attacked me the next day for being critical of the mayor ("A bizarre press release from Tancredo," On Point).
Now, either Carroll did not notice the mayor's own switcheroo or he thinks I should have known of the mayor's U-turn in advance of the event.
Was my criticism of the mayor's initial response a "cheap shot" because I relied on the mayor's initial milquetoast statement about the incident?
Was I wrong to expect more of the city's chief executive in the face of an outrageous insult to our national anthem that occurred in his presence? Carroll himself admits in his column that the mayor "stopped short of denouncing [singer Rene] Marie in the immediate aftermath of her stunt." When the mayor finally did so - a full day after the event - he was more upset by the "distraction" from his own State of the City speech than by the woman's insults to the people of Denver and the nation.
Contrary to the column's sarcasm, I never suggested the mayor was responsible or culpable for the singer's personal decision to substitute her anthem for The Star-Spangled Banner. But questions remain regarding the invitation extended to Marie. If Gov. Bill Ritter heard the lady perform the same song earlier in the year at a Denver prayer luncheon - as he related on the Mike Rosen talk-radio show - it is also possible that someone on the mayor's staff knew what she would do and invited her for that purpose. I hope the mayor is looking into that question.
After the stunt on July 1, there was applause and a business-as-usual attitude on the part of most officials present. I doubt I am the only one who thinks the mayor's initial statement exhibited a conspicuous absence of moral outrage we should all expect. Instead of an immediate condemnation, Marie got precisely the response she had hoped for - a mild rebuke and tons of publicity. That's called rewarding bad behavior, and when you do that, you are likely to get more of it in the future.
Finally, it is beyond me what the actions of former U.S. Rep. Duke Cunningham have to do with the lapse in judgment by Hickenlooper in this case. My criticism was and is aimed at the mayor's lame response to an incident that happened right in front of him.
If Carroll is searching for truly "bizarre" aspects of this story, he need look no further than his own newsroom, which on July 3 produced a full-page puff-piece on the singer, complete with her contact information for those wanting to book her for an encore performance. The Rocky thereby rewarded her with the positive publicity she craved and which everyone else deplored! The Rocky's reporter painted the performer as a civil rights crusader striving for "artistic expression" instead of the self-indulgent Rev. Jeremiah Wright wannabe she is.
Republican Tom Tancredo represents Colorado's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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July 9, 2008
3:01 a.m.
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arby writes:
Hey Mr. Tancredo
You don't live in Denver and can't vote there. STFU It's not your business. Go guard a border. Since neither you or any of our other representatives seem to be needed in DC.
July 9, 2008
3:56 a.m.
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LOUIE writes:
Mr. Tancredo, thanks for slapping the mayor up, he needed it. However, I like it better when you're standing on your political soapbox and slapping illegals at the boarder. Hey, maybe you can do both since the mayor used to hire illegals in his restaurant, who end up killing our police officers, and running back across the boarder. What do you think Tom, two birds with one stone. Wrap yourself in the American flag and take a real shot at the mayor!
July 9, 2008
7:36 a.m.
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FlyfishDude52 writes:
Mr. Tancredo - Right sentiment wrong place.
I agree with arby & LOUIE, get out there and do YOUR job. Get after taht border issue & make something really happen. I'm behind that 100%!!!
July 9, 2008
7:42 a.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
Saddle up, Tom. Bring your best riding crop and knickers.
Whip her good. No one can charge you with animal cruelty because that stubborn horse is now dead. The old mare won't go anywhere but we're sure you'll be having a good time getting those knickers in a bunch.
July 9, 2008
8:12 a.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
Dead Horse National Anthem
Oh, say can you see?
That old horse is now croaked,
What so stubbornly refused
To get up and do some work,
Whose broad flanks and blank stare,
Through these perils had joked,
O'er the ramparts we heard,
Yet another political jerk?
The bombs bursting abroad,
Gave proof of those soaked
in whiskey were at the bar.
O, say, does that
Horse not from death revive
To lay down more manure
On the home of the inane?
July 9, 2008
8:40 a.m.
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irisman writes:
Everybody agrees that the singer was on a giant ego trip, and there's no way she can justify her actions, but it's time to get over it. I don't see why Tancredo still has his shorts in a knot. Is he trying to be living proof of the old saying, "Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels"?
July 9, 2008
8:59 a.m.
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Charles writes:
Some of you yokels love to attack Tancredo no matter what the occasion and you have a hard time admitting he is right on this one. Plenty of people in Denver were aware of this lady's history and her proclivities, and someone on the mayor's staff should have known what she would do on that platform. But, hey, it's just another day in paradise, right?
July 9, 2008
9:39 a.m.
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Cwillyrun1 writes:
Why are some of you attacking Tancredo for his constitutional right to have an opinion? I totally agree with Tancredo's comments. The dirtbag woman should never be invited to sing at any taxpayer sponsored event again, she's too selfish to understand she's there to sing the American anthem, not some convoluted version only suitable to a certain race. She has every right to sing it on her own, but when it comes to something like this, she should avoid trying to divide people racially and sing the friggin anthem the way it's supposed to be sung. We will never mistake her for Whitney Houston, who sung it so awesome that I still think it's one of the best I've ever heard.
Tancredo is so right on this....... Hickenlooper failed and I don't think the Mayor even had a clue that it offended most people there.
Hey arby, if you have a problem with the likes of Salazar not representing out interests, then write to him. Americans have spoken loudly over and over about wanting the borders closed to illegals, Salazar's against it. Salazar is then against the overwhelming wishes of the public.
July 9, 2008
9:56 a.m.
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T1anda writes:
Trickenlooper has obviously been attending The Barky Obama school of pandering!!!
Your letter is spot on Tom Tancredo!! RMN should be ashamed for promoting this fraudulent so-called singer!!
July 9, 2008
3:10 p.m.
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titancain writes:
What a horrible thing. Its almost as BAD AS MOLESTING CHILDREN.
July 9, 2008
7:51 p.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
We have a right to mock and deride Tancredo when he spews nonsense. It doesn't violate his rights when we do so.
Tom Tancredo has been completely ineffective, even on his pet issue. His ineffectiveness either comes from his inability to understand the problem or from his being corrupt.
Illegal immigration is a home grown problem because US bosses advertise in Mexico, incite illegal aliens to cross the border, and then hire them to replace American workers. This strategy has driven down wages by flooding the labor market.
Tom Tancredo has never lifted a finger to enforce existing laws by having the bosses arrested and jailed for inciting illegals to come here. He is a bigot blaming the Mexicans for causing the problem when all the Mexicans want is a job and a paycheck. They're doing pretty much what any American would do in their place. Desperate laborers make excellent scabs but the bosses and their greed are ultimately the real cause of the problem.
Tom Tancredo doesn't talk about the bosses being the cause because he wouldn't want to piss off his friends and the wealthy supporters who paid for his campaigns and career in politics.
When politicians start arresting those who hire illegals instead of citizens and when they send all the H1B visa holders back home, then I'll believe they're serious about representing US citizens and working Americans. Until then Tom Tancredo and his ilk are nothing but a pack of useless bigoted demagogues.
July 9, 2008
9:25 p.m.
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Sweetpickle writes:
McCain and Tancredo. A perfect match.
July 9, 2008
10:39 p.m.
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jmusic writes:
Mr. Tancredo-
There are black citizens of Denver and the nation. A great many of us are not insulted by Rene's rendition. Why exactly were you?
Ms. Marie's rendition struck a chord within and without the community and those of us so effected thank her.
Pull your red, white, and blue thong string out of your butt.
July 10, 2008
6:45 a.m.
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Mike_In_Hartsel writes:
HolierThanThou: "when all the Mexicans want is a job and a paycheck." Based upon your logic, if all I want is a meal and a place to sleep it's alright for me to rob the corner deli for the cash. It's not the means but the end that counts?