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Denver Post - July 23, 2005
Misstep, then hubris are double offenses
By Gail Schoettler
Congressman Tom Tancredo has plenty of political experience, but not much political savvy. He wants to strut on a big stage, but he talks like a novice, seeming not to understand that national politics is a vastly different platform from a backyard political fundraiser. Since the congressman has the hubris to think he's a credible presidential candidate, he'd be smart to figure that out, fast.
One hard-learned political lesson is taking personal responsibility for your mistakes, especially one as dim-witted as Tancredo's suggestion that the United States consider a retaliatory bombing of holy sites of a religion that isn't his and a country that is an ally (and, not incidentally, a major supplier of oil to the United States). But Tancredo hasn't reached that level of astuteness. He refuses to admit he said something remarkably foolish or to apologize for insulting 20 percent of humanity.
One thing we Americans hope for in our president is common sense. We don't expect a candidate to know everything required for the most important job in the world. But we do expect that person to meet a reasonable standard of knowledge and restraint. We don't want someone who, in a fit of arrogance and anger, pulls the wrong trigger and kills countless innocent people - and puts us at greater risk than necessary.
Rash commentary has no place in the Oval Office, nor in the remarks of a potential presidential candidate.
Just because there are fanatical Muslims willing to blow themselves up for some pathetic and demonic cause doesn't mean that all Muslims and their religion are evil. The suicide bombers no more represent Islam and Muslims than Eric Rudolph, a heartless killer, characterizes all Christians or all Americans. They simply show us that religious fanaticism is dangerous no matter what the religion.
Imagine how Christians would respond to a threat to "nuke" Bethlehem or Rome because some Christian fanatic somewhere committed a terrorist act. There would be widespread outrage, and we certainly would be no closer to a safer world.
Tancredo was once a Colorado legislator. There he could spout off and no one really cared. When you've been elected to national office, however, particularly in the world's most powerful nation, the rest of the world does take note of what you say, as the outrage pouring in from around the world about Tancredo's comments attests.
Being elected to public office doesn't make you better or wiser than anyone else, but it does put you on a very public stage. Therefore, people elected to national office are - and should be - held to a higher standard of behavior and prudence than everyone else.
In the world of diplomacy, where we seek to solve the world's most difficult problems, arrogance is out of place. Building a more secure world, which should be one of Tancredo's goals, depends on developing strong international relationships, which, in turn, depends on respecting the views, cultures and, yes, religions of others. The congressman, instead, is feeding the fire of Islamic radicalism and confirming for many Muslims their widely held belief that the United States is out to destroy Islam. That's not a very effective way to improve Americans' security…..
Gail Schoettler is a former U.S. ambassador, Colorado lieutenant governor and treasurer, and Douglas County school board member.
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_2880545
Denver Post – July 24, 2005
Bigger sins than offending
By Rep. Tom Tancredo
By now, many people in America - and likely around the world - are familiar with my statements regarding a possible response to a nuclear attack on U.S. cities by fundamentalist Islamic terrorists.
Without question, my comments have prompted strong reactions from many quarters, but they have also served to start a national dialogue about what options we have to deter al-Qaeda and other would-be Islamic terrorists.
Many critics of my statements have characterized them as "offensive," and indeed they may have offended some. But in this battle against fundamentalist Islam, I am hardly preoccupied with political correctness, or who may or may not be offended. Indeed, al-Qaeda cares little if the Western world is "offended" by televised images of hostages beheaded in Iraq, subway bombings in London, train attacks in Madrid, or Americans jumping to their death from the Twin Towers as they collapsed.
Few can argue that our current approach to this war has deterred fundamentalists from killing Westerners - nor has it prompted "moderate" Muslims and leaders of Muslim countries to do what is necessary to crack down on the extremists in their midst who perpetuate these grisly crimes.
That being the case, perhaps the civilized world must intensify its approach.
Does that mean the United States should be re-targeting its entire missile arsenal on Mecca today? Does it mean we ought to be sending Stealth bombers on runs over Medina? Clearly not.
But should we take any option or target off the table, regardless of the circumstances? Absolutely not, particularly if the mere discussion of an option or target may dissuade a fundamentalist Muslim extremist from strapping on a bomb-filled backpack, or if it might encourage "moderate" Muslims to do a better job cracking down on extremism in their ranks.
People have accused me of creating more terrorism by making these statements. Indeed, we often hear that Western governments bring these attacks on themselves. Just days after the London subway attacks two weeks ago, for example, Tariq Ali, a prominent British Muslim activist, was quick to suggest
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_2880546
Washington Post – July 22, 2005
Tom Tancredo eyes White House run
By STEVEN K. PAULSON
DENVER -- Tom Tancredo has been called a one-trick pony of a politician, a man out of step with his party, a bigot. The Republican congressman vehemently opposes illegal immigration, and he created an uproar last week when he talked about nuking Muslim holy sites.
No matter, Tancredo is pressing on and even hinting at a long-shot presidential bid in 2008.
Tancredo has already visited New Hampshire and Iowa this year, and says he found a welcome audience among voters who are fed up with the nation's immigration policies, including proposals by President Bush.
"Unless I misread the political tea leaves, there is a great deal of support for what I say," Tancredo said.
Tancredo raised eyebrows last week by telling a radio talk show host that "you could take out" Islamic holy sites should terrorists ever launch a nuclear attack against the United States.
"You're talking about bombing Mecca," asked the host.
"Yeah," Tancredo responded, saying he was "just throwing out some ideas." He later said his comments were taken out of context and refused to apologize.
Few consider Tancredo a serious challenger for the GOP presidential nomination, but his stance resonates with some in a post-Sept. 11 era when volunteer groups like the Minutemen have been patrolling the border for illegal immigrants.
Such critics contend illegal immigrants are a security threat, take jobs from Americans, overburden the health care system and raise the crime rate.
Tancredo would like the United States to patrol its borders with the military. He said the U.S. also needs a guest worker program that requires employers to prove a need for short-term labor, without amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Esteban Flores, executive director of the Latino Research and Policy Center in Denver, calls Tancredo a bigot who is trying to use racial division to further his career. He compared Tancredo to George Wallace, the outspoken opponent of desegregation. "He's preying on peoples' fears, which is the worst way to build public trust," Flores said.
Tancredo doesn't see it that way.
The 59-year-old grandson of an Italian immigrant is a former public school teacher. He said he began his campaign after becoming disgusted with bilingual education requirements that he says turned out students illiterate in two languages.
Tancredo said he received a warm reception when he traveled to New Hampshire to give an award to a police chief who arrests undocumented immigrants on charges of trespassing. It warmed him up for Iowa, the key caucus state he visited this month.
Unlike 2002, when the GOP tried to distance itself from Tancredo amid concern he could cost them Hispanic votes, the national party is backing the four-term congressman's re-election bid in the heavily Republican suburbs of southern Denver. So far, there is no Democratic challenger for the 2006 race….
Experts say Tancredo has no chance at the White House, but like Ross Perot's campaign on a balanced budget in 1992, he has found an issue that could force other Republicans to treat immigration as a major issue….
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/22/AR2005072201277.html
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