Tancredo at his best: Leaving

[proud2BlibKansan]

U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado finally did something that deserved applause Thursday. He withdrew from the race for the Republican nomination for president.

Tancredo credited himself with having a big impact on the tone of the GOP debate. If by that he means he made it difficult, if not impossible, for Republicans to support anything short of deporting 12 million immigrants, then maybe he did have an impact. That is hardly anything to be proud of. This country needs a thoughtful discussion of illegal immigration, not reflexive bashing that appeals to xenophobic instincts, if not bigotry.
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In any case, Tancredo should not give himself so much credit. Immigration had become the proverbial third rail of U.S. politics before Tancredo began his tub thumping in Iowa.

Tancredo and his one-issue presidential campaign will quickly be forgotten, but the anti-immigration hysteria will go on, thanks in part to the radio talk shows that will converge on Des Moines next week for a nationwide gabathon sponsored by the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

Ultimately, the nation will have to confront the reality of immigration, but a realistic solution will be possible only when voices of reason can penetrate the noise made by the Tom Tancredos of the world.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071222/OPINION03/712220307/1035/RSS03

[saltpoint]

1. Exciting, strong talk from the REGISTER. Good for them.

And I couldn't agree more about tub-thumpin' Tom Tancredo.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Yes it's a great editorial.

Tancredo is a freak.

[saltpoint]

3. Agree. There is something other-worldly about him, and not of the

angelic realm variety.

He thought he had an issue and screeched about it for months, and not enough people were interested.

Which is good for us and bad for Lou Dobbs.