The chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) today slammed Rep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican, for criticizing Pope Benedict XVI on the issue of immigration and urged Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain to distance himself from the congressman, one of McCain's backers.
Yesterday Tancredo denounced comments Pope Benedict made during an address to Catholic bishops urging them to accept and welcome immigrants.
"I want to encourage you and your communities to continue to welcome the immigrants who join your ranks today, to share their joys and hopes, to support them in their sorrows and trials, and to help them flourish in their new home," Pope Benedict told the bishops gathered at the United States at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.
Tancredo, who recently finished a failed presidential bid based on a platform of fighting illegal immigration, accused Benedict of making "amnesty a key issue in his papacy."
"I am not taking issue with the pope's moral authority and respect his views on the threats of Islamic immigration," Tancredo said in a statement. "However, it is not in his job description to engage in American politics."
This morning DNC Chairman Howard Dean called on McCain to distance himself from Tancredo.
"If John McCain is serious in his pledge to run a respectful campaign, he should immediately denounce Tom Tancredo's insulting remarks about Pope Benedict XVI," Dean said in a release. "After years of failing to address immigration reform, the Republican party has instead used the issue to scapegoat people to win elections."
When contacted by The Washington Times, the McCain campaign had no comment and referred questions to the Republican National Committee.
"At this point, Howard Dean will do and say absolutely anything to distract from his party's bitter infighting," said RNC spokesman Alex Conant. "Voters will see this for what it is — desperation."
— Carrie Sheffield, Web editor, The Washington Times
Comments (12)
Well, Tancredo was half right. I don't think he took the time to read one of the Pope's quotes when he arrived:
"The fundamental solution would be that there is no longer any need to immigrate, that there are sufficient opportunities for work and a sufficient social fabric that no one any longer feels the need to immigrate. We all have to work for this objective, that social development is sufficient so that citizens are able to contribute to their own future.
On this point, I want to speak with the President, because above all the United States must help countries develop themselves. Doing so is in the interests of everyone, not just this country but the whole world, including the United States."
So, the Pope understands the situation in North America, he's was just being very nice.
You have to remember that not all Catholics are the same. Were talking about American Catholics who support those who come across the border illegally instead of using their influence to change the dynamics in Mexico for example which makes Tancredo upset.
I think the Democrats don't have a say really because they supported NAFTA with Clinton. The Republicans that have a vested interest in global economic domination were tickled pink. I think Tancredo wasted his time on this one.
Posted by Campbell | April 18, 2008 1:51 PM
Tom Tancredo is a moron bordering on extreme stupidity. He is very good at expounding a problem and just as bad at proposing a credible solution. If common sense were a requirement to hold public office, Tancredo would be in an mental asylum.
Word of advice Tom, don't blast the Pope for your despicable character flaws.
Posted by Ash | April 18, 2008 3:12 PM
The Sinner Tancredo wooded be Deported, from the Holy U.S.A..
The sinner Tancredo would realize the "sinful cruel side of Deportation & Enforcements".
If the 12-millions peoples would be sinfully Deported to their back-home-hell, then "those 12-millions U.S.-workers would be sent to be killed". This is sinful cruelty, which is "the sinful-Dream to use, by the irresponssible incomplete sinful leaders or, the sinners, like Tancredo, Sensenbernner, John Cornyn, John Kyl, Sessions, Vitters, etc."
The U.S.-Constitution & Christian Religion, strictly prohibits "the Sin & Crime"!
The 12-millions of the U.S.-friendly workers, can or, would produce "atleast one millions Scientists, Engineers, Doctors, etc.", to help & upgarde the U.S.A. & World, "if they would be legallized".
Pope is correct!
The sinner Tancredo would musst have to appologize, or, "to beg a pardon to the holy Pope"; otherwise "the great righteous U.S.-Constitutional-policy would arrest the sinner Tancredo, for the rest of his life", to rectify "the Sinner Tancredo and the other similiar sinners, of the World,(to stop the sin & crime in the Holy World)"!
Thanks, regards!
Posted by US Patriot | April 18, 2008 3:58 PM
WHY CAN'T WE SEND 12 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THE BORDER?
MEXICO DID !!!
Posted by Dean Smith | April 18, 2008 7:22 PM
The Pope is the voice of a church facing dwindling numbers in America. Promoting illegal immigration is in its interest: most Latinos are Catholic.
All a matter of market share.
Posted by wgberger | April 18, 2008 10:25 PM
tom tancredo.. such a loser!! desperate , non sense individual...
Posted by mat | April 19, 2008 12:14 AM
The United States should force reforms on mexico. Mexicos average education level is only 6th or 7th grade.
Mexicos problem is the result of the ignorance and corruption of it people.
The pope should be critical of Mexico but he doesn't say anything.
As far as Mexicans producing a million scientist, doctors, and engineers 50% drop out of high school and most of the rest score like 10th graders on achievement tests India and China are better sources of intellegent immigrants. 50% of asian american adults have college degree.
Posted by Phil | April 19, 2008 2:37 PM
wgberger
To expand on your post, this is a win-win for both 1) the Catholic church and 2) the American Catholic church. 1) If they stay put in their own countries, they don't make enough money to donate to their churches. 2) Coming here allows them to make enough to donate something to their newly adopted American church boosting the flagging donations here in the U.S. Good all the way around. For the Catholic church, that is. Nuts to all us taxpayers, workers, and students who must bear the burden.
Posted by mohl | April 19, 2008 2:48 PM
I'm glad that nativists like wgberger and mohl have come out to admit that they see this issue as a "Catholic problem," and not an immigration problem. This is the same angst that was expressed with every influx of immigrants.
Posted by Bob | April 20, 2008 7:40 PM
I suspect wgberger is a retired conspiracy theorist looking for a new subject to flog to death. Unfortunately, your paranoia has got the better of you. The Pope did not refer to illegal immigration per se, but to the traditional Christian values of justice, compassion and respect for human dignity in matters of immigration. This is where the universality of the Catholic Church gives the Pope a much larger view than the narrow self-serving view you are taking. He is undoubtedly including the need to respect the basic rights of illegals, but I'm sure he is also referring to the fact that many of them are here because there was a huge demand by American citizens for their cheap labor. He is also referring to the recent practice in African countries like Rwanda and Burundi where the US has virtually waived all immigration requirements and delays to recruit nurses to meet a growing shortage in the US and is offering them wages far in excess of what they can earn at home to leave the country. This practice has virtually destroyed medical care in these countries.
Your theory about wanting immigrants to come to this country so that they can more effectively stuff the collection plates is too stupid for comment!
Posted by David | April 20, 2008 9:48 PM
Congressman Tom Tancredo...is right on the money! Infact most people should know that Tancredo is God's incarnation on earth to fight for liberal democrat agenda of appeasing islamo facism, promoting homosexuality and giving amnesty to illegal aliens.
I am disgusted that now Pop is also encourging illegal aliens and appeasing illegal alien amnesty crowd. Well ! the fact of the matter is he knows that illegal aliens and their supporters are increasing like bacteria and Pope is just trying to position themselve to their business. If amnesty is to take place, illegal alien population exlosion will expidite North American union which is being pushed by nig business.
Wake up America! We are being invaded in our own country by Mexico.
Posted by Adam Gilchrist | April 21, 2008 11:08 AM
Tancredo is another mistake of nature. It is sad that about 3-5% of the US population share his raging hatred for immigrants. They are all high-school(if that) educated, White-anglo-saxon-protestants who are afraid of the changing demographics in the country. Well, they picked a losing battle! Sorry, Billy Bob!
Posted by Cohen | April 21, 2008 5:11 PM