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Sep 14, 2006 7:57 pm US/Mountain

Denver Pastors Call For Tom Tancredo's Resignation

Terry Jessup
Reporting

(CBS4) DENVER A group of Denver area ministers has called for Congressman Tom Tancredo to resign. The pastors are outraged at the Republican's attendance at a South Carolina rally they claim was associated with a hate group.

Last weekend, Congressman Tancredo gave a speech at a barbecue and rally held at the South Carolina State Museum.

The podium where he spoke has confederate flags behind it, and before he left, he took part in the singing of the southern anthem "Dixie," which has infuriated the Denver Ministerial Alliance.

"The fact that he was there, singing 'Dixie' with other people, that in itself is ridiculous," said Bishop Acen Phillips with the New Birth Baptist Church.

"For a United States congressperson to attend this function and not to be concerned about the confederate flag on the same stage is a disgrace," said Rev. Paul Burleson with the Greater Denver Metro Ministerial Alliance.

A whole roomful of ministers called on Tancredo to apologize and some even want him to resign.

In a phone interview from his Washington office, Tancredo said the event was not sponsored by hate groups and he gave the same immigration reform speech he always gives.

"I gave it in probably five or six different venues, this was just one, all of them were open to the public," Tancredo said. "I don't check people at the door for their private thoughts."

CBS4's Terry Jessup: "If they say, and they did say, if he didn't know who was at that assembly or rally, he should've known, you say what?"

Tancredo: "It was open to the public."

"I think he knew exactly what he was doing, when he was doing it, where he was doing it, and even worse, why he was doing it," said Pastor Patrick Demmer with the Greater Denver Metro Ministerial Alliance.

The ministers said the Republican congressman has become an embarrassment.

Tancredo said they're trying to make politics over an issue that he doesn't see.

The song "Dixie" means different things to people, but is the anthem of some white supremacist groups. Tancredo said there's nothing wrong with anyone singing it "if the spirit moves you, I guess."

Tancredo said there was nothing racist in nature or tone in his speech and has no intention of apologizing for anything.