Thread: Tancredo's borderline support for McCain

Tancredo's borderline support for McCain
Friday, April 4 at 10:02 AM

By M.E. Sprengelmeyer
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS

WASHINGTON -- Add another reluctant supporter to the list backing Republican presidential contender Sen. John McCain: Colorado's Rep. Tom Tancredo.

Tancredo, who once told a national television audience he was "sick and tired" of having to choose between the lesser of two evils, said Thursday he'll go ahead and back his longtime immigration-reform foe, McCain, because he thinks either of the Democratic alternatives would be worse.

"Sometimes I say to myself, 'Can I really do this?'" Tancredo said of supporting McCain. "And then you listen to Obama or Hillary and say, 'Yeah, I have to.'"

Tancredo, a hard-line opponent of illegal immigration, launched his long-shot presidential bid, in part, because he said he wanted to stop the Republican nomination from going to McCain, chief backer of a proposed guest-worker plan that Tancredo equated to "amnesty" for people who entered the country illegally.

They had a few verbal skirmishes on the campaign trail. And at a televised debate from Michigan in October, when McCain was still trying to get his comeback off the ground, Tancredo was asked if he would pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee no matter who it was.

"You know, I've said I don't know how many times, that I am absolutely tired and sick and tired of being forced to go to the polls and say I'm going to make this choice between the lesser of two evils. I really don't intend to do that again," he said, according to a Wall Street Journal transcript. "I am hoping, of course, that whoever we nominate will be the principled flag carrier for the Republican Party. But if that is not the case, no, then I will not support them."

Given that statement, the Rocky Mountain News this week asked Tancredo if he might back a possible Libertarian Party entrant, former Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia, whose voting record on immigration issues is similar to Tancredo's.

Despite Barr's immigration stands, Tancredo said he could not support him because of his foreign policy stands, including "a blind spot on radical Islam." He added that he believes Barr's candidacy is a serious threat to Republican chances in November, because it could siphon off conservative voters who are skeptical of McCain.

Tancredo said he's not endorsing McCain, just "supporting" his general election candidacy.

And what's the difference? "The distinction is that one implies a little more enthusiasm," Tancredo said.

If nothing else, he said McCain has acknowledged getting the message from voters that they want the U.S. borders secured and existing laws enforced before anyone considers more comprehensive immigration reform.

McCain still has an uphill climb to get another Republican presidential rival on his side. At that October debate, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas also said he would not necessarily work for the party's nominee, "not unless they're willing to end the war and bring our troops home…"

That brought an unequivocal retort from McCain: "You don't want me then, pal."

http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/denv ... ort_f.html

you just lost my support Tom... I still will not vote for McCain

the lesser of 2 evils is still evil

Barr is expected to announce his candidacy this weekend.

I love Tancredo but I don't agree with his decision. He needs to have the backbone of Ron Paul and do what is right, even when it means making a tough choice.

Radical Islam is bad but it's nothing compared to open borders, which McCain is all about.

Ostrich

TheOstrich wrote:

He needs to have the backbone of Ron Paul and do what is right, even when it means making a tough choice.

Excuse me???????????? I'm sorry but Ron Paul does not always do what I would consider the right thing.

He supported Mitt Romney, who I was kinda starting to like, until Romney dropped out and endorsed McCain. Now, Tancredo is siding, even if it's reluctantly, with McCain. We all know what McCain is about. He shouldn't be siding with him. The lesser of two evils is still evil.

This war in Iraq is going to cost us dearly...it is costing us dearly...meanwhile, thousands are sneaking in every night. We're not protecting our own borders. It is lunacy.

Ostrich