Thread: After Tancredo:Who Will Introduce an Immig. Moratorium Bill?

November 02, 2009

After Tancredo: There Are Emerging Leaders In Congress—But Which Will Introduce An Immigration Moratorium Bill?

By Washington Watcher

After his bid for the presidency, Tom Tancredo retired from Congress. While he is still championing the cause of patriotic immigration reform in private life, and may return to public office, the void he leaves in Washington remains empty. Being a member of Congress does not just give you a vote on legislation; it also provides a huge megaphone. Tancredo made his mark by endlessly using his position to speak out on the importance of securing our borders, enforcing our laws, and cutting down on mass immigration.

Peter Brimelow has asked me who I think is best primed to take his place.

Had Hazleton, PA Mayor Lou Barletta been elected to Congress, he would have been perfectly placed to pick up where Tancredo left off. Standing up for his little town of 20,000 people made him a hero for millions of Americans. But unfortunately he got edged out by incumbent Paul Kanjorski (D-PA.)

Still, Mayor Barletta will most likely run again in 2010. With the anti-Republican mood of the electorate greatly diminished, I’d happily wager that he’ll win.

But what about the 435 Congressmen currently in office?

Tancredo’s successor for the Colorado’s 6th District is Rep. Michael Coffman. Coffman was one of just 18 Republicans to vote for the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Next!

Tancredo’s successor at the Immigration Reform Caucus is Brian Bilbray. Rep. Bilbray served as a lobbyist as FAIR and understands the immigration issue. Since reassuming office in 2006, his voting record is perfect.

But unlike Tancredo, Bilbray seems to see his role as a Congressman as mainly building coalitions around a few pieces of legislation, such as the SAVE Act, (requiring mandatory E-Verify ) rather than to reach the masses.

In a profile in the Politico, Rep. Bilbray’s ranking staffer in the Immigration Reform Caucus Emily Sanders explained the difference in style between him and Tancredo;

“‘I love Tom Tancredo,’ Sanders says. ‘I’ve had Scotch with the guy, and I think if people got to know him at that level, everybody would love him. He is such a nice man, and he’s so wicked smart. But Tom Tancredo is John the Baptist. He was saying things that were not popular and making people aware of things they didn’t want to look at. And the White House totally didn’t like him, and a lot of other people just thought he was a crazy yahoo.’

“Sanders, following Bilbray’s instincts, endeavored to take a kinder, gentler, more moderate approach and reach out to more members…

“Sanders points to the discharge petition she and Bilbray wrote in support of the Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement Act, which penalizes employers who hire illegal immigrants.

“‘If Tom Tancredo had come to that leadership and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got this discharge petition on the SAVE Act,’’ she says, ‘I don’t think they would have taken it seriously. They would have thought, ‘Oh, it’s those immigration people again. Go away.’’â€

I write down all those on the side of our country . Also I know all the others are not so that list is obvious.

I tell everyone I see now to write down ALIPAC address and at least read whats going on . At stores, stations, post offices, schools and of course familiy and friends . I can't keep quite about it its too important .