In several previous GOP debates, Congressman Tom Tancredo commented that he felt like a “book-end”, taking a backseat to other candidates. That was not so in Sunday night’s Univision Spanish speaking debate. By my judgement, Congressman Tancredo won last night’s debate, even though he didn’t actually attend the event at all. Congressman Tancredo’s absence from the event was able to make a point that none of the other candidates,(despite their tough talk,) were able to make in over an hour and a half of airtime.
Tancredo expressed frustration at the decision of other GOP candidates to attend the debate, saying that the debate encouraged illegals not to learn english. ( An ability to understand english is a requirenent for legalization.) By not being there, Congressman Tancredo took a tougher and more courageous stand against illegal immigration than any of his colleagues.
I’m not saying that Tancredo was 100 percent right in not attending last night’s debate, but it was a shrewd political move. In this election cycle, I think that Tancredo’s absence made a very good point considering the recent immigration debate in the country as a whole. I know that some of you think that either Tancredo is intolerant or is a racist, but he is neither. 1, Does it really make sense to debate in a language that most American citizens don’t speak? And, 2; It’s easy to forget that Tancredo was the only Republican candidate to attend the annual convention of the NAACP. Even though all Republican candidates were invited. My point is, I would not support Tancredo’s move in any other election cycle, but in this one it was entirely appropriate.
The other candidates really didn’t say anything new at the debate. Rudy Giuliani and John McCain both essentially said that they supported amnesty for illegals. Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney both expressed a need for a secure border fence, and Duncan Hunter, much like at the PBS African American debate, appealed to history and promoted the Republican Party’s record related to Latin Americans. Mike Huckabee took the compassionate role by denouncing racial stereotyping and by praising immigrants who have entered the country legally. Besides Tancredo, Huckabee did the next smartest thing by not attacking illegal immigrants, not supporting amnesty, and realizing that there are some people who are genuinely prejudiced against illegal and LEGAL immigrants.
I guess Tancredo sunk a three-pointer, and Huckabee got a lay-up. Sure, you can quote me on that.
