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Tancredo Catches Heat Over "One Language" Speech

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Mon Nov 19, 2007 at 11:03:06 AM EST
Tags: Tom Tancredo, immigration reform (all tags)
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Flailing presidential candidate Tom Tancredo met his match at a debate in New Hampshire this weekend.

Tancredo was pitching his "English only" plan, denigrating not just the U.S. but Europe.

Describing the United States as "the last best hope" for carrying on the ideals of western civilization, Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo called last night for an end to the nation's "bilingualization" and "Balkanization."

"I think Europe can not be counted on to help us in this endeavor," Tancredo said last night at Magdalen College in Warner. "They've already become, to a large extent, Islamicized. And that is worrisome."

Several audience members challenged him, including Siham Elhamoum, a recent college grad from Vermont [More....]

"I speak the same language as the people that flew into the towers; I speak the same language as all the Iraqis we are killing; I speak many languages, and I'm proud of it," said Siham Elhamoumi, 22, who recently graduated from St. Michael's College in Vermont and traveled to the event with a group from the college. "Am I the enemy?" Elhamoumi then pulled her shawl over her head, so it covered her hair. "Am I the enemy if I do this?"

"Do you take us for idiots, for people who have no appreciation of our history?" she asked. "Perhaps you don't have an understanding of your country right now, of its composition."

Tancredo repeatedly broke in, asking Elhamoumi to pose a question. He finally asked her a question of his own: "Do you believe that we should replace the Constitution with Sharia law?"

"That is below me," Elhamoumi replied. "Do not belittle people's opinions and people's beliefs and people's religions. Do not put one religion above the other."

Good for her.

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    Tancredo Catches Heat Over "One Language" Speech | 5 comments (5 topical)

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    I wonder why. (1.00 / 0) (#3)
    by jimakaPPJ on Mon Nov 19, 2007 at 06:45:11 PM EST
    That is below me," Elhamoumi replied. "Do not belittle people's opinions and people's beliefs and people's religions. Do not put one religion above the other."

    Seems to me that she could have answered the question. That she chose not to speaks for itself.

    You're right--let's waterboard her! (5.00 / 0) (#4)
    by jr on Mon Nov 19, 2007 at 11:03:20 PM EST
    She's gotta be guilty of something...

    New thread, same Jim.

    Parent

    Well, if that works for you... (1.00 / 0) (#5)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 06:02:45 PM EST
    but include me out.

    I'll just settle for asking why she could not say that Shari Law should not be instituted..

    And if her precious sensibilities are hurt by that question I advise her to not return to her native country...

    Parent

    Tancredo- what an embarrassment. (none / 0) (#1)
    by Molly Bloom on Mon Nov 19, 2007 at 11:29:25 AM EST
    Immigration is a complex issue to easily demagogued- it readily appears to the know nothing bigots and and the cynical Republicans who know better but want an issue to distract from their general incompetence at governance and from Iraq- anything but our immediate problems.

    This really should be way down on the list of issues for this election. It won't be as long as the GOP is looking for away to avoid responsibility for the mess they have made. .

    they usually are. (none / 0) (#2)
    by cpinva on Mon Nov 19, 2007 at 01:31:20 PM EST
    Immigration is a complex issue to easily demagogued

    because the average person doesn't understand or appreciate the difficulties involved, and the average politician sees no benefit in doing the necessary hard work to resolve it. simplistic works for both groups, for many issues.

    tancredo and huckabee are embarrassments, even for the republicans, which is quite a stretch. they both consistently exhibit either a legitimate or feigned ignorance of facts and history.

    considering how well this worked for the current occupant of the oval office, can you blame them?

    Tancredo Catches Heat Over "One Language" Speech | 5 comments (5 topical)

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