Get to Know an Asshole: Tom Tancredo.
In the first installment of what I expect to be at least a one-part series called “Get to Know an Asshole,” I’d like to talk about Tom Tancredo.
Tom Tancredo is a Republican Congressman from Colorado. He is now serving his fourth term, despite an early promise to constituents to only serve three. He is seeking the Republican nomination for Presidential candidate. He is a crazy person.
Why Tancredo? Well, today in the car I happened to catch about 10 minutes of one of his speeches. Shortly after I turned the radio on, I was struck by his complaints on what he calls America’s “Cult of Multiculturalism.” Yes, those are his words; he is trying to cast in a negative light a major component of what has always made America wonderful. Yes, he is rabidly anti-immigration. He believes our prisons are a reservoir for Mexicans who have evil designs on America, and that these people “need to be found before it is too late. They’re coming here to kill you, and you, and me, and my grandchildren.” Again, his actual words. Of course, he is a card-carrying hypocrite, and doesn’t mind if illegal immigrants are used to help remodel his home. He believes the Denver Public Library System should neither purchase Spanish Language materials, nor make space available for Spanish language classes.
Tancredo says his favorite food is tacos.
Last year he spoke to members of The League of the South, near a portrait of Robert E. Lee, and surrounded by Confederate battle flags. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the event ended with men dressed in Confederate military garb, singing Dixie.
He has referred to Miami as a Third World Country. In response to this, Jeb Bush actually called Tancredo a nut.
Tancredo is the son of (Italian) immigrants.
He supports abolition…..of the Congressional Black Caucus.
When Reagan appointed him the regional rep for the Dept. of Education, Tancredo worked to reduce the staff of the office by nearly 75%.
Tom Tancredo voted against renewal of the Voting Rights Act.
Not surprisingly, Tancredo is a religious nutbag, but seems to have no qualms about switching the particular mythological details of his subscription, having shifted easily from Roman Catholic to Evangelical. He does not believe in the theory of evolution. He believes that if Roe v. Wade were overturned it would be “the greatest day in this country’s history.”
As a student activist in the 60’s, Tancredo spoke in favor of the Vietnam war. When he graduated and was eligible for the draft, he claimed he had been treated for depression, and got a mental health deferment.
I could go on. Really, I could. There’s lots more. But I’ve gotta get back to work.
Tom Tancredo is an epic asshole, and that is all.
