Posted on 03/16/2006 1:12:11 PM PST by dennisw
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Tom Tancredo and an Illinois congressman traded charges of racism during a heated confrontation following a televised appearance Wednesday on immigration reform, both their congressional offices confirmed today. Tancredo and Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., are frequent sparring partners on the talk show circuit as Congress works to pass some version of immigration reform. Tancredo is a leading advocate of tougher enforcement against illegal immigrants and people who hire them. Gutierrez, the son of Mexican immigrants, calls Tancredo's approach "ugly policy" motivated by racism.
On Wednesday, they appeared together on CNBC, and when the cameras stopped rolling the debate continued with a spat first reported by the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call.
Gutierrez's office claims that Tancredo aggressively continued the discussion off camera and tried to slow Gutierrez as he was trying to reach the elevator.
Tancredo spokesman Will Adams, who was present, said it was Gutierrez who was the aggressor, hurling comments and, before it was over, saying he thought about hitting Tancredo.
The words exchanged are in little dispute, based on this account in Roll Call:
At one point, Gutierrez reportedly asked Tancredo if he had ever eaten in a restaurant.
"How could you eat from the plates touched by those nasty illegal immigrants?" Gutierrez said.
He then asked Tancredo: "Have you ever eaten an orange? A grape," an apparent reference to illegal farm workers. He then repeated the phrase several times as Tancredo tried to answer. "An orange, a grape, an orange, a grape, an orange a grape."
Gutierrez, who has a cast on a foot, reportedly tried to walk to the elevator, but Tancredo tried to stop him by putting his hand on his shoulder. Gutierrez reportedly demanded: "Get your hand off me!"
Adams said Tancredo had done little more than tap him on the shoulder.
Gutierrez said to Tancredo: "You racist! You bigot!"
Tancredo told Gutierrez: "You look in the mirror if you want to see a racist."
Gutierrez and staff members finally got on the elevator, while Tancredo and his team took the stairs.
When they met again on the first floor, Gutierrez told his staff, "Better hurry up -- the KKK is coming," according to Roll Call. He accused Tancredo of following him, although Adams said they simply needed to use the same exit because Tancredo's office is across the street.
Just outside, Gutierrez said to aides within Tancredo's earshot: "I thought about hitting him, but then I thought, 'What if I (expletive) kicked his ass,'" the newspaper reported.
"To say this is unbecoming of a Congressman doesn't go far enough," Adams said. "This is unbecoming of an adult." Asked if Tancredo wanted an apology, Adams said, "It would be nice if he apologized. We're not expecting that from somebody who threatens to beat people up."
Asked if Gutierrez wanted an apology, spokesman Scott Frotman said, "He's not going to ask Mr. Tancredo for an apology, but Mr. Tancredo may think about apologizing to all the immigrants that he scapegoats and ridicules."
Did he add "You creepy liar! Creepy liar! YOU CREEPY F'ING LIAR YAAAAAARGHH!!!
I would have said "your the one who called Mexicans filthy, not me."
Attention fact checkers: Gutierrez is Puerto Rican.
He is also a major demagogue. At the rally here last week, he addressed the crowd and said that the illegals are "all Americans." Which led me to wonder if all it takes to be an American is to show up in the country one day and stay.
Adams said Tancredo had done little more than tap him on the shoulder.
It seems that Tancredo did put his hands on Gutierrez.
When involved in a heated dispute, it's not a wise choice to put your hands on your opponent. It can be misinterpreted as an aggressive move.
Both Tancredo and Gutierrez were out of line.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, March 16 started showing signs that it will produce an immigration bill crafted by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) that rewards the 12-20 million illegal aliens already in the U.S. with permanent citizenship. The panel is currently working behind closed doors on amnesty proceedings and it is unclear whether the votes of the committee will be made public. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee must be held accountable for their actions if a massive amnesty, as expected, is produced and sent to the Senate for a full vote. Please send this fax to your Senators and let them know that the American people will not tolerate being left out in the cold while their elected leaders create rewards for millions of illegal aliens who've broken our laws.
PS: Gutierrez IS AS RACIST AS THEY COME. HE'S THE ONE WHO HELPED PUT TOGETHER THE CROWD OF ILLEGALS DEMANDING "THEIR RIGHTS" IN CHICAGO LAST WEEK.
This is the insanity produced by a loathsomely Leftist press: being against criminal behavior is "racist."
I like Tancredo!
Sorry, not filthy, nasty.
Luis Guitierrez is Puerto Rican and an alumnus of the University of Puerto Rico, where he became good friends with a leftist professor of mine.
The sad part about it is Gutierrez and Bush are on the same side. This is just the beginning it will get even nastier. Wait until you see the anti-illegal March in Crawford in May.
Better hurry up -- the KKK is coming,"
So people actually voted to put this jackass in office? Shameful...
Hat's off to Tancredo for standing up to open-border hacks like Gutierez, John McCain, Ted Kennedy and George Bush.
How many Puerto Ricans are picking grapes in CA and oranges in CA and FL?
Tancredo is so much more than illegal immigration. He's a genuine conservative. Has a near 100% ACU rating.
He wouldn't be a "loudmouth" if Bush would do his fricking job.
Evidently Gutierrez won't be happy until Mexico has moved in, lock, stock, and barrel. I wonder if he'd be more concerned about our borders and vast numbers of illegals if they were from Africa or Ireland. He'd sing a different tune.
Gutierrez and staff members finally got on the elevator, while Tancredo and his team took the stairs.
When they met again on the first floor, Gutierrez told his staff, "Better hurry up -- the KKK is coming," according to Roll Call.
Just outside, Gutierrez said to aides within Tancredo's earshot: "I thought about hitting him, but then I thought, 'What if I (expletive) kicked his ass,'" the newspaper reported
LOUDER G!!! COME ON! LOUDER! The American people aren't as dumbed down as you think. The masses are hearing you and they are awakening. The more press this gets, the more people understand the DEM viewpoint and how wrong ILLEGAL immigration is. He didn't go quite all the way though, since he didn't say Tancredo was a "nazi", as the liberals usually do.
What a load of crap. Wanting the laws of this country enforced and obeyed is not racist.
From his comments, I'd guess Gutierrez has an IQ below 60. And he certainly has not the best interest of this country in mind. I hope he will be investigated.
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