Posted on 10/11/2007 9:16:46 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
McALLEN — Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo labeled some border mayors as “rogue” for refusing to cooperate with the federal government’s efforts to construct the proposed border fence in some parts of Texas.
Tancredo, a congressman from Colorado, also suggested in a news release earlier this week that the fence could be built north of U.S. border cities that don’t go along with it.
Tancredo’s comments came after The Associated Press reported earlier this month that some U.S. border leaders had denied some access to federal workers doing preliminary work on the fence.
“I’m glad he said it, because all it means is he wrote his own obituary,” McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez said. “Nobody like him can possibly be elected to a leadership position in this country.”
Brownsville Mayor Pat Ahumada said Tancredo’s comments were “not constructive” and added those who vehemently support the fence — such as Tancredo — are “being driven by fear or racism.”
“He has no clue how we live, how (the fence) will affect us and how close it is,” Ahumada said.
Tancredo, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, was polling at 1 percent in an NBC/Wall Street Journal conducted in late September.
Lately, he’s gained attention for his vocal support of the fence, as well as his vehement position on the need to reduce both legal and illegal immigration.
Tancredo told The Monitor his suggestion of building the wall north of some cities was “just for effect,” but he is serious about his support for the fence itself.
While Rio Grande Valley residents and elected officials alike may oppose the fence, Tancredo said, it “is a national security issue and we all have to pay the price and make some sacrifice.”
While Ahumada said he supports a so-called virtual fence created by dredging and expanding the Rio Grande, Tancredo said a physical barrier is the best option to stop “the invasion that is occurring,” referring to the influx of undocumented immigrants to the country.
He also said the fence sends a symbolic message to Mexico.
“It says clearly, ‘Here’s where one country ends and another one begins,’” Tancredo said. “Short of sending someone an atlas, this is the next best thing.”
Cortez said a fence could impede the billions of dollars of trade that comes through the country’s borders. But Tancredo said a fence would not affect legitimate business.
Ahumada said he invites Tancredo to visit the border and see for himself how it would affect the community. Tancredo said he’s visited the border many times and was in Texas last year, but he hopes to visit the state soon.
Ryan Holeywell covers PSJA and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4446.
Follow the money.
ping
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Mayor, what say you about the illegal female who claimed to have crossed the border at McAllen over 400 times on last count about 3 years ago? Of course Hidalgo County voted 55% for Kerry.
Billions in trade huh? Would that be the cocaine, mary jane or heroine that is sent across the border
There. That makes more sense.
Cortez goes to Monterrey with hat in hand apologizing to the Mexican’s for the United States efforts to build the fence, and he does it with peso signs in his eyes.
Not once has he ever talked about the Mexican economic refugees that croak in the cactus curtain or the identity thieves that steal our social security numbers. Not once does he talk about the school lockdowns and home invasions when a van carrying 25 illegals overturns while from the border patrol.
And just what kind of "trade" worth "billions of dollars" comes over the border without need of a road Mr. Cortez? Hmmmm?
Time for the DEA to open an investigation on this guy.
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.
QUISLING: a synonym for traitor, someone who collaborates with the invaders of his country.
BUMP for Tancredo.
They should start building in Arizona first, anyway.
Most American citizens agree with Tancredo.
What a shame that the RNC continues to try to shove Rudy, McCain and Romney down our throats and pretend that Hunter, Tancredo and Paul have leprosy. This will result in many third party votes and a Hillary presidency. :^(
AMAZING how these traitorous border mayors all seem to have Hispanic last names. They are disloyal to the United States. The care more about retaliations with effin’ Mexico than they do the United States. I would deport them if I could, I could give a damn if they have lived here a few generations or just snuck across the Rio Grande
THERE. ...Fixed it.
And who knows how much in automatic weapons and ammo.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.