Tancredo addresses a hate group

This news is a month old but still important. Tom Tancredo, the number one anti-immigration Congressman (Republican from Colorado) and head of the House Immigration Reform Caucus made an appearance at a gathering organized by a neo-Confederate hate group called League of the South (LOS). SPLC reports on the proceedings:

While Tancredo's hard-line "deport 'em all" stance on immigration has made him a favorite politician of white supremacists, this marked the first time the congressman has appeared at a hate group event.

Tancredo's appearance was part of a five-day sweep through conservative South Carolina, which hosts an early GOP primary and has seen the Southeast's largest percentage gain in foreign-born residents since the 2000 Census. Rising to his friendly audience, Tancredo blasted South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham for being too soft on immigration and basked in the long applause that followed his harangues against illegal immigrants and "the cult of multiculturalism" that glorifies disunity and refuses to acknowledge the "Christian principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution." (Tancredo did not appear to grasp the irony of addressing the "lack of unity" in America in front of a group dedicated to Southern secession.)

Tancredo has expressed his intention to run for the GOP Presedential primary in 2008, I don't think bonding with hate groups is going to be the recipe for success though! Incidents like these will harm his credibility if he's serious about his political future. Last month we witnessed a racial slur from Senator George Allen which maligned his image.

At the close of Tancredo's speech, several men in confederate-themed clothing stood up and bellowed the first notes of "Dixie," the Confederate anthem. They were soon joined by voices from throughout the large hall, which was now entirely on its feet. Tancredo, a second-generation Italian-American from Denver, appeared confused by the sudden burst of strange song. He quickly worked his way toward the exit with his staff.