Tancredo Belittles Virginia Tech Tragedy

The second I heard the VT shooter was a resident alien...

...I figured Tancredo would make some stupid remark about immigration. I just didn't know he had it in him to not just turn it into a political issue, but to also belittle it.

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by: CSU Ram Fan @ Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 20:58:26 PM CDT

Tancredo tells truth; lefties don't like truth

In response to all the talk about the worst massacre in U.S. history, Tancredo put out a correction. Like everything else Tancredo says, this "offended" his harsh opponents who look for every chance to bash him. Poor babies.

Typical nonsense from the Tancredo bashers.

They hate it that he's getting some good press outside of Colorado, where thinking appears to be a little clearer than at these altitudes.

Hey, guys, you're making a mountain out of a molehill.

I thought the notice was pretty interesting, and it tended to puncture the pro gun control advocates' little balloon.

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by: Another skeptic @ Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 22:43:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You don't think his timing was atrocious?

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by: Tancredo Watch @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 06:37:36 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Timely

So when do you want the correction? Gimme a break. You should see the pro- gun control nuts and their opponents. They were going at it while the bodies were warm.

And this discussion wasn't needed to encourage copy cats. That's a stretch, too.

Tancredo just saw a chance to poke at the hype in the media. Got his name on the blogs. I think Obama's call for gun control was more offensive, frankly.

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by: Another skeptic @ Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 00:17:09 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

It's not a truth that needs to be discussed.

Splitting hairs over things like this might inspire some future idiot to just do something more atrocious to outdo what's already been done.  Why do we even need to debate which shooting was the worst?  They're all bad.  This doesn't help the discussion at all.  On another note, how is Tancredo getting good press outside of Colorado?  Tell me. 

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by: CO Democrat @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 08:09:34 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

It's probably a truth that should be discussed

by someone, at some moment, to avoid some of the pathologies of how we report and remember dramatic events. As I wrote not long ago in another thread, before this incident, there is a glitch in the human psyche which grabs hold of dramatic events and exaggerates them out of proportion. In fact, I believe there is an evolutionary explantion for this phenomenon, which I won't repeat here. The point is, that there are real consequences to this tendency, sometimes dramatic and destructive in themselves. (Consider the domestic political developments in the wake of 9/11).

But, as for this tragedy, the time is not now, the person is not Tancredo, and the justification is not to avoid a discussion of gun control (which is a very appropriate discussion to have in the wake of these shootings). To whichever pollster above complained about bashing Tancredo for stating the truth, I have this to say: Does it matter, in terms of the relevance of this event, whether it was "the worst in U.S. history" or not? 32 innocent people were shot to death. That is the truth. It's ranking among other similar shootings does not alter the size and seriousness of this event. For Tancredo to state a factual truth in order to engage in a conceptual misdirection (i.e., the significance of this event is diminished by the fact that there was a larger massacre 80 years ago) is, in essence, to be deceptive for political ends.

Not only that, but, obviously, it is not always admirable, or even defensible, to state a particular factual truth at a particular moment in time for a particular reason. Would it be appropriate, do you think, to point out that one of the victims was caught masterbating in the shower the morning of the shooting, because that person had offended you recently and you wanted to get revenge by marring their  name? Or that one had just embarrassed himself by making a public scene over some small matter? Or that one was known by his friends as a petty and disagreeable person? Such things may be truths, but stating them publicly at this moment would be reprehensible. As was Tancredo's statement at this moment, for this reason.

"(People) will do the rational thing, but only after exploring all other alternatives" -John Maynard Keynes.

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by: yevrahnevets @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 10:33:03 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Fair enough.

I can see your point.  We seem to agree that this was not the time or place to discuss it.  You made a good point.  .

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by: CO Democrat @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 19:18:51 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Heard the Tanc on the radio this morning

He did well.

Some interesting comments:

Mentioned that his limited fundraising is ok since he doesn't have to buy his constituency. There are people concerned about illegal immigration in all 50 states.

When asked about his candidacy hurting other Republicans running, he mentioned that when he takes his oath of office each year there is no mention of 'party' or 'Republican', just 'Constitution' and 'the United States'.

I'm not a fan of Tancredo, but I like that he is willing to stand up to the party for what he believes.

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by: Car 31 @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 09:33:28 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Pity the fool

You call this good press? Looks more like posturing than anything else.

"Suddenly, it may be cool to be American again" - William J. Kole

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by: Go Blue @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 09:49:52 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

When you're a no name like Tancredo

Any press is good press. That is why he said this. That is why he says much of the inflammatory stuff he says. He can't even get into the dance if no one has heard of him.

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by: WinstonSmith @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 13:19:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

well, what a shocker

the mainstream news media didn't do their homework, and Tancredo is right.  As someone you may call a "leftie", I have no problem with the truth and I don't think other's you brand as lefties do either.

However, I don't think anyone thinks the fact that it is not historically the worst school violence, massacre, whatever dosen't really "puncture the pro gun control advocates' little balloon". 

Disturbed and violent people have easy access to deadly weapons in this country.  That makes everyone less safe. This is so basic a concept it's like saying vitamins are good for you, but for god knows what reason people like you just don't want to understand that.

  How many students killed would be satisfactory for people like you to take a new look at gun control?  Damn, I guess 31 wasn't enough. 

"Good judgement comes from experience.  Experience comes from bad judgement" - Jim Horning

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by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:06:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Debate began post JFK murder

After JFK was killed, I thought some kind of gun control would be appropriate. But I've been around pro-gun people long enough to hear their arguments as well, and it's clear that the 2nd Amendment is on their side.

I don't trust government enough to disarm everyone. Too many kooks gain power and become dictators. Never know when we'll elect a Ceasar Chavez.

At the same time, I don't think people should own military weapons such as the pistol used in the VT massacre.

Have I made everyone mad?

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by: Another skeptic @ Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 00:23:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Actually,

I think you've expressed a moderate position many Americans would identify with. Unless "everybody" means just us polsters... ;-)

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

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by: Aristotle @ Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 00:26:47 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

no

dosen't make me mad at all.  I just think gun control is the only solution to this kind of problem, and I see comparatively in other countries where gun control laws are very strict, and you have very few homicides or mass killings vis-a-vis the USA (gun related or not).

"Good judgement comes from experience.  Experience comes from bad judgement" - Jim Horning

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by: Fidel's dirt nap @ Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 11:21:29 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

"Ceasar Chavez"?

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by: Canines @ Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 12:17:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Probably meant Hugo.

Either that or he really hates lettuce pickers.

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by: The River @ Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 12:46:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Indubitably.

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by: Canines @ Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 12:57:29 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oh, yeah THAT makes it all OK, doesn't it?

How do nuts like you and TT think that you have cognitive processes?  It's obvious to most of the world, including most "righties" that something seriously wrong is there in your synapses.


"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

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by: parsingreality @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 17:38:18 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Tancredo, Musgrave, Lamborn

Is it any wonder that many Republicans are ashamed of our Congressional representation and fear the day when all of our delegation will be Dems?

(Well except for CD-5 - Goofy could win as the Republican nominee here.  Oh wait a minute, he already did.)

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by: Majority Moderate @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 10:12:07 AM CDT

I agree that Tancredo is a nitwit

but is he right about a 1927 bombing.  I hadn't heard of this bombing.  Where was it?

Also, as far as worst gun violence in American history, wouldn't Wounded Knee qualify?

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by: sharktacos @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 10:57:05 AM CDT

Or how about . . .

. . . the Sand Creek Massacre, in Colorado in the 1860's:  Only 9 or 10 soldiers were killed and three dozen wounded. Between 150 and 184 Cheyennes were reported dead, and some were reportedly mutilated, and most were women, children, and elderly men.

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by: The realist @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 11:16:12 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

he's right

so just pointing out a historically accurate fact is now "belittling"  how pathetically biased you are.

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by: repsjohnso @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:22:24 PM CDT

Definition of "belittle":

"To regard or portray as less impressive or important than appearances indicate." (Source: Dictionary.com.)

Isn't that precisely what Tancredo was doing? He was saying that the 32 killed at Virginia Tech earlier this week (never mention how many wounded, I guess they don't count in his bizarre calculation) wasn't actually as "impressive or important" as some media were saying, because the slaying was only the SECOND-largest school slaying in U.S. history, not the first as those media seemed to be indicating.

It just seems utterly bizarre, but typical of Tancredo, to be issuing such a declaration when most of the victims haven't even been buried yet.

Again: Can you imagine how - rightfully - outraged Tancredo would have been had some Virginia legislator issued a similar bloviation within a few days after Columbine?

Since there is really no serious chance of additional gun control legislation being enacted, one is left with the distasteful impression - but again, characteristic of Tancredo - that he is simply trying to get his name in the press through this strange and heartless mechanism.

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by: Tancredo Watch @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 14:12:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Good post, TW

Too bad that some of Tanc's defenders are so enamored of him that they are incapable of recognizing when he's putting his foot in his mouth.

"Fine, let's take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain't so fun when it fucks you, huh?" - shitmydadsays

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by: Aristotle @ Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 14:17:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

From you, Aristotle, that's high praise

Thank you! Even a broken clock...

I know I'm obsessive about Tom Tancredo. But he's my Congressman and he drives me crazy with his constant shenanigans. Especially when they're mean-spirited or bullying in nature.

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by: Tancredo Watch @ Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 00:38:01 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Damn U Tandcredo Watch!

Now everytime I hear the news reports and they say, "the worst school shooting ever",

I think of Tancredo.

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by: Car 31 @ Sat Apr 21, 2007 at 13:24:09 PM CDT