Tom Tancredo in State of Michigan Archives

On Energy & Oil: Drill off the coasts of Florida and California

Q: Where do you draw the line? Do you support drilling/exploration off the coasts of Florida and California? A: You bet. I would agree to exploration off the coasts. How fair is it today that Louisiana is producing all the oil that California is consuming, and they refuse to allow the exploration of oil of their coasts? I’d say if you won’t allow it, you can’t use it--the stuff that we’re getting from Louisiana. Source: 2007 Republican debate in Dearborn, Michigan Oct 9, 2007

On Free Trade: Enforce trade & currency rules against China

There is one place where the federal government has a role in manufacturing, and that’s ensuring that everybody’s playing by the rules. Now, when Communist China devalues their currency by 40%, they undercut American products around the world. They undercut them so low that we can’t even pay for the cost of materials and meet their prices. Now, that has put 1.8 million working Americans out of work, and that job, the job of enforcing those rules, is the president’s job. That’s what I intend to do. Source: 2007 Republican debate in Dearborn, Michigan Oct 9, 2007

On Free Trade: CAFTA should be about trade; get rid of immigration parts

CAFTA was a bill over a thousand pages long to do what, to reduce tariffs between the six Central American countries and the United States? That was about a paragraph, right? But it’s over a thousand pages. We’ve included all kinds of things in there that had nothing to do with trade.

In particular, of course, I’m talking about the immigration-related issues. I offered an amendment on the floor of the House during the debate on CAFTA, the Central America Free Trade Agreement, to say that there will be no immigration issues contained inside of a trade package. It was defeated.

We are talking about trade issues that actually begin to impact our national sovereignty. There’s the problem. We are reducing the importance of borders and increasing the threat to national sovereignty with the kind of trade programs that we put through up to this point in time.

Source: 2007 Republican debate in Dearborn, Michigan Oct 9, 2007

On Jobs: Union conflict is creative, but shouldn’t influence policy

Q: Are unions good for America?

A: The creative conflict that occurs between unions and management is usually a good thing. When unions, I think, get off track is when they start to influence public policy, especially with regard to allowing illegal immigration into the country, because they want to fill up their ranks. That’s why they can be problematic.

Source: 2007 Republican debate in Dearborn, Michigan Oct 9, 2007

On Principles & Values: Won’t vote GOP if nominee is lesser of two evils

Q: Would you pledge now to support the nominee of your party?

A: I am absolutely tired and sick and tired of being forced to go to the polls and say I’m going to make this choice between the lesser of two evils. I really don’t intend to do that again. I am hoping, of course, that whoever we nominate will be the principal flag carrier for the Republican Party, but if that is not the case, no, then I will not.

Source: 2007 Republican debate in Dearborn, Michigan Oct 9, 2007

On Social Security: Private Social Security accounts needed to end deficit

If you want to control federal spending, you must look at Social Security and Medicare, and it’s a dicey game. I know the president tried, touching that 3rd rail, [but] jumped back immediately.

But the reality is this: If you don’t do it, forget about reducing federal spending. It’s not going to happen. You better address Social Security. You better come up with a way to allow for private Social Security accounts, structurally fix both of those things, or forget the idea of ending deficit spending.

Source: 2007 Republican debate in Dearborn, Michigan Oct 9, 2007

On Tax Reform: Takes the oath: no tax increase

Q: Are you prepared to say categorically that under your administration, there will be no tax increase?

A: Absolutely. I’ll take the oath. The fact is this, that when we talk about spending cuts, we have to think about what exactly it is that pushes spending at the federal level, which is mandatory spending. If you want to control federal spending, you must look at Social Security and Medicare.

Source: 2007 Republican debate in Dearborn, Michigan Oct 9, 2007

The above quotations are from State of Michigan Politicians: Archives. Click here for other excerpts from State of Michigan Politicians: Archives. Click here for other excerpts by Tom Tancredo. Click here for a profile of Tom Tancredo.
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