12/20/07
 

Dear Friends,
 
It is with my heart full of gratitude and a touch of sadness that I write today to tell you of my intention to end my campaign for the presidency.

As a loyal friend and supporter it is important to me that you understand why I am doing this, even though you may disagree.

For the past ten years I have dedicated my public life to the critical issue of illegal immigration.  I believed then –as I do now—that massive uncontrolled illegal immigration threatens our survival as a nation.  I could not stand by and let open border politicians and corporate lobbyists sell our country out to the highest bidder.

Then earlier this year when I feared that the issue would not be championed by any of the top candidates I threw my hat in the ring.  It was the only way I could be certain that the candidates would be forced to take a stand.

Thanks to your incredible support look what we have accomplished:

Just last week Newsweek declared that “"Anti-immigrant zealot [that would be me] had already won.  Now even Dems dance to his no mas salsa tune.”  This month alone The Economist, the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal and a score of other newspapers have written similar assessments, grudgingly crediting our campaign with forcing the issue of immigration to the center of the national stage and—more importantly—with forcing every presidential candidate to commit themselves to an immigration plan that calls for securing the borders, opposing amnesty and enforcing the law.

Of course, many of the candidates need to be pinned down on their understanding of the meaning of amnesty, but we have succeeded beyond my most optimistic expectations of a year ago.  We even have Hillary jumping through hoops on the issue!
 
So with so much success why drop out of the race now, you are probably asking.  For one reason and one reason alone: I believe the cause demands I do so.

The presidential campaign has come down to less than a handful of viable candidates.  Unfortunately several of them have abysmal records on immigration and can’t be trusted to do what is needed to preserve this country if they’re elected.  My fear is that if I were to stay in this race my votes could be the factor in handing victory to a pro-amnesty politician.   Friends, we have done too much, come too far and the stakes are too high to play that hand. And so I am ending my presidential campaign.

I know there are many more battles in our future and you can count on me to stay in this fight with you.  We must continue to build the unquestioned momentum that is fueling our movement today. In the weeks ahead, I will write to you again to share with you my plans for the future, and for the immigration reform movement that is transforming American politics.

But for now, I just wish to again express to you my deepest thanks and appreciation for your partnership with me in this historic effort.  I also want to wish you a very blessed and merry Christmas!

We have come so far together, and through our efforts we have made a stunning and, I believe, permanent impact on the debate over securing our borders and preserving our nation.

Not a day has gone by in this campaign that I have not thanked God for the dedication of so many Americans like you. I can promise you that as long as He gives me life and strength, I will work hard for our cause and to honor the trust you have placed in me.
 

With sincere best wishes, Tom Tancredo

 

“The emergence of Trancredoism [sic] as an ideological touchstone for two Republican front-runners is a stunning development, another indication of the Party’s rejection of nearly everything associated with the approach taken by George W. Bush.”

-Ryan Lizza, The New Yorker
12/10/07

 
 “He’s made people talk about the immigration issue.  He’s helped popularize it as an issue.”

-Dennis Goldford, Political Science Professor Drake University
12/18/07

 
“Tancredo has taken his tough talk on the political road in an underdog campaign that has pushed Republican White House contenders to talk more about illegal immigration.  Tancredo pulls no punches on his signature issue.”

-Eunice Moscoso, Austin American-Statesman
12/16/07

 
“Congressman Tom Tancredo. He was talking about the festering problem of illegal immigration before it was hip: the violation of the rule of law, the national security threat, the economic and cultural impact, and the fundamental unfairness. Often dismissed as a cranky Johnny-One-Note, Tancredo persevered until the American people -- and the rest of the political class -- paid attention. For almost single-handedly getting -- and keeping -- illegal immigration on the national agenda: thank you.”

-Monica Crowley, Human Events
11/22/07

 
“Anti-immigrant zealot has already won.  Now even Dems dance to his no mas salsa tune.”

-Newsweek
12/10/07
 

“The most remarkable thing about Tom Tancredo is that he is practically single-handedly responsible for the fact that there is a debate on illegal immigration rather than outright capitulation to the amnesty crowd.”

-David Morris, thebatt.com
11/19/07
 

“…Mr Tancredo speaks for a sizeable portion of the Republican base. He helped to replace Mr McCain's immigration-reform bill with a harsher measure that authorised the building of a 700-mile (1,100km) fence along the Mexican border. And he—or at least Tancredoism—is having a remarkable influence on the Republican debate.”

-The Economist
12/13/07

 
“Bush stuck his neck out on illegal immigration and was shouted down by the Tancredos in his own party. If Bush couldn't get immigration reform past that bloc, it seems even more dubious that a Democratic president would fare any better.”

-Jane Roh, National Journal
12/5/07

 
“Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo has been a pioneer in combating the dangers created by a broken border and has, almost single handedly, moved immigration reform from the fringe of American politics to the mainstream.”

-Joe Murray, The Bulletin
11/16/07

 
“Tancredo arguably drew the entire Republican field to the right on the issue of immigration.”

-Z. Byron Wolf, ABC News
12/19/07

 
“I never liked someone I disagreed with so strongly. He believes he is doing the best thing for his country. I watched him talk to rabid anti-immigrant groups for two days, and he never spoke with anger, just sadness that something he loves is being lost.”

-Joel Stein, LA Times
11/22/07