10 Questions for Tom Tancredo

With the media attention on the big names in the election, how do you expect to win the nomination? —Roland Green, DENVER
I have to do well enough in the first primary states to command the media attention that I would otherwise have to buy. That's why we in the second tier are all fearful of these compressed primaries. We can't afford to run in 10 states at one time.

What evidence would convince you that global warming is a serious threat to the planet? —Jeff Young, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
I have no doubt that global warming exists. I just question the cause and what we can do to ameliorate it. But I wonder why the Sierra Club isn't going crazy about the environmental aspects of massive immigration into the U.S. The fact is, Americans consume more energy than anyone else, so if a person moves here from another country, they automatically become bigger polluters.

If you were given a choice between catching Osama bin Laden and deporting all illegal immigrants, which would you choose? —John M. Spalding, NEW YORK CITY
That kind of hypothetical choice would never happen, of course, but I guess I would take Osama immediately, and then my next step would be to deport all the illegal aliens.

I refuse to learn Spanish. Should I immigrate to Canada, Australia or New Zealand? —Marjory Dutcher, PHOENIX
[Laughs.] I get the gist of the question. It's true that we have, in many places, replaced English with Spanish. And I don't believe bilingual countries work very well. Because we are a diverse nation, we need something that holds us together. For us, that is the English language.

I recently found out my family came from Holland without permission in the 1600s. Should we be sent back? —James Smith, PHOENIX
No. When they came, it was perfectly legal. So God bless them. You know, whenever I can, I go to the swearing-in ceremonies for new American citizens. I know when I walk in, people go, "What is Tancredo doing here?" But I speak to them and I tell them two things: "Welcome to America" and "Thanks for doing it the right way."

Why do you hate Mexicans? —Ubaldo Padilla, OROVILLE, CALIF.
Ah, jeez. You know, even responding to that question gives it some credibility. I don't hate anyone because of their ethnicity. Nothing I've ever said, nothing I've ever done, I believe, could ever be construed in that way.

How effective would a national ID be in controlling illegals? —Ray Holbrook, SEATTLE
It probably would be effective, but I'm a little leery of a national ID, simply because the government might know more about me or you than they need to. But I think you should make a Social Security card that can't be fraudulently reproduced. That's different from making every human here have some sort of mark of the beast on them. [Laughs.]

If you are successful in barring illegal immigrants, what will happen to the economy? —Charles Horton, BEIJING
You can get a lot of interesting data on each side of this. What does seem to happen is that when there's a reduction in low-wage workers, companies tend to develop technologies to compensate. Tomato farmers genetically engineered tougher skins so tomatoes could be picked by machine, for example. And citrus growers are starting to do the same things.

How would you change the Senate's current comprehensive immigration bill? —(SGT) Matthew Anderson, BAGHDAD
I'd take out the amnesty and guest-workers parts. And come to think of it, even the security issues are bogus. There's no part of this bill that I want.

I have a master's degree in economics and want to work in the U.S. What is your stance on aspiring legal immigrants like me? —Tarun Kumar, BIELEFELD, GERMANY
I believe we should have a moratorium on all immigration--legal or not--for at least three years. We have to have an immigration time-out, I think, in order to assimilate the people who have come here already.

TIME's interview with the Colorado Congressman continues. Read these extra questions with Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo.