10 Questions for Tom Tancredo

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As president, what would you do to help combat poverty? —Brandon Harrison, Los Angeles
I would move for an elimination of the tax code, to move from an income tax to a consumption tax. If we could do that, you would see an explosion of job opportunities and economic growth that would probably be unmatched in this nation's history.

If this Senate bill passes, I recommend that American citizens assemble at the southern border bearing arms. What do you say? —Richard D. Coburn, Denver
Assembling on the border is a fine idea. Guns are probably not necessary because, as the Minutemen were able to show, you can accomplish the same goal—reducing the flow of illegals—with cell phones, binoculars and lawn chairs.

How do you expect this nation to take you seriously as a leader and statesman after you stated at the GOP debate last month that you do not believe in evolution? —Michael Magee, San Diego, Calif.
We were asked to raise our hand in response to a question, and it's difficult to explain your beliefs like that. I actually believe that evolution exists, but I also believe that creationism is the prime mover of that evolutionary process. So if I could explain it, maybe people would understand a little more about me, then they can decide to take me seriously or not.

Do you favor changing the 14th amendment of the constitution so that the newborns of illegal aliens do not automatically become U S citizens? —Raymond Ogilvie, Santa Maria, Calif.
I have co-sponsored legislation that says that children born to illegal aliens cannot have automatic citizenship. And actually, I don't think our bill violates the 14th amendment, which dealt specifically with the children of slaves, not with illegal aliens like we have now. There's a case to be made, and I would like to have it tested in the courts.

Why is it that Republicans continue to accuse illegal immigrants, mostly starving Mexicans, Guatemalans and Salvadorenians, of "terrorism"? —Oscar Galvan Lopez, Avondale, Ariz.
I don't know that I've ever heard that kind of accusation. I have certainly never said that illegal immigrants from Mexico are in away way suspects of terrorist activities. But security at the border is a national security issue. It has nothing to do with trying to stop a particular ethnic group. It has everything to do with trying to control the flow of people into your country.

How do illegal immigrants today compare to the "huddled masses" of the early 20th Century? —Brian Walker, Kansas City, Mo.
They are coming today to a different country. Back then, you worked or you starved. Today, of course, we operate as a welfare state in many ways. It's also a very different world in which we live, one where it's too dangerous to just let anybody in.

What sets you apart from the other GOP candidates? —Anthony Brown, Omaha, Neb.
I think that the fact that I have the most consistent record on immigration, along ith the most consistent record on conservative issues in general. That is, Sen. Brownback has certainly been consistent on the life issue. But if you put everything together—fiscal along with social issues, then I would come out with the most consistently conservative background.

How do you plan to convince people that you are not a single-issue candidate? —Sarah Podenski, Plymouth, Minn.
When people accuse me of that, I always say, well, at least I have one. Secondly, the issue itself includes so many parts. It's got a health care component. And and education component, considering the impact of illegal immigation on our school system. It's got a prison component—27% of our federal prison population are criminal aliens. There are environmental issues that nobody wants to talk about but that I think are very significant. And also the culture itself. Right now we are balkanizing America and not assimilating, and there are major implications for that alone, in terms of being able to hold together as a nation.

How would you address the current cry for national health care? —Angela Thornton, hoffman estates, ill.
I would look to something other than the government to provide health care, as certainly everything we've seen indicates that national health plans increase costs and decrease quality. I would expand health savings accounts, both who can get them and how much you can put into them. The goal is to get as few middlemen in the process as possible. Health saving acconts allow that to occur for a lot less money. Then I say, you reduce the number of illegal Immigrants in this country who are costing us billions by using our health care services and for the most part not paying for them.

When did your family first arrive in the United States, and how quickly were they awarded American citizenship? —Paul Green, Royal Oak, Mich.
I think the first member was my dad's father, around the turn of the 20th century. I really do not know how long it took before they were awarded citizenship. I never asked my father that.

The Senate bill is not perfect, but it is reasonable. Practically, how would you deport 12 million illegal immigrants who are now in this country? —Max McConkey, Tucson, Ariz.
Could you actually round them up and send them back? Well, yeah you could. It's possible. But it's not necessary. You can do what I call attrition through enforcement. If you enforce the laws against hiring people who are here illegally, aggressively. Not just with fines, but with jail time for folks who are found to be not just hiring but conspiring to bring people in. Believe me, you'd only have to do that a few times in high profile cases and you would see that the number of folks willing to actually take that risk go down dramatically, as would the number of folks who are illegally.

I admire your stance against abortion. That said, I would like to know what you're doing to raise awareness about gun control considering what happened at Virginia Tech? —Isaac Muchengwa, London, U.K.
My district includes Columbine High School, and I think, knowing way too much about school shootings, that all of our efforts should go into trying to identify people who should not be able to possess firearms. I'm talking about felons, people who are a danger to ourselves and others. But gun control beyond that is not effective or judicious.