Dear Friend,
I am writing to
you today as a
friend, and as a
fellow believer
in the cause of
securing
America's
borders.
My purpose is to
obtain your
support as I
embark upon a
path that may
lead to the
Republican
nomination for
the presidency
of the United
States.
The decision to
pursue this
arduous and
undeniably
uphill battle
is because I,
like you, have a
duty to do
everything I can
to keep faith
with those who
risked their
"lives, fortunes
and sacred
honor" to create
this wonderful
place we call
America.
I am considering
this campaign
because of my
commitment to
real immigration
reform: reform
that first and
foremost is
dedicated to the
security and
well-being of
the citizens of
the United
States, and to
respect for the
rule of law in
our beloved
nation.
I am also
considering this
campaign because
I believe the
Republican Party
and its leaders
must recommit
themselves to
limited, smaller
government;
fiscal
responsibility;
and honesty in
public office.
Last November,
the Republican
Party paid a
high price for
abandoning those
principles; we
will not regain
the trust of the
voters and a
congressional
majority until
we reclaim them.
I am proud that
I was one of a
handful of
Republican
members of
Congress who
voted against
both "No Child
Left Behind," a
federal betrayal
of local control
of education,
and the fiscally
irresponsible
Medicare
Prescription
Drug Benefit.
When I was
elected to
Congress in
1998, I made
immigration
reform my top
priority, much
to the scorn and
derision of the
political and
business elites
who are addicted
to the flow of
cheap illegal
labor into
America.
But, as I look
at the current
presidential
candidates,
Republican and
Democratic, I
simply do not
see one who
reflects the
grassroots,
majority belief
of Americans
that our borders
must be secured,
that employers
who hire
illegals must be
prosecuted, and
that no one who
has broken our
immigration laws
should ever be
put on a
"pathway to
citizenship."
After a lot of
prayer, and long
talks with my
wife Jackie and
our children, I
have decided I
am willing to
put myself
forward as a
candidate for
president in
order, above
everything else,
to advance our
immigration
reform agenda,
and to reclaim
the Republican
Party for its
core
conservative
values.
So, I
am seeking your
advice and
counsel.
I am doing so by
asking you to
answer two
questions for
me.
-
Do you
believe I
should seek
the
Republican
presidential
nomination,
to fight to
secure our
borders and
to reassert
traditional
conservative
Republican
principles
including
limited,
smaller
government,
fiscal
responsibility
and honesty
in office?
-
Will you
back up your
support with
a financial
contribution
to my
presidential
exploratory
committee,
"Tancredo
for a Secure
America?"
But this
campaign cannot
just be about
me.
It has to be
about securing
our nation at
its borders,
protecting
American jobs,
respecting our
laws and our
cultural
identity, and
reclaiming the
Republican Party
for its best
values.
That means for
this campaign to
go forward and
succeed, it must
be about
us...you and me.
You and I need
to agree that we
will work
together to
battle the
special
interests which
now control both
parties,
and which are so
committed to
open borders and
amnesty for
illegal aliens.
You and I need
to agree that we
will dig in,
work hard, and
raise the money
to effectively
challenge the
deep pockets of
the Republican
candidates who
are talking a
good game about
immigration, but
who are, in
fact, supporting
amnesty.
If you and I
decide I should
run, I am not
going to ask you
to travel with
me to Iowa, New
Hampshire and
South Carolina
in the months
ahead, on the
many weekend and
overnight trips
away from my
family that I
will commit my
time to between
votes in
Congress. That
will be my job.
But I will count
on you to tell
your friends,
your neighbors,
your co-workers
and your family
about our
campaign....and
invite them to
join it!
And I also will
count on you to
help me with
your financial
support,
especially now.
I simply cannot
move ahead
without your
help,
and the help of
thousands of
patriotic
Americans like
you . I am ready
to be David
against the
establishment's
Goliath, but I
need you to help
me load my
sling-shot!
Thank you for
your commitment
to the struggle
to secure our
borders. I look
forward to
hearing back
from you soon.
Sincerely,
Tom Tancredo
P.S. So many
wonderful people
in the critical
primary states
of Iowa, New
Hampshire and
South Carolina
have already
asked if they
could volunteer
to help us.
There is
tremendous
excitement
building! It
would be a big
help to me as I
make my decision
if I could hear
back from you as
soon as
possible.
Tom Tancredo |