---
title: "Religion and Politics ’08: Tom Tancredo"
description: "Background Hometown Broomfield, Colo. Age 63 Religion Evangelical Presbyterian Education University of Northern Colorado, B.A., 1968 Candidate Website www.teamtancredo.com Candidacy Status Formally withdrew candidacy December 20, 2007. Formally declared candidacy April 2, 2007. Political Experience U.S. Representative from Colorado, 1999-present Secretary of Education Regional Representative, 1981-1992 Colorado State Legislature, 1976-1981 Professional Experience Director, Independence Institute, […]"
date: "2008-11-04"
authors:
  - name: "Benjamin Wormald"
    job_title: "Senior Engineer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/benjamin-wormald/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-tom-tancredo/"
categories:
  - "Election 2008"
  - "Religion"
  - "U.S. Elections & Voters"
---

# Religion and Politics ’08: Tom Tancredo

![tancredo(1)](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2013/05/profile_large_tancredo.jpg)

## Background

**Hometown** Broomfield, Colo.

**Age** 63

**Religion** Evangelical Presbyterian

**Education** University of Northern Colorado, B.A., 1968

**Candidate Website** [www.teamtancredo.com](http://www.teamtancredo.com/)

**Candidacy Status** Formally withdrew candidacy December 20, 2007. Formally declared candidacy April 2, 2007.

**Political Experience** U.S. Representative from Colorado, 1999-present Secretary of Education Regional Representative, 1981-1992 Colorado State Legislature, 1976-1981

**Professional Experience** Director, Independence Institute, 1993-1998 Teacher, Drake Junior High School

**Family Information** Spouse: Jackie Tancredo Children: Ray Tancredo, Randy Tancredo

## Religious Biography

**In His Own Words**

"There is nothing compassionate about giving amnesty to millions of people who have broken into our country." Speech, March 2007

[his]

In an [interview](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4972332) with National Public Radio in 2005, Tancredo recalled two instances where his religious faith strengthened him as both a public official and a private person. One instance was the aftermath of the Columbine high school shootings, which took place in his congressional district. Tancredo said that "the Grace of God" enabled him to cope with the tragedy and reach out to the community to help others heal as well.

Another instance was the war and genocide in Sudan, an issue he felt compelled toward because of his local congregation. Tancredo says that he has "certainly done things in Congress … because of my relationship to God," including joining the congressional International Relations Committee and Africa Subcommittee and authoring the [Sudan Peace Act](http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2002/14531.htm).

Tancredo is a member of the [Cherry Hills Community Church](http://www.chcc.org/display_page.asp?site_id=1) in Highlands Ranch, Colo., which is "affiliated with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church." He [says](http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-06-01-religion_N.htm) he attends services "every week I am home."

Nearly a quarter of all U.S. presidents have been Presbyterians. If elected, Tancredo would be the 11th Presbyterian president but the first from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

## On The Issues

****Abortion ****Tancredo [says](http://tancredo.house.gov/issue_details.aspx?IID=14) that he has "always maintained a deeply held conviction that abortion compromises the sanctity of human life." He has [called](http://teamtancredo.com/tancredo_issues_index.asp) *Roe v. Wade* "a scar on the moral and intellectual history of the country." He also believes, however, that overturning *Roe* "would merely permit and not require states to prohibit abortion." Tancredo favors public education projects that would more robustly preserve life and the rights of the unborn. [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

[s]

[s]

**Education **Tancredo [believes](http://teamtancredo.com/tancredo_issues_index.asp) that "education control is best left in the hands of parents" and supports implementing a "no-strings-attached" voucher system to provide parents with the ability to chose schools. He also stresses the importance of children pursuing a traditional curriculum and the need for close parental involvement in educational development. He has [criticized](http://tancredo.house.gov/issue_details.aspx?IID=2) the No Child Left Behind Act for constraining school districts' abilities to address local-level educational needs. [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Environment **Tancredo has [said](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1627025,00.html), "I have no doubt that global warming exists," but has also suggested that scientists are split on the question of whether humans are responsible for it. In his home state of Colorado, he has taken an [active role](http://tancredo.house.gov/issue_details.aspx?IID=4) in enacting policies to help protect the environment. [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Faith-Based Initiatives **Tancredo [says](http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Tom_Tancredo_Welfare_+_Poverty.htm) religious- and faith-based organizations should be designated with the same tax-free status as organizations that are nonreligious in nature. [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Gay Marriage **Tancredo has [stated](http://teamtancredo.com/tancredo_issues_index.asp) that "federalism concerns make a constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage an avenue of last resort." Nonetheless, he says he favors an amendment that defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman because there is no alternative legal recourse. He says that the state's sole interest in marriage is procreation because "population is power." [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Health Care **Tancredo has argued that tort reform and immigration control would free up billions of dollars to expand health care coverage. He is wary of the government [providing coverage](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1627025-2,00.html) because "national health plans increase costs and decrease quality." [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Immigration **Tancredo has made the immigration "[phenomenon](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/10/AR2007081002185.html)" the [signature issue](http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_5575971) of his campaign, staunchly supporting the construction of a 2,000-mile fence along the border with Mexico. He opposed the failed McCain-Kennedy bill because it would have provided "[blanket amnesty](http://tancredo.house.gov/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1282)" to illegal immigrants. His views on other issues, such as health care, national security, prisons, education and the environment, are largely derived from his concern for [controlling the flow](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12017855/site/newsweek/page/0/) of immigrants, both illegal and [legal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmLUQ0hPs4Y). Tancredo says that government should crack down on employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens and emphasizes the importance of immigrants assimilating into America's national culture. [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

[the surge]

**Poverty **One of Tancredo's plans for combating poverty is to move from an income-based tax to a consumption-based tax. He [says](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1627025-2,00.html) that doing so would create an "explosion of job opportunities and economic growth" that would benefit all sectors of society, particularly the poor. He also[supports](http://teamtancredo.com/pdfs/teamtancredo_brochure_0407.pdf) repealing the 16th Amendment and establishing a flat, national sales tax to alleviate the burden on American companies and "put billions back into the economy." [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Stem Cell Research **Tancredo [voted against](http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2005-204) expanding federal funding of stem cell research in 2005 and has [stated](http://www.issues2000.org/House/Tom_Tancredo_Abortion.htm)that embryonic stem cell research is "morally reprehensible in certain ways." [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

** **