Howard Dean Calls on John McCain to Apologize For Campaign Surrogate's Attack on the Pope

April 18, 2008 -- As John McCain attends the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington today, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean called on the Republican nominee to denounce insulting comments made by one of his campaign surrogates, Rep. Tom Tancredo.

Tancredo issued a press release yesterday attacking the "Pope's comments regarding U.S. immigration policy" and accusing his position of stemming from an interest in "recruiting new members."

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Tom Tancredo: Photo by VictoryNH: Protect Our Primary (CC)

Dean issued the following statement:

"If John McCain is serious in his pledge to run a respectful campaign, he should immediately denounce Tom Tancredo's insulting remarks about Pope Benedict XVI.

"After years of failing to address immigration reform, the Republican party has instead used the issue to scapegoat people to win elections. If McCain believes, as he has said, that 'these are God's children,' he should not stand by silently as Tancredo or anyone else in the Republican Party continues using immigrants as scapegoats or playing politics with immigration legislation."

"The American people don't want four more years of a President who will callously use issues to divide us rather than working to unite us."

Source: DNC