The national media is trumpeting news that Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo thinks Tom DeLay should resign his leadership post. But did he really say that?

“I don’t think we should try to oust him,” he said in an interview Thursday at the Capitol. “Right now, I would not encourage him to leave. If he chose to resign as majority leader until these matters are resolved, that’s probably not the worst idea.”

The Associated Press puts the headline ” Conservative Lawmaker: DeLay Should Quit” on this story:

If the majority leader were to temporarily step aside so that these trumped up charges can be dealt with in a less hostile environment, as they have proven to be an unnecessary distraction, it may be a productive move,” said Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.

The Washington Post has a similar take, with a headline of “Rep. Tancredo Suggests DeLay Resign” and these quotes:

Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) said yesterday that it “may be a productive move” for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) to step aside while charges against him are investigated, but added that he believes the accusations are “trumped-up charges” by Democrats.

Tancredo issued the statement after the Denver Post quoted him as saying that although he does not favor ousting DeLay, “If he chose to resign as majority leader until these matters are resolved, that’s probably not the worst idea.”

Did anyone in the mainstream media report Tancredo’s comments without adding their own interpretation? I found one….Reuters. The headline is “House Leader DeLay Faces New Heat on Ethics” and the article accurately reports:

A second fellow Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives said on Friday that Majority Leader Tom DeLay may need to step aside for the good of the party — at least until ethical questions are resolved.

It sounds to me like Tancredo either can’t make up his mind or is playing both sides against the middle. Either way, it’s no great shakes.