CE Week #10: “Immigrant licenses emerge as ‘08 issue”
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Philadelphia Inquirer
November 1, 2007
PHILADELPHIA – On the day after the Democratic debate here, the tempest generated by Hillary Rodham Clinton’s handling of the issue of driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants refused to go away.
Democratic and Republican presidential candidates alike joined in criticizing her Wednesday.
And the Clinton campaign, hoping the episode will not become a metaphor for evasiveness, clarified her position on the issue and put out a Web video mocking her opponents for “piling on.”
In the debate, Clinton struggled with a question about whether she supported a proposal by New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer to allow illegal immigrants to get licenses.
At first, she appeared to endorse the idea, saying she understood why Spitzer wanted to issue licenses. Then, she seemed to reject it, saying she “didn’t think this was the best thing for any governor to do.”
Her Democratic rivals seized upon her performance, hoping to use it as confirmation of their claim that she has avoided specific positions.
“I think last night’s debate really exposed this fault line,” Illinois Sen. Barack Obama said on Wednesday. Wednesday, the Clinton campaign issued a statement confirming that she does, in fact, support the Spitzer plan.
Republicans joined in the attack on the Democratic front-runner, slamming her both for waffling and her support for an idea that the electorate does not welcome.
According to a CNN/USA Today survey taken in mid-October, Americans oppose licenses for illegal immigrants by a 3-1 ratio. Democrats oppose it by almost 2-1.
The candidates themselves are divided on the issue, a fact obscured by all of the attention paid to Clinton’s back-and-forth during the debate.
Obama, after saying that he couldn’t “tell whether she was for it or against it,” supported licenses for illegals.
In a show of hands during the debate, three other candidates appeared to support it: Edwards, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, and Rep. Dennis Kucinich, of Ohio.
Senators Christopher Dodd, of Connecticut, and Joseph Biden, of Delaware, said they opposed the proposal.
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This article is a good article to find out what sides the presidential candidates take on these types of issues. And for Hilary, she better find out what side she is on. I can not understand how you go into a debate and are not sure what side you take on this type of issue. It is pretty simple, you support it or you do not. Her mistake will just provide an opening for all the other candidates to bash her. And that is something Hilary does not want. That is what you get, I guess, when you go unprepared into a debate. My stance on this, is that illegal immigrants should not be granted a drivers license. This is not just something you can hand out to any person. We are citizens who take classes and tests to get license. They should have to first be granted there citizenship and then go through all the same courses everyone else does. I mean to be able to drive a car in our country and not be a citizen is not right. And according to the CNN/USA Today polls 3 to 1 Americans agree to that. They do not want illegals driving cars. Also, it almost makes immigration ok to do if they are allowed to have a drivers license without citizenship.
Reply to Jarek:
I don’t think it’s that Hillary doesn’t have a stance on the issue, it’s that she’s vacillating between still trying to stradle the fence, as to not allienate any potential Clinton voters, while still looking like she has an opinion enough to give the impression that she knows what she’s doing.
On the issue of illegals having drivers’ licenses, I agree that they should be denied them as to give more insentive to become a legal immigrant but I think there should be a clause in that law allowing immigrants with work permits to get drivers’ licenses instead of only allowing full fledged citizens. Also, I think if someone is a legal immigrant, you don’t need to restrict them from getting their license until they are a FULL citizen because that can take years.
So, I’d have to say that I think it’s fairly irrelevant to debate or even discuss such an issue. If we can’t even decide on a way to reduce immigration into our country, how do we expect to embrace illegal aliens by allowing them to legally drive? I just don’t think the idea itself makes sense. By allowing them to receive licenses, I would think that many aliens would “come out of hiding”, but then we are faced with the problem of what to do…because many people, even politicians, believe discovered illegal immigrants should be deported. I think by creating, passing, and even discussing laws like this only asks for more complication in an already undecided (and major) part of our election.
And to reply a little to Jarek and a little to Francis:
I agree with both of you, if that is even possible. I know that Clinton is trying to round up as many supporters and voters as possible, and that’s why she seems to be “riding the fence”. To be completely honest, if I were her, I’m sure I’d be doing the same. However, I don’t think she should be allowed to stick to this tactic for her whole campaign. I feel like we’ve been talking about this since this summer!! At some point, she needs to just take a freaking stand on what she believes. Voters are supposed to vote on who they ideologically support and who shared the same wants, morals, and opinions. To me, Hillary is failing to prove any such things to me!
Choose something Hillary!! And then back it! That’s what a real politician should be doing!