A Day Later, Clinton Embraces Spitzer’s License Effort

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: New York Times

By Adam Nagourney

A day after she appeared to struggle to give her views on the subject, Hillary Rodham Clinton offered support today for Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s effort to award New York driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, as her campaign sought to contain potentially damaging fallout from a what her own supporters saw as a tense and listless debate performance.

Mrs. Clinton’s statement affirming her support of Mr. Spitzer in his office came less than a day after she offered a muddled and hesitant position on the bill, prompting a round of denunciations by her opponents. It signaled the extent to which her advisers viewed that moment as the biggest misstep she made in the debate, and one with long-term potential to undermine her candidacy.

“Senator Clinton supports governors like Governor Spitzer who believe they need such a measure to deal with the crisis caused by this administration’s failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform,’” her campaign said. Mrs. Clinton’s aides said her statement was intended to signal that she broadly supported Mr. Spitzer’s goal of awarding driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. Mr. Spitzer initially proposed a blanket program of awarding full-fledged driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants; in the face of sharp opposition from the Legislature, he backed off and presented a two-tier program system of awarding licenses to illegal immigrants.

Mrs. Clinton’s advisers said that she had not studied either plan, and was not specifically endorsing either of them. Still, the wording of the statement was murkier than what many of her opponents have said in either supporting or opposing Mr. Spitzer’s initiatives. Among those opposing it were Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut; Senator Barack Obama of Illinois supported it.

Still, the release of the statement suggested her advisers believed it was politically wiser to embrace a position that could clearly hurt her in a general election rather than risk providing more fuel to what has emerged as a damaging line of criticism: That she, taking advantage of her dominant position in some polls, is not being candid about her views and about would she would do as president....

Read more: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/a-day-later-clinton-embraces-spitzers-license-effort/index.html?hp

[geek tragedy]

1. She's much better when she rehearses her principled position n/t

[MethuenProgressive]

9. Same answer as yesterday.

Because Barack and Johnny didn't understand it, it's now her problem?
Perhaps they need more experience.

[bluestateguy]

2. I have a standing policy of not reading anything written by Adam Nagourney

nt

[depakid]

18. The man lacks integrity and credibility

I'd sooner read Bob Novack.

[baldguy]

3. The states don't pay their DMVs to be INS agents.

They pay them to license and inspect vehicles & vehicle operators.

[LostinVA]

12. Exactly

And, a state Senator has no say over what the state government does.

[geek tragedy]

4. To recap her positions

1) "We know in New York we have several million at any one time who are in New York illegally. They are undocumented workers. They are driving on our roads. The possibility of them having an accident that harms themselves or others is just a matter of the odds. It's probability. So what Governor Spitzer is trying to do is to fill the vacuum."

2) " I just want to add, I did not say that it should be done, but I certainly recognize why Governor Spitzer is trying to do it."

3) "It makes a lot of sense. What is the governor supposed to do? He is dealing with a serious problem. We have failed, and George Bush has failed. Do I think this is the best thing for any governor to do? No."

4) Mrs. Clinton’s aides said her statement was intended to signal that she broadly supported Mr. Spitzer’s goal of awarding driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.

5) Mrs. Clinton’s advisers said that she had not studied either plan, and was not specifically endorsing either of them.

To recap, she defends it, but did not say it should be done, that it makes a lot of sense, but it isn't the best thing for a governor to do, that she broadly supports his goal, but was not endorsing either of his plans.

Beautiful.

[peacebird]

10. LOL!

[Acadia Blue]

5. The corporate media pushed her down our throats because

their corporate masters, the rePIGlicans, think they can defeat her. I wanted Edwards or Biden and Dodd.
She is a corporatist. Period. And she will probably lose it for us, and thus we will lose our democracy unless the totally march in step nazi republicans awaken.

[MethuenProgressive]

6. Her answer last night is consistant with today's.

"she appeared to struggle to give her views on the subject,"
Only appered that way if you're a tool of the MSM.

[LostinVA]

13. Yup -- her answer is the same

But, that wouldn't make for sensationalist copy, now would it?

[downindixie]

7. Which is the reason I won't vote for her

God,I want a Democrat to win in 08,but I want it to be someone who is interested in protecting the citizens!Illegal is just that! Theres no mincing of illegal.I'm for immigration,but it has to be legal.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

14. Illegal Employers are the problem, not the people who come here for work.

If the laws we have on the books were being enforced, the employers would be punished enough to quit hiring illegals. Once the jobs dry up, the population migrates back home. But that would entail having enough spine to stand up to their big-time campaign $$s.

[Rage for Order]

17. So you're okay with a national citizenry database I take it?

A single database where information is stored on every US citizen, including some type of forgery-resistant biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, retina scans, photographs. And, upon being offered a job, a citizen will have to submit evidence, including this biometric information, to establish that they are in fact who they say they are. Because the only way you can hold employers accountable for who they hire is if there is a system in place that allows employers to verify someone's identity in a very short period of time - say, no longer than 24 hours. Paper documents alone can't be used because they can be forged.

In theory, I agree - employers should be punished severely for hiring illegal aliens. However, until there is a system in place like the one I described above, this option is not realistic. If someone presents a valid social security number and a photo ID, how is the employer supposed to know that the person is not who they say they are?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

21. Nation citizen databank = Social Security Admin.

At least as far as the workforce is concerned.
The new regulations go into effect at the first of the year... Every new employee has to be run through the database. Problems are flagged. Anecdotal evidence suggests that these new rules are already having an effect on the illegal population, they're talking about going home.

[Sukie1941]

15. That is how I feel

I am very stressed by this illegal thing.

Our Oregon valley has many many problems with illegals, huge problems. Mostly METH.

Nothing is improving in that area.

[dapper]

8. 72% say NO!

72% of New Yorker's say no.

But special interests will probably prevail. WHAT A COUNTRY! WE THE SHEEPLE!

Dap

[rodeodance]

19. I, for one, would rather have a driver that knows how to drive when my kids are on the road.

[w4rma]

11. Dumb move for corporate Clinton. (nt)

[creeksneakers2]

16. A position that is way outside the mainstream

That took some guts, even if it took her awhile to make herself clear. Gutsy isn't always smart though. I think she'll lose lots of votes on this in the general, first because most people think its nuts, second because Hillary spent the last years convincing Americans that she's a moderate centrist and now she's shown her wild side.

[LeFleur1]

20. As I Understand It

The license would not be a regular license such as citizens are issued. It would be a license designated specifically for those working here after crossing the border illegally. Right now they are here, but governments do not know where they are. If they have licenses there is some kind of record. It's better than what is going on now.