[FUNdamental]

Background;
The question posed to Clinton by the debate's co-moderator, NBC News Washington bureau chief Tim Russert, was: "Senator Clinton, Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer has proposed giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. You told the Nashua, New Hampshire, editorial board it makes a lot of sense. Why does it make a lot of sense to give an illegal immigrant a driver's license?" Clinton responded by saying that Spitzer is trying to make the best of a bad situation created by "the failure of this administration to bring about comprehensive immigration reform," and saying that such reform is needed "because no state, no matter how well-intentioned, can fill this gap." She said:

CLINTON: Well, what Governor Spitzer is trying to do is fill the vacuum left by the failure of this administration to bring about comprehensive immigration reform. 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.

Moments later, after Sen. Chris Dodd (CT) responded to Russert's question, "Does anyone here believe an illegal immigrant should not have a driver's license?" Clinton said: "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." When Dodd then said that Clinton had in fact said she supported the policy, telling Clinton: "You said -- you said yes." Clinton replied, "No." Dodd said, "You thought it made sense to do it." Clinton then continued, "No, I didn't, Chris."

Later, when Russert specifically asked Clinton: "Do you support his [Spitzer's] plan?" Clinton replied: "You know, Tim, this is where everybody plays gotcha. It makes a lot of sense. What is the governor supposed to do? He is dealing with a serious problem. We have failed, and [President] George Bush has failed. Do I think this is the best thing for any governor to do? No. But do I understand the sense of real desperation, trying to get a handle on this. Remember, in New York, we want to know who's in New York. We want people to come out of the shadows. He's making an honest effort to do it. We should have passed immigration reform."

Comment; administrating the eligibility and requirements for a state driver's license is a state job, not a federal responsibility. The Republican governor of a state made a proposal. It is the state government’s onus to administrate driver’s licenses, and the US Senators from that state have no legal authority in this area. Hillary said she understood why he made this proposal, but the governor would not need to go this route if she were president. Republican spinmisters have muddled up this situation, and it was not as flip floppy as President Bush’s position on nation building.