What's Clinton's Position on Drivers Licenses for Illegals?

[mrbowler]

Is everyone clear?

Did anyone watch the latest Democratic Debate? I found it laughable on how the I-Reporters saw the debate. All the talk about how Hillary fought back attacks, and that she regained her momentum-oh please!!! I think Hillary stacked the audience, and anytime a candidate came after her-they had the boo-birds out JMO I thought Biden was the best-he mixed in some humor with thoughful debate, and facts to support his positions.


Clinton backs N.Y. driver's license plan for illegal immigrants
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"Hillary Clinton came out yesterday in support of a plan by Governor Eliot Spitzer of New York to offer limited driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, after she appeared tripped up by a question on the subject in Tuesday night's Democratic debate."

"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 in a statement. "As president, her goal will be to pass comprehensive immigration reform that would make this unnecessary."

Clinton says no to licenses for illegals
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"I support Governor Spitzer's decision today to withdraw his proposal," Clinton said in a statement. "As president, I will not support driver's licenses for undocumented people and will press for comprehensive immigration reform that deals with all of the issues around illegal immigration including border security and fixing our broken system."

Clinton stumbled when asked about the issue during a Democratic debate two weeks ago, and her new position comes the day before another debate where opponents are expected to raise the issue again.

[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.

[mrbowler]

"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."

I don't support the idea of giving a person(illegal alien) a license.

Until we get Comprehensive Immigration Reform. I think the practice of funding/training state/local police to handle and enforce Immigration status can be handled legally. If a person has violated a traffic law(ie no drivers license) a background check determines status-if in violation then a system of deportation from local to state to federal.

Local cops teaming up with federal immigration agents:
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"But 20 state and local law enforcement agencies around the country are more assertive. Their officers routinely question criminal suspects about their immigration status, after first going through a federal program which essentially deputizes local police.

ICE has trained and authorized some 350 officers to question and detain people suspected of breaking federal immigration laws"

"ICE is expanding its cross-training program. Seventy-one law enforcement agencies around the country have either requested training or are receiving it, so their officers can do immigration checks"