Friday, November 2, 2007

Clinton and the driver's licenses for illegal immigrants misinformation debacle

Since this week's MSNBC Democratic debate much has been said about Sen. Clinton's comments on illegal immigration, in particular Gov. Spitzer's proposal to grant illegal immigrants driver's licenses. The below article puts what was said in a little better context. We knew the Obama and Edwards camps would try to politicize what was said, and make it something it wasn't. What Clinton was trying to express and was taken out of context was that while she doesn't necessarily agree with the Governor's proposal, she understands very well the situation state officials are put in.

The US Congress had ample opportunity to pass immigration reform this year, Sen. Clinton and many others supported it. We could argue about the reasons it wasn't passed, but the fact is, it wasn't. It should have been. The state officials should not be left with these dilemmas. I don't think illegal immigrants in principle should have driver's licenses. It's a privilege given to U.S. citizens. However, I'm a logical person, and I know people also don't need to be going around our country without them. Not granting them licenses will not solve illegal immigration, nor will granting them. However, granting them will give the state officials some kind of hand on who's in their states and make it much easier for law enforcement.

So I hope people will sit back, and think about what went on in that debate. Sen. Clinton wasn't double speaking, she was speaking on a tough issue that needs to be addressed federally, and hasn't. Therefore we can't criticize the state officials for doing something, when the federal government is doing nothing.

-Chris McLeod-

--see the below article--


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Des Moines Register

Let's discuss immigration, but leave emotions at curb

November 2, 2007
Hillary Clinton may get hammered by the American public for her comments during Tuesday's debate about New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's move to grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

Other Democratic candidates for the White House certainly tore into her.

Here's what she said, in part: "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."

That will lead some voters - as former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina did - to accuse her of speaking out of both sides of her mouth.

She's not, though. Instead, Clinton perfectly mirrored the dilemma facing the country: It's deeply troubling that millions of people have entered the United States illegally. At the same time, that reality has to be dealt with. Refusing to give illegal immigrants driver's licenses makes it harder for police to handle traffic accidents, among a host of other problems that lack of identification creates. Indeed, that's why retired Des Moines Police Chief William McCarthy favored the change.

No license usually means no insurance. If there's a crash, licensed drivers suffer if the other driver takes off or can't pay for damages. It's a matter of being practical about public safety in the day-to-day scheme of things.

Clinton also is right about the big picture. Congress should have passed immigration reform last summer. It was gutless to duck this national crisis because it's so emotionally charged.

Yet emotions tend to get the better of people when the topic is immigration. Clinton's response simply acknowledged this issue has many facets.

No one should exploit that.

-Linda Lantor Fandel

4 comments:

Sanjay said...

"This will lead some voters to accuse her of speaking out of both sides of her mouth." Precisely the problem with her convulted, ever so careful and the opposite of straightforward answer. Also forget about "some voters" talk about fodder for the other side. And I say this as a supporter and contributer. I hope she learns from this, the "pile on" was nothing compared to what's going to happen to her as the nominee.

Anonymous said...

Allowing them to get a driver's license does not assure anyone they will be "insured" drivers. If they are here illegally, they should not be able to reap any of the bennefits. They are taking jobs from Americans as they will work for below wage standards. They also have no problem with putting 20 people into a place meant to house two. I haven't seen any reform as of yet by the State or the Federal Government.

Chris McLeod said...

I agree they shouldn't be allowed driver's licenses. However, understand the predicament, without comprehensive immigration reform being passed on the federal level.

They are here, regardless of if we like it or not. We will NEVER ship out millions and millions of illegals one day, so if anyone is waiting for that still, don't hold your breath. If they are going to be in our country, working, wouldn't you rather them be in the system? Wouldn't you rather them have to take a driver's test to drive? Shouldn't the state, for security purposes, be able to know who is in their state?

I understand your frustration, however I try to look at it from outside the box. It's a cultural war really for most Americans. We don't want the change that occurs when mass amounts of immigrants come in.

Think of it this way, if they were LEGAL, they wouldn't be taking jobs from Americans. They would be Americans just like all of us competing for the jobs fairly. Companies wouldn't be able to pay them below minimum wage for hard work. It would make the whole system work better.

Anonymous said...

Great, that's a nice explanation. The point is what is her stand on the position? What would she do on the issue? She did not answer the question. It's hard to have confidence in Hillary when she won't give a straight answer. I don't want 4 or 8 years of "what is the definition of "is" again.