Nov 1
Hillary confirms her support for licences for illegals
Hillary Clinton’s campaign said late Wednesday that she supports New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plan for illegal immigrant driver’s licenses, a clarification required after a twisted campaign performance Tuesday night left people guessing her position. Spitzer’s plan, which he has retooled in the face of heavy criticism, would grant identification on a three-tier basis, decreasing with the level of proper documentation. Undocumented, illegal immigrants would receive a license only to be used for driving, and be inscribed “not for federal purposes,” meaning it couldn’t be used to board flights or cross borders.
“Senator Clinton broadly supports measures like the ones being advocated by Governor Spitzer, but there are details that still need to be worked out,” Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said Wednesday. “Senator Clinton supports governors like Governor Spitzer who believe they need such a measure to deal with the crisis caused by this administrations failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform,” he added.
During the debate Tuesday night, Clinton offered support for Spitzer, saying he was trying to “fill the vacuum left by the failure of this administration to bring about comprehensive immigration reform,” and noted millions of illegal immigrants are in New York at any one time. They should be able to have identification if they’re in an auto accident, for instance, she said.
When all seven of the candidates were asked whether they agree that illegal aliens should have driver’s licenses, only Sen. Christopher Dodd said he disagreed. He then pressed Clinton on the issue and argued against the plan, saying: “A license is a privilege, and that ought not to be extended, in my view.” Clinton responded: “Well, 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.” Dodd then quickly interrupted Clinton before she could finish, seizing on the apparent discrepancy. Moderator Tim Russert then tried to elicit an answer on whether she supported the plan or not, but she avoided offering specific support for the plan. Then former North Carolina senator John Edwards and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, both attorneys like Clinton, took turns dicing her statement. “Unless I missed something, Senator Clinton said two different things in the course of about two minutes just a few minutes ago,” Edwards said. “I was confused on Senator Clinton’s answer. I can’t tell whether she was for it or against it,” Obama said.
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