Obama Stands By Support For Spitzer Plan

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Il, is standing by his support for granting driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, even after Gov. Eliot Spitzer, D-NY, abandoned the proposal amidst rising political opposition.

"Obama said in the debate he supported it and he's standing by it," an aide to the Senator told the Huffington Post. "He supported a similar bill in the state senate as a law enforcement measure."

Obama's backing stands in stark contrast to the position taken by Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, whose campaign now cites the issue as a basic policy difference between the two Democratic frontrunners.

Earlier today, Clinton applauded Spitzer's decision to take the measure off the table. "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," she said in a statement.

Spitzer's withdrawal of the hotly-contested proposal, and Clinton's subsequent support of his decision, sparked a fierce back-and-forth between the two leading Democratic presidential candidates. This afternoon, Obama's spokesman Bill Burton pressed the perception that Clinton is reluctant to take tough stances on this and other issues.

"When it takes two weeks and six different positions to answer one question on immigration," he said, "it's easy to understand why the Clinton campaign would rather plant their questions than answer them."

In a statement released late Wednesday afternoon to the Huffington Post, Clinton spokesperson Phil Singer shot back:

"It's unfortunate that the other campaigns are employing hot rhetoric, but there are basic differences between the candidates: Sen. Clinton would not give driver's licenses to undocumented people, Senator Obama would, and nobody seems to know what Senator Edwards believes on the issue."

The issue of whether to grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants was thrust into the 2008 campaign two weeks ago during the Democratic presidential debate at Drexel University. Clinton said, at the time, that she supported Spitzer's desire to provide safety and security on New York's roads but not necessarily the proposal itself. Obama said, as he does now, that he supported the measure, while Edwards said he could not support it in the absence of more comprehensive immigration reform.

Spitzer announced this morning that he was dropping the plan because he believed it stood little or no chance of being passed into law.

"I've concluded that New York state cannot conduct this program on its own," the governor said. "It does not take a stethoscope to hear the pulse of New Yorkers on this topic."

Comments

[obama4america]

AMERICANS ARE IDIOTS, I'M PACKING MY SHIT AND MOVING TO CANADA! I'LL BE AN ILLEGAL THERE!!!!

[Wolfgang]

Obama had better learn the art of lying if he wants to win. Hillary is a master at it. They both support anmesty and open borders so what do they care about giving driver's licenses to people who will soon be legalized. BTW Obama ,you better also gag that loud mouth annoying wife of yours are chain her to the kitchen or the bedroom. Just keep her away from the press.

[GeoLee]

In Kansas, one has to have a liegitimate driver's license to purchase car insurance. I don't really care about anyone's legal status if I am in a vehicle struck by another person. I will only care that they carry liability insurance so that MY rates do not go up. The reality is 12 million illegals are in our country because corporations know that with the current Republicans in charge, there is no incentive to not hire illegals. And their world is ALL about Profit. Yes, I think we ought to round them up and fly them home. However, I do have a vacation planned and sure hope there is one airplane not devoted to taking 12 million people back to their countries of origin the week I want to travel. My math tells me that if an airplane can deliver 300 people to their destination, we will need 400,000 plane trips to deliver them. Of course, I would rather not have to pay airline corporations inflated government rates rates to deliver these folks home ( but history does seem to indicate the prices will be quite inflated and probably no bid contracts) and I am darned sure that the conservatives riding on this get-them-out issue are not wiling to increase their taxes enough to pay for the return home trips for 12 million people, either. They just want to complain and drum up an issue to try and take a presidentional election. Then, they will change their tune when it is explained that a documented worker plan needs to be enhanced so that the corporations can make more products to seel overseas at our deflated prices to help our economy while we make the tax breaks for the rich permanent

[Zhonni]

I think some of Hillary fans just can't accept the fact that she waffled on the issue.

So Dodd, Edwards, Obama are all lying? Anyways, somebody said she was dancing the MAKERENA around important issues.

I am guessing this is what it looks like(45sec)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTC6_3tQDBo

[leftbehind2000]

While everyone is worried that the cherry picker might not have his green card, maybe instead we oughtta be focusing on "American" companies that choose to outsource the nation's jobs.

"Secure borders" oughtta mean protecting our jobs as much as it means keeping illegals out.

[RSU]

Illegal immigrants deserve no harbor nor safe quarter.

You wouldn't allow an uninvited guest to take up residence in your house anymore than you would your garage, your backyard, or your neighborhood alley. All licenses do is help hide those who don't belong and shouldn't be here in the first place.

States are giving illegal immigrants free educations, housing assistance, and free medical care in front of millions of others who represent the true working poor in America. How do you tell a poor American family that we can't provide them the care they need because we are all tapped out after giving it away for free to people who shouldn't even be here? How do you tell a family that we can't afford to send their kids to college because all the seats are taken up by illegal aliens children who receive both preference and in-state tuitions? How is it fair for a family who is here by birthright to be told that an illegal aliens rights are more important than theirs?

We cannot afford to take in the worlds poor and provide everyone a high quality life without risking everything that makes it possible for the rest of us. Because once the system fails, what hope is there for anyone?

I can understand how Obama would be afraid of being viewed as a flip flopper, but this is an issue that was defeated loud and clear in New York. It's noble to want to help those less fortunate but Obama is completely wrong on this issue. Instead of making an illegal aliens stay easier, we should be making it harder . . . at some point they will either come out, self identify and apply for citizenship, or go home.

As for Hillary, who knows what position she is really for because even she doesn't know. Although, to be fair she does seem to have finally settled into taking a firm position against it now that its been taken completely off the table.

[BUSHsurvivor]

The issue I have found on illegal immigration is not particular to one party. Here in NY, there are too many against the issue and as Spitzer said, he doesn't need a stethoscope to hear the pulse of New Yorkers. They were against it.

Now, as I recall from several readings, but I could be wrong and I did not watch the debates, Hillary did not take a position on it so it makes no sense to say she was for it, then against it. Correct me if I am wrong. She did say that it was up to the federal level to handle the illegal immigration issue, not the states.

As far as issuing the licenses, can you just picture INS waiting at the DMV ready to round them all up anyway?

I think Hillary checked into the situation and made a decision from there. I don't want a president who is so gung ho on a choice that he or she can't look at the facts, the changing situation and adjust their decision - PEOPLE, think GW Bush and the Iraqi Occupation! Do you really want someone who can't say I made a mistake, let's adjust! Someone who will follow a failed policy because he initially said this is what we're gonna do!

Think people! And VOTE DEMOCRAT in the 2008 General!

[eugenegerard]

Is SHE against NAFTA? Is SHE against the North American Union? Is she against the US Mint in Denver printing up illegal currency,(Ameros)? Is she against the Superhighway? I bet she says one thing on these issues and does another because----

Hillary and the DLC backed Lieberman,
Until she felt the heat and wielded out of all out support.
She voted for the War and continued funding of it.
She voted for the Patriot Act. TWICE
She voted a NV for the Credit Card and Banking Bill which Equaled a Yes in a Republican Congress.
She voted for the REAL ID ACT.
She would renew NAFTA.
She is a Corporatist.
She is not a Democrat.
She is part of the problem.

NO MORE CLINTONS

NO MORE CLINTONS

NO MORE CLINTONS

[eugenegerard]

Every one is upset about illegals. The point that everyone misses is that the door was opened to them when NAFTA was ok'd. Their farms were put out of business by corporations and "free" trade. They couldn't feed their families and the politicians turned their backs on the horrible cosequences of destruction that NAFTA wrought. All for GREED. Now this oligarchy is using illegals against whats left of the middle class like union busters used scabs.
It is all so the rich can get richer and the majority of the US be damned.
As long as politicians are in the pockets of corporations you can kiss this country goodbye.

[beatnik]

Dear America,

You are fucking stupid. There is no other way around it. You voted for Bush, not once, but TWICE... and you have YET to take responsibility for that. All you do is complain about how bad he is, as if he took office by coup. And then you let yourself get swayed by all the right-wing wedge issues that come about during every election cycle. Time and again, you fall for the same shit. This time, it's illegal immigration. Yet another in the litany of wedge issues which have no affect on your life whatsoever but which you care about way too much... like who gets to marry who. GET OVER IT AMERICA... better yet, GET OVER YOURSELF!!!

PS. since we're on the subject, there is no way, shape, or form that giving an undocumented immigrant a drivers license could ever possibly hurt YOU. IN POINT OF FACT, the only thing it could ever possibly do is HELP you, in the event that you ever found yourself in an unfortunate situation of having been in a car accident with an undocumented immigrant. At least then, you'd have the luxury of haggling with some fascist/corporatist insurance company. In the meantime, you can keep voting against your own best interests, while being all arrogant about it - which you're so fucking good at.

YOU ARE SO FUCKING STUPID SOMETIMES IT MAKES ME WANT TO PULL MY HAIR OUT.

Seriously, I have yet to hear a SINGLE reason why this is a bad idea. The STRONGEST argument is "well, it's illegal, so, uhh, it would be, like, telling people to do illegal stuff and, yeah..." That reminds me of high school, when they told us that a smoking section would be like telling us to go ahead and start smoking? So, instead of a smoking section, non-smokers got to deal with smokey bathrooms. Yay! EVERYBODY LOSES!

What is with America? Constantly stepping on it's own feet in the name of... IDIOCY.

ARGH!!!

[clr2]

The only thing ILLEGAL aliens need is a one way ticket to back home. We spend BILLIONS to educate and provide health care to ILLEGALS we need to use that money on our own citizens. We need to deport all ILLEGALS, heavily fine those who hire ILLEGALS, and return to the original intent of the 14th amendment and do away with anchor babies.

[scottarino]

while your at it Obama, go ahead and finish off whats left of the rest our unions, so EVERYONE will owe their soul to the company store.

[CaptainVideo]

The Democrats has better not let the open borders crowd dictate their position on this. The overwhelming majority of Americans, including a majority of the Democrats are opposed to an open borders policy. This is the wedge issue that the Republicans can use to win the election.

[union79]

The answer is quite simple: The law in all states, to the best of my knowledge is that in order to drive a car you must have a license. Solutions must flow from that basic fact.

Why would any one suggest now because we are faced with an enormous problem of unsecured borders, that we should ignor the state laws requiring a license?

A lot of posters have quoted a "71% of the people" are against licenses for illegals..­..what poll? what people? published where?

I'm looking for a president who is willing to first and foremost see that our boarders are secure ~ not easy, not cheap but essential to the survival of our nation.
I'm looking for members of Congress to start acting on behalf of the people they serve and stop all the refusal to find common ground.

[OS2Guy]

There is nothing "magical" about Barack Osama (yes, that is his legal name) Obama. 78% of Americans oppose giving illegal aliens legal driver's licenses. If you came here illegally then you need to go home and get a legal license to drive in your own country, not here.

Hillary's poll numbers will now rise, as they should, and Osama Obama will drop like a big bomb, as he should.