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

[ZsaZsa]

Can someone please explain to me how denying licenses to illegal immigrants will stop illegal immigration?

There is only one reason why anyone could oppose this plan. It makes our politicians seem tough on illegal immigration. This is the way of American politics today: make it look like you're trying to solve a problem instead of actually solving it.

[phoenix1964]

Hillary twisted and turned on this issue in the debate and now after Spitzer removes it, she then tries to act tough and denounce the measure. At least, Obama stands by his conviction and gives a reasonable justification. The problem is illegal immigration is a huge problem. The driver license issue is just a side issue of the bigger problem. My car was once totaled by a Mexican person and I couldn't get redress, I was stuck paying for the car note for an additional two years even though I couldn't drive it. Luckily the car was parked and no one was hurt. First of all we need to stop the desire of illegals wanting to come to the US. And that is why we have to crack down on employers and business who hire illegals. Dry up the source of motivation to cross over the border. But Republicans don't want that. When there was a raid at Walmart last year, Walmart didn't get fine or punished just the illegal immigrants. Then we need to deport those illegals who are in our prisions or convicted of a felony. Then tighten our borders and figure out a way to document the illegals already in this country. If Georgia pass a law stating that its citizen need to have an drivers liscense to vote ( it was deemed unconstitutional at first, but now it's law because the state will pay for people to get a non drivers liscense id at motor vechiles) then we should be able to figure what form of id is needed for illegal immigrants. They need to come out of the shadows, and pay taxes just like the rest of us and go back in the line to gain citizenship (and there should be some penalization given for how many years they were in the country before they applied for citizenship).

[liberalrebuttal]

This is why I support Barack Obama.

Among many others things I appreciate about him, I love that he can take a position on something and stick with it despite what the polls say. Despite what the opposition says. Despite the spin on the issue in question. Barack Obama, or as I now might refer to Him as Barack O' BALLS, as he is demonstrating more and more that he actually has some, stands by his position. When automakers sat there steaming and stewing as he told them that they need to raise their standards, he did not flip/flop on his position.

And now, when all the little cowards are running around scared because of the backlash over Hillary's flip flopping on her position, Barack Obama stands firm. I am so sick and tired of these little wussy Democrats who are too scared to speak their mind and stand by something. Keep in mind, when Obama opposed the war in Iraq, while running for the Senate there were people out there saying that he killed his chances to win and predicted the same crap some of the idiots are predicting here.

In case y'all haters haven't noticed. Balls trump all(s).

Barack O'Balls 2008!

[ceasenake]

That's really funny Hussein!

Even Spitzer isn't standing by Spitzers' plan.

Back to the minor leauges, you cartoon character!

Maybe you'll be ready to move up around 2016.

[Merg]

Can you say "bye bye Iowa"

[RusStyles]

As usual...Ob­ama exercises common sense and clarity. Unlike the prevaricating, obfuscating Janus-faced Clinton.

[RetMarineview]

You jumped on Hillary for your same postion so don't throw rocks and then do the same thing.

[OhPlease2007]

Obama still supports Spitzer's abandoned drivers license plan? Are you serious???

Well, there is always the lecture circuit after Iowa, giving speeches on how to 'lose' presidential elections.

LOL

John Edwards has my vote.

[Mrrar]

Nice. HRC Machine at it again. It's amazing how this falls into exactly the post I gave a little while ago-- they take what's bad about Hillary and try to project it onto Barack. Impressive! Truly.

I can't understand how you can let yourself fall into these Republican tactics, but let's actually address your statement. What Barack said was:

"I think that it is the right idea, and I disagree with Chris because there is a public safety concern. We can make sure that drivers who are illegal come out of the shadows, that they can be tracked, that they are properly trained, and that will make our roads safer.

That doesn't negate the need for us to reform illegal immigratio­n."

And, technically, it is a right idea. The idea behind it is correct-- get them trained and make the streets safer. Note he also goes on to say that what _he_ wants is for a reformation of our approach to illegal immigration.

But nice spin! I'm sure it'll stick, at the cost of a little soul-grease ;)