Don't Give Lou Dobbs a License to Kill Spitzer's Drivers License Bill

Lou Dobbs is at it again. His target this time? Governor Eliot Spitzer and his plan to provide drivers licenses to New Yorkers regardless of their citizenship.

In developing your own opinion on the Governor's proposal consider this: If, like Lou Dobbs, you believe political pandering that exploits fear should be used to stall a much-needed conversation about immigration policy, you should join his knee-jerk opposition to Governor Spitzer's plan. But if you want a common-sense approach that follows the lead of eight other states and would make New York's people and streets safer, go with the Governor.

Washington's failure to achieve consensus on an immigration bill should not obscure the fact that commonsense immigration laws have strong majority support. Americans believe it is neither feasible nor desirable to deport the 12 million undocumented immigrants currently here. Instead, there is consensus in favor of providing a path to citizenship for immigrants of all kinds who learn English, work hard, and participate in the American system. Unfortunately, the anti-immigrant sentiment fostered by Dobbs and his ilk kept Washington from pursuing it.

Some local political leaders have followed Lou Dobbs' lead in trying to harness anti-immigrant sentiments to increase their popularity. As was reported recently in The New York Times, towns like Riverside, New Jersey, who have chosen this anti-immigrant path, now stare at their empty main streets and wonder who exactly their policies were designed to benefit and how they went so terribly wrong.

Governor Spitzer, on the other hand, knows that the country needs real solutions that will bring immigrants into our system. To that end, he proposed reviving a pre-2004 policy that offered licenses to competent drivers regardless of their immigration status. In so doing, he is following the lead of numerous other states that issue driver's licenses based on ability to drive - not immigration status. Governor Spitzer's proposal will keep our streets and communities safer by reducing the number of unlicensed, untrained drivers on our roads and dramatically lowering the number of people who lack verifiable ID. This policy will, not insignificantly, enable the immigrants of New York State to live normal lives by being able to drive to work, pick up their groceries, take their children to school, and do all of the other things we take for granted.

Unfortunately, Lou Dobbs, ever in search of higher ratings, went on the attack, exploiting New Yorkers' understandable fears about terrorism by presenting immigrants as a security risk. The truth is that New Yorkers and all Americans have a stake in the implementation of practical immigration policies because the American middle class relies on the economic contributions of immigrants -- be they legal or illegal. Immigrants are consumers and taxpayers. They are entrepreneurs. They provide the services that native-born Americans rely on from morning until night. They resuscitate struggling neighborhoods. They keep our Social Security system solvent. They are not terrorists.

It is not xenophobic for Americans to worry about the impact of illegal immigration on their livelihoods and communities, but the best way to address that is to bring illegal immigrants out of the shadows. When immigrants are treated as if they are beneath the law, everyone suffers. This is especially true in the workforce, where the presence of workers without any rights brings down the wages and workplace conditions of American workers and makes it difficult for law-abiding business to compete.

We also need to protect Americans on the roads. We want drivers who have demonstrated their ability to drive to the State. We want drivers with insurance. Even so, it is understandable that some questions and concerns would arise from Spitzer's proposal. What impact does this plan have on our security as a nation? Will this policy render drivers licenses null and void? How will this policy impact the ability of native-born Americans to do things like board a plane and enter office buildings? These are precisely the questions responsible political leaders should be asking and debating.

But not all have. Instead, some elected officials like James N. Tedisco, the minority leader of the New York State Assembly, are making provocative pronouncements like this one: "Osama bin Laden is somewhere in a cave with his den of thieves and terrorists, and he's probably sabering the cork on some Champagne right now, saying 'Hey, that governor's really assisting us.'" Assemblyman Tedisco strains credibility when he insinuates that somehow the 12 million illegal immigrants living in America are terrorists working for Al Qaeda. But he did get his name in the papers, and the New York State Senate has just passed legislation that would overturn the Governor's policy.

When I hear misguided sentiments like that Assemblyman Tedisco's, I know that it is Lou Dobbs who is actually swilling the Champagne. This kind of talk may boost ratings for him and his junior varsity imitators, but if we let it be a substitute for real debate, the joke will be on all Americans.

Comments

[Jclaffey]

I want to thank Ms. Batista Schlesinger for a thoughtful piece that brings more light then heat to the issue--the polar opposite of what the "anti" crowd tends to do. Most Long Islanders, I think, will agree with her, since polls show they prefer pragmatic solutions to issues. We need more of this! The question of immigrant rights is highly emotional for many, but we cannot resolve it by throwing out soundbites. Thanks to the author for providing a solid framework for (hopefully) civil discussion.

[jwjli]

Thank you Ms. Batista Schlesinger for tackling the tough questions that Americans need answered through informed debate. The ignorance and exaggerated rhetoric of Mr. Dobbs is not reflective of most New Yorkers. I would be happy to introduce Lou to the many New Yorkers who long for the type of leaders who make their streets safer, their insurance rates lower and strengthen homeland security by bringing individuals into the system, rather than have them hide in the shadows.

[flatus]

Andrea,

Your "amigos" were not invited to the picnic.

[chery]

http://www.c-span.org/capitolspotlight/ Senate Blocks Bill to Aid Children of Illegal Immigrants

[chery]

Thought for the day: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-fakeid_weboct25,1,3287305.story?track=rss

Fake ID ringleader in Mexico charged with murder
Leija ran Chicago operation until 2005 deportation

[EileenJamisonTyrer]

I agree with Ms. Batista Schlesinger's comments. Spitzer's proposal to offer driver's licenses to people regardless of their immigration status is a positive step towards enabling hardworking immigrants to get to their jobs, provide for their families, and contribute to the economy. We need more policies that help immigrants contribute, not simply punish them.

[TUCANOFULANO]

A New York driver's license to an Illegal Alien or any other terrorist would mean that criminal could travel anywhere in the USA including your home town.
The days are long gone when action in one State did not affect the murder of citizens in another State.

[flatus]

Thank you, Andrea, for another unbiased Latino point of view.

It is always nice of you to point out for me that the 'liberals' on this site appear to strongly oppose your view. Curious indeed given the Democratic Party's supposed pro-illegals slant on this topic.

It is about the LAW: that thing which stands between us and chaos. Stop being unamerican and get with it.

[JD-28]

Ms. Batista makes the same mistake that seemingly all knee-jerk liberals make, by purposely confusing ILLEGAL immigrants with immigrants who are here legally. Illegal immigrants have introduced themselves into the United States by breaking the law. Legal immigrants follow the rules and receive citizenship through proper channels. It seems to behoove the illegal immigrant apologists to blur the line between legal and illegal, because by doing so, it is easier for them to paint those who are against illegal immigration as xenophobic racists who hate all immigrants. That argument is as ridiculous as saying that people who are against drunk driving hate all people who drive. One of them is illegal and as such is not tolerated in our society. Now, if we need to change the laws governing who can and cannot enter the United States, then by all means let"s do that, in a lawful manner. But amnesty is not the way to go. It rewards people who break the law by telling them that if they scream racism long enough they can have citizenship. Simply because there are those of us citizens of the United States who believe that our laws should be followed and that those who break them should be held accountable, does not make us racists. The United States is either a country of laws or it is not a country of laws. We cannot and should not indiscriminately choose which laws to follow and which ones to break. Illegal immigrants are not the same as legal immigrants, period and Governor Spitzer's program not only makes it more attractive for people to come to the United States illegally, it means they can move about more freely and easily. Just what we need right? Spitzer's plan is disgusting, potentially dangerous and just plain wrong!

[horseface]

Why are we still arguing over whether illegal aliens are illegal aliens?

Would Hispanics be this hysterical if it were Eskimos pouring across our borders in the millions?

Hispanics (inside and outside the U.S.) carry a grudge against the U.S. and want to load the ballot boxes. (Pissed that in the Colonial era, they got founded by the greedy, inept Spanish from Hell, while the U.S. was colonized by technologically and governmentally advanced, but still ravenous, northern Europians.)

The Catholics just want more Catholics to fund a degenerate church. Corporations want slave labor. This is insanity.

[Horst]

Exactly...you hit the nail right on the head. Haitians landing on Floirda beaches are shipped out ASAP....no drivers' licences for them.

[1will]

The author of this column never addressed Dobbs biggest issue with these drivers licenses. They can be used to obtain voter ID cards and lead to voter fraud.
The illegal aliens would obtain the exact same drivers licenses as American citizens. That drivers license is all that is needed to obtain a voter ID card and there is not system in place that would catch these fraudulent voters.
In several paragraphs the author never managed to address what was Dobbs chief complaint about this drivers license scheme. I wonder what her agenda is.

[click212]

What a load! it's really nice sitting in a non border state and yak your ass off. What part of the word "illegal" do you not understand. What part of cultural balance do you want to overide with an uncontrolled influx of anyone be they Latin, Russian, whatever.

Come on down to Texas, California, New Mexico and review construction sites, manufacturing, etc. There is a definate impact on the economies of these areas. Come take a look at border farm lands, with broken water pipes and tons of trash, they leave behind to lighten their loads for the last dash.

We definately need some folks to work here, however, pushing for legal work visas and humane working conditions is something you don't read on these posts. Just the usual blind sighted nonsensical hog wash from people who have never been even near an illegal person. Moreover, the governments of Mexico and the USA are the real criminals in this bed room policy of washing each others hands at the expense of Americans who are directly affected by this influx. While Mexico has plenty of natural wealth and booming industries that abuse their workers, you don't hear any liberals demanding that Mexico come forward and deal with it's immigration problems and labor abuses so that we don't get masses of the underclass swarming over our boder states. Can some one please wake up and smell the coffee?

Any original thinkers out there really looking at the problem, or just liberal lemmings jumping off the cliff into the shit pool.

[Scotlad]

The issue with giving illegal aliens drivers licenses in the state of New York is that official document is tied to voter registration. Is it OK for a Democrat Governor to try and illegally influence an election? Please show the same disdain here as you would for the the shenanigans perpetrated in Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004!
This power play is similar to all the Executive privileges foisted upon us by Bush/Cheney. The people, in vast majority, do not want this. Where are the Voices of Senators Clinton and Schumer and the US House representatives from New York?
Pro immigration. Anti Illegal Immigration. Everyone that wants our laws upholded are not anti-immigrant or a racist. The race card is always played. Shame, shame. Go Lou!

[Horst]

Spitzer is an arrogant scion of a rich New York real estate family. He lives on Fifth Avenue and pays lip service to the poor. He will find as di Theodore Roosevelt that is aggressive political style won't be effective with the mediocrities who run Albany.

[Meanwhile]

Sorry, lady. I'm with Lou all the way on matters of immigration. It's not about racism, it's about following the rules. If you are in this country illegally, you should not expect to have the privileges of a legal citizen, such as a driver's license. If you are an employer of illegal workers, you should expect to pay heavy penalties or even be shut down. What we need is MORE enforcement of existing rules, not amnesty. (But certainly not a wall -- that's the dumbest idea ever.)

[Horst]

Amen to that.