Clinton outdoes herself on immigrant rights

[Vattel]

I mean, talk about dishonesty, waffling, and putting power before people:

When former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) withdrew his plan to give driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants in 2007, it was partially at the urging of then- (and current) presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the former governor said in an podcast interview posted Thursday. . . .

Spitzer told Axelrod he yielded to that request, although heavy opposition from elsewhere also played a role.

"We heard from folks on Clinton's campaign who said they want this issue gone," Spitzer said. "I thought the issue was a metaphor for her vacillation."

Earlier in 2007, Clinton, then a senator from New York, said that Spitzer's plan made "a lot of sense." During a Democratic primary debate in October of that year, though, she walked the statement back, saying "I did not say that it should be done, but I certainly recognize why Gov. Spitzer is trying to do it."

Her debate opponents hammered her for hedging, and Obama said unequivocally that he supported driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants.

Spitzer said he was "pacing around the living room" watching that debate and that Clinton "waffled and waffled and waffled.”

"Because it was controversial, she hemmed and she hawed," he said on the podcast. "And again, this goes to the core of, where are you on immigrants' rights?"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/eliot-spitzer-hillary-clinton-drivers-licenses-undocumented_56325e1be4b00aa54a4d3864

In a statement from the Dream Action Coalition, the organization said Latinos and Dreamers are "truly disappointed" that Clinton "would throw the immigrant community under the bus, especially since she had criticized other for doing the same." According to DRC, many immigrants have been deported for not having a driver's license.

DRC Co-Director Carlos Vargas said, "Rather than be an advocate for the right causes, this news reveals that Mrs. Clinton is prone to changing her stance in unfavorable political climates. Is this what we expect from a President?"

"Hillary's record on immigration is becoming increasingly suspect, and this new revelation is cause for concern -- how will she handle the pressure of the Presidency? The immigrant community needs a President that is willing to take a stand, not one that will succumb to political pressure," Hina Naveed, lead organizer at the Dream Action Coalition, said.

http://www.latinpost.com/articles/91159/20151030/former-ny-gov-spitzer-hillary-clinton-opposed-drivers-licenses-immigrants.htm

[RiverLover]

1. ...meanwhile, "Sanders Unveils 'Most Progressive' Immigration Plan"

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/11/25/cheers-sanders-unveils-most-progressive-immigration-plan

This is a fantastic policy plan, as usual.

[peacebird]

2. Yes, excellent!

[dsc]

3. we know what Spitzer thinks of women

and that is all I need to know to evaluate his critique of a female candidate.

[FreakinDJ]

4. Limited thought processes

You can't say Hillary's own husband hasn't had his moments either

[dsc]

5. Clinton is not much better that is a fair point

but that doesn't excuse Spitzer nor make me think his critique of women is to be taken seriously.

[FreakinDJ]

6. Then why would she "Gravitate" to him

Takes 2 to Tango

[dsc]

7. She probably should have left him early on

but in that era being a single woman parent was harder than it is now and it is possible her own family pressured her to stay (divorce was more frowned upon then) but I do understand why she stayed after Monica. By that time they had a different relationship. That doesn't make his conduct better though.

[Historic NY]

8. You didn't read the rest of the article...from latin post

Clinton specifically called for federal comprehensive immigration reform.

In June 2007, the Senate voted on comprehensive immigration reform bill S. 1639. The bill, introduced by then-Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., failed to pass the Senate, including an opposing vote from fellow Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, but Clinton voted in favor.


Most of the problem was with NY being a border state with Canada, hence the enhanced drivers license that met Federal Requirements. We have that license available.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration and New York cut a deal Saturday to create a new generation of super-secure driver's licenses for U.S. citizens, but also allow illegal immigrants to get a version.

<Governor Spitzer has agreed to do is to have three different licenses — one that provides identification for actually going onto airplanes and other kinds of security issues, another which is an ordinary driver’s license and then a special card that identifies the people who would be on the road. That was the proposal put forward and it was eventually rejected. http://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/get-enhanced-driver-license-edl http://www.dmv.org/driving-abroad/passport-license.php >


New York is the fourth state to reach an agreement on federally approved secure licenses, after Arizona, Vermont and Washington.

Saturday's agreement with the Homeland Security Department will create a three-tier license system in New York. It is the largest state to sign on so far to the government's post-September 11 effort to make identification cards more secure.

Spitzer, who has faced much criticism on the issue, said the deal means New York "will usher in the most secure licensing system in the nation."

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he was not happy that New York intended to issue IDs to illegal immigrants. But he said there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"I don't endorse giving licenses to people who are not here legally, but federal law does allow states to make that choice," Chertoff said.

The governor made clear he is going forward with his plan allowing licenses for illegal immigrants.

But advocates on both sides of the debate said Spitzer had caved to pressure by adopting the administration's stance on tighter security standards for most driver's licenses.

GOP Rep. Thomas Reynolds, who represents the Buffalo suburbs, said he was glad Washington had heeded his concerns about border identification. But he said he feared that Spitzer "is taking this state down a risky path" by giving any kind of license to illegal immigrants.

Under the compromise, New York will produce an "enhanced driver's license" that will be as secure as a passport. It is intended for people who soon will need to meet such ID requirements, even for a short drive to Canada.

A second version of the license will meet new federal standards of the Real ID Act. That law is designed to make it much harder for illegal immigrants or would-be terrorists to obtain licenses.

A third type of license will be available to undocumented immigrants.

Spitzer has said this ID will make the state more secure by bringing those people "out of the shadows" and into American society, and will lower auto insurance rates. (not when PA issues license plates to NY residents and insures them. (Biggest problem w/ undocumented drivers)
Enforcement is now becoming rigid.


Those licenses will be clearly marked to show they are not valid federal ID.

Officials, however, would not say whether that meant local law enforcement could use such a license as probable cause to detain someone they suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.

"Besides being a massive defeat for the governor, I can't imagine many -- if any -- illegal immigrants coming forward to get the driver's licenses, because they'd basically be labeled as illegal," said New York Rep. Peter King, the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee.

[Vattel]

9. Yes, Clinton voted for the 2007 immigration reform bill. So all her immigrant rights are forgiven?

Because of flaws in that bill (and there were multiple flaws), Sanders voted against it. That doesn't mean (like many dishonest DU Clinton supporters love to suggest) that he was against comprehensive immigration reform. He just wanted a better bill.

Those like myself who are very pro-immigrant rights have many good reasons to prefer Sanders and O'Malley to Clinton. Sanders immigration reform plan is the best I've seen. And, unlike Clinton, he has consistently supported immigrant rights.