Governor Accused of Betraying Principles (Spitzer's flip-flop on illegal alien driver's licenses)

NY Times ^ | October 28, 2007 | RAY RIVERA

[neverdem]

Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s retreat from his plan to permit illegal immigrants to obtain the same kind of driver’s licenses as other New Yorkers drew angry reactions yesterday from civil liberties advocates and immigrant groups, some of whom described the shift as a stunning betrayal.

The governor has been under fierce assault from conservative groups and others since proposing last month to allow illegal immigrants to get New York driver’s licenses. But joined by the federal secretary of homeland security, Michael Chertoff, in Washington yesterday, the governor announced a starkly different version of his plan.

It calls for separate tiers of licenses. New Yorkers who could provide stringent proof of legal residency could get the new federally recognized license known as Real ID. The licenses available to illegal residents would not serve as federal identification.

“What a huge political flip,” said Chung-Wha Hong, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition.

“He’s now embracing and letting his good name be used to promote something that has been widely known in the immigrant community as one of the most anti-immigrant pieces of legislation to come out of Congress,” Ms. Hong said.

She said having separate licenses would amount to a scarlet letter for illegal immigrants. “I know I’m speaking for millions of immigrants when I say I just feel so thoroughly betrayed.”The separate licenses could also serve as an invitation for law enforcement to arrest anyone carrying one on immigration charges, said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. She added that the new proposal could send illegal immigrants further into the shadows, compelling them to drive with forged or no licenses and without insurance.

“This flip-flopping is bowing to the fear-mongering of the Bush administration and turns New York into a poster child for policies based on...”

[Son House]

Of course the New York Times won’t mention he’s a Democrat.

[metmom]

She said having separate licenses would amount to a scarlet letter for illegal immigrants.

So?

That's a problem?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[FormerACLUmember]

NY Times dishonestly reports this story, so that it bears no relation to reality.

[FormerACLUmember]

”The separate licenses could also serve as an invitation for law enforcement to arrest anyone carrying one on immigration charges, said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Really? Wow, can you imagine if laws were actually enforced.

[jonyyeh]

I can’t believe these “Civil Liberties” activists are angry about this. First of all, Illegal aliens don’t have any right to anything, unless you are the ACLU. The only right Illegal aliens should have other than the right not to be murdered is the right to be deported (or to voluntary leave the country).

[Travis McGee]

QUISLING: a synonym for traitor, someone who collaborates with the invaders of his country.

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Current federal law 8USC 1373(a) PROHIBITS SANCTUARY CITIES. It reads as follows:

"Notwithstanding any other provision of federal, state, or local law, a federal, state, or local government entity or official may not prohibit, or in any way restrict any government entity or official from sending to, or receiving from, the Immigration and Naturalization Service information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual."

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U.S. Constitution, Article 4 Section 4:

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,

and shall protect each of them against Invasion;"

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Invasion: \In*va"sion\, n. [L. invasio: cf. F. invasion. See Invade.] [1913 Webster]

1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.

[mewzilla]

Thanks for the link. Spitnitwit always struck me as a vindictive weasel.

Learned a lot from Hillie, didn't he?

[dearolddad]

So Eliot choked after all.

It's called the Linda Lovelace effect.(He choked on the big one)

[SAMS]

ah, but here is the rub, one must have principles before one can betray them....

[gubamyster]

ping

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping. BUMP-TO-THE-TOP!

[Mamzelle]

There are some big pieces to this puzzle we are missing, probably some things so obvious that we don't pay attn to them...Why do these pols keep going out on a limb in attempts to promote illegal immigration, against so much angry public opinion?

[HardStarboard]

>>> the increase in traffic accidents could have produced a voter backlash, and she didn’t want that. <<<

Heck, the media won't call out a Muslim when he commits a crime (ROP don't you know) in the US....they sure as hell don't call any crime perpetrated by an illegal immigrant for what it is. No one will ever know that an increase in traffic accidents is caused by illegals.

Hilary wants the illegal vote and the illegal sympathizer vote - thats what drives Democrat policy!