Transcript: Tom McClintock Debates Gil Cedillo, author of illegal licenses bill

CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight ^ | 12/15/2003 | Tom McClintock/Gil Cedillo

[spodefly]

What would "Governor McClintock" have done differently than Governor Schwarzenegger?

MCCLINTOCK: " ... You're going to do a background check on people. The background check's going to determine one of two things. Either they're here in the country legally, in which case they don't need this bill; they're already entitled to a driver's license, or they're in this country illegally and the law requires they be deported. I don't see how you compromise on that issue."

[Pa' fuera]

Every Californian has a right to know, in a state where you are 22 million motorists taking to the highways every day, that we, the elected officials are doing everything we can to make sure that the highways are safe, that all motorists are licensed, tested and insured.

I know my elected officials are doing nothing about the thousands of Mexican drivers who cross the border in Tijuana and Mexicali into San Diego and Imperial counties every day, who don't comply with California emissions, don't have insurance, don't have California drivers licenses, and, in many cases, are driving very unsafe vehicles. The common theme persists - placating Mexicans.

[Pa' fuera]

Senator McClintock said that any illegal alien, any resident of another nation is entitled to get a driver's license in their country and have it recognized in the state of California. Is that true or is it not?

DOBBS: But, wait, Senator if I may, it may be beside the point but I just want to understand the veracity of the statement first, and then we can go to the issue of its relevance. Is it true, or is it not?

CEDILLO: I don't believe that's true. I don't believe that's accurate.

Of course, Gilberto is lying here. He knows the illegals can get licenses in their own country. As a practical matter, though, if they go back to Mexico to get their licenses, they won't be let back into the country.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Ping
Former La MEChA member Senator Cedio debates McClintock

(Guess who won)

[B Knotts]

There are some very strong hints in this that Cedillo is going "work with" Schwarzenegger to try to sneak through something under the radar.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Aha! you found their achilles heel!!! :-)

[Weimdog]

The point is, the bill was repealed.

The exact same outcome if McClintock was Governor.

How about some "props" for Schwarzenegger for getting the Democrats to repeal this nonsense?

The line from Cedillo that he is in "negotiations" with Schwarzenegger on a rewrite of the bill may be true, but I'll bet that the Governor doesn't sign anything regarding driver's licenses for illegals during his term in office.

Cedillo's dreaming.

[B Knotts]

Tom McClintock is exactly right, as usual.

There can be no reasonable argument for licensing illegals "with a background check," as any background check is going to show that they are in the U.S. illegally.

No licenses for illegals, period.

[henderson field]

Yes, McClintock gave a very well-reasoned argument. I can't see how people can call him extreme. It was straight up the middle and Cedillo was lying. Why do the Californians want a liar to represent them? When I went to Europe several times, to most of the countries there, I first obtained an international driver's license, based on my Ohio license. Then I bought insurance through the company that I was buying the car from. The license and the insurance were accepted everywhere except Russia, where I had to buy extra insurance as a little shakedown by the communists. I did not use my international license to vote in foreign countries, or to get benefits that should be accorded only to the taxpaying citizens of those countries, and that's the way it should be.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

There are some very strong hints in this that Cedillo is going "work with" Schwarzenegger to try to sneak through something under the radar.

I have heard him hint this a number of times. I could be an optimist and say that Gil is being led down the prim rose path...but I doubt it, even during the campaign the Gov was weak on immigration.

[Sabertooth]

What would "Governor McClintock" have done differently than Governor Schwarzenegger?

Led the fight to overturn it by referendum, not by sweetheart deal.

SB60 is gone, it's dead.

It will be back, Arnold will "fix it."

Then we will collect signatures and overturn his Illegal Alien CDL bill.

[DLfromthedesert]

I saw this. Why does Cedillo have 2 black eyes? I could hardly concentrate on what he was saying because of that.

[DLfromthedesert]

Who gave Cedillo 2 black eyes ?

[spodefly]

How about some "props" for Schwarzenegger for getting the Democrats to repeal this nonsense?

I have no "props" for Arny. He is the most left-wing RINO in the country, and he will ultimately be a disaster for Republicans and for California. Within 24 months, illegals will have drivers licenses (albiet after a "background check".) Nothing will be discussed regarding following the LAW and deporting them

The deficit will be papered over short term with bonds, the tax burden/unfriendly business environment will not decrease, nor will the deficits go away (without spending constraints.) And bimbo eruptions will plague Arny like they did Clinton, ultimately showing that core moral values are no more a component of Republicans than of Democrats.

He is not a conservative by any stretch. He is barely a RINO.

[JustPiper]

Ping!

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Well said.

Don't forget that conservatives that try to run in CA will be shouted down even more than the past by the wanna-be strategists set as "unelectable" and "too out of the CA mainstream" because of the success of a "moderate" like (R)nold.

No one wants to give credit where it is truely do; he ran on being a celebrity body builder who didn't take a whole lot of positions and won in an election without a primary. Bravo. Meanwhile people who understand that you don't borrow your way out of debt are poo-pooed as too ideological.

Who wants to bet that the powers that be don't support Howard Kooligan for Senate because of this wonderful precident for "success" in CA.

[Weimdog]

"He is the most left-wing RINO in the country, and he will ultimately be a disaster for Republicans and for California. Within 24 months, illegals will have drivers licenses (albiet after a "background check".) Nothing will be discussed regarding following the LAW and deporting them"

PRESIDENT BUSH: "Well, first of all, I have constantly said that we need to have a immigration policy THAT HELPS MATCH ANY WILLING EMPLOYER WITH ANY WILLING EMPLOYEE. It makes sense that that policy go forward. And we're in the process of working that through now so I can make a recommendation to the Congress."

---

"The deficit will be papered over short term with bonds, the tax burden/unfriendly business environment will not decrease, nor will the deficits go away (without spending constraints.)"

White House budget director Joshua Bolten said much the same but also conceded that worse fiscal numbers were on the horizon, estimating the gap for the new year "will likely exceed $500 billion even with the strengthening economy."

---

I guess President Bush won't be getting your vote. By your standards, he's barely a RINO.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Ahhh, the "You're a Bush basher, aren't you" arguement. You are desperate Weimdog.

PRESIDENT BUSH: "Well, first of all, I have constantly said that we need to have a immigration policy THAT HELPS MATCH ANY WILLING EMPLOYER WITH ANY WILLING EMPLOYEE.

Bush is very weak on immigration, no one should deny that. Its the weakest part of his Admin, other than public speaking ability... But what is most important here is that even Bush, on his WORST day, never has hinted at giving driver's licenses to anyone. SB60 isn't just amnesty for who ever is here, its amnesty---for anyone who can cross the border forever. We can't "background check" effectively people who live here, but the Senate and the Gov want us to trust Mexican and Central American "Databases" of criminal conduct? If such things exist, we are more than likely going to GET their criminals, not have them deported back. The very idea your guy is floating is insulting.

White House budget director Joshua Bolten said much the same but also conceded that worse fiscal numbers were on the horizon, estimating the gap for the new year "will likely exceed $500 billion even with the strengthening economy."

Apples and Oranges, the federal debt is not something that has to be paid off, like a state debt does. Sacramento,if they outspend their means as they have done for 5 years will have to get bonds in the real world...and those bond traders get PAID.

We are at a critical point in State spending, unlike Federal, where we have the opportunity to wipe out the debt with small cuts. If we paper over this problem now, the next generation won't have that opportunity, and the problem will compound itself. I hear from your old conservative nemisis McClintock that NY City just this year rolled over their now 25-year-old debt yet again. Local government doesnt' solve problems with borrowing any more than companies or people.

Fiscal Conservatives understand this already.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Our friend Lou Dobbs is right on this issue again, (so is Tom McClintock as always) thought you'd enjoy this.

[JustPiper]

Tell me Tom please?