Posted on 10/29/2007 4:18:13 PM PDT by Libloather
SCHUMER, HILLARY MUM ON DRIVERS LICENSES FOR ILLEGALS
By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - New Yorks plan to create three types of drivers licenses, including one for illegal immigrants, has everyone talking everyone except the states Democratic senators, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer.
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced over the weekend that he had struck a deal with federal homeland security officials to create a three-tiered state system of licenses. In doing so, New York agreed to adopt Bush administration goals on tighter identification security, but Spitzer stuck to his much-criticized plan to allow illegal immigrants to get licenses.
The license debate, hard-wired to issues like immigration, terrorism and civil liberties, may simply be too radioactive for either a presidential candidate like Clinton or a powerful senator like Schumer.
For years, Clinton and Schumer seemingly couldnt stop talking about the governments looming border ID rules.
Now its different.
Shes running for president, and this is a land-mine no matter what you do, said Doug Muzzio, a professor of politics at Baruch College in New York. The best strategy for her is to do what shes doing: keep quiet, because whatever you said, you will tick off constituencies, whether its in the primary or the general election.
For Schumer, the danger is less obvious, but still very real to the third-ranking Democrat in the U.S. Senate.
Also, Spitzers popularity among New York voters is sinking fast, lashed to the political dead weight of his license plan.
Spitzer himself has become toxic, said Muzzio. Its not only the message, its the messenger.
Under Spitzers plan, one card which will be as secure as a passport and would be valid to get the user across the Canadian border, another will be good enough for domestic air travel and a third wont be acceptable for air travel but will be available to illegal immigrants and others.
Sen. Clinton has spent years urging the Bush administration to scale back plans to require passports to cross the U.S. border into Canada, saying that would be too costly and cumbersome for communities like Buffalo. She has also rejected the suggestion that better drivers licenses could be used instead, noting they wouldnt be available to children.
On Monday, her spokesman Philippe Reines said she continues to review Spitzers plan.
Sen. Clinton strongly believes that a federal solution is needed to our immigration crisis, Reines said. She is still studying the governors most recent proposal, but understands the impetus behind his plan that federal inaction on comprehensive immigration reform has created conditions where states feel compelled to act on their own.
The usually loquacious Schumer was even more cautious. His spokesman did not immediately comment Monday on the license plan.
Spitzer has yet to say how much the various licenses will cost the average driver.
Currently, a license renewal costs $50 in New York State. Aides to the governor said it is too early to say how much more an air travel-valid ID, usually called a Real ID license, would cost. They expect a border-crossing drivers license, called an enhanced drivers license to cost about $20 above the regular license price.
That would be a significant discount from the previous cost estimate put on border passcards, which Washington had estimated would cost $35 for children and $45 for adults.
A new passport now costs about $100.
In striking the deal with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, both sides stuck to some dearly held positions, and capitulated on others.
Spitzer got to keep his plan to offer drivers licenses to illegal immigrants, although he agreed to have such licenses clearly marked as not valid federal ID. Homeland Security officials backed off past resistance to allowing drivers licenses to cross the border when the new rule goes into effect next year.
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1918070/posts
(newsday - comments only)
Spitzer is a thug, Schumer is a putz and Hillery is a, well, being a christian woman I can’t say it!
Auntie Em
Just spit it out Hillary. You can’t dodge this issue forever.
Watering down the liberal vote with more liberal votes is pretty pointless, though.
The license will be mailed to applicants inside a box of Crackerjax.
All of the leading Dem candidates are terrified about the illegal immigration issue. They want to appease the Hispanic constituency, but they know that the general public is against any amnesty or accommodation.
.."hey Hill, got any spare Chinese money lying around?"
How far and fast we are falling.
including one for illegal immigrants
Heck, let's just start handing out licenses to nine year olds. Let 'em vote while we are at it.
BUFFALO?? Schrillary, ( The “ World’s Smartest Woman “ according to those who blindly follow her) has done SQUAT for Up State NEW YORK!
In fact- in the last years since she has reneged on her promises and Plans to Create NEW JOBS for Up State- she has managed in 5 years to have LOST OVER 289,000 PLUS Jobs!!
THEN-she was AGAINST those Controls for those coming across the CANADIAN BOARDER ?? Saying they were
“ Too Cumbersome..” ??? So...
-Schrillary’s ANSWER To “Help” New York and NEW YORK JOBS is to ALLOW Illegals Canadians- and All OTHERS to not only come freely across the Canadian / U.S. Boarders Unregulated!-
—but to ALSO AFTER She “ ...gets Elected (President)...” she will “...will work on a Three-Tier I.D. Card plan AND GIVING ILLEGALS DRIVERS LICENSES- therefore taking even MORE JOBS AWAY & Driving Jobs away From Up-State New Yorkers ALREADY Hit hard by Manufacturers Moving out because of disastrously High Corp./Commerce TAXES!!
Yup! Schrillary: With her goal of 10 million Nation-Wide Brainwashed “ HillPAC Volunteers “- to spread her lies and whitewashed , Red-Herring messages is nothing more than the Anti-Christ that would bring America AND the Freedom Loving, Democratic Nations of the world DOWN with it On HER personal quest for POWER and Control.
It is ALSO Not so much with what Schrillary “Stands” for- but also what the Democrat PARTY “Stands” for too: Socialism, Communism, the Redistribution of Wealth,Property, SAVING and Parental Controls and Personal Responsibilities! and attacking ANYTHING that would support or promote FAMILY Responsibility and RELIGION and Catholic Teachings , School CHOICE.
DA
P.S.- You ALL already do know, Right?; That The SCHRILLARY-FANATICS for a long time have had Professional Computer & Research Professionals working/volunteering for them to : Work WITH Internet Search Engines, WRITE PROGRAMS, and have Volunteers speen HOURS on the internet-all with the wanted & Hopeful Results of getting ANYTHING & EVERYTHING in News/Info/possible slander or mere MENTION of " Hill***ary-Clin***ton-HILL**ARY CLIN**TON-Clin**ton Campaign--- ---so as to BUILD, MANTAIN, Collect and have a SCHRILLARY ENEMIES LIST like NOTHING Ever so Complete BEFORE That her Thighness could ever dream of having!
So as to NOT Give this Enemy of America any more info or ammunition/info that she could use- I have always suggested that instead of using her NAME or campaign name slogans-simply reffer to her as : Her Thighness, Schrillary, the Queen of Mean- whatever. No need to make it any easier for giving her socialist spies anymore ease to info or in researching info she could use down the road!
Good video of Hillary trying to duck the question in the Dem. debate:
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