Asked point blank whether she supported Gov. Spitzer's plan to give drivers' licenses to illegal aliens, Hillary Clinton appeared to speak out of both sides of her mouth. Failing to answer the question directly, whether or not she supported Spitzer's plan, Clinton instead said... "What is a Governor to do," she said. "We haven't acted, President Bush has failed... we need them to come out of the shadows...
Even commentator Chris Matthews noted she was double talking on that issue.
Matthews also referenced Barack Obama's comments about the non-release of records during the Clinton years and Clinton's non-responses about the Clinton White House records.
There is no mention of the exchange in the AP or Reuters articles.
After the debate, NM Governor Bill Richardson was asked why he defended Hillary Clinton on the suppression of records.
Richardson looked caught in the headlights as how could he consider himself a serious opponent when he is defending the virtual front-runner...
Hotline editor Chuck Todd said he believes she thinks she was trying to have it both ways on the illegal immigration issue...
Net the Truth Online
Portion of Hardball Chris Matthews video
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/
MSNBC Transcript
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21528787/
analysis wake up america
http://wwwwakeupamericans-spree.blogspot.com/2007/10/democratic-debatehillary-clinton-stands.html
Mentions question pertaining to illegal aliens drivers' licenses
Democratic rivals target Clinton’s vote on Iran
Clinton stumbles on immigration
Dodd also was the only candidate who raised his hand when Brian Williams, managing editor and anchor of “NBC Nightly News,” asked whether anyone believed illegal immigrants should not have driver’s licenses. “This is a privilege, not a right,” he said.
Clinton may have given her opponents an opening to bear down on their “doubletalk” attack. In a convoluted answer to the same question, Clinton first said she thought New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plan to let illegal immigrants have driver’s licenses “makes a lot of sense.” Then she said she did not endorse Spitzer’s plan even though she repeated that he had the right idea. Then she accused Russert of asking a “gotcha” question.
Edwards leaped, noting that Clinton appeared to have given two different answers in less than two minutes.
“I think this is a real issue for the country,” he said. “I mean, America is looking for a president who will say the same thing, who will be consistent, who will be straight with them.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21548813/page/2/
Democrats open fire on Clinton at debate
Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:05pm EDT
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN3024108420071031?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&rpc=22&sp=true
Obama, Edwards Take on Clinton in Debate
Oct 30 11:23 PM US/Eastern
By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writer
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8SJVB780&show_article=1
MSNBC POLL RESULTS
Who avoided the questions? * 16376 responses
Hillary Clinton 70%
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21528788/
Video
http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&brand=msnbc&tab=m5&rf=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21548813/&fg=&from=00&vid=1c4346a6-839a-4c72-bd8a-b5f49d68505a&playlist=videoByTag:mk:us:vs:0:tag:Source_MSNBC:ns:MSNVideo_Top_Cat:ps:10:sd:-1:ind:1:ff:8A
Oct. 30 Democratic debate transcript
Transcript clip
Russert: Thank you, Brian.
Senator Clinton, Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer has proposed giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. He told the Nashua, New Hampshire, Editorial Board it makes a lot of sense.
Why does it make a lot of sense to give an illegal immigrant a driver's license?
Clinton: Well, what Governor Spitzer is trying to do is fill the vacuum left by the failure of this administration to bring about comprehensive immigration reform. We know in New York we have several million at any one time who are in New York illegally. They are undocumented workers. They are driving on our roads. The possibility of them having an accident that harms themselves or others is just a matter of the odds. It's probability.
So what Governor Spitzer is trying to do is to fill the vacuum. I believe we need to get back to comprehensive immigration reform because no state, no matter how well intentioned, can fill this gap. There needs to be federal action on immigration reform.
Russert: Does anyone here believe an illegal immigrant should not have a driver's license?
(Unknown): Believe what?
Russert: An illegal immigrant should not have a driver's license.
Dodd: This is a privilege. And, look, I'm as forthright and progressive on immigration policy as anyone here. But we're dealing with a serious problem here, we need to have people come forward. The idea that we're going to extend this privilege here of a driver's license I think is troublesome, and I think the American people are reacting to it.
We need to deal with security on our borders. We need to deal with the attraction that draws people here. We need to deal fairly with those who are here.
But this is a privilege. Talk about health care, I have a different opinion. That affects the public health of all of us.
But a license is a privilege, and that ought not to be extended, in my view.
Clinton: Well, I just want to add, I did not say that it should be done, but I certainly recognize why Governor Spitzer is trying to do...
(Unknown): Wait a minute...
Clinton: And we have failed. We have failed.
Dodd: No, no, no. You said -- you said yes...
Clinton: No.
Dodd: ... you thought it made sense to do it.
Clinton: No, I didn't, Chris. But the point is, what are we going to do with all these illegal immigrants who are driving...
Dodd: That's a legitimate issue. But driver's license goes too far, in my view.
Clinton: Well, you may say that, but what is the identification?
If somebody runs into you today who is an undocumented worker...
Dodd: There's ways of dealing with that.
Clinton: Well...
Dodd: This is a privilege, not a right.
Clinton: Well, what 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 another ordinary driver's license, and then a special card that identifies the people who would be on the road, so...
Dodd: That's a bureaucratic nightmare.
Clinton: ... it's not the full privilege.
Russert: Senator Clinton, I just want to make sure of what I heard. Do you, the New York senator, Hillary Clinton, support the New York governor's plan to give illegal immigrants a driver's license?
You told the New Hampshire paper that it made a lot of sense. Do you support his plan?
Clinton: You know, Tim, this is where everybody plays "gotcha." It makes a lot of sense. What is the governor supposed to do? He is dealing with a serious problems. We have failed. And George Bush has failed. Do I think this is the best thing for any governor to do? No. But do I understand the sense of real desperation, trying to get a handle on this? Remember, in New York, we want to know who's in New York. We want people to come out of the shadows.
He's making an honest effort to do it. We should have passed immigration reform.
Williams: New subject, Senator Edwards.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21528787/page/21/
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