Debate Shows Unpresidential Hillary Clinton

The NBC-sponsored debate among candidates seeking the Democrat Party nomination for president revealed Hillary Clinton to be unpresidential.

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/

Was Rudy Misquoted?

Brit Hume on Fox News says former Mayor Rudy Giuliani has stated he didn't make the quote attributed to him by The Politico. This is big news if true. It appears someone from the Politico asked Rudy a question, and the Politico reports Giuliani's response...

Giuliani warns of 'new 9/11' if Dems win
By: Roger Simon
April 24, 2007 08:29 PM EST
Updated: April 25, 2007 01:28 PM EST

MANCHESTER, N.H. —- Rudy Giuliani said if a Democrat is elected president in 2008, America will be at risk for another terrorist attack on the scale of Sept. 11, 2001.

But if a Republican is elected, he said, especially if it is him, terrorist attacks can be anticipated and stopped.

“If any Republican is elected president —- and I think obviously I would be the best at this —- we will remain on offense and will anticipate what [the terrorists] will do and try to stop them before they do it,” Giuliani said.

The former New York City mayor, currently leading in all national polls for the Republican nomination for president, said Tuesday night that America would ultimately defeat terrorism no matter which party gains the White House.

“But the question is how long will it take and how many casualties will we have?” Giuliani said. “If we are on defense [with a Democratic president], we will have more losses and it will go on longer.”

“I listen a little to the Democrats and if one of them gets elected, we are going on defense,” Giuliani continued. “We will wave the white flag on Iraq. We will cut back on the Patriot Act, electronic surveillance, interrogation and we will be back to our pre-Sept. 11 attitude of defense.”

He added: “The Democrats do not understand the full nature and scope of the terrorist war against us.”

After his speech to the Rockingham County Lincoln Day Dinner, I asked him about his statements and Giuliani said flatly: “America will be safer with a Republican president.”

Giuliani, whose past positions on abortion, gun control and gay rights have made him anathema to some in his party, believes his tough stance on national defense and his post-Sept. 11 reputation as a fighter of terrorism will be his trump card with doubting Republicans...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0407/3684.html

Giuliani: Republicans will keep you safe
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani “flashed his combative side” on a stop in New Hampshire yesterday, Newsday reported this morning.

At issue, apparently, was a questioner “who said there were ‘no rights’ left for Americans in the fight against terror.

”’That’s hardly no rights!’ Giuliani shot back, saying the war on terror demanded tools like the Patriot Act and warrantless wiretapping,” the newspaper reported. ”’You live in a country that has more rights than any in the history of the world. You have more freedom than anyone in the world has ever had, and no one has taken that from you.’”

According to the online site Politico, Giuliani also said “if a Democrat is elected president in 2008, America will be at risk for another terrorist attack on the scale of Sept. 11, 2001. But if a Republican is elected, he said, especially if it is him, terrorist attacks can be anticipated and stopped...

http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2007/04/25/giuliani-vs-obama/

Democrats fire back at Giuliani on 9/11 warning
Reuters
Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:57AM EDT


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic White House contenders Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton criticized Republican Rudolph Giuliani on Wednesday for suggesting a Democratic president would put the United States at risk of another September 11-type terrorist attack.

The former New York mayor, who leads the 2008 Republican White House race in national polls, said in a speech in New Hampshire on Tuesday night the United States would be safer and fight terrorism more aggressively under a Republican president.

A Democratic president, he said, would "wave the white flag on Iraq" and take the United States "back to our pre-September 11 attitude of defense," the Politico.com quoted Giuliani as saying.

While the United States ultimately will prevail in the fight against terror, he said, "the question is how long will it take and how many casualties will we have? If we are on defense, we will have more losses and it will go on longer."...

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2535987220070425

Rudy Giuliani: Opposes Abortion Believes Woman's Right to Choose

Will Rudy change his position on his pro-choice stance? He's polling ahead now, regardless, will he outdistance the closest competition with a more conservative position on the abortion question?

Discussed on Fox News Network Greg Jarrett? two guests didn't think the book Grand Illusion assertions would have much effect on the candidacy of Rudy Giuliani

Grand Illusion
The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani and 9/11
By Wayne Barrett, Dan Collins

http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060536602/Grand_Illusion/index.aspx

More

He's Ready! Rudy Giuliani Talks with Sean Hannity
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
This is a partial transcript from "Hannity & Colmes," February 5, 2007, that has been edited for clarity.

SEAN HANNITY, CO-HOST: And welcome to "Hannity & Colmes." Thank you for being with us. I'm Sean Hannity.

And we get right to our top story tonight. Earlier today, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani filed "statement of candidacy" papers with the Federal Elections Commission. Mayor Giuliani joins us now for a “Hannity & Colmes” exclusive interview!

clip

HANNITY: Where does Rudy Giuliani stand on abortion? And do you think Roe v. Wade is a good law, a bad law?

GIULIANI: Where I stand on abortion is, I oppose it. I don't like it. I hate it. I think abortion is something that, as a personal matter, I would advise somebody against.

However, I believe in a woman's right to choose. I think you have to ultimately not put a woman in jail for that, and I think ultimately you have to leave that to a disagreement of conscience and you have to respect the choice that somebody makes.

So what I do say to conservatives, because then, you know, you want to look at, well, OK, what can we look to that is similar to the way we think? I think the appointment of judges that I would make would be very similar to, if not exactly the same as, the last two judges that were appointed.

Chief Justice Roberts is somebody I work with, somebody I admire, Justice Alito someone I knew when he was U.S. attorney, also admire. If I had been president over the last four years, I can't think of any, you know, that I'd do anything different with that.

And I guess the key to it is -- and I appointed over 100 judges when I was the mayor -- so it's something I take very, very seriously -- I would appoint judges that interpreted the Constitution rather than invented it, understood the difference between being a judge and being a legislator. And having argued a case before the Supreme Court, having argued in many, many courts is something I would take very, very seriously.

HANNITY: So you would look for a Scalia, a Roberts, an Alito?

GIULIANI: Scalia is another former colleague of mine and somebody I consider to be a really great judge. I mean, that would be -- you're never going to get somebody exactly the same. You're never -- and I don't think you have a litmus test. But I do think you have sort of a general philosophical approach that you want from a justice, and I think a strict constructionist would be probably the way I'd describe it.

HANNITY: Is "Roe" a bad law?

GIULIANI: I think that's up to the court to decide. I think that it's been precedent for a very, very long time. There are questions about the way it was decided and some of the bases for it. At this point, it's precedent. It's going to be very interesting to see what Chief Justice Roberts and what Justices Scalia and Alito do with it.

I think probably they're going to limit it rather than overturn it. In other words, they'll accept some of the limitations that different states have placed on it or the federal government has placed on it.

HANNITY: Partial birth?

GIULIANI: Partial-birth abortion, I think that's going to be upheld. I think that ban is going to be upheld. I think it should be. And I think, as long as there's provision for the life of the mother, then that's something that should be done.

HANNITY: There's a misconception that you supported partial-birth abortion.

GIULIANI: Yes, well, if it doesn't have a provision for the life of the mother, then I wouldn't support the legislation. If it has provision for the life of the mother, then I would support it...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,250497,00.html