Thread: 2 State Dems Criticize Spitzer For Backing Off License Plan

Two State Democrats Criticize Spitzer For Backing Off License Plan

November 15, 2007

State Democrats criticized their own party Thursday, a day after Governor Eliot Spitzer shelves his plan to offer drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants.

Assemblymen Adriano Espaillat and Jose Peralta, along with other lawmakers, say the governor gave into a Washington culture that has failed immigrants.

Peralta blames other Democratic lawmakers for giving into their Republican counterparts.

"We are calling upon the candidates, the Democratic candidates, all of them, to step up to the plate, and to talk about immigration reform, and to talk about the DREAM act, and to talk about drivers’ licenses because we are allowing Republicans to frame the argument,â€

Or, just maybe you two have an ethno-centric bias and just perhaps it wasn't the GOP, but the 70+ % of the American people who opposed the plans.

Call for action on immigration
BY PERVAIZ SHALLWANI

Special to Newsday

November 16, 2007

With Gov. Eliot Spitzer shelving a proposal enabling illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses and the short-term outlook for federal immigration reform looking gloomy, concerned local politicians and immigrant advocates Thursday declared a "call to action."

Standing in a wind-whipped rain in front of the Ferry Building in Battery Park City, Assembs. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan) and Jose Peralta (D-Jackson Heights), flanked by New York City immigration advocates, faulted fellow Democrats for failing to make inroads on the issue.

"We need to regroup and come up with a new strategy," Espaillat said. "We are very concerned that many of our Democratic colleagues have thrown immigrants under the bus."

The proposal had become a liability for the governor, who has seen his poll numbers plummet since he floated a plan in September that would have dropped the need for a Social Security number to obtain a state driver's license.

Last month, the plan was retooled to a three-tier system of licenses that still drew ire from both sides before finally being abandoned on Tuesday.

Peralta urged his party to stop using rhetoric like "It's the right issue, but not the right time" as an excuse for skirting immigration reform.

"We have been left alone in this issue," he said. "That's why we are going to continue to push this issue. ... We are going to make sure the bills that we have in the Assembly are going to move this driver's license issue and immigrants are not left alone."

Espaillat in part faulted what he called "pressure by the radical right" for failure of the driver's license proposal and singled out Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), a longshot GOP presidential contender and a fierce opponent of any type of amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Tancredo unveiled a campaign ad earlier this month depicting a shopping mall being blown up by a terrorist who slipped into the country illegally.

"We're sick and tired of the Republicans taking the lead on this issue and dictating to us what this debate should be about," Espaillat said.

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[quote]"We are calling upon the candidates, the Democratic candidates, all of them, to step up to the plate, and to talk about immigration reform, and to talk about the DREAM act, and to talk about drivers’ licenses because we are allowing Republicans to frame the argument,â€

Re:

Assemblymen Adriano Espaillat and Jose Peralta, along with other lawmakers, say the governor gave into a Washington culture that has failed immigrants.

Huh? 'Immigrants'?

Again, 'Immigrants' <> 'Illegal Aliens'.

Don't insult the wonderful people that have chosen to follow the law by coming here legally (ie. immigrants) by trying to confuse them with people who have found their way here in spite of many legal sanctions discouraging such thing.