Dems say don't punish illegal immigrants for bad policy
By Dan Gearino Journal Des Moines Bureau
Dec 5, 2007
DES MOINES -- Democratic presidential candidates said in a debate Tuesday that they don't want to punish illegal immigrants for the government's failure to enact workable immigration policy.

"You'll hear the voices of those saying deport people, round them up. That is absolutely unrealistic and it's not in keeping with American values," said U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton.

The candidates, gathered in Des Moines, said employers deserve most of the punishment for illegal hiring, not the workers. The comments were a marked contrast with the Republican debate last week in Florida, where GOP candidates were accused by some observers of being mean-spirited toward illegal immigrants.

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama outlined a plan similar to the immigration bill that failed to pass the Senate this year. "My answer is to stop illegal workers from coming in, hold employers accountable, but give the 12 million people who are here illegally ... a pathway to legalization," Obama said.

Former senator John Edwards took it a step further, arguing that the government should take more initiative to make sure undocumented workers have safe workplaces and are getting paid overtime.

The two-hour debate was co-sponsored by National Public Radio and Iowa Public Radio, almost exactly a month before the Jan. 3 caucuses.

The moderators devoted nearly all of the time to three topics: relations with Iran, relations with China and the issues raised by illegal immigration. Seven candidates participated. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson didn't attend because he was at a military funeral elsewhere in Iowa.

Clinton took immediate fire for her vote to label Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. Critics of the nonbinding resolution said it was part of building the case for war with Iran. "I just want to be clear to the listeners that we have a real division here," Edwards said. "I mean, among the Democratic candidates, there's only one that voted for this resolution." He said Clinton's vote for the resolution was "exactly what Bush and Cheney wanted."

Sen. Joe Biden said the vote was counterproductive for diplomacy. "There's no evidence -- none, zero -- that this declaration caused any change in action on the part of the Iranian government," Biden said.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich was the only candidate who said Iran doesn't represent a serious threat.

On China policy, U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd said that China's record for unsafe products is so bad that if it was a corporation, its "doors would have been shut in 20 minutes."

Former Sen. Mike Gravel appeared to get fed up with the anti-China sentiments of the other speakers. "Clearly none of them are running for president of China," Gravel said.

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