Clinton the new target in immigration battle

Friday, November 9, 2007
Opinion
Clinton the new target in immigration battle

Excerpts from our syndicated columnists and others about Democratic presidential front runner Hillary Clinton and illegal immigration:

Froma Harrop, Providence Journal: What about New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal aliens? The last thing New York needs is another fishy form of ID, especially one stamped by the state. Even Mike Bloomberg, New York City's open-borders mayor, worried that the feds would not accept these licenses at airports once the Real ID law goes into effect.

Hillary Clinton argues that illegal aliens are coming here anyway, so giving them licenses is just recognizing reality. If that's her stand, why bother with immigration laws at all? People will always be coming here illegally, and so there will always be a new reality to recognize.

Democrats need a serious response to illegal immigration. The only effective approach is also the sensitive one: Enforce sanctions against employers who hire illegal aliens (and that requires a secure ID). This would take some pressure off the border with Mexico.

Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune: Hillary Clinton appeared at some points to be debating herself. The most glaring example came when she tried to explain why she once said that New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to allow illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses "makes a lot of sense."

After answering the question once, she raised her hand later to add that "I did not say that it should be done, but I certainly recognize why Gov. Spitzer is trying to do it."

That prompted John Edwards to pounce: "Sen. Clinton said two different things in the course of about two minutes." Barack Obama, too, was "confused on Sen. Clinton's answer" and "can't tell whether she was for it or against it."

Democrats tend to favor licenses for illegals to encourage safer driving, among other worthwhile reasons. But Clinton apparently has no desire to further rile up the right-wingers, for whom any convenience for illegals is seen as capitulation to lawbreakers.

Kathleen Parker, Orlando Sentinel: As long as we offer jobs, medical treatment, driver's licenses and in-state tuition to those who come here illegally, why would any right-thinking, would-be immigrant take a number and wait his turn? Why not just throw in the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and free tequila while we're at it?

On the one hand, we argue that employers should be penalized for hiring illegal immigrants; on the other, we insist that the immigrants need driver's licenses because employers demand them. I'm beginning to see how Hillary Clinton got so tangled up. You cannot argue rationally in defense of the irrational.

John Fund, OpinionJournal.com: It stops just short of being an engraved invitation for people to commit voter fraud. (Federal law) required all states to offer voter registration to anyone getting a driver's license. One simply fills out a form and checks a box stating he is a citizen; he is then registered and in most states does not have to show any ID to vote. But no one checks if the person registering to vote is indeed a citizen.

The potential for fraud is not trivial, as federal privacy laws prevent cross-checking voter registration rolls with immigration records. Nevertheless, a 1997 congressional investigation found that "4,023 illegal voters possibly cast ballots in (a) disputed House election" in California. After 9/11, the Justice Department found that eight of the 19 hijackers were registered to vote.

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