Thread: NY: Driver's license plan could hurt Dems in local election

Driver's license plan could hurt Democrats in local elections
By VALERIE BAUMAN

Associated Press Writer

4:39 PM EST, November 5, 2007

ALBANY, N.Y.

A flier shows a menacing man in a turban, his face obscured as he holds an assault style rifle over his shoulder. On another page, a New York driver's license bears the photograph of a glowering man wearing a traditional Arab headdress.

The flier was distributed by Monroe County Republicans to warn voters in bold red letters that "Democrat county legislators want to make it easier for illegals and terrorists to get driver's licenses!"

As local politicians and their opponents gear up for an off-year election, Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to give illegal immigrants driver's licenses has made its way to the forefront of the debate from Buffalo to Long Island. There are no statewide offices up for election this year but several local races could be affected by the contentious license plan, from county clerks to supervisors to county legislatures.

Democrats in Rochester triumphed in a minor victory Monday when they won a fair election complaint filed against the Republicans for the flier, which warned voters that "illegals could even get welfare benefits, costing taxpayers millions."

"The fact that the Republicans are trying to turn this into a terrorism issue ... is absolutely outrageous," said Ted Nixon, a Democratic candidate for Monroe County Legislature. "It's racial stereotyping and it has no place at all in the political discussion."

The decision from the Fair Election Practices Committee, which arbitrates complaints about Monroe County elections, will have little impact before Tuesday's elections. The flier is stamped with "Postmaster: Please deliver by November 3, 2007."

"They did it so late in the game as to render any kind of response on our part obviously impossible," said Democratic Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, who is also the chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Committee.

But many Republicans in Monroe County maintain it is a partisan issue.

"We think the Democrats are putting us at risk for someone who is an illegal immigrant or a potential terrorist _ not that they are the same thing _ to harm our communities," said Noah Lebowitz, the executive director of the Monroe County Republican Party.

Under Spitzer's plan, New York will produce one ID that will be as secure as a passport and is intended for people who soon will need to meet such requirements, even for a short drive to Canada.

A second version will meet new federal standards of the Real ID Act, a law designed to make it much harder for illegal immigrants or would-be terrorists to obtain licenses.

A third type of license will be available to undocumented immigrants. Spitzer has said this ID will make the state more secure by bringing those people "out of the shadows" and into American society, and by lowering auto insurance rates.

When the county put together local legislation opposing Spitzer's plan, it passed 20-9. Only three Democrats voted against Spitzer, and they were all involved in elections this year.

In Monroe County, politicians who aren't even running have jumped in the debate. Monroe County Clerk Cheryl DiNolfo and Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn have both recorded phone messages that ring voters to tell them it is dangerous to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

"If a New Yorker opposes the governor's plan ... they should vote Republican because the Democrats in the state of New York are supporting an ill-gotten plan that threatens not only the state of New York, but our country," DiNolfo said.

Farther west, Erie County Clerk challenger Bill O'Loughlin, a Republican, took out a full-page color ad in Monday's Buffalo News that emphasized his stance against driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

His opponent, Democratic incumbent Kathleen Hochul, 49, has said she is opposed to Spitzer's plan, despite being appointed to her position by the governor.

"I appreciate his confidence in me, but now I work for the people of Erie County," she said.

She said that Republicans can't argue that Democrats are siding with Spitzer, because so many have spoken out against the driver's license issue.

On Long Island, Republican Joseph Belesi is trying to replace incumbent David L. Mejias in the Nassau County Legislature. If he wins, it would swing control to Republicans.

Belesi said the license issue is playing a major role in the elections this year, because it resonates with constituents. A state poll taken at the end of October showed more than 70 percent of New Yorkers opposed Spitzer on the plan.

"Under the current plan, Osama bin Laden could probably get a license in New York state," Belesi said.

Mejias did not return calls Monday.

Copyright © 2007, The Associated Press

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ ... 7546.story

"The fact that the Republicans are trying to turn this into a terrorism issue ... is absolutely outrageous," said Ted Nixon, a Democratic candidate for Monroe County Legislature. "It's racial stereotyping and it has no place at all in the political discussion."

Great, more racial slinging from the dems. No surprise here.
DO ANY OF YOU NEW YORK DEMS REMEMBER THAT AT LEAST SIX OF THE HI-JACKERS FOR 9/11 HAD VIOLATED IMMIGRATION LAWS? And that they had driver's licenses because NY doesn't require an SSN for their licenses?

You think of all places, the state of NY would have learned. But I guess money is more important than human life. Shame on you!

Originally Posted by sippy

"The fact that the Republicans are trying to turn this into a terrorism issue ... is absolutely outrageous," said Ted Nixon, a Democratic candidate for Monroe County Legislature. "It's racial stereotyping and it has no place at all in the political discussion."

Great, more racial slinging from the dems. No surprise here.
DO ANY OF YOU NEW YORK DEMS REMEMBER THAT AT LEAST SIX OF THE HI-JACKERS FOR 9/11 HAD VIOLATED IMMIGRATION LAWS? And that they had driver's licenses because NY doesn't require an SSN for their licenses?

You think of all places, the state of NY would have learned. But I guess money is more important than human life. Shame on you!

Sure they do but why should that stop them from pandering for hispanic votes? They have visions of all those illegals going to the poll and voting Democrat.

"We think the Democrats are putting us at risk for someone who is an illegal immigrant or a potential terrorist _ not that they are the same thing _ to harm our communities," said Noah Lebowitz, the executive director of the Monroe County Republican Party.

I wouldn't say ALL democrats, but I would say that the majority of democrats are putting Americans at risk.
What is the definition of a "potential terrorist"? Is it an illegal alien that has the "potential" to become a terrorist?