Will Hillary Abandon Spitzer Over Illegal Immigrant Driver's Licenses?
The Ship Is Going Down - But Who Will Stay Aboard?
By Dan McLaughlin Posted in Eliot Spitzer | Hillary Clinton | Immigration | State Politics — Comments (4) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
I've written previously here and here about NY Governor Eliot Spitzer's foolhardy and politically disastrous plan to give driver's licenses to illegal aliens, and NY Senator Hillary Clinton's evasive response to questions about the plan that "I know exactly what Governor Spitzer's trying to do and it makes a lot of sense, because he's trying to get people out of the shadows" and "it's unfortunate that too many people are using this to demagogue the issue," wink, wink, while, as Jim Geraghty notes, sending her chief strategist out to argue that the families of illegal immigrants "may be the most powerful political force in the country," nudge, nudge.
But just because a Clinton takes a non-position doesn't mean it can't change, and the NY Post's veteran Albany correspondent, Frederic Dicker, reports that a panicked NY Democratic Party is planning to throw Spitzer under the, er, steamroller - and some believe that Sen. Clinton may end up getting on board with that effort:
Read On...
Top Democrats fear that Gov. Spitzer's controversial plan to grant driver's licenses to illegal aliens has endangered their party's candidates across the state -- and even threatens the presidential prospects of Hillary Rodham Clinton, The Post has learned.
A half-dozen senior Democrats told The Post that Spitzer's licensing plan is producing what one called "a mass exodus" away from the party's candidates that may lead to unexpected losses in November's local elections.
They are also warning that growing voter unhappiness with Spitzer on the licensing and other issues - illustrated in several recent polls - could carry into next year and end the Democrats' hope of winning control of the GOP-dominated state Senate.
"The driver's-license issue is a killer for us in the suburbs," a senior party strategist said. . . .
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Another senior Democrat predicted that Sen. Clinton, who has repeatedly refused to say whether she backs Spitzer's plan, would soon be forced to reject it.
"The immigrant license issue is one of the most politically dangerous in the nation, and Hillary will have to come out against it," the Democrat said.
H/T Geraghty. Stay tuned.
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I think that is the debate scheduled when I win the Powerball, a cure if found for cancer and Osama turns himself in and apologize for his atrocities?
Of course her opponents dare not disparage their Queen, less they risk not being appointed to her Royal Court and face the scorn of the media.
In this case, Hillary is irrelevant. She is not in a position to do anything about this issue. The candidates in the field will be talking about the Governor and linking their opponents to him. The only way Clinton makes a difference is if she gets Spitzer to repudiate his position and get the Democrats off this issue.
If that doesn't happen, I will appreciate Spitzer for one reason, he will have saved Republican control of the NY State Senate. We were almost sure to lose that body - where our majority continues to shrink - in 2008. Spitzer has handed us the key to possibly regaining some of the suburban seats, especially on Long Island, that have been lost or are wavering.
That's the title I gave to this post. If they continue ignoring We The People, we should involuntarily retire them next November.
Clinton will manage to get on both sides of the issue, and the complicit media will let her get away with it.