Obama takes big risk on driver's license issue

[boston bean]

01-28) 04:00 PST Washington -- Sen. Barack Obama easily won the African American vote in South Carolina, but to woo California Latinos, where he is running 3-to-1 behind rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, he is taking a giant risk: spotlighting his support for the red-hot issue of granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

It's a huge issue for Latinos, who want them. It's also a huge issue for the general electorate, which most vehemently does not. Obama's stand could come back to haunt him not only in a general election, but with other voters in California, where driver's licenses for illegal immigrants helped undo former Gov. Gray Davis.

Clinton stumbled into that minefield in a debate last fall and quickly backed off. First she suggested a New York proposal for driver's licenses for illegal immigrants might be reasonable. Then she denied endorsing the idea, and later came out against them.

Asked directly about the issue now, her California campaign spokesman said Clinton "believes the solution is to pass comprehensive immigration reform."

"Barack Obama has not backed down" on driver's licenses for undocumented people, said Federico Peña, a former Clinton administration Cabinet member and Denver mayor now supporting Obama. "I think when the Latino community hears Barack's position on such an important and controversial issue, they'll understand that his heart and his intellect is with Latino community."

Obama's intention is to draw distinctions between himself and Clinton on what are otherwise indistinguishable positions on immigration. Both have adopted the standard Democratic approach of favoring tougher enforcement along with earned legalization.

The Illinois senator is differentiating himself in three key areas: driver's licenses, a promise to take up immigration reform his first year in office, and his background as the son of an immigrant (his father was Kenyan) and a community organizer in Chicago.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/28/MNH1UL57Q.DTL

[On the Road]

1. I Agree -- This May Help in the California Primary

but will be a big negative in the general election.

[JackintheGreen]

6. Very true, but out of curiousity

how many of us on DU support the idea (without necessarily supporting Obama)?

I do.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

14. I do too.

Anybody who is driving on our roads should have to have a license. And it's a way to start bringing some of them out of the shadows.
I come to this conclusion after two incidents. First, riding with a visitor from Australia. She presented her Aussie driver's license and was given a temp US license without ever having to prove she could navigate the different traffic laws.
She never should have been on our roads. :scared:
Second, 15 years ago, a driver pulled out in front of me and we crashed. She was illegal and had no insurance, but she did have a license. As a result, I was able to find her, and in the end got my damages paid for.

I think it's just a totally separate issue from immigration. :shrug:

edit: missing word :eyes:

[denem]

19. I can tell you as an Australia living in the US

when I got on the roads, every one of my driver's reflexes was wrong, except stopping at red lights. I got a license straight off. No way should that have happened. I needed a course. Lucky nobody got hurt, including me.

AS for the center suicide lane, what knucklehead thought that up?

[Tarc]

20. I do not support the idea at all

[On the Road]

I Don't Hate Illegal Immigrants,

but it really is an inconsistent policy -- denying legal status but approving liscences.

Maybe the answer us approving international licences obtained in Latin America for driving on US roads. That qualifies the vehicle operator without giving US government approval.

[On the Road]

24. I Don't Hate Illegal Immigrants,

but it really is an inconsistent policy -- denying legal status but approving liscences.

Maybe the answer us approving international licences obtained in Latin America for driving on US roads. That qualifies the vehicle operator without giving US government approval.

[Skidmore]

2. So, does this mean that we will start hearing Clinton talking points that

rival anything Pat Buchanan or Lou Dobbs could crank out? This should be interesting.

[wndycty]

5. Yes, lets talk about this. . .it puts Hillary's flip/flop out there

:kick:

[thereismore]

22. They will do it. Without any subtlety this time. nt

[OHdem10]

3. The risk is not in the primary--the risks are in the General Election

[MH1]

4. I thought New Mexico did that and it worked out fine. nt

[ecstatic]

7. A strategy that will fail. Remember Nevada?

Latinos went to Clinton, whose support for such measures is dubious, at best. It wouldn't have mattered, except that the media kept emphasizing how each group voted.

[jasmine621]

8. I bet Lou Dobbs won't even mention this. Only if Hillary said it. nt

[Barack_America]

9. This will also be the issue that the GOP tries to push in the GE.

It's the only "major" issue where their position seems to be more in line with a majority of Americans.

The Democrats own them on Iraq and the economy.

[Windy]

10. Not if its McCain... n/t

[Barack_America]

12. True that....

Sometimes I forget about McCain's "black sheep" immigration policies.

Hmm, in that case I guess the GOP is truly screwed in this election. Sweet!

[UALRBSofL]

11. With The Debate Coming Up

I wonder if this issue will be brought up that Barack is suddenly supporting this??

[Barack_America]

13. This is an important issue in many Feb. 5th states, so I hope it is raised.

It's also the position of Obama's that I feel most "iffy" on and I'd personally like to hear more about it.

And, FYI, he isn't "suddenly" supporting this. It has been his opinion for quite some time.

[pampango]

15. Does this mean that Hillary has "triangulated" on driver's licenses

for illegal immigrants and we are wondering whether Obama will do the same or stick to his words? I see the political wisdom in Obama backing off his position on this as Hillary did, but, if he wants to be perceived as a "different kind of politician", he should tread carefully at adjusting his position to what the polls say is popular.

[calico1]

16. One should not assume that every latino voter

is in favor of drivers licenses for illegals. Latino voteers aside, this is also risky because it could turn off non latino voters who are not in favor of licenses for illegals.

[Barack_America]

21. I don't think that he's doing it in an attempt to pander to Latinos...

I believe his rationale, from what I've read, is more to try to get more insured drivers on the road.

But, like I said above, I'm iffy on his position here, so I'd definitely like to hear more about it.

[calico1]

23. It sounds like the reason Gov. Spitzer

wanted to do the same. But the problem is a lot of people don't see it that way. All Hell broke loose in NY when he proposed this and he had to back down. That is how hot this issue is. So that's why I say it can be risky.

[mtnsnake]

17. In a state senate race in northern NY, a Democrat is getting raked over the coals for this

Darrel Aubertine, a good man, is running for State Senate in a contest to fill the seat of Republican Asshole Jim Wright who is quitting.

At one time, Aubertine sided with Governor Spitzer on the drivers license thing, probably out of loyalty to his friend and Governor.

Anyway, you should hear some of the rightwing radio ads that his repuke advirsary is running. Those vicious ads make Aubertine sound as if he is a traitor to his country for siding with Spitzer at the time on the drivers licenses issue. The Repukes are like fucking maggots, scum of the earth. They'll pick any opportunity to breed hatred at the slightest drop of a pin.

[Old Codger]

18. One more

reason to vote against him.