Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama on Immigration
With all the attention the Republican presidential candidates have paid to illegal immigration over the past year, it’s been on the back burner for Democratic co-frontrunners Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
A reader recently wrote and asked how Clinton and Obama differ - if at all - on immigration issues and where they fall in the spectrum. As with many of their political positions, the differences aren’t too dramatic.
Here are some of the things we came up with when sizing up the top Democrats’ immigration positions, starting with Barack Obama …
- Obama has consistently said he supports a guest worker program.
- Obama has said he “will not support any bill that does not provide [an] earned path to citizenship for the undocumented population.”
- Obama does not believe that 12 million illegal immigrants can be sent back. He said “It’s not going to happen. We’re not going to go round them up … We should give them a pathway to citizenship.”
- In September 2006, Obama voted for the Secure Fence Act, authorizing the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.
- In January 2008, perhaps in an effort to attract Lation votes, Barack Obama campaigned to grant drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.
Here are some notable Hillary Clinton immigration policy notes …
- On March 8, 2006, Hillary Clinton criticized H.R. 4437, a bill passed by the House of Representatives in December 2005 that would impose harsher penalties for undocumented workers. Clinton called the measure “a rebuke to what America stands for” and said it would be “an unworkable scheme to try to deport 11 million people.” She believed the solution to illegal immigration problems was to make “a path to earned citizenship for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes, respecting the law, and willing to meet a high bar for becoming a citizen.”
- On March 27, 2006, Hillary Clinton again vowed to block the bill, saying “[The bill] is certainly not in keeping with my understanding of the Scriptures because this bill would literally criminalize the Good Samaritan and probably even Jesus himself.” The bill was not passed by the U.S. Senate.
- In September 2006, Clinton voted for the Secure Fence Act, authorizing the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.
- In May-June 2007, Clinton cast votes (in terms of amendments and cloture) in support of the high-profile, compromise-based but controversial, comprehensive immigration reform bill known as the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007.
- On October 30, 2007, Clinton committed support of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s plan to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. Two minutes later, she recanted the position and blamed the Bush administration for not passing immigration reform. The following day, she clarified her position in a prepared statement by coming out in support of Spitzer’s bill. Two weeks later, after Spitzer abandoned the plan, Hillary Clinton reversed her position on the issue once again, stating: “I support Governor Spitzer’s decision today to withdraw his proposal.”
NATIONAL
February 21st, 2008 at 10:43 am
So in other words neither one of our candidates will do anything to stop the overpopulaion of immigrants to our country. In 50 years our country will be 75% Spanish speaking and will become a second Mexico. This is rediculous for my grandchildren. They will become the white minority. What will this do to wages? Housing? School systems. I think the illegals should be sent packing and go through proper channels. Have a limit of new citizens and not be given licenses to drive. In NC every month and illegal drunk immigrant is responsible for a vehicular death.
Our schools are suffering and tax payers are having to pay for new schools while the people who are filling them do not even pay income tax. We’re on such water restrictions in Raleigh that to add more and more people here is making us all suffer
February 21st, 2008 at 11:17 pm
The Democrat Party is the party of entitlements and irresponsibility. And a path to citizenship for all illegal aliens (I refuse to call them “undocumented workers”) is nothing more than rewarding more illegal or immoral behavior.
You forted the law and came here illegally to have your child? No problem… Stay and vote Democrat, because we’ll give you a path to citizenship while you pay us a small fine! You accidentally got pregnant because you didn’t use any form of birth control? No problem, you can have an abortion very late in your second trimester! You had 4 kids with a deadbeat dad that doesn’t want anything to do with you? That’s all right- we have WIC and Medicare so have another one if you want! You let a lender loan you an adjustable rate moorage that was more money than your house was worth? Heck, we’ll just give you delinquents extra money to pay your bills! You got fired from your job due to your crappy work ethic and now you don’t have health insurance? No problem- universal healthcare for everyone!
Seeing the pattern yet…
February 25th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I like eggs…
February 25th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Me too!!! Oh my gosh, we should get together sometime!!! We could have and egg party!!! How fun!!! I like mine scrambled and poached. How about you?
February 25th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Are you gay?
February 25th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
No comment. Are you hot though?
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:54 pm
So this means they both agree on turning illegal immigrants…legall?
March 4th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Who are you to judge the illegality status of these undocumented workers? Were you yourself not brought here illegally in one form or another? (Think carefully before you answer because you answer is in high probability “Yes”). How is that you ask? Does the word “colonization and conquest” of Native land ring any bells? Therefore, unless you are a Native American, you have no right to judge anyone.
June 10th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
It is sad to think that this country is full of people who only think about one side of the story. People who use stereotypes and don’t stop to think and examine why these people are here. If racial issues is what you are concerned of, than the Civil Rights Movement taught you nothing. These people are not here to have an American child, or free healthcare, or get drunk, they are here to work. And yes, who are you to judge them? Unless you are a Native American, you should not be judging these people. Take some time to read about the policies of their countries. The Mexican government would be a nice place to begin with, just read about why the Mexican people are leaving their country and venturing into one that is not welcoming them.