Oh, what a dilemma for Sen. Clinton.
On the one hand are those polls showing that even a majority of local Democrats – not to mention an overwhelming 72 percent of all New Yorkers – are dead-set against Gov. Spitzer‘s plan to hand out driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.
On the other hand are all those Democratic special-interest groups she needs to court – the hard left, immigration activists, Hispanics – who think illegals are entitled to regular licenses, with no restrictions whatsoever.
And then there’s her strongest White House rival, Barack Obama: He endorses the Spitzer plan wholeheartedly.
What’s an overly cautious presidential candidate to do?
If you’re Hillary Clinton, there’s only one possible course of action: waffle, double-talk – and desperately try to change the subject.
Which is precisely what she did in Tuesday night’s Democratic debate when pressed on the issue – as the other candidates were quick to gleefully point out.
And what one of her spokesmen did shortly afterward when he tried to explain her debate remarks.
And what Hillary herself did again yesterday, after nearly 24 hours of turmoil – when her campaign released a statement intended to “clarify” her position.
It read: “Sen. Clinton supports governors like Gov. Spitzer who believe they need such a measure to deal with the crisis caused by this administration’s failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform.”
Which means she stands – where, exactly?
Does she support the Spitzer plan?
Or does she oppose it?
Your guess is as good as anyone else’s.
Most of the other Democratic candidates didn’t have a problem taking sides: Obama is for it; Chris Dodd is against it.
But Hillary? She just won’t say, one way or the other.
As Rudy Giuliani noted yesterday: “This is not one of those difficult issues of war and peace and diplomacy that she usually often hides behind to have two or three different positions. This one you either know the answer to this, it’s yes or no, and then we can debate it.”
No wonder the folks at 9/11 Families for a Secure America have publicly offered a $1,000 cash prize to “any American who can get a straight answer out of Sen. Hillary Clinton on whether or not she supports” driver’s licenses for illegal aliens, as proposed by Gov. Spitzer.
They can rest easy: We suspect they won’t have to pay out the money anytime soon.
If ever.