Video: Hillary Clinton flip flops around Eliot Spitzer’s licenses-for-illegals plan Updates and additions
posted at 11:34 pm on October 30, 2007 by Bryan
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Let’s call this Exhibit A in the case against Hillary Clinton for president. In the following clip we see her radicalism, her shrillness, her inability to finesse a tough question, and her condescension to her opponents. Tim Russert asks if she still thinks that NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plan to provide drivers licenses for the state’s illegal aliens “makes a lot of sense.” She says yes, then no, then dodges a couple of bullets from Chris Dodd, who came off sounding quite reasonable on the question, blames Bush and comes off sounding like a thin-skinned harpy.
The proposal to grant drivers licenses to illegal aliens is a radical one. Incredibly, only Chris Dodd, Bill Richardson and Barack Obama raised their hands when Russert asks whether illegal aliens should not be able to get drivers licenses. And Obama and Richardson were pretty noodlewristed about raising their hands. The vast majority of the New York voters oppose it, and even 55% of Democrats across the country oppose extending benefits to illegal aliens, but the majority of Democrat candidates for president are fine with it. They’re not only out of step with the American people; they’re out of step with their own party, and in one of their stronghold states.
And Hillary Clinton is leading the way.
Beyond that, Americans really ought to ask ourselves: Do we want four and possibly eight years of that voice on TV every single night, braying from the bully pulpit and weighing in on the issues of the day?
Update: Fishwrap quotes this post alongside Rush Limbaugh. Well, that’s just an honor.
Update: Over at Ace of Spades, Jack M. calls this clip “the most important two minutes of the debate.” I think that’s right. Hillary put herself on the losing side of a major issue here, and then showed no skill at all in trying to extricate herself from her unpopular and unwise position. This’ll hurt her. As Jack adds:
Which makes me smile.
More: Suitably Flip is suitably amused.
Russert went on to press her about whether she does or does not support the plan to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, something she’s explicitly supported in recent days in New Hampshire. Ever resolute, she went on to firmly declare that she both does and does not support such a plan, and furthermore, that she both did and did not ever say such a thing in New Hampshire.
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Fixed.
amerpundit on October 30, 2007 at 11:35 PM
Or, alternatively, hippie.
amerpundit on October 30, 2007 at 11:36 PM
The illegal immigration issue has the potential to totally sink the democratic ship
GogglesPisano on October 30, 2007 at 11:39 PM
I hope we choose someone who isn’t a total squish on immigration, its a huge winner for us if we don’t, and a reminder to the elite of the GOP just whos party it is.
Bad Candy on October 30, 2007 at 11:42 PM
Er, its a winner if we pick someone who isn’t an immigration squish.
Bad Candy on October 30, 2007 at 11:42 PM
Hillary and Crew are in zero gravity.
(Surprised the moderators didn’t ask if UFO’s should get unique license plates.)
The more they talk, the smaller they appear.
profitsbeard on October 30, 2007 at 11:47 PM
As that overrated chef in New Orleans would
Bam!
EricPWJohnson on October 30, 2007 at 11:53 PM
They are cutting my lawn and cleaning my house
They are sleeping with my husband and daughter and the Bush daughters too
what is the problem?
400lb Gorilla on October 30, 2007 at 11:55 PM
She won’t even reject something that is hugely unpopular among her constituents.
On another note…
Anyone dressing up as Hillary tomorrow?
Zach on October 30, 2007 at 11:58 PM
Does putting lipstick on a gorilla count ?
William Amos on October 31, 2007 at 12:00 AM
A shrill shill.
SouthernGent on October 31, 2007 at 12:01 AM
As other posts have shown people overwhelmingly opposed the dream act, how could these people suggest that with that rejection level their is any real base support for comprehensive immigration reform with any type of yet another amnesty attached.
Amnesty has failed each time it’s tried. What is it 6 or 8 times now we have passed selective amnesties and the problem has only grown.
If it never fixed anything before on multiple tries, how can they even suggest it will solve anything by doing it yet another time which will only be a way station till the next one.
CommentGuy on October 31, 2007 at 12:01 AM
I’ve got whip lash from that turn around by Hillary…
d1carter on October 31, 2007 at 12:05 AM
wow Bryan you are working late .
you know more people will see this here then watched pmsnbc.
Mojack420 on October 31, 2007 at 12:14 AM
I hope so. The RNC needs to get this clip out far and wide.
Bryan on October 31, 2007 at 12:15 AM
Bwahahahaha!!!!
Cut and print! This needs to be run on a loop 24/7 for the next year. That woman is a shameless skank.
csdeven on October 31, 2007 at 12:17 AM
Nothing quite like trying to triangulate to both sides of an issue. She’ll say anything to get elected.
stonemeister on October 31, 2007 at 12:22 AM
she needs an exorcism. the real hillary is coming out while the camera is on. kinda arrogant wouldn’t you agree?
Griz on October 31, 2007 at 12:31 AM
“This administration has failed”
I remember back before Bush was president. There were almost no illegal immigrants, and certainly none driving. Or none driving without a license. Or with one. The only time this problem existed is now, and now it is really too late to deal with it. We must capitulate. Because of Bush. It just makes sense.
MayBee on October 31, 2007 at 12:32 AM
Still running against Bush.
Kini on October 31, 2007 at 12:34 AM
What a load of commitment-free double speak. Does the world’s smartest woman ever listen to her performances, or is she so coddled by sycophants that she’s not aware of how idiotic she sounds?
T J Green on October 31, 2007 at 12:37 AM
well they will have to because we all know the msm will bury this .
Mojack420 on October 31, 2007 at 12:39 AM
Wow…FUMBLE!!! Oh boy, wait for the drive bys to go into full CHA* mode tomorrow. This will be the biggest reclaimation project since “Raise the Titanic”
By the way, just in case…CHA = Cover Her A$$…
Dirthead on October 31, 2007 at 12:44 AM
Think again, Mojack.
What does the MSM want in an election?
Down to the wire, neck and neck, photo finish.
Hillary was up by 33 points. Now, the MSM jumps on this, and by next week, Obama and Edwards are back in the game.
Watch it happen.
Ali-Bubba on October 31, 2007 at 12:46 AM
Did i hear that correctly: 3 separate and distinct i.d. cards for everyone in this country illegally????
In the name of St. Krickey and all that is holy upon this earth, how is THAT supposed to solve anything?????
Mike D. on October 31, 2007 at 12:54 AM
no offense to Teen NC… she’s got the excuse of age
but Hillary sounds just like her.. without the excuses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww
amend2 on October 31, 2007 at 12:54 AM
She can’t hide in there forever. When the pressures on she breaks character. I predict that as Hillary screws the pooch, more and more we will see her standing next to Bill and not saying a thing. He will deliver the speeches and she will smile and nod and wave.
ronsfi on October 31, 2007 at 12:56 AM
Dictionary definitions for harpy:
Thin-skinned harpy is the correct description.
slp on October 31, 2007 at 1:01 AM
At least she’d be doing something she’s actually qualified to do.
yo on October 31, 2007 at 1:07 AM
the whole trunk of a women part is still debatable
Mojack420 on October 31, 2007 at 1:07 AM
Hillary and preK
Connie on October 31, 2007 at 1:07 AM
Of course Hillary is for giving Illegals DLs. Illegals are all for giving Hillary money via straw donors
William Amos on October 31, 2007 at 1:13 AM
Ace also said:
Hillary must have missed the Rasmussen Reports. Lots of good statistics there, including this:
It’ll be interesting to see what she tries to do with her voting record.
INC on October 31, 2007 at 1:17 AM
What’s great about this is a small glimpse of the real Hillary was exposed by her own water boy on her own Soros minion network.
Russert will have his reeducation meeting in the morning.
Speakup on October 31, 2007 at 1:31 AM
In defense of Hillary, I will say that this is the best outfit I have seen her wear. She finally has on something that has gravitas as a suit and yet looks feminine. Someone from her campaign must have taken my advice from weeks ago.
That still doesn’t get rid of the bad gestures, bad voice, bad temper and bad ideas.
I was taken aback at how much she resembled Bubba towards the very end. There was something about her reaction that caught my eye that reminded my of the way he got so angry at Chris Wallace.
INC on October 31, 2007 at 1:32 AM
To be fair, that was Jack M. guest posting, making a rare transition from his usual creepy, awkward posts with poorly written prose and poetry about his love of FNC’s Suzanne Sena.
Bad Candy on October 31, 2007 at 1:34 AM
Sorry, didn’t catch that. I must have been reading too quickly.
INC on October 31, 2007 at 1:42 AM
And doesn’t that go for virtually every problem? The logic is irrefutable and the facts are self-evident. Time for all of us to register Democrat. I really can’t see why Hillary shouldn’t sweep all 50 states.
CK MacLeod on October 31, 2007 at 1:47 AM
Her two faced nature was on display it all it’s glorious hypocrisy.
csdeven on October 31, 2007 at 2:07 AM
Let me fix that for you …
The illegal immigration issue has
the potential tototally sinksunk theDemocraticRepublican ship.I wish people would stop pretending that this problem is caused by the Democratic Party. George Bush is the person currently fighting to the death to turn the U.S. into Aztlan.
It’s the GOP as much as anyone.
Gregor on October 31, 2007 at 2:14 AM
All I get at the link is: “We’re sorry. This video is no longer available”.
WTF??!!!!!!!!
Tuning Spork on October 31, 2007 at 2:22 AM
Nevermind. It’s back. :D
Tuning Spork on October 31, 2007 at 2:23 AM
Un.Real.
If the Glacier ends up being the Democratic front runner, may the opposing Republican candidate have a strategist on his team who gets his candidate to make Hillary angry and upset at every turn…at least if we can make her show her true
colorstemper, maybe the voting public will finally see her for the transparent political wh0re she is./Here’s hoping
Wanderlust on October 31, 2007 at 2:37 AM
You forgot to mention her 1980’s two tone mullet hairdo
abinitioadinfinitum on October 31, 2007 at 2:45 AM
Great post, Bryan, although I disagree with one point: at this stage in the game, we are well past exhibit A!
Dork B. on October 31, 2007 at 5:06 AM
Didn’t anyone find it a bit creepy that she won’t unseal her correspondence with her husband from the archives?
EricPWJohnson on October 31, 2007 at 5:17 AM
It wasn’t Jorge Bush who didn’t get the disasterous Amnesty Plan through Congress it was THE AMERICAN CITIZENS !
stenwin77 on October 31, 2007 at 6:46 AM
I have to wonder who is checking to see if anyone is a legal citizen to vote. All I have to do is sign the voting card at the booth. Looking at the old machines here in New York, and the way politics work, I am guessing no one is checking who is voting. I bet in some parts of the country, illegal aliens are a voting majority and no one gives a damn. You think an Andrew Coumo the AG is going to look into it? NOT. Nor do I think the Bush administration’s AG is going to do an investigation either. I am damn sure Congress isn’t going to hold hearings on the infiltration of illegals into our voting booths. The illegals put them there. (P.S. I think a good portion of San Francisco are Aliens, not from our planet or think they live in this country)
StuLongIsland on October 31, 2007 at 6:50 AM
She never answered, and they should have pounced upon that, persisted.
drjohn on October 31, 2007 at 7:13 AM
i would like to see a series of interviews where candidates would just have to answera list yes or no questions.
TheSitRep on October 31, 2007 at 7:35 AM
It was a real Hillary pile-on last night, a surprise from MSNBC. I hope alot of dopey dems watched it and realized what light weights she and Obama really are. Unless the Republicans screw up really badly I don’t see how we can lose with opposition like that.
ctmom on October 31, 2007 at 7:35 AM
Great analysis, Bryan, but your eyes must be a lot better than mine. Russert asked twice who wants to deny a DL to illegal aliens, and I still only see Dodd’s hand.
Unbelieveable. There’s your GOP generic campaign commercial, right there.
Jaibones on October 31, 2007 at 7:40 AM
This won’t even slow her down for two reasons:
1. Nobody watches these debates to learn anything new
2. Anyone who reads political blogs already know everything they need to know about her.
She could have gutted Chris Dodd on that stage (literally) and the press and her posse would have excused it as woman’s issues.
They will not be stopped in the primaries. If people seriously care about her not being the next President, it is going to have to be done in the general election.
sweeper on October 31, 2007 at 7:48 AM
Support for illegals has never been a GOP policy. It was promoted by the White House and segments of the Senate. The House GOP is overwhelmingly opposed to supporting illegals as is the base.
GogglesPisano on October 31, 2007 at 7:59 AM
No, my ankles are too skinny for that.
Kahuna on October 31, 2007 at 8:16 AM
She cannot take real questions. She is not used to this. Her strength does not lie in her ability to communicate or leadership skills,, not in her popularity, ideas or even all the money she can raise,, or even in her name or in her “secret police” or war room,, her strength lies in “perception” alone. The “perception” of invincibility, the “perception ” of being great, the “perception” of being the smartest person in the room, the perception that makes opponents tremble and afraid to confront her or pressure her with the truth. Like a small rodent oozing a stench keeping the lion a bay,, her aura of invincibility crumbles once cornered or pressed. Dodd could have finished her by making making a final remark about how she never answer questions, “Is it yes Mrs Clinton or is it no? We have listened to your responses but no one still knows whether you are for it or against it!” This woman is unstable. She was seething with rage and doing her best to hold it in. She is such a weak candidate. All this hype surrounding her and she is possibly the weakest candidate out there.
JellyToast on October 31, 2007 at 8:18 AM
As far as the archives go, it is fairly obvious what their intentions are.
After all, all they need do is send in Sandy Berger.
HonestConservative on October 31, 2007 at 8:20 AM
Caution: Billary is slippery as an eel. Think it’s call trananglation with herself.
Notice how it’s blame Bush, make Spitzer the target. She doesn’t have her own convictions.
Captain America on October 31, 2007 at 8:27 AM
You may be right, but this is something we haven’t seen from her. I am sure the dems will start hammering her on all these issues she hasn’t been prepared to answer.
Some one mentioned that Hillary is all about perception. True dat, and she can only pull that off if she is completely scripted.
csdeven on October 31, 2007 at 8:29 AM
“This is one of those issues where people like to play ‘gotcha’ . . . .”
Hey Hillary, Gotcha, dude!
srhoades on October 31, 2007 at 8:33 AM
If Russert had any gumballs he would have said “you still haven’t answered the question” until she did.
BacaDog on October 31, 2007 at 8:34 AM
She has no reason to be specific. She answered (didn’t answer) that question the same way she answers all difficult questions. Non committed. And an amazing thing happens. People who are for giving DL to illegals think that the answer was in their favor. And people who support her, who are against DLs believe they got the answer they needed also.
Before all the celebrating this morning, check the spin. The debate will be seen as sore loser men picking on the only female in the race.
And Hillary will come out the winner.
sweeper on October 31, 2007 at 8:35 AM
So was that a yes or a no? I never quite figured it out.
morganfrost on October 31, 2007 at 8:39 AM
From Drudge:
Clinton inner circle complains….
“‘UNFAIR’ MODERATOR TIM RUSSERT.”
Sounds like they can’t stand some uncontrolled and scripted questioning.
csdeven on October 31, 2007 at 8:43 AM
They’re already crying Russert was “belligerent…msp?). She’s gonna have to toughen up and quit whining when someone goes after her. As much as I think GWB has turned big time p—y on us, he does take boatloads of shots like a Man.
Rudy’s gonna kick her ass
LtE126 on October 31, 2007 at 8:45 AM
Politico agrees.
Why don’t I feel any sympathy at all for Hillary?
csdeven on October 31, 2007 at 8:56 AM
Hil: It makes a lot of sense.
Russert: Do you support it?
Hil: No. I never said I did.
Lord help us all.
petefrt on October 31, 2007 at 9:07 AM
Oh man…After seeing that clip…she is in a a ROUGH 12 months
“we should have passed comprehensive immigration reform”
What about the 80% of the public that was against it? Good luck with the independent voters now
GogglesPisano on October 31, 2007 at 9:08 AM
Heard that there was a contract out for both Dodd and Russert!
Golfer_75093 on October 31, 2007 at 9:12 AM
I don’t disagree, but follow this out a bit. There are two more dem debates. First, on Nov 15 with CNN. How do you think thats going to go? Russert won’t be there and you can bet that Hillary questions will all be gopher balls. After that the Dec 10 CBS debate will have an underlying theme of who wants to be VP. Between now and then the machine will make the right calibrations to ensure that this “ganging up thing” won’t happen again. Only Edwards and Obama are in (sometimes) double digit numbers. Of those two Edwards has nothing to lose so he’ll make the most noise but has zero credibility. Obama will soon make a decision to not hurt his future prospects by alienating the future king maker.
sweeper on October 31, 2007 at 9:16 AM
The only one who seems to have any sanity is Chris Dodd – and we know he’s not sane.
The DemocRATs will select the one who can lie the best and the slickest as their candidate, as usual. Hillary just needs more practice and coaching from Bill.
This is what we as a country get, after abandoning our Constitutional principles for over 40 years and deciding as a people that the purpose of government is to take care of us.
longbow on October 31, 2007 at 9:23 AM
Truer words have never been spoken
sweeper on October 31, 2007 at 9:28 AM
As said at Ace’s post: The really, really sweet part about her position is that it is emminently understandable by Every. Single. Voter. This isn’t some inside baseball crap about Dingell-Norwood or touchbacks or whatever.
It’s frickin’ drivers licenses. My drunk inbred third cousin can get his meth-addled noodle around this one. And vote appropriately.
Cuffy Meigs on October 31, 2007 at 9:42 AM
Well, that is one plausible scenario. I can’t wait to see if Obama gets a bump and Hillary loses some ground.
csdeven on October 31, 2007 at 9:44 AM
In defense of Hillary, I will say that this is the best outfit I have seen her wear.
INC on October 31, 2007 at 1:32 AM
Also in defense of Hillary, whoever did her makeup was great. The bags under her eyes were almost invisible.
Beyond that, Americans really ought to ask ourselves: Do we want four and possibly eight years of that voice on TV every single night, braying from the bully pulpit and weighing in on the issues of the day?
I’d take the voice if her ideas were sound. Bottom line for me, she wants way too much FEDERAL government intervention into everyone’s everyday life. She is truly frightening.
reine.de.tout on October 31, 2007 at 9:46 AM
Is it too much for us to ask to have candidates on either side of the isle pick a stance on the major issues of our time and tell us clearly what their stance is? I guess so. Hillary said both yes and no and was completely unclear and incoherant in regards to this issue. It was a simple question. Its a simple issue. We should force the candidates to check yes or no boxes. This is insane.
Zetterson on October 31, 2007 at 9:58 AM
So Hilly feels Spitzer’s “sense of desperation” with respect to illegal aliens, but not ours?
And BTW, since she used the phrase “undocumented worker” repeatedly, calling an illegal alien an “undocumented worker” is like calling a drug dealer and “unlicensed pharmacist.”
pubscout on October 31, 2007 at 10:07 AM
So did Charlie Rangel’s tax bomb get mentioned last night?
Of course not because that would REALLY expose Hillary.
stenwin77 on October 31, 2007 at 10:17 AM
So she’s saying that it’s an unfortunate but necessary thing to do. Not exactly a flip flop.
But the bottom line is that there are several options, and she chooses to support this one over the others.
Hence she is pro-aliens (but not the way Kucinich is ;)) yet is able to signal that she doesn’t like them too much.
AlexB on October 31, 2007 at 10:18 AM
I sure hope she ends up in some venue, jet-lagged with a bad cold, and some no-name reporter asks her a tough question, and snaps back with her personality from Dereliction of Duty and Hell To Pay, and says something like “How dare you! Do you think you’re going to have a job tomorrow!?!…”
I can hope.
eeyore on October 31, 2007 at 10:27 AM
Mitt Romney the other day nailed it, when he said that HClinton had never run anything, a company, a state~actually, as unofficial co-President with Bill she did run the country…right into the ground. She have earned credit for every Clinton era failure and misstep.
And I’m not talking about the ‘bimbo eruptions’.
The Clintons would have sunk our economy if not for the Computer Revolution changing the world in the ’90’s.
By the way, all of you who say that HClinton is too unlikeable to be elected-remember that Kerry is pretty unlikeable also, and he almost won.
Jump on board Hannity’s “Stop Hillary Express” for the good of the world.
Doug on October 31, 2007 at 10:32 AM
Unfortunately, it does not really matter that hillary Clinton is basically incompetent politically and lacks any personal skills with people, lacks the ability to empathize, and has positions vastly to the left of her husband. Without Bill Clinton, Hillary is a slighlty slimmer version of Rosie O’Donnell. So why doesn’t it matter? It doesn’t matter because the MSM, led by CBS News will campaign for Hillary relentlessly and attack any Republican candidate mercilessly. Katie Couric has virtually endorsed Hillary and Diane Sawyer and company will follow. Russert will be put in his place for his behavior at the debate and won’t do it again. Believe me, the Clintons know how to do an Imus on anybody in the media they don’t like. And before long, the MSM will spread the message: All women must vote for Hillary. Sadly it will work.
Larraby on October 31, 2007 at 10:42 AM
wow…. what a total failure on Hillary’s part. What the hell is wrong with these people? Why in the world would you give an illegal a license?
You are basically legitimizing them breaking the law! These politicians are out of their minds.
msipes on October 31, 2007 at 10:42 AM
Several million everyday illegally in New York driving
on our roads. ?
Several million ?
Texyank on October 31, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Maybe she knows something we don’t.
And you can count on every one of them obtaining insurance to protect you.
Democrats promise!
drjohn on October 31, 2007 at 10:53 AM
She lost it – complete with double, pointy jabbing index fingers, showing that rumored-and-about-to-be-famous temper — just like her husband. Surprised she didn’t take of her shoe and start banging it on the podium.
RushBaby on October 31, 2007 at 11:27 AM
Futurama ….
Press: “Madam President, the Iranians have nuked Israel and Iranian troops are crossing the border into Iraq. They have threatened to send a nuclear tipped ICBM into New York City if the U.S. interferes in the Middle East. What is your plan of action?”
Hillary: “I’m not going to answer that gotcha question.”
fogw on October 31, 2007 at 11:29 AM
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