Driver’s Licenses a Presidential Campaign Issue?

At least before September 11, 2001, it would have been hard to believe that driver’s licenses could be a national political issue.  However, the politics of immigration combined with the 2008 Presidential elections, have thrust the issue of driver’s license eligibility of undocumented immigrants, into the national presidential spotlight. 

We reported yesterday on the how the issue of driver’s licenses came up in the Ddemocratic Presidential debate on Tuesday night.  It seems fair to say that many observers questioned Senator Hillary Clinton’s response to the question about the NY licensing plan as well as her overall performance in the debate.  On Wednesday, she issued a statement yesterday seeking to clarify her position on New York Governor Spitzer’s compromise on licenses with the Department of Homeland Security.  According to the Washington Post, the statement said that “Senator Clinton supports governors like Governor Spitzer who believe they need such a measure to deal with the crisis caused by this administration’s failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform. As President, her goal will be to pass comprehensive immigration reform that would make this unnecessary.”  Talk radio — I listened myself to a radio show in Houston last night — is lambasting Clinton on the issue.

We will see where driver’s licenses take us.  To this point, the candidates are divided on the issue.  I fear, however, where driver’s licenses will lead.

KJ