Quote:
KUCINICH: I take issue with your description of people being illegal immigrants.
There aren't any illegal human beings. That's number one.
(APPLAUSE)
KUCINICH:
Number two, they are undocumented. I believe that the best way to do it -- thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
I believe the best way to deal with this is cancel NAFTA and renegotiate the trade agreement with Mexico.
(APPLAUSE)
BLITZER: Let me re-phrase the question, Congressman.
If undocumented people in this country should be able to get driver's licenses...
KUCINICH:
You give people a path to legalization, and then they can be legal and have their driver's license. That's the way to work it.
BLITZER: What about in the absence of comprehensive immigration reform?
KUCINICH: You know what?
You give people a path to legalization and you work to make sure that you don't criminalize their status any further. Again, I take exception to the way you framed that question.
Didn't he mean, "You give people a path to documentation, and then they can be documented?"
Quote:
EDWARDS: If we don't have comprehensive...
BLITZER: In the absence of comprehensive immigration reform -- doesn't look like it's going to happen any time soon -- do you support driver's licenses for illegal immigrants?
EDWARDS: No, but I don't accept the proposition that we're not going to have comprehensive immigration reform.
(APPLAUSE)
What I do support, and what I will do as president of the United States, is move this country toward comprehensive immigration reform. And anyone who's on the path to earning American citizenship should be able to have a driver's license.
(APPLAUSE)
BLITZER: Senator Dodd?
DODD: Well, it's important to put it in context. It's obviously -- look, clarity is important here. The American people, in a debate like this, want clarity here. Certainly, the whole idea of getting immigration reform is something I strongly support.
But I believe part of our job is to discourage those who want to come here -- I understand why they want to come, but coming illegally creates serious problems -- four to 500,000.
BLITZER: So, is that a yes or a no?
DODD: No, my belief is that giving a -- as I've said in the very beginning here, I think drivers' licenses are the wrong thing to be doing, in terms of attracting people to come here as undocumented.
BLITZER: All right. Thank you.
Senator Obama, yes or no?
OBAMA: Yes.
BLITZER: OK.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA: I'll tell you, I am going to be fighting for comprehensive immigration reform, and we shouldn't pose the question that, somehow, we can't achieve that.
I believe that the American people desperately want it; that's what I'm going to be fighting for as president.
(APPLAUSE)
BLITZER: Senator Clinton?
CLINTON: No.
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BLITZER: Governor?
RICHARDSON: Well, my answer is yes, and I did it. You know why? Because the Congress, and I notice Barack mentioned the president, but the Congress also failed miserably to pass comprehensive immigration.
RICHARDSON: And we need to have it in this country. I did it four years ago. My legislature sent me a bill. I signed it. My law- enforcement people said it's a matter of public safety.
What we need is public safety, a reduction in traffic fatalities. We wanted more people to be insured. When we started with this program, 33 percent of all New Mexicans were uninsured. Today, it's 11 percent.
BLITZER: All right.
RICHARDSON: Traffic fatalities have gone down. It's a matter of public safety. States have to act when the federal government and the Congress doesn't act. The answer is comprehensive immigration. The answer is...
BLITZER: All right.
RICHARDSON: The answer is -- secure the borders, a stronger relationship with Mexico. Those that knowingly hire illegal workers...
BLITZER: All right.
RICHARDSON:... should be punished. And a path to legalization. That is the solution.
BLITZER: Senator Biden?
BIDEN: No.
(LAUGHTER)
There you have it, the Dems final answer on the issue. Hillary finally decided no - for now. And what does Dodd mean by "I think drivers' licenses are the wrong thing to be doing,