Spitzer Pulling the Plug on His Driver's License Plan
After weeks of criticism, Eliot Spitzer is backing away from his controversial driver’s license policy, according to a spokeswoman for the governor and lawmakers who have received calls tonight from the governor’s aides.
“The governor deserves a lot of credit for attempting to address the issue,” said state Senator Jose Serrano, Jr. of the Bronx, who vociferously defended Spitzer’s plan to give driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.
The battle “exposed so many of the fear mongers and hate mongers in this state,” Serrano said.
When reached for comment, Spitzer spokeswoman Christine Anderson emailed to confirm the governor was withdrawing the plan.
In recent days, Mr. Spitzer had hinted that his support for the plan was conditional.
Since he introduced the plan on September 21, it has transformed Spitzer into a lightning of criticism for local Republicans and national commentators who said the licenses would allow would-be terrorists to move about the country undetected. Recently, Spitzer modified the plan to introduce two other forms of identification available only to citizens which could be used for crossing borders and boarding planes.
Democrats around the state in last week’s elections either backed away from the policy or actively campaigned against it. On the presidential trail, Hillary Clinton came under fire for repeatedly not saying whether she supported the measure.
“I will not blame the governor for trying to where many others would not even try,” Serrano said. “Fear is a very powerful tool to divide.”
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 47.7
- 43.8
- Obama +3.9
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 54.3
- 34.4
- +19.9
- McCain
- 51.7
- 36.3
- +15.4
When an elected representative makes an utterly stupid comment like the one below, they should be voted out of office.
“I will not blame the governor for trying to where many others would not even try,” Serrano said. “Fear is a very powerful tool to divide.”
What an IDIOT! I cannot believe the people in the Bronx voted this moron into office!
What an effin coward. Great job on completely shattering what started out as a good idea while using up all your political capital and giving the hate-mongering Republicans a big win.
Spitzer continues to prove that the NY voters are some of the dumbest in the country for electing such an amateur to the position.
So, Serrano paints any who object to this legistlation as "fear-mongers and hate-mongers". Charming. This would then apply to over 70% of the people of New York. Way to go, Ser-ran-o!
I'm saddened Spitzer has dropped the plan. Anyway, I can understand the heat from the right wing. San Francisco has just passed a similar ID card (though not eligible for driving) for its undocumented workers and immigrants. I think the fear-mongers or the xenophobes had a field day.
There was a time in the early Koch Administration when Friedman, who was boss of The Bronx, had Jose Serrano the Father aced out of becoming Bronx President. Serrano Senior then adolpted a thinly veiled anti-Semitic, anti-White, Left wing radical political stance that continues with the son.
I always hoped first Serrano the Father then Freddy Ferrer would turn into successful Mayors of the City of New York. Neither happened because of their own failings, not others. They, like David Dinkins, blame all their failures on others and never look at their own bad decisions and judgements.
This is another young anti-Semitic, anti-White jerk like Barron, Perkins, you know the list. Best just ignore them