Arnold against illegal immigrants getting a driv. lisc. : security threat

[cthrumatrix]

Gov. Davis Shifts on Licenses for Immigrants

By William Booth
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 6, 2003; Page A01

snip...

"Schwarzenegger said, "I'm pro-immigrant. But we should not invite fraud or undermine law enforcement. The federal government has expressed security concerns over this measure, and in a time of heightened national security, we should not undermine our nation's immigration laws."

State Sen. Tom McClintock, another GOP candidate for governor, called it "a dangerous measure."

"The only purpose of it is to place valid state identification documents in the hands of illegal immigrants, undermining enforcement of immigration laws," he said.

The Bush administration's homeland security officials have not spoken out on the law, but some terrorism experts have said that making licenses available to people who are in the country illegally could aid potential terrorists. A driver's license is the most indispensable piece of plastic in America -- making it possible to open bank accounts, cash checks, rent cars and hotel rooms and fly on airplanes."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33016-2003Sep5.html

This is clearly more a political issue ...because of repugs not wanting illegal immigrants to register to vote when they get a driv. lisc. ... forget about insured drivers on our roads.

I find it interesting how Arnie has adopted the ways of Ashcroft...

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. "We should not invite fraud"

I thought fraud was a Republican's best business strategy?

[Democat]

2. He's already using the "national security" angle

Wait until Bush wants to drill off the California Coast and Arnold agrees for "national security" reasons.

Need to destroy or steal from California? No problem if Arnold wins, it will be a "national security" issue directly from the White House.

Arnold speaks and Rove's lips move.

[Sweetpea]

3. The way they talk, you would think most immigrants are members

of Al Quada and are snipers.

[RowWellandLive]

4. Do you really think

that illegal immigrants should be able to vote? So anyone can come to this country without a criminal background check and participate in elections???? Crazy.

[AP]

10. A drivers license is NOT proof of citizenship. Legal immigrants can

get drivers licenses, and Americans living abroad can get drivers licenses abroad.

[readmylips]

5. Immigrants, illegal or not should have a driver's licence...

Right now, government has no way of keeping a record of illegal immigrants. We are talking about Brown-Color Immigrant People. Don't forget, these people come to this country to work in dirty toilet cheap jobs. Ask that repig Chavez woman...remember her? They perform jobs no American wants to do. They are driving without licenses and without auto insurance to serve us, the American people. The crime most immigrants commit is against themselves, such as knifing each other after too much beer.

I don't hear any objections against white illegal Canadian immigrants, and we got plenty of those.

To obtain a driver's license, the person must past a written and road test, be finger-printed and photograhed. And there's no way in hell, they can register to vote in the USA.

[slackmaster]

6. Your last sentence is missing the word "legally"

And there's no way in hell, they can register to vote in the USA.

The concern is that possession of a valid California Driver License makes it much easier to register to vote illegally than it is without one. In California possession of a Driver License or state ID card (a similar document for non-drivers) is considered to be sufficient proof that you are a legal resident of the state. That is all the identification one needs to provide in order to register to vote.

Under the present system, which has been in place for many decades, a new applicant for a Driver License has to provide proof of RESIDENCY (not citizenship). Note that legal resident aliens and temporary residents and convicted felons ARE eligible for a Driver License (but not to register to vote). There is no followup mechanism in place to verify after the fact that every person who has registered to vote is actually eligible to do so. A person who gets caught having done so can be sent to prison or deported, but that is likely to be after the damage has occurred; the person may have already voted in one or more elections.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#BDLP

It's anybody's guess how many of the estimated 2 million illegal aliens in the state will actually get a Driver License and how many of those will abuse the process to register fraudulently to vote, but it's reasonable to assume that a large majority of those who do will certainly not be registering as Republicans. Their concern is therefore justifiable. The present system gives a possible entrance point for a lot of people who are not eligible to vote to do so fraudulently. If the tables were turned, say by a new law requiring military people who are temporarily stationed here to get California Driver Licenses, Democrats would be up in arms in exactly the same manner. The issue is political and has little to do with public safety.

See lots more information at http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm

[AP]

12. You have to attest to citizenship to vote. And if you don't

have a drivers license you can still register to vote. And legal immigrants can get drivers licenses, yet they don't risk conviction for perjury in such huge numbers that CA considers not giving drivers licenses to them.

[slackmaster]

14. Making a false affidavit is much easier when you have an official document

One that is used to veryify your face and your signature.

[AP]

16. LEGAL immigrants -- thousands of non-citizens -- have CA drivers licenses

Why isn't this a threat to democracy?

[otohara]

7. Proof of Ins. Would Be Nice Too

Did something really stupid recently and learned a big fat lesson in being nice.

[slackmaster]

9. Proof of insurance is required to register a vehicle in California

But not to obtain a Driver License.

And a Driver License is not required to buy a car.

[AP]

11. You can't get your car insured if you don't have a drivers license

though.

[slackmaster]

13. Very true

Insurance rates are based partly on your driving record. No license, no record.

The whole system of dealing with illegal immigration is deeply flawed, corrupt, and hypocritical on all levels. We have chosen not to enforce our federal immigration laws because of the adverse effects that would have on the economy. It's a national disgrace, not just a California issue.

[AP]

17. No insurance company would give unliscensed drivers insurance.

They don't have a special rate for people who don't know the rules of the road and don't know how to drive. They just don't give them insurance at all.

[carrowsboy]

8. whatever

"The Bush administration's homeland security officials have not spoken out on the law, but some terrorism experts have said that making licenses available to people who are in the country illegally could aid potential terrorists. A driver's license is the most indispensable piece of plastic in America -- making it possible to open bank accounts, cash checks, rent cars and hotel rooms and fly on airplanes.""


- As if terrorists are going to obey the law anyway.

[robbedvoter]

15. Oh, Arnie, please go to the Mexican parade! They call eggs huevos

there - same as "balls". I'd love to see their reaction to your sudden National Security concerns!
I think they just told Arnie that immigrants can't vote(never having bothered to vote, he missed that) - but Arnie, their families and friends do!