Clinton: I Will Not Target Sanctuary Cities
Hillary Clinton speaks to voters in Brownsburg, Ind., Thursday, a day after sitting down with FOX News' Bill O'Reilly to discuss her foreign and domestic policy plans. (AP Photo)
Hillary Clinton, in the second half of her first-ever interview with FOX News’ Bill O’Reilly, said that if elected president she would not crack down on so-called illegal immigrant “sanctuary cities.”
Clinton outlined several points of her foreign policy platform in the final segment of the interview, which aired Thursday. She declared there’s nothing left to achieve in Iraq and issued a stern warning about the threats Iran poses to that region once U.S. troops withdraw.
Asked about the controversial topic of sanctuary cities — cities that encourage a hands-off approach to local enforcement of federal immigration policy — Clinton swiftly responded, “No I’m not (going to target them). I’m not.”
She said she wants illegal immigrants to feel safe reporting crimes and that “sometimes you have two competing values.”
But she said federal immigration policy is “broken” and needs reform.
“I’m 100 percent in favor of tightening our borders, of enforcing the laws against employers, of going after the kind of abuses that we see in the job market, of making it clear that we have got to figure out what we’re going to do with people,” she said.
Clinton joined O’Reilly in South Bend, Ind., on Wednesday for her first appearance in the “The O’Reilly Factor,” putting the squeeze on rival Barack Obama (who went on FOX News Sunday for the first time over the weekend) and other Democrats to do the same.
Clinton campaign aides said her appearance on the show was designed to reach out to working-class, independent white men who could decide the outcome of next week’s Indiana primary.
A day after tackling the Rev. Jeremiah Wright controversy, Clinton moved on to discuss the Iraq war and Middle Eastern policies, saying there’s no military solution in Iraq and that U.S. troops have already fulfilled their mission.
“First of all, I believe that our military has fulfilled all their military missions,” Clinton said, as her campaign also criticized President Bush for Iraq policies on the fifth anniversary of the “Mission Accomplished” banner. “There’s no doubt in my mind. They got rid of Saddam Hussein, which they were asked to do. They gave the Iraqis free and fair elections. They gave the Iraqi government the space and time to make the decisions that only the Iraqis can make for themselves.
“There is no military solution to what we face in Iraq, which is unprecedented. It is dangerous, it is unstable,” she said.
Clinton also charged Iran with fueling the bloodshed in Iraq.
“I think it’s somewhat open to debate as to whether Iran really wants to see us withdraw, and here’s why. They have been an equal opportunity supporter of the militias, of the insurgents, of anybody who would pick up arms against the United States,” she said.
But she took a decidedly softer tone after telling ABC that she would “attack Iran” and “we would be able to totally obliterate them” if the country attacked Israel with nuclear weapons.
“If Iran were to ever obtain a nuclear weapon, that would be unbelievably bad for us and the world. And I’m going to do everything I can to prevent that from ever happening,” she told FOX News, leaving it at that.
Iran strongly condemned Clinton late Wednesday for her previous statements. Its deputy United Nations ambassador said the remarks were “provocative, unwarranted and irresponsible.”
Clinton said as president she would withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, and emphasize “the political and the diplomatic.”
“There will be a lot of conflict between the Iranians and the Iraqis moving forward if the United States is on the sidelines, instead of in the middle.”
Both Democratic candidates were campaigning hard Thursday in Indiana, which votes alongside North Carolina May 6.
Clinton is still trailing in delegates, but hoping to close part of the gap on Tuesday. However, as Obama grapples with the Wright controversy, her campaign got a jolt when a longtime superdelegate supporter defected to Obama.
“A vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote to continue” a long, self-destructive Democratic campaign, former national party Chairman Joe Andrew wrote in a letter designed to have an impact on the turbulent race nationally as well as in his home state of Indiana.
He urged Democrats to “reject the old negative politics” and unify behind Obama.
FOX News’ Aaron Bruns and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
There was not even a hint of the current and on-going hearing about the Peter Paul fund-raising scandal.. This could be a big one, Folks.. O’Reilly gave her a complete pass on it..
Hillary knows that if we just pull the troops out that Iran will walk into Iraq and there terrorist networks will gain momentum. But that’s not important because it doesn’t get votes. At least do us the favor of easing the gun laws so we can be ready to defend ourselves when they come over here.
Hillary is not the one that is destructive to the Democratic party. The destructiveness is caused by the fight between Rev. Wright and Obama, and that destruction will continue whether Hillary is the nominee or not.
Ms Clinton is dead wrong on Iraq. When we move our troops out of the area, the Iranians are going to overwhelm to Iraqis militarily and take over control of the region (1) to control oil supplies in the region; (2) to be strategically closer to Israel for their attempts to destroy Israel. Once we move out of Iraq, we will never be able to go back except for all-out war with a country that probably already has non-conventional weapons. Why can’t democrats see that? It is clear before our eyes. “Hope” won’t make it go away.
Sanctuary cities should receive NO FEDERAL FUNDING OF ANYTHING. This is nothing but enabling a foreign invasion. And if nothing else, it is the Federal government’s duty to protect its CITIZENS.
The dialogue between two brilliant people; O’Reilly and Clinton was fascinating. Hillary did very well on Bill’s show and should think of appearing on it more often. The woman shows she has the strength and leadership to run this country. If Obama decides to appear on the O’Reilly factor, it would probably not take place until after the primaries in Indiana and NC because he fears a tough cross-examination by Bill would drive down his ratings even further. Obama’s only salvation is the biased undeclared super-delegates that will support this guy no matter what as demonstrated by Richardson, Kerry, and Kennedy. Keep in mind folks, Clinton won the primaries in NM and MA.
Why is it that all politicians consider telling the truth about ones opponent “old negative politics?” Many of the same believe that hiding your true political nature and lack of experience behind a banner of “Change we can believe in” is a fresh new wave in politics. Don’t get me started on pointing out some inconsistencies in the other candidates curiculum vitae. What is wrong with politics in America? More importantly is there anything right about it?
Well Put Brad~! Couldn’t Have Said It Better~! But What It Seems To Me Is That She Would Pulls us Out Of Iraq Then Puts Us Right Back In Iran!!!!! Iranians Live Off War And Conflicts, & Would Do Things To Make Us Uproot Again And Come Back To The Middle East As Long As They Have Insurgents To Fight For Them~! If Hillary Doesn’t See That In Her “Tough Talk” Then She Is Bush # 3~!
I would have liked to have seen more questions about Vance Foster, Travelgate, pillaging the White House; the endless string of corruption and graft that swirled, not around BILL, but around HILLARY during the Clinton Administration. Is she expects to be give the keys to the treasury, AGAIN, she should have to face some tough questioning about those issues. The mere passage of time does not mean that anything has changed.
RICH………..did you ever know of a poor man creating jobs?
also who owns the oil companies.I have storck.