Clinton: I Will Not Target Sanctuary Cities

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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.

130 Responses to “Clinton: I Will Not Target Sanctuary Cities”

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Comment by Joseph

My support is for Hillary Clinton I was very impressed with her taking on Bill O’Reilly questions. She shows that she will be a great leader for our country. She is so much like Bill O’Reilly that I think she should have her own talk show!

 
Comment by JF

What puzzles me is that Hillary actually leads in super delegates. She is probably going to lead in general votes at the end of the day. If Florida is counted it’s for certain. Forget Michigan. Why is it that the media continues to predict confidently that the other supers are all going to kow-tow and push somebody else into office. Is there just a possibility that some of these people will actually vote with their conscience or actually represent their districts? I keep remembering how the networks thought McCain was gone. They actually had their shovels out and all of a sudden saw that there wasn’t anybody in the hole that they dug. You are seeing a shift in the perception of the voters. The voters need to call the shots here. This hurry up and do what we tell you coming from the Democratic braintrust isn’t sitting really well with everyday average people that want to see a real democratic process going on here.

 
Comment by T. Michael Cullen

What a wimpy interview! could he have kissed her butt anymore? Hillary got to talk about issues. If Obama would go on the show Bill would just tear into him about his former pastor. Fox is not the fair and balances station it used to be.

 
Comment by kristen

Her persistence impressed me a lot. That is the important character for a leader of USA.

 
Comment by Michael Johnson

Immigration laws are not Broken… They just are not enforced. While libs pander to layinos for votes and Conservatives want cheap labor. The American worker is getting the royal screw job once again. Too bad there is not one candidate out ther ewho will speak the plain truth.

 
Comment by njs

Bill did a bad job. Hillary looked great. He did not pin her down on immigration. When will the politicians begin to represent the American will. We do not want to thow law abiding people back over the border but we do want our laws enforced at the border! We are willing to help people put they must want to also help themselves.

 
Comment by B

I thought on Inaugural Day, the new president swore to uphold the laws of the land and the Constitution. However, Sen. Clinton stated: “No I’m not (going to target them). I’m not.” And then comments: “… we have got to figure out what we’re going to do with people,” This doesn’t sound like leadership to me.

 
Comment by Susan

Thanks for your comment Noel…I agree. Hillary has the knowledge and experience needed to get us out of the mess we are in. Obama is a great man and in time he too will be an excellent leader, but right now we need someone who is tough and experienced and not afraid to speak up and do what is best for this country. Hillary has that and will be a great president. I see her as a second FDR. Hillary 08!!!!!!!!

 
Comment by Kenny Chilton

I guess the government can make more money from fining employers than going after sanctuary cities. Huh? Is redistribution for the poor or for the poor government? HA HA HA

 
Comment by Bryan Garten

It is unfortunate that in Society today some leaders still do not respect the free will of people to self govern. Supporting terrorism shows a lack of wisdom and a lack leadership. It is unfortunate that Iran has made public comments about mass destruction before and they are now judging Hillary’s comments completely out of context. Unfortuneately this leaves the United States in a difficult situation. We simply cannot just cut and run. We will abide by our Principles and hold the line in Iraq. Our mission is not finished until every man, women and child in Iraq can live in peace and enjoy the spoils of Liberty. Actions speak louder than words. If Iran’s government truly wants to be effective then they should lay down their weapons and stop supporting any type of bloodshed. Their behavior and words show they would not be good stewards of Nuclear capabilities. We have but one planet to share. The people of the world must stamp out terrorism and peacefully co-exist.

 

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Delegate Count

Democrats(2,118 needed to win nomination)

Candidates number of delegates
Barack Obama 2206
Hillary Clinton 1906
John Edwards 26
Total 4138

Republicans(1,191 needed to win nomination)

Candidates number of delegates
John McCain 1504
Mike Huckabee 286
Mitt Romney 242
Ron Paul 24
Total 2056
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