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 rex hicks

Bill just does’t have the nerve to tell Hilery she has lost the race. She will keep on running until 2012.

 
Comment by Adam

I find it hilarious that Andrew’s endorsement of Obama suddenly makes him worthless and a traitor. I’ve heard about folks calling his office and threatening violence. Are these the good Christians who have a problem with Rev. Wright? Remind me again why more superdelegates aren’t endorsing Clinton?

 
Comment by Michael Hill

I almost fell off my lounge chair. In the process of going after big oil, Mrs Clinton scoffed that big oil hasn’t invented a thing. Excuse me! They can drill ten miles under the ocean. Hmmm. The drilling in Alaska would be tough but harmless. Hmmmm. If they don’t invent things, they sure pay a bunch of people to do it for them.
Michael Hill

 
Comment by tom

Hillary and McCain are centrists. Obama is a far left liberal loon. Either Hillary or McCain would be good. Obama does not have the judgement or character to be president. He would be a disater.

 
Comment by Rick

On immigration, Clinton said she would not crack down on so-called sanctuary cities as president, because she wants illegal immigrants to feel comfortable reporting crimes.

I don’t understand her statement……does she mean she wants illegals to feel comfortable reporting themselves….. as illegals ??

 
Comment by jeanne andrews

Yeah,

She’ll be too busy with Peter Paul vs. Clintons

Google that. The Clintons are Crooks!

 
Comment by BJ

Bill
Just saw part II of your interview with Sen. Clinton,it was good. You both were very respectful with your comments. It was enjoyable. Thank you

 
Comment by BAR

Another great interview. O’Reilly asked good questions and I think Sen Clinton answered brillantly. She really does present herself like the Commander in Chief and should be the nominee and then will be a wonderful president for this country.

 
Comment by Uhhh What

So now she is, again, for an immediate withdrawal? I don’t get it, which is it gonna be? Oh wait, I understand, it all depends on which state is holding a primary and what constituency we’re pandering to.

 
Comment by Bill A

Arizona,simple question..Has Obama voted for additional funding for the war once he became a senator?

 

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