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.
I will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon but IF THEY DO THAT WOULD BE VERY BAD FOR AMERICANS AND THEIR ALLIES!! Hillary are you retarded? How would they create one if you just keep bombing them back to the stone ages? Your whacked and I have now brought my support back to McCain.
Joe Andrew is another JUDAS in former Bill Clinton cabinet. This is the big mistake Bill Clinton hired during his presidency, hiring bunch of JUDAS. Obama is not going to win in November and this will come back to hunt the JUDASES.
I watched the entire interview and THIS WOMAN KNOWS HER STUFF!. I was very impressed that she handled every question that was thrown at her without the ‘Umms and Ahhs’ you hear from Obamma whenever he’s not reading from a script. She is obviously versed in every aspect of what a President needs to know and reinforced the Ready on Day One claim. As Obamma revealed during the last debate, he is not ready for any unrehersed Q&A. After the O’Reilly interview, this registered Republican is now all for HILLARY!!!
Obama is really for the people and what matter most, Hillary is all about me, myself and I!!!
Is all about her- NOT!!!!
Obama ‘08
We got your back!
Your interview with Hillary was truly insightful . It displayed a softer, more charming side to her. Sen. Clinton displayed her ability to be feminine, intelligent, and direct. I truly appreciated the fact that even though she may disagree with comments or opinions of others, she still listened to what you had to say and then almost always tried to display common ground before citing her differences. Our future President has to be able to listen to the tones of others. As an undecided, this has made my decision easier, if nominated I will vote for Clinton.
Sen. Obama has too many controversies re: questionable personal views and associates. I don’t believe that most people have the emotional capacity to sever all ties with anyone that has had been such a staple in their life, as in both barrack and his wife, Michelle. Their dismissive attitudes when questioned about their pastor or affiliations is insulting. What are they trying to sweep under the rug when they both continuously slam the proverbial door shut when asked. Furthermore, Michelle Obama’s interview with Anderson Cooper was ridiculous and appeared pathetic having Caroline Kennedy there to hold her hand. She didn’t offer any insight to her presence. The same old routine in play, question asked — door slammed. There are no secrets when you run for public office. I don’t feel that Obama is strong enough or ultimately has anything to offer aside from prepared speeches. It would seem anytime he goes off the cuff he puts his foot in his mouth. Haven’t we had enough of that with Pres. Bush!
Hopefully before its too late, the American public will learn that our common interests are more compelling then our personnel interests. We long ago gave up our right to elect the best person to be president, when we sleeplely allowed the permanent incubants to take away a more open process to find the right individual. Instead we settle for the lesser of two evils, because we only ratify the choices of the party machines. Unfortunately the only real way for the American People to take back its government, will be term limits across the board, for all offices. (get rid of the bums just not my bum won’t get it done) Turnover is healthy, more people will participate, and the harsh conditions ( the politics of personal destruction) will be replaced with the type of urgent problem solving, actual results campaining, that will bring the respect of the people back for their government. The current form of who can outslime who, has caused us all to turn a jaundiced eye toward our politicle leaders
LAST TIME I CHECKED I THOUGHT THE PRESIDENT WAS THE TOP OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, WHOSE JOB IS TO EXECUTE LAWS CREATED BY THE LEGISLATURE… IF SHE IS NOT WILLING TO PERFORM THAT BASIC TASK, WHAT MAKES HER QUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT? IF SHE IS WILLING TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY ON A LAW SUCH AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, WHAT OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES IS SHE WILLING TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY ON? DID OUR CONGRESS ENACT A BILL THAT TRANSFERS OUR BILL OF RIGHTS TO ALL PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, CITIZENS OR NOT? SEEMS AS THOUGH OUR POLITICIANS ARE GOOD AT MAKING LAW AFTER LAW, YET HAVE NO REAL INTEREST IN ENFORCING THEM, ” I GOT THIS BILL PASSED, I SHOULD BE RE-ELECTED FOR MY GOOD WILL GESTURE…”. EVEN THOUGH WITHOUT PROPER EXECUTION THE BILL IS NO GOOD. MAYBE WE SHOULD STOP SPENDING SO MUCH TIME WORKING ON NEW LEGISLATION AND WORK ON ENFORCING THE LAWS WE ALREADY HAVE ON THE BOOKS? JUST A CONCERNED AMERICAN…. NOT A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, OR INDEPENDANT… JUST PLAIN AMERICAN.
It’s amazing to me that all of the democrats, or should I say ‘progressives’, are always ready, willing, and able to cut and run anytime there is any confrontation. How soon we forget our past, remember the Twin Towers, well, as long as our security is challanged, ala Iran, our presence ‘in the middle’ is vital. I think that in the Middle East, the only thing the extremeists understand is force and strength. Without our ‘presence’ in Iraq, the entire Middle East would be a powder keg. Both B.H. Obama and H. Clinton just don’t get it and their actions, if elected, will only cause us to be viewed as weak, unreliable, and cowards. It’ll open the door for more episodes of terror.
I agree with Hillary when it comes to not cracking down il illegal immigrant sanctuary cities. This country needs more criminals and the government should just leave criminals alone. There is no law against being a criminal or harboring criminals. It is great that we might have a president who understands that America needs more criminals on the streets. I haven’t been mugged in my life. That is definitely a problem. My city needs more criminals and Hillary is the one who can fix this problem. Down with law abiding citizens and up with criminals. Go Hillary !!!
QUOTE: “I’m 100 percent in favor of (…) making it clear that we have got to figure out what we’re going to do with people,” she said.” /QUOTE
Stating the problem is much different from proposing a solution. It is a great way to make it sound like you’re actually saying something substantive when you’re not, though. What DO you suggest we “do with these people”?
In the whole election cycle, I only recall having heard one candidate identify a problem and not only propose a solution, but then also add, “And here’s how…”