Senator Clinton says immigration bill would make her a criminal

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20060406T220000-0500_102071_OBS_SENATOR_CLINTON_SAYS_IMMIGRATION_BILL_WOULD_MAKE_HER_A_CRIMINAL.asp ^ | 4-7-06 | ap

[doug from upland]

Senator Clinton says immigration bill would make her a criminal

AP Friday, April 07, 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that an immigration bill approved in the House of Representatives would make her and her aides criminals for their work on behalf of New York constituents.

Clinton's comments are her latest salvo against the Republican-authored House bill that would penalise anyone who knowingly assists or encourages illegal immigrants to remain in the country. The bill, which passed the House in December, also makes it a felony to be in the country illegally.

Speaking to the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Clinton, touted as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2008, said her work for New York constituents could fall afoul of the bill since many are immigrants.

"I realise I would be a criminal, too. My staff would be criminal. We help people with all kinds of problems," said Clinton.

Democratic critics and the Catholic Church say such language would make even humanitarian assistance to an illegal immigrant a crime; the bill's authors dismiss the claim as an absurd attempt to defeat the bill.

Clinton has, over the past few weeks, stepped out strongly against the bill as senators debate varying proposals, including setting up a guest worker programme as supported by President George W Bush and affording citizenship to most of those in the country illegally. Senators are seeking a strong bill that would allow them more leverage in bargaining with House lawmakers.

Last month, Clinton lashed out at the House bill, saying it was "mean-spirited" and would probably criminalise "even Jesus himself".

The New York Democrat continued that offensive Wednesday, urging Hispanic business leaders to help defeat such measures by resisting what she called misinformation in the emotionally charged immigration debate.

"We need to help educate the entire American public. We need to put the face of America and hardworking Americans on this debate," she said.

Over the past couple of weeks, tens of thousands of people have protested the bill around the country, staging mass rallies and school walkouts in California, Arizona and Texas and shutting down minority-owned business in Georgia.

Peter King, one of the Republican authors of the bill, said it was Clinton who was spreading misinformation, and the only way she would be viewed as a criminal under the bill was if she were a "coyote," another term for an immigrant smuggler. The bill, he said, "has absolutely nothing to do with churches or social workers or senators assisting illegal immigrants. It is aimed entirely at alien smuggling gangs."

[kittymyrib]

I thought accepting grocery bags full of cash from Johnny Chung made this witch a criminal...not to mention the many convenient "accidents" people like Ron Brown had and that unfortunate "suicide" of Vince Foster...or lying about not recalling anything the grand jury asked her about. Yep, Hillary, you can't reclaim your character any more than you can reclaim your virginity.

[OpusatFR]

She's a lousy lawyer if she thinks this....

[JohnLongIsland]

Latest democrat/liberal/communist church "activists" talking points.

the irony of some catholic priests worrying about going to jail over illegal immigration but sleeping like bears in hibernation about other hineous crimes that some have committed.

[OkeyDokeyOkie]

Do you suppose Hillary is trying to tell us she has an illegal alien secreted in her house? A few years back, the missing Whitewater papers "mysteriously" turned up in her quarters. Maybe Hillary has "Juan" more surprise hidden away in her house.

[LucyJo]

Clinton criminality is an established pattern. What we need is someone with the courage plus the power to have them convicted and sentenced.

[b4its2late]

Senator Clinton says immigration bill would make her a criminal.

Would?

[Eaglewatcher]

Too late she became a criminal a long time ago! Let's see "Whitewater", "Filegate", "The Rose law firm records, And who was that associate that committed "suicide" in Rock Creek Park.

[Just mythoughts]

Hey, frog-march her up the steps of the capitol in chains!!!

[upchuck]

"I realise I would be a criminal, too. My staff would be criminal. We help people with all kinds of problems," said Clinton.

Attention Hildabeaste:
Let me help you with a couple of word definitions:

would - used to express the sense of "will" in reported speech or when referring to an event that has not happened yet

· Susan didn't think she would pass.
· It would be wrong to suggest otherwise.

are - Plural present form of the verb "to be."

· We would not be criminals, 'cause we already are criminals.

Glad to be of help!

Note to anonymous AP writer: is your spell checker busted? [I realise realize I would be a criminal, too.]

[gc4nra]

Only the ones that vote! DaDumBum!

[Mike Darancette]

Only if she is a Coyote or paying illegals under the table.

[Condor51]

How can you 'make' someone a criminal, when they already are?

[Dick Bachert]

Yes, another reason to pass this legislation...

[cgbg]

Criminal Hillary--orange really would look good on her. :-)

[politicalwit]

From Encarta:

1. politics: resident of constituency: somebody living in an electoral district, especially somebody entitled to vote

[rdcorso]

Hillary should have been locked up a long time ago for the crimes she committed.She would be another criminal scumbag instead of a scumbag senator if she didn't have connections to powerful people.

[PzLdr]

No, Hillary. It would make you a prior felon [if the new crimes were felonies]. You've been a criminal since Little Rock.

[oldbill]

Radio interview by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, (D-N.Y.). aired in February 2003:

"I am, ya know, adamantly opposed to illegal immigration".

Don't expect Russert, Matthews, Schieffer, Stepanopolous, Blitzer, et. al. to ever bring that up in their softball interviews, however.

[manwiththehands]

"MAKE" here a criminal?!

At the risk of sounding like I'm overstating the obvious: She already IS a criminal.

[swampfox98]

Last month, Clinton lashed out at the House bill, saying it was "mean-spirited" and would probably criminalise "even Jesus himself".

Hitlery's losing it. Lord, don't let that cow become president.