Edwards Breaks His “Yes-or-No” Rule, . . . by 88 Words

[geek tragedy]

Presidential candidate John Edwards has been razzing rival Hillary Clinton since last week’s Democratic debate for “double talk” in her responses. “I have a really simple rule,” he told reporters: “If you get asked a yes-or-no question, you shouldn’t give a yes-AND-no answer.”

Mr. Stephanopoulos: “Do you believe illegal immigrants should be denied driver’s licenses?”

Mr. Edwards: “Well, I think, first of all, that’s for states to decide, not for the President of the United States to decide. But beyond that –“

Mr. Stephanopoulos: “So the 40 states that deny illegal immigrants driver’s licenses that’s okay with you?”

Mr. Edwards: “Let me finish. I think that is their decision to make, not the president’s decision. But here’s what I believe. I believe that, first of all, we have to have comprehensive immigration reform. And for anybody in this country who is making an effort and on the path to obtaining American citizenship, yes, they should have a driver’s license. If they’re not making any effort to become an American citizen, and we have a system for doing that, my own personal view is, no, I would not give them a driver’s license.”

In further back and forth to clarify, Mr. Stephanopoulos noted that Mr. Edwards, when he first ran for president in 2004, unequivocally supported giving licenses to illegal immigrants. Then the moderator played a video of Mrs. Clinton’s debate response — in which she said the controversy underscores the need for comprehensive federal immigration reforms — and Mr. Stephanopoulos suggested her stance sounded like Mr. Edwards’ position now: “You’re saying the same thing, right?”

Mr. Edwards: “That’s true.”

Double-talk, flip-flopping, and hypocrisy. The trifecta.

[Armstead]

1. You left out an important piece

Steph pinned him down to a yes or no answer about Spitzer's plan....Edwards replied very directly that No he doesn't agree with that approach.

[itsrobert]

3. He didn't miss it

He just didn't want to have the facts get in the way of a good Edwards bashing. He probably just copied and pasted this from the Clinton War Room that attacks other Democrats.

[Mass]

4. No surprise, but sad pandering. So, let's have people drive without insurance and license...

[geek tragedy]

8. Where was the "yes or no?"

He said that aliens who are trying to become citizens should get them. How he defines "trying to become citizens" is not clear at all.

[Mass]

2. So, people who want to become immigrants but not become citizens should not have

a driving license? :wtf:

Poor phrasing, at best...

[Vickers]

5. I don't think I understand your question. What is a person who wants to

become an immigrant?

:shrug:

[Mass]

6. Undocumented aliens trying to get a work visa or a green card, but not interested in becoming

citizens...

For some reason, Edwards's answer ignores them and divides undocumented aliens in two parts: those who want to become citizens and those who do not.

[geek tragedy]

9. Immigrant bashing is part of his new populism.

Has he NOT flip-flopped on anything since 2004?

[ClassWarrior]

17. "Flip flop?" That's a telling choice of words.

Step away from the RW meme...

NGU.

[geek tragedy]

19. Was it rightwing when Howard Dean used it?

Sorry, but Edwards is a serial flip-flopper.

[ClassWarrior]

20. Yes.

Howard's excellent, but he makes mistakes too. :shrug:

NGU.

[Vickers]

13. What about documented aliens trying to get only a green card?

:shrug:

[geek tragedy]

14. Doesn't sound very "yes or no' to me. n/t

[Mass]

15. Ok, forget me. Or read what Edwards say.

:shrug:

[Vickers]

16. Sorry, just trying to point out there are even MORE options than the ones

that have been listed.

FTR, this is not merely academic with me...my wife fits into the category I mention.

With all of the talk about taking away things from immigrants (illegal or otherwise), you can imagine that I am paying pretty close attention.

[Mass]

18. We agree, in this case. \nt

[Donald Ian Rankin]

22. People who want to live legally in America temporarily?

If I want to do a PhD in America, I'm going to want to become and immigrant but not a citizen.

[Vickers]

23. You only need a student visa.

My wife had one of those before her permanent resident alien card.

See? It gets pretty complicated.

[Armstead]

10. I think the choice he stated was a different one

It may have been poor phrasing, but my impression was that Edwards was referring to those who were following a process for legal status, whether as citizens, resident aliens or whatever. That would be in contrast to those who enter the country illegally, and do not want to follow any of the rules for obtaining legal status.

[geek tragedy]

12. Well, isn't that what Clinton's supporters argued about her answer? n/t

[Evergreen Emerald]

7. I saw that --he said pretty much the same thing as Clinton

I hope everyone saw his hypocrisy.

[Adelante]

21. Nobody but nobody double talks like John Edwards

The difference seemed to be (after Sparkly pointed it out to me): Clinton can see the sense of the states doing it in advance of comprehensive immigration reform to meet current public safety challenges. Obama said the same basically. Edwards' idea is do nothing before immigration reform, but include drivers license eligibility in that eventual reform. In this way he can say he favors drivers licenses for illegal immigrants while not favoring doing anything about it, and he can oppose Spitzer's unpopular idea. Under Edwards' timing, of course, illegal immigrants wouldn't be illegal anymore anyways, but why bother mentioning it.

Like I said, nobody but nobody double talks like John Edwards.

[wyldwolf]

11. That's pretty damning.

"In further back and forth to clarify, Mr. Stephanopoulos noted that Mr. Edwards, when he first ran for president in 2004, unequivocally supported giving licenses to illegal immigrants. Then the moderator played a video of Mrs. Clinton’s debate response — in which she said the controversy underscores the need for comprehensive federal immigration reforms — and Mr. Stephanopoulos suggested her stance sounded like Mr. Edwards’ position now: “You’re saying the same thing, right?”

Mr. Edwards: “That’s true.”

[question everything]

24. There are very few things in life that can be categroized into

Yes or No.

(Though trial lawyers, at least on TeeVee, often score a point by confusing a poor witness who is trying to say that most questions cannot be answered this way).

This is how the freepers operate. No nuances for them, no shades of gray. Everything is yes or no, black or white.

I was hoping that we are better than that.

[Alamom]

25. K