Revolt against a governor who didn't listen to the people

What happens in America is that many politicians become so wrapped up in their successful auras that they forget who created them in the first place. A good example of this is the governor of the Empire State, Eliot Spitzer. The headline grabbing chief executive who made a name for himself as New York's crime busting attorney general, recently tried to be cute by amending the nation's immigration laws on his own. Through an administrative order,not legislation,Spitzer created a pathway where New York's estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants could get New York driver's licenses. This was an arrogant move on Spitzer's part since a New York license is honored by all 50 states and territories and provides essential documentation for everything from credit cards to voter registration.

The governor's failure to listen to his people and the rest of the country has now placed him in a situation that is likely to torpedo his political future.

The opposition to Spitzer's plan is far reaching. "Idiotic" is one of the kinder terms used to describe it. The New York State Association of County Clerks opposes the plan as well as most of New York's County Sheriffs. The New York Post reports:

The statewide Sheriffs' Association took the formal position shortly after Spitzer's homeland-security director, Michael Balboni, tried - and failed - to sell the measure to the group as an upgrade in state and national security.

"We respect and support the governor's efforts to strengthen security in New York and the nation," the Sheriffs' Association said in a statement following the vote behind closed doors.

"However, we do not feel that providing a driver's license to illegal immigrants is appropriate and, as an association, we do not support that program."

Commenting on the opposition Spitzer said,

"I knew there would be opposition," he says. "I don't think anyone predicted quite this level of venom."

USA TODAY reports:

The opposition is vast. The New York State Association of County Clerks opposes the plan, says Kathleen Marchione, association president and Saratoga County Clerk.

If the change goes into effect, 20 of the 51 clerks who run DMV offices say they will refuse to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Three say they will issue the licenses, then turn over names of suspected illegal immigrants to immigration officials, Marchione says.

At least two clerks have filed lawsuits to block the plan, as has James Tedisco, state Assembly Republican leader. They argue that state law requires a driver's license applicant to have a Social Security number, and that giving licenses to illegal immigrants compromises security because, unlike legal immigrants, they did not undergo background checks to enter the USA.

"It only takes one individual in a propane truck to drive into a building with 2,000 people in it and destroy their lives," Tedisco says.

Dutchess County Clerk Bradford Kendall calls the plan "just plain wrong." He says he has to follow the policy if it takes effect, but he is considering reporting applicants who are illegal immigrants to authorities. "It is illegal to aid or abet illegal aliens," he says.

I fully expect the recall petitions for Spitzer to start circulating any day... Another elected political leader with a deaf ear to his constituents.