During the last Democratic Presidential debate, Tim Russert asked Senator Hillary Clinton if she supported New York Governor Elliot Spitzer’s plan to issue licenses to illegal immigrants.

In one of her first major campaign stumbles, she flubbed the answer allowing her rivals to accuse her of waffling on a key issue. A heated exchange ensued, ending in her saying with obvious frustration:

“Do I think this is the best thing for any governor to do? No. But do I understand the sense of real desperation, trying to get a handle on this? Remember, in New York we want to know who's in New York. We want people to come out of the shadows. He's making an honest effort to do it. We should have passed immigration reform.”

Though her position on the issue was unfortunately equivocal, in spirit she’s right. Congress should have but couldn’t pass an immigration bill earlier this year, leaving states to fumble to find micro solutions to a macro problem. To boot, Congress and the President failed despite broad public support that may not be seen again for some time.

In fact, The New York Times found that 66 percent of Americans supported a guest worker program last May, but now a full 70 percent of New Yorkers oppose Governor Spitzer’s license plan. Even David’s progressive readers opposed the plan with more than half voting against it in last week’s reader poll!

About 12 million undocumented illegal immigrants are living in the United States and scores more cross our porous borders each day. Without unnecessary fearmongering, sensible people can agree that national immigration reform is necessary to protect homeland security, public safety and the personal welfare of millions of immigrants forced to live like they don’t even exist.

Without Congressional action, states are creating a patchwork of incoherent public policy. Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona declared a state of emergency and Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent National Guard troops to the Mexican border. Meanwhile, Nebraska and New Mexico made illegal immigrant students eligible for in-state tuition at public universities.

And in New York, Governor Spitzer attempted to bring 1 million illegal immigrants into the purview of state police and public health agencies by issuing licenses. In the end, Governor Spitzer was forced to rescind his plan yesterday, leaving New York and America no closer to a solution on illegal immigration. Yesterday morning, he sent a letter to supporters stating:

“My original proposal was a response to the fact that the federal government has lost control of its borders, has allowed millions of undocumented immigrants to enter our country, and has no solution to deal with it.

When the federal government abdicates its responsibility, states, cities, towns and villages still have to deal with the practical reality of that failure.

Governors, Mayors and chiefs of police in every state face that reality every day in schools, hospitals, and on our roads. In New York, that reality means 1 million undocumented immigrants, many of whom are driving without a license and without insurance, live in the shadows -- out of reach of law enforcement.”

Following are the results of last week’s reader poll.

Do you support New York Governor Elliot Spitzer’s plan to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants?

No: 54.5%
Yes: 45.5%