If you’re trying to figure out whether Attorney General Martha Coakley will allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, don’t look to recent debates for the answer.
Just this week she took very different positions on the issue in just a 24-hour period.
Coakley refused to answer a yes or no question on the matter Monday. In fact, her non-answer angered the crowd when she said, “I am not going to answer a question that can’t be answered yes or no.”
Yet, one day later during another televised debate she claimed to be in favor of such a move.
So which one is it? Will she or won’t she give licenses to non-citizens? According to her campaign spokeswoman Bonnie McGilpin, “Martha has had the same position throughout the entire campaign.”
Personally, I don’t necessarily have an issue when politicians change their opinion on a policy decision over time. People are entitled to change their stance. It can actually show how someone is open-minded. Coakley used to be against this proposal and this campaign season she has softened to the idea. I don’t call that a flip-flop — I call that evolving.
This week’s debate performance feels like she is pandering to different crowds. Her decision to back away from her position during a debate in Central Massachusetts seems a bit suspect given the more conservative voting base. Don’t forget, this is Karyn Polito territory. Her running mate, Charlie Baker, is against giving these licenses out. By trying to play it safe with a non-answer, Coakley looks dishonest and like a flip-flopper.
McGilpin said, “Martha has said that in the past she opposed driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants but, given the lack of progress at the federal level, states now have to take the lead on addressing the challenges facing the immigrant community.”
Her Republican rival, Charlie Baker, told Herald Radio the attorney general has shifted positions on this issue as well as the graduated income tax. “I think she supports licenses for undocumented people here in the commonwealth. … As I have said, there have been a bunch of issues that she has been on both sides of the last few months,” Baker said.
Coakley was also invited to join Herald Radio to comment on driver’s licenses. Stay tuned.
Jaclyn Cashman is the co-host of “Morning Meeting” from 9 a.m. to noon on Boston Herald Radio. Follow her on Twitter @JaclynCashman
Copyright © 2024 Jaclyn Cashman.
