Two new developments in the ongoing saga about Eliot Spitzer's ID card proposal: one, the governor's plan was endorsed by Richard Clarke, probably the best-credentialed terrorism expert in the country, and two, a new Zogby poll confirmed that New Yorkers hate the policy. Zogby's new poll strengthens the earlier findings of the Siena Research Institute, which were that New Yorkers hate the policy.

A new Zogby Interactive poll finds 65% of New York’s likely voters are opposed to Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s proposal to eliminate the requirement that drivers provide a Social Security card to obtain a New York State driver license – a slight increase from the 58% who disagreed with the proposal in a Zogby New York telephone poll earlier this month. Nearly half (47%) of Democrats are against Spitzer’s proposal, while 92% of Republicans are opposed.

Nearly one in three (32%) believe the issue of driver licenses for undocumented immigrants is a major priority – of those, 28% believe it is more important than other issues facing New York state right now and 4% believe it is the most important issue of all. The topic features a sharp ideological divide, as Republicans think it’s a big deal – and most Democrats don’t.

From Clarke's statement via the gubernatorial press release:

In a statement, Clarke said: “States should act to register immigrants, legal and illegal, who use our roadways as New York is doing. From a law enforcement and security perspective, it is far preferable for the state to know who is living in it and driving on its roads, and to have their photograph and their address on file than to have large numbers of people living in our cities whose identity is totally unknown to the government.”

Speaking about Clark’s endorsement, Governor Spitzer said: “Here’s a person who, at a critical time in our nation’s history, had the courage to stand up and say the hard truths that no one wanted to hear. At a moment when it was easy to lapse in to commonplace rhetoric, he never lost sight of the facts.”

The governor's policy is good. But, in a narrative becoming increasingly familiar, good policy alone does not make good politics.

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