Dems Agree on Iraq, Immigration

Democratic Presidential hopefuls stand together before the start of the Democratic primary debate hosted by Univision at the Bank Atlantic Center in Coral Gables, Fla. Sunday Sept. 9, 2007. From left to right: Sen Barak Obama, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Mike Gravel, Sen. John Edwards, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Sen. Chris Dodd and Gov. Bill Richardson. The debate will focus on issues that are of interest to the Hispanic community. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) (Alan Diaz - AP)

Clinton criticized the immigration bill proposed in the last Congress, dominated by Republicans. That legislation would have penalized those who help illegal immigrants. "I said it would have criminalized the good Samaritan. It would have criminalized Jesus Christ," she said.

Richardson, one of two candidates who speak fluent Spanish, objected to the debate rules that required all candidates to answer in English. The rule was designed to make sure that no candidate had an advantage in appealing to the Spanish-speaking audience.

"I'm disappointed today that 43 million Latinos in this country, for them not to hear one of their own speak Spanish, is unfortunate," Richardson said.

Dodd, who served in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, also speaks Spanish fluently. He called for more U.S. engagement with Latin America, including a lifting of the trade embargo against Cuba.

"We're allowing a Hugo Chavez to win a public relations effort in Latin America because we don't invest enough in Latin America," he said.

Former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel boasted that he's also bilingual _ in French. "I honor everyone who comes to this country as an immigrant because we are all immigrants."

Kucinich was again an audience favorite when he said he would make Spanish a second national language. But no leading candidate was willing to go that far.

"I believe that the common language of our country is English," Dodd said.

The candidates were asked why they supported a wall along the Mexican border _ and not a similar fence along the U.S.-Canadian border _ a question that seemed to catch them somewhat off-guard. Most avoided answering directly, saying simply that they believed security was a key part of comprehensive immigration reform.

"I do favor more security on the border and in some cases a physical border because that has to be part of securing our borders," Clinton said.

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, recently returned from a trip to Iraq, skipped the debate to prepare for a Foreign Relations Committee hearing that he is scheduled to chair Tuesday on the Petraeus report.

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Associated Press writer Laura Wides-Munoz contributed to this report.