Thread: Who really killed the DREAM Act? NAVARRETTE

December 22, 2010

Plot Twist in DREAM Act's Demise

By Ruben Navarrette

SAN DIEGO -- The Senate works just like any crime drama. First comes the murder. Then comes the cover-up intended to throw sleuths off the trail.

So, who really killed the Dream Act?

The liberal media, immigrant advocacy groups and Latino Democrats assure us it was the Senate Republicans. Case closed. It's a narrative that is easy to swallow for several reasons.

First, there were the numbers. Forty-one Republicans voted against cloture, thus keeping the bill from advancing to the full Senate. Only Robert Bennett of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Richard Lugar of Indiana favored moving forward. Fifty Democrats and two independents voted for cloture. Four senators -- three Republicans, and one Democrat -- didn't vote.

Second, there was the nastiness. While most Senate Republicans were careful not to say anything inflammatory about the bill, they caught some of the blame from what happened in the House, where Republicans called the bill an unfair giveaway to illegal immigrants. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., who has a knack for playing racial politics, went over the top when he urged colleagues to oppose an "affirmative action amnesty."

(In truth, the Dream Act was no giveaway. It was give and take. It offered "conditional permanent residency" to young people brought to the U.S. illegally as minors by their parents if they went to college or into the military.)

And third, there was the nonsense. In opposing the Dream Act, Republicans betrayed their principles. Remember when the GOP used to believe in taking responsibility for one's actions and not getting something for nothing? That's the Dream Act. Illegal immigrant students had to step forward and take responsibility for being in the United States unlawfully. And they would not have gotten something for nothing since, in order to qualify for residency, they had to go to college or join the military.

So basically, you had a bunch of Republicans acting like loudmouthed jerks and hypocrites on the immigration issue. What else is new? That's not enough to sink a piece of legislation when you're in the minority in the Senate. Not when you lose three from your caucus to the other side and they're joined by two independents. Not when Democrats needed 60 votes for cloture, and you didn't have the votes to prevent it.

If you're looking for who killed the Dream Act, Republicans have an airtight alibi: They may be obnoxious, coldhearted, shortsighted and too wedded to xenophobic elements in the GOP base. But they're also small enough in number as to be completely irrelevant to this debate.

Who are the real culprits? Elementary, my dear Watson.

Who has been stringing along immigration reform advocates with promises to fix a broken system that somehow never gets fixed? Democrats. Who controls the White House and both houses of Congress and has for the last two years? Democrats. Who's controlled Congress for the last four years, the first two under George W. Bush, who supported immigration reform? Democrats. Which party is deathly afraid of being seen as soft on illegal immigration and consistently has its most vulnerable members trying to strengthen their credentials in this regard by opposing even sensible pieces of reform legislation? Democrats.

And, most importantly, which party denied Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid the five votes he needed for cloture on the Dream Act? Democrats. Forget all the huffing and puffing from Republicans. The key to the demise of the Dream Act are those five Democratic defectors -- Max Baucus and Jon Tester of Montana, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mark Pryor of Arkansas.

You're telling me that Reid doesn't have the power to twist arms, offer incentives or make threats to get five measly votes? Or that President Obama, if he were so inclined, couldn't do the same? They did a good job of rustling up strays during the health care debate. But then, there was an issue that Democratic leaders actually cared about.

Amazingly, when asked who killed the Dream Act, even with all the evidence pointing to Democrats, some on the left -- including many Latinos -- still instinctively blame Republicans.

It's no wonder Latinos get no respect from either party. They feel wounded over the demise of the Dream Act, and now they're threatening payback.

I'm so glad to hear it. But how are they going to know whom to pay back if they don't pay attention?

ruben@rubennavarrette.com

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articl ... 08321.html

Why all this name calling .... can't we be civil and disagree?

The ones that are threatening payback are so-called leaders of the Hispanic community who are acting out and looking like mere radical ethnic agitators.

Latino Americans are like other Americans. And why would they not be?

Dems and Republicans are scared shitless after the last election ... you can blame them if you want

it was the normal everyday Democrats / Independent's / Republican CITIZENS that stopped this pile of dung from becoming legislation

but I got news for ya.. were not done

the pink slips are being readied for the next couple elections as well

and the politicians know it

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

It's no wonder Latinos get no respect from either party. They feel wounded over the demise of the Dream Act, and now they're threatening payback.

Typical Navarrette. He likes to appear fair minded then throws out his real opinion like a Good Cop Bad Cop. Make no mistake about it. Navarrette is making a veiled threat.

Ol Ruben is not the smartest bean in the burrito but he did get this one right , and good for us , 5 dems had more than half a clue and they helped kill this nightmare.

"It's no wonder Latinos get no respect from either party. They feel wounded over the demise of the Dream Act, and now they're threatening payback. "

Lets get this right , WHO GIVES A RATS AZZ ABOUT WHAT LATINOS THINK

I'm sure there are lots of American citizens of Latino decent who could care less about the dream act or outright oppose it.

In a sense its the American people who are getting NO RESPECT from either party for refusing to enforce our borders and laws , I'm sure included are many Americans of latino decent.

This country is losing its identity because it continues to suck up to latinos as though they are the only ones that matter in this country , ENOUGH OF THIS BS ,

Its time our reps stood up for all Americans and quit this sick pandering to LATINOS

Navarrette and the Latino Community are tone death. They constantly put this as a battle between Democrats and Republicans. They cannot get it through their heads that some Senators and Congressmen actually listen to the American citizens. They constantly ignore and downplay the opinions or voice of the American people.

They ignore the comment section's on the newpapers. They ignore the fact that American's were calling their elected representatives. They spend all their time on personal and political attacks against any Republican or Democrat that voted against their wishes.

By ignoring the voice's of America they are sending a clear message that they feel this is a battle between the Latino Community and the government. They have announced their agenda. The complete takeover of our country and government. They have delegated Americans to the shadows.

i bet he is okay with the talk of violence and civil disobedience.
and okay with a sitting congressman saying he is going to lead it

The la raza's like Navarette make it all about them and our mainstream media and OBL's think it's wonderful. If we point out the racism and law breaking they think is fine and dandy we're called racists. If we point out how affirmative action will hurt American kids we're called nativists.

Hey ruben please remember sticks and stones may hurt my bones but words will never hurt me. :P