The Dream Act was blocked on a 52-44 vote today, falling eight votes short of the 60 needed to bring the bill to the Senate floor. While today's vote was technically on a "motion to proceed" — a parliamentary measure about bringing the bill to the floor — both sides knew this vote was the make-or-break vote on the bill.
Looking at the vote, several oddities stand out.
* Sen. John McCain ducked the vote, even though he was in the chamber minutes beforehand for another vote on a judicial nominee. Obviously it's a tough issue for McCain, who is running for president but has suffered by being identified with amnesty. But ducking this vote comes just days after he said assured conservatives he had seen the light on the issue. Today he missed a chance to prove that.
* Sen. Sam Brownback, after flipping on immigration during his presidential run, has now flopped back to where he was before, voting in favor of the Dream Act. This comes just weeks after he told the audience at one of the presidential debates he no longer supported special paths to citizenship for illegal aliens.
* Sen. Trent Lott, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, surprised his colleagues by voting in favor of the bill. Hours later, some of his colleagues were surprised to hear of that vote, saying they had been led to believe he would vote against it. His vote puts him at odds with Sen. Mitch McConnell, Republicans' leader, who told his troops to oppose the bill because Democrats were trying to shut out Republicans' amendments.
* After opposing President Bush's broad bill earlier this year, Sen. Jim Webb supported the Dream Act, breaking with two other freshman Democrats from red states — Sens. Jon Tester and Claire McKaskill — who voted against it.
* Among the Democratic presidential candidates, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Barack Obama voted for the bill. Christopher Dodd missed the vote.
— Stephen Dinan, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (4)
Why are there never even just a resolution urging the enforcement of existing law? Let alone additional measures to end the rampant illegality and anarchy that is such a disgrace.
Posted by george | October 24, 2007 6:42 PM
It's about time this government worked for the people who vote for them. The election is going to be about Illegal immmigration and the Democrats are clueless.
It's time to investigate Harry Reid too? His actions in support of criminals certainly violates some law? I wonder how many illegals he employs in his private life. Lets check Harry out then remove him from the Senate. America needs a government that works FOR Americans!
Posted by mlimberg | October 24, 2007 7:08 PM
McCain lost my vote (and I really wanted to support him again) by pushing actively for open borders.
Brownback is a liar and should resign from the Senate.
Lott has lost his marbles. He's in Strom Thurman territory now and needs to resign and support a real conservative.
The Democrats support open borders because illegals are used to breaking the law, and love free government money, so they vote democrat.
The Republicans will NEVER get the illegal immigrant vote. It's a mystery why any one of them would vote to establish a permanent Democrat majority.
Posted by Scott S. | October 24, 2007 7:17 PM
What's interesting about the presidential candidates is that history indicates if we elect a president from the embedded Washington system we are going to get the same as what we have had from the past, i.e. what they think we should get and NOT what we want. Are they talking about immigration, taxes, terrorism, energy? When did national healthcare and poverty become the current key issues?
Posted by Larry Stone | October 25, 2007 3:55 AM