Over the course of the presidential primary campaign, I spent significantly more time tuned-in to prime time cable news shows than usual. When I finally came up for air after Senator Barack Obama clinched the Democratic Party nomination, I was left troubled by the level of bias and spin, not only in election coverage, but also in environment reporting, the war in Iraq, and especially immigration.
Many have expressed disappointment over the defeat of the Dream (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act on October 25 by a vote of 52 to 44 -- 6 votes short to proceed to debate on the Senate floor. This bill would have allowed minors without legal immigrant status a chance at legal residency if they serve in the military for two years or graduate from school. There were many reasonable requirements in the bill: proof the applicant arrived in the United States prior to the age of 16, residency for at least 5 years, age between 12 and 30 at the time the bill is enacted, graduation from high school (or received a GED), and have no criminal record.
Just how many DREAMS were extinquished by this vote? Estimates range from a low of 60,000 to "millions" by anti-immigration sites such as the Center for Immigration Studies.
Conservative Republicans opposed this measure for the same reason they voted against comprehensive immigration reform in June - they consider it a
